Main Text
problem xi
Critical ApparatusCritical Apparatus Why is Venus Starve multinominous called both Hesperus and Vesper?
- Editor’s Note1The Moone hath as many names, but not as shee s a
- 2starre, but as shee hath divers governments. But Venus
- 3is multinominous, to give example to her prostitute
- Critical Apparatus4disciples who so often, eyther to renew or refresh
- 5themselves towards Lovers, or to disguise themselves from
- 6Magistrates, are to take new names. It may bee shee takes
- Critical Apparatus7many names, after her many functions. For as shee is
- Critical Apparatus8supreme Monarch of all Love at large (which is lust) so is
- Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus9shee joyned in Commission by all Mythologists with Juno,
- 10Dyana, and all others, for marriage. It may bee, because
- Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus11of the divers names of her Affections, shee assumes
- 12divers names to her selfe. For her affections have more
- Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus13names then any Vice scilicet: Pollution, Fornication,
- Editor’s Note14Adultery, Lay Incest, Church Incest, Rape, Sodomy,
- Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus15Mastupration, Masturbation, and a thousand others.
- Critical Apparatus16Perchance her divers names shew her Applyablenesse to divers
- Editor’s NoteCritical Apparatus17men. For Neptune distilld and wept her into Love, the
- pg 36Critical Apparatus18sunne warmd and melted her, Mercury perswaded and swore
- Critical Apparatus19her; Jupiters authority securd, and Vulcan hammerd her.
- 20As Hesperus shee presents you with her Bonum Utile,
- Critical Apparatus21because it is wholesomest in the morning, as Vesper, with
- 22her Bonum Delectabile because it is pleasantest in the
- Critical Apparatus23Evening. And because Industrious men rise and endure,
- Critical Apparatus24with the Sunne, theyr civill businesse, this starr calls
- Critical Apparatus25them up a little before, and rememberes them agayne a
- 26little after for hir businesse. For certaynly
- Editor’s Note27Venit Hesperus, Ite Capellae,
- Critical Apparatus28was spoken to Lovers in the persons of Goates.
Critical Apparatus
Title: called Σ: omit O'F
Hesperus Σ: Hesper O'F
Editor’s Note
ll. 1–2. The Moone … divers governments. Cf. Natalis Comes, Mythologiae (Lyons, 1605), 259:
Cum eadem Luna sit, et Hecate, et Diana, tamen non omnes hae vires, quae per has intelliguntur, uno nomine dicuntur, et si ab uno fonte manant. Cum enim Hecate nunc Iouis, nunc Aristaei, nunc Tartari, nunc Persae filia dicatur, Luna modo Hyperionis, modo Pallantis …
(Although Luna, and Hecate, and Diana are all the same, since not all those powers, which are understood as these, are called by one name, even if they flow from one source. Since truly Hecate is called now Jove's, now Aristaeus' now Tartarus', now Perses' daughter, Luna sometimes Hyperion's, sometimes Pallas' …).
Critical Apparatus
4 renew or TC, S 962, S, 1633+: … and O'F: (blank) and Dob: reuiue and O 2
Critical Apparatus
7 many names] newe … TC, S 962, S, 1633+: names O 2
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8 Love] loues Dob: Sunns TC, S 962, S, 1633+
Critical Apparatus
8–9 is shee Σ: shee is O'F
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9 by all Mythologists] … Mythology Dob: with all Mythologicks TC, S 962, S, 1633+
Editor’s Note
ll. 9–10.
joywed … for marriage. Cf. Comes, p. 393 'Haec eadem causa fuit cur fuerit praefecta nuptiis' (Similarly this was the reason why she [Venus] was put in charge of marriages).
Critical Apparatus
11–12 of her Affections, shee assumes divers names] omit TC, S 962, 1633+; see note
Editor’s Note
ll. 11–12. of her Affections … divers names. This passage is omitted in Group II manuscripts and the editions because of eye-slip on the repetition of names of her and names to her.
Critical Apparatus
13 scilicet 1633+: sclt S: sc: O'F, Dob: vizt: TC, O 2: viz: S 962
Editor’s Note
l.13. scilicet. I have adopted the full form of the word as given in the editions in preference to the various abbreviations of the manuscripts in keeping with the practice of this edition.
Editor’s Note
l. 14. Lay incest. incest; Church Incest = 'spiritual incest' (in R.C.Ch.): (a) marriage or sexual connection between persons related by spiritual affinity, or with a person under a vow of chastity, etc., OED 1 b.
Critical Apparatus
15 Mastupration] Mascupration TC, S 962, S, 1633a
Editor’s Note
l. 15.Mastupration. Masturbation OED, obs. Mascupration, the reading of Group II, S, and 1633a is not found in OED. The word appears to be a mistake arising from the similarity of 'c' and
't' in secretarial hands.
Critical Apparatus
16 shew] shewed TC, S 962, S, 1633+
Critical Apparatus
17 wept her into] wett her in TC, S 962, S, 1633+
Editor’s Note
ll. 17–19. For Neptune distilld and wept her … Vulcan hammerd her. Venus was born from the ocean. Donnes adaption of Venus' adultery with Mars and their capture in Vulcans' net where they are viewed by Apollo, Neptune, and Mercury, is told in Homer, Odyssey viii
266–367.
Critical Apparatus
18 warmd and melted] warmes, and melts TC, S 962, 1633+
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19 securd] … her O 2
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21 wholesomest] pleasantest O'F (b.c.): helsome S 962
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23 endure] endevour TC, S 962
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24 theyr] in … TC, S 962, S, 1633+
businesse] businesses TC, S 962, S, 1633+
Critical Apparatus
25 agayne Σ: omit O'F, O 2
Editor’s Note
ll. 27–8. Venit Hesperus … persons of Goates. Cf. the final line of Virgil's tenth Eclogue, 'ite domum saturae, venit Hesperus, ite capellae' (go home, fed goats, the evening star comes, go). Lando in his Problems pictured the lecherous god Pan limping on goats' feet, 'Perchë finsero i Poeti, che il lussurioso Dio Pan vada con i piedi di capra zoppicando'. Quattro libri (1556), 18.
Critical Apparatus
28 persons] presence TC: presentes S 962
