Technogamia
Encyclopedia
Technogamia, or the Marriages of the Arts is a Jacobean era stage play, an allegory
written by Barten Holyday
that was first performed and published in 1618
.
in Christ Church Hall. An academic play as opposed to the popular theatre of the time, Technogamia was a significant instance in the move away from the Latin
language to English in academic drama — an evolution that was ongoing in its era, as marked by plays like Lingua
, Albumazar
, and Pathomachia
.
Technogamia was revived for a Court performance on August 26, 1621
, when it was staged for King James I
at Woodstock Palace
. James did not enjoy the performance, however, and more than once was ready to walk out, though he was prevailed upon to stay to the end for the sake of the young actors. This lack of success provoked some mockery; Barten Holyday earned the nickname "half Holyday," and satirical poems on the matter circulated in both universities. (Verses on the subject by Peter Heylin
are most often cited in the critical literature.)
(James, who hated smoking and wrote A Counterblaste to Tobacco
, could not have been pleased that the play included a song in praise of the habit. It begins,
— and continues in the same vein, comparing tobacco to a lawyer, a physician, a traveler, a critic and other figures.)
printed by William Stansby
for the bookseller John Parker. A second quarto was issued in 1630
, printed by John Haviland for Richard Meighen
.
era. In addition to Thomas Tomkis
's Lingua, and Pathomachia (probably also by Tomkis), cited above, a list of allegorical plays from Holyday's period could include Nabbes's
Microcosmus, Randolph's
The Muses' Looking Glass, and William Strode's The Floating Island.
In Technogamia, Holyday attempts to apply the hoary old form of allegory in what was, for his generation, a rather "modern" way. One of the play's primary themes is the defense of Geometres and Astronomia against Magus and his spouse Astrologia — a defense of the emerging scientific world view against the superstitions of prior historical ages.
— plus Arithmetica, Geometres, Musica, Historia, and others. Among the play's villains are the above-mentioned Magus and Astrologia, plus Ceiromantes (from chiromancy
or palmistry) and Physiognomus (from physiognomy
), two gypsy cheats. The characters' names and the disciplines they represent are for the most part self-evident — though some of the servants derive from the traditional theory of the Four Temperaments.
Astronomia is the play's heroine, pursued in different ways by Poeta, Geographicus, and Geometres. But Historia longs to unite with Poeta; Grammaticus pursues Rhetorica, though she prefers Logicus. Amid a confusion of cross purposes, the figures seek out allies in their amorous quests: Poeta is naturally aided by the Muses, while Magus backs Geometres, and Polites helps Geographicus while struggling to maintain peace and order. The gypies pick Poeta's pockets, though they gain nothing but copies of Anacreon
and Horace. They are punished for their crime with branding — predictably enough, Physiognomus is branded on the face, and Ceiromantes on the hand. Magus and Astrologia are banshed from the community of the sciences after they try to strangle Astronomia. Some couples are united: Geographicus marries Astronomia (and fires his servant Phantastes); Melancholico marries Musica (and Phantastes gets a job in their household). The cold-hearted Logicus remains a bachelor and becomes Polites' assistant, and order is restored to the sciences once again.
The figures were lavishly costumed, as the text specifies. [See Lingua
for comparable lushness in costuming.] Astronomia is outfitted in "white gloves and pumps, an azure gown, and a mantle seeded with stars; on her head a tiara, bearing on the front seven stars, and behind stars promiscuously; on the right side, the sun; on the left, the moon." Sanguis is dressed appropriately in red; on the front of his suit is pictured a man with a bleeding nose, and on the back an image of bloodletting
from an arm. The tobacco-loving Phlegmaticus wears a "pale russet suit" adorned with tobacco pipes and paraphernalia and a can of drink (not an anachronism
: there were "cans", or "cannikins," of beer at the time).
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
written by Barten Holyday
Barten Holyday
Barten Holyday or Holiday was a clergyman, author and poet. He earned a Doctor of Divinity degree, and entered the clergy in 1615; he was appointed archdeacon of Oxford by King Charles I in 1626. Technogamia was his only play. In 1618, the year it was produced, Holyday served as Sir Francis...
that was first performed and published in 1618
1618 in literature
The year 1618 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*Sir Francis Bacon is appointed Lord Chancellor by King James I of England.*Ben Jonson sets out to walk to Scotland....
.
Performances
Technogamia was first staged on February 13, 1618 by the students of Christ Church, OxfordChrist Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
in Christ Church Hall. An academic play as opposed to the popular theatre of the time, Technogamia was a significant instance in the move away from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
language to English in academic drama — an evolution that was ongoing in its era, as marked by plays like Lingua
Lingua (play)
Lingua, or the Combat of the Tongue and the Five Senses for Superiority is an allegorical stage play of the first decade of the 17th century, generally attributed to the academic playwright Thomas Tomkis.-Publication:...
, Albumazar
Albumazar (play)
Albumazar is a Jacobean era play, a comedy written by Thomas Tomkis that was performed and published in 1615.-Productions:The play was specially commissioned by Trinity College, Cambridge to entertain King James I during his 1615 visit to the University...
, and Pathomachia
Pathomachia
Pathomachia, or the Battle of Affections, also known as Love's Lodestone, is an early 17th-century play, first printed in 1630. It is an allegory that presents a range of problems to scholars of the drama of the Jacobean and Caroline eras....
.
Technogamia was revived for a Court performance on August 26, 1621
1621 in literature
The year 1621 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*August 26 - Barten Holyday's allegorical play Technogamia, originally produced at Christ Church, Oxford in 1618, is staged before King James at Woodstock Palace...
, when it was staged for King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
at Woodstock Palace
Woodstock Palace
Woodstock Palace was a royal residence in the English town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire.Henry I of England built a hunting lodge here and in 1129 he built seven miles of walls to create the first enclosed park, where lions and leopards were kept. The lodge became a palace under Henry's grandson, Henry...
. James did not enjoy the performance, however, and more than once was ready to walk out, though he was prevailed upon to stay to the end for the sake of the young actors. This lack of success provoked some mockery; Barten Holyday earned the nickname "half Holyday," and satirical poems on the matter circulated in both universities. (Verses on the subject by Peter Heylin
Peter Heylin
Peter Heylin or Heylyn was an English ecclesiastic and author of many polemical, historical, political and theological tracts. He incorporated his political concepts into his geographical books Microcosmus in 1621 and Cosmographie .-Life:He was born in Burford, Oxfordshire, the son of Henry Heylyn...
are most often cited in the critical literature.)
(James, who hated smoking and wrote A Counterblaste to Tobacco
A Counterblaste to Tobacco
A Counterblaste to Tobacco is a treatise written by King James VI of Scotland and I of England in 1604, in which he expresses his distaste for tobacco, particularly tobacco smoking. As such, it is one of the earliest anti-tobacco publications....
, could not have been pleased that the play included a song in praise of the habit. It begins,
-
-
- Tobacco's a musician,
- And in the pipe delighteth,
- It descends in a close
- Through the organs of the nose
- With a relish that inviteth...
-
— and continues in the same vein, comparing tobacco to a lawyer, a physician, a traveler, a critic and other figures.)
Publication
The play was published in 1618, in a quartoBook size
The size of a book is generally measured by the height against the width of a leaf, or sometimes the height and width of its cover. A series of terms is commonly used by libraries and publishers for the general sizes of modern books, ranging from "folio" , to "quarto" and "octavo"...
printed by William Stansby
William Stansby
William Stansby was a London printer and publisher of the Jacobean and Caroline eras, working under his own name from 1610. One of the most prolific printers of his time, Stansby is best remembered for publishing the landmark first folio collection of the works of Ben Jonson in 1616.-Life:As for...
for the bookseller John Parker. A second quarto was issued in 1630
1630 in literature
The year 1630 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:* English literature, drama, and education lose a major patron and benefactor when William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke and Lord Chamberlain of England, dies on April 10.-New books:...
, printed by John Haviland for Richard Meighen
Richard Meighen
Richard Meighen was a London publisher of the Jacobean and Caroline eras. He is noted for his publications of plays of English Renaissance drama; he published the second Ben Jonson folio of 1640/1, and was a member of the syndicate that issued the Second Folio of Shakespeare's collected plays in...
.
Genre
The allegorical form, so extensively employed in Medieval literature, was decidedly old-fashioned by the early 17th century; yet a few writers were still exploiting its potentials in the early StuartHouse of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
era. In addition to Thomas Tomkis
Thomas Tomkis
Thomas Tomkis was an English playwright of the late Elizabethan and the Jacobean eras, and arguably one of the more cryptic figures of English Renaissance drama....
's Lingua, and Pathomachia (probably also by Tomkis), cited above, a list of allegorical plays from Holyday's period could include Nabbes's
Thomas Nabbes
Thomas Nabbes was an English dramatist.He was born in humble circumstances in Worcestershire, and educated at Exeter College, Oxford in 1621...
Microcosmus, Randolph's
Thomas Randolph (poet)
Thomas Randolph was an English poet and dramatist. He was baptized on 18 June 1605 and was the uncle of American colonist William Randolph.-Education:...
The Muses' Looking Glass, and William Strode's The Floating Island.
In Technogamia, Holyday attempts to apply the hoary old form of allegory in what was, for his generation, a rather "modern" way. One of the play's primary themes is the defense of Geometres and Astronomia against Magus and his spouse Astrologia — a defense of the emerging scientific world view against the superstitions of prior historical ages.
The allegory
Holyday's lengthy and detailed allegory is concerned with the relationships among the arts and sciences of his era, all of which are personified in fashions typical of the allegorical form. The abstractions include:- Physica and her daughter Astronomia
- Ethicus and his wife Economa
- Polites the magistrate
- the traveler Geographicus and his servant Phantastes
- Logicus and his servant Phegmaticus
- Grammaticus the schoolmaster and Choler his usher
- Medicus and his servant Sanguis
- Poeta and his servant Melancholico
— plus Arithmetica, Geometres, Musica, Historia, and others. Among the play's villains are the above-mentioned Magus and Astrologia, plus Ceiromantes (from chiromancy
Chiromancy
Palmistry or chiromancy , is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palm reading, or chirology. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations...
or palmistry) and Physiognomus (from physiognomy
Physiognomy
Physiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
), two gypsy cheats. The characters' names and the disciplines they represent are for the most part self-evident — though some of the servants derive from the traditional theory of the Four Temperaments.
Astronomia is the play's heroine, pursued in different ways by Poeta, Geographicus, and Geometres. But Historia longs to unite with Poeta; Grammaticus pursues Rhetorica, though she prefers Logicus. Amid a confusion of cross purposes, the figures seek out allies in their amorous quests: Poeta is naturally aided by the Muses, while Magus backs Geometres, and Polites helps Geographicus while struggling to maintain peace and order. The gypies pick Poeta's pockets, though they gain nothing but copies of Anacreon
Anacreon
Anacreon was a Greek lyric poet, notable for his drinking songs and hymns. Later Greeks included him in the canonical list of nine lyric poets.- Life :...
and Horace. They are punished for their crime with branding — predictably enough, Physiognomus is branded on the face, and Ceiromantes on the hand. Magus and Astrologia are banshed from the community of the sciences after they try to strangle Astronomia. Some couples are united: Geographicus marries Astronomia (and fires his servant Phantastes); Melancholico marries Musica (and Phantastes gets a job in their household). The cold-hearted Logicus remains a bachelor and becomes Polites' assistant, and order is restored to the sciences once again.
The figures were lavishly costumed, as the text specifies. [See Lingua
Lingua (play)
Lingua, or the Combat of the Tongue and the Five Senses for Superiority is an allegorical stage play of the first decade of the 17th century, generally attributed to the academic playwright Thomas Tomkis.-Publication:...
for comparable lushness in costuming.] Astronomia is outfitted in "white gloves and pumps, an azure gown, and a mantle seeded with stars; on her head a tiara, bearing on the front seven stars, and behind stars promiscuously; on the right side, the sun; on the left, the moon." Sanguis is dressed appropriately in red; on the front of his suit is pictured a man with a bleeding nose, and on the back an image of bloodletting
Bloodletting
Bloodletting is the withdrawal of often little quantities of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluid were considered to be "humors" the proper balance of which maintained health...
from an arm. The tobacco-loving Phlegmaticus wears a "pale russet suit" adorned with tobacco pipes and paraphernalia and a can of drink (not an anachronism
Anachronism
An anachronism—from the Greek ανά and χρόνος — is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other...
: there were "cans", or "cannikins," of beer at the time).