''Hymen's Triumph'' is a pastoral play written by
Samuel Daniel
Samuel Daniel (1562–1619) was an English poet, playwright and historian in the late-Elizabethan and early- Jacobean eras. He was an innovator in a wide range of literary genres. His best-known works are the sonnet cycle ''Delia'', the epic ...
(1562–1619). It was performed at
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large neoclassical architecture, neoclassical building complex situated on the south side of the Strand, London, Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The Georgian era quadran ...
in London on 3 February 1614 to celebrate the marriage of
Robert Ker, 1st Lord Roxburghe and
Jean Drummond, a
lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...
of
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I. She was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and List of English royal consorts, Queen of Engl ...
.
Background
John Chamberlain had heard that Anne of Denmark would pay for the festivities at the wedding and a "Masque of Maids, if they may be found", but no more than £500 for a wedding-gown and a marriage bed because "her maid Drummond is rich enough otherwise, as well in wealth as in virtue and favour". The masque and its setting in a courtyard of the palace on the
Strand
Strand or The Strand may refer to:
Topography
*The flat area of land bordering a body of water, a:
** Beach
** Shoreline
* Strand swamp, a type of swamp habitat in Florida
Places Africa
* Strand, Western Cape, a seaside town in South Africa
* ...
was described by the ambassador of Savoy, Giovanni Battista Gabaleone. The play was probably performed by professional actors. The wedding feast and Samuel Daniel's masque was said to have cost the queen £3000, and it was an opportunity for her to show off the recent refurbishment of Somerset House, also known as Denmark House.
''Hymen's Triumph'' is regarded as an early example of a play written for performance at a wedding. A manuscription version has a dedicatory sonnet describing the piece as one of the "worthy rites" of Drummond's wedding. It is however possible that the play was primarily commissioned by Anne of Denmark to celebrate the completion of recent refurbishments at Somerset House.
[John Pitcher, ''Hymen's Triumph'' (Oxford, 1994), pp. v, viii-ix.]
Theme
Hymen, goddess of marriage, dressed as a shepherdess, encounters Envy, Avarice, and Jealousy. They resolve to disguise themselves in pastoral costume to frustrate Hymen's plans.
Publication
The play was published as ''Hymens triumph A pastorall tragicomaedie. Presented at the Queenes court in the Strand, at her Maiesties magnificent entertainement of the Kings most excellent Maiestie, being at the nuptials of the Lord Roxborough'' (London, 1615).
The published work has a dedication to Anne of Denmark. A manuscript version with a dedication to Lady Roxburghe passed into the collection of
William Drummond of
Hawthornden who donated it to the library of the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...
.
References
{{Reflist
External links
''Hymens triumph, A pastorall tragicomædie'': EEBOHymen's Triumph by Samuel Daniel: Beyond Shakespeare
1614 plays
Household of Anne of Denmark
English Renaissance plays