Fourteenthly

Bell In Campo

During the reading of the Feminine Army's rules in Act III, Lady Victoria justifies the prohibition of the company of men by saying that they will corrupt the minds of the women; however, so that the women may know of the men's plans, she says, "There shall be chosen some of the most inferiour of this Female Army, to go into the Masculine Army, to learn their designs" (III.1). Importantly, these women will not be part of the army, nor will they even be allowed to encamp with the women of the army. Doesn't this seem like the Feminine Army acting like the Masculine Army when the men sent the women back to the Garrison Town? Why exclude these women, in particular, from the rest of the army while they are acting as spies? Assuming that these women act for the benefit of the Feminine Army, what is it about the nature of gathering information from the men that makes them an anathema? Lastly, what are we to make of Lady Victoria calling them "inferiour?" Does she mean inferior in fighting skills or is there a notion of class status?

Convent of Pleasure

There seems to be a strange tension in the lines exchanged between the Princess and Lady Happy during the Sea-God/Sea-Goddess recreation. One of the key words for the Princess as Neptune is "Tribute." His speeches are filled with the language of tribute, service, and governance. Lady Happy's speeches are filled with the material goods of the sea that a Sea-Goddess might enjoy. Additionally, there are two distinct references to Apollo, "I feed the Sun, which gives them light...Moist vapour from my brest I give, / Which he sucks forth, and makes him live," and "The whil'st Apollo, with his Beams, Doth dry my Hair from wat'ry streams." Since these lines seem to be more Masque-like than other parts of the play, can we interpret the allegorical nature of the lines to show a tension in marriage? Is this about a demanding husband and a wife whose thoughts drift towards other men? Or maybe not so much?