Cynthia's Revels; Or, The Fountain of Self-Love

"Cynthia's Revels; Or, The Fountain of Self-Love" by Ben Jonson

In the play, the goddess, Cynthia, has ordained a «solemn revels» in the valley of Gargaphie in Greece. The gods Cupid and Mercury appear, and they too start to argue. Mercury has awakened Echo, who weeps for Narcissus, and states that a drink from Narcissus's spring causes the drinkers to «Grow dotingly enamored of themselves.» Asotus, a foolish spendthrift who longs to become a courtier and a master of fashion and manners, also drinks from the spring; emboldened by vanity and self-love, he challenges all comers to a competition of «court compliment.» The competition is held, in four phases, and the courtiers are beaten.