The Poetaster by Ben Jonson
page 108 of 324 (33%)
page 108 of 324 (33%)
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powers: all the gods and goddesses will be there; to two of which
you two must be exalted. Chloe. A pretty fiction, in truth. Cyth. A fiction, indeed, Chloe, and fit for the fit of a poet. Gal. Why, Cytheris, may not poets (from whose divine spirits all the honours of the gods have been deduced) entreat so much honour of the gods, to have their divine presence at a poetical banquet? Cyth. Suppose that no fiction; yet, where are your habilities to make us two goddesses at your feast? Gal. Who knows not, Cytheris, that the sacred breath of a true poet can blow any virtuous humanity up to deity? Tib. To tell you the female truth, which is the simple truth, ladies; and to shew that poets, in spite of the world, are able to deify themselves; at this banquet, to which you are invited, we intend to assume the figures of the gods; and to give our several loves the forms of goddesses. Ovid will be Jupiter; the princess Julia, Juno; Gallus here, Apollo; you, Cytheris, Pallas; I will be Bacchus; and my love Plautia, Ceres: and to install you and your husband, fair Chloe, in honours equal with ours, you shall be a goddess, and your husband a god. Chloe. A god!--O my gods! Tib. A god, but a lame god, lady; for he shall be Vulcan, and you |
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