'ROSMARINE' IN THE MASQUE OF BLACKNESS: JONSON'S HERBAL MEDICAMINA FACIEI?

The article discusses the last scene of Ben Jonson's book "The Masque of Blackness," in which the moon-goddess Ethiopia explains to the black daughters of the character Niger how they can achieve the blanching of their skins which they so much desire. Jonson's prescription is firmly founded on contemporary cosmetic pharmacology. Several sixteenth-century herbals recommend bathing with an infusion of rosemary to achieve a fair complexion. Ethiopia's speech clearly rejects as wrong Niger's defence of blackness earlier in the masque. Niger argued that the blackness of his race should be considered the norm and ideal of beauty.