The Speaker's Home

The speaker's home is presumably the location where the supper will take place. The speaker introduces his home as his "poor house" in order to humble himself as he addresses his revered guest (1). But the house is also notably modest and helps underscore Jonson's interest in moderation. The grounds lack game birds and the wine, the poem suggests, must be imported from elsewhere as the "Mermaid" is likely a local tavern (30). Thus, the house is both the location of what seems an elaborate meal and a representation of a more moderate lifestyle.

The English Court

An implicit setting in the poem is the English court, specifically the Elizabethan court and the privy council. This setting serves as the backdrop for the poem in which the speaker assures his guest they will not be overheard by spies. Jonson was highly critical of the privy council's use of...