The Bird in a Cage (The Beauties) · chunk 21 of 37
Shirley, James · published 1633 · first performed or written 1633 [licensed for stage, Jun 21] [incorrect] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.82 · 489 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
I have an excellent hint Ladies of a mirth, Cannot but please the Princess. What is't? It will require every one's endeavour, What if we play some pretty Comic Story, A Play? Shall we? we? Do not distrust your own performance, I ha' known men ha' been insufficient, but women can play their parts. I like it, t'will be new. we will not present it to the Princess But engage her person in the action, We shallbe too few else, some pretty Interlude To square with our number— d'ye allow it. Willingly. Come' I'll acquaint you with a plot, then instantly: refer yourselves to me for your parts, we can receive no disparagement, our spectators cannot jeer us, for we'll speak but to the people in the hangings, and they have as much judgement, as some men that are but Clothes, at most, but walking pictures. I shallbe on't. What part will you give me, I'll be a King. thou'lt play a Tyrant bravely. Let me alone, I'll fit you all I warrant you. Now our invisible Merchant is caged, we may redeem our opinion and pass again in the rank of discrete Courtiers. I think now to most of the beholders, he is invisible all but his head, for he has but a small grate to look out at. He shall gull no more with his art I warrant him. Nay, he is like to lie by't, for I hear since, all his Creditors, like so many Crows have light upon him, and they'll leave him but a thin Carcase. Let 'em pick out his Eyes, what care we. He sent me an Epistle to take pity on him. But I hope thou hast more wit than to show thyself a Christian to such a Rascal as he is. I returned him my Court compliment, that I was sorry I could not serve him: I would do him any office that stretched not to mine own prejudice, that we had taken order with his Keeper; upon payment of our sums disbursed, he might be enlarged. Which is impossible. Prithee let me see his Letter, in what submissive language the Rogue does beseech us,— Most heroic Signiors,— good— I throw myself at the feet of your mercy, for to your justice, I beg I may not be made a Sacrifice— nay, we'll make him beg ere we haa done. At the grate. I confess I ha' done you wrong— does he so? it shall not serve the turn— there is no hope I shall ever satisfy you,— all the better, lie and rot— if I be known a Prisoner to my Creditors, I am irrecoverably lost, oh compassionate, a miserable man, who otherwise must soon forfeit his day light, and die in a dungeon. Ha, ha, ha. Save you noble Signiors.— Ha. ▪Tis he. Did he not die in prison, and his Ghost haunts us, brave!— 'Tis not he.
seed 43: T16 · seed 44: T15 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I have an excellent hint Ladyes of a mirth, Cannot but please the Princesse. What is't? It will require every ones indeavour, What if we play some pretty Commick Story, A Play? Shall we? Wee? Doe not distrust your owne performance, I ha knowne men ha bin insufficient, but women can play their parts. I like it, t'wilbe new. Wee will not present it to the Princesse But ingage her person in the action, We shalbe too few else, some pretty Enterlude To square with our number—d'yee allow it. Willingly. Come 'ile acquaint you with a plot, then instantly: referre your selues to me for your parts, we can receiue no disparagement, our spectators cannot jeere vs, for weele speake but to the people in the hangings, and they haue as much Iudgment, as some men that are but Clothes, at most, but walking pictures. I shalbe ont. What part will you giue me, I'le be a King. Thou't play a Tyrant brauely. Let me alone, Ile fit you all I warrant you. Now our invisible Marchant is cag'd, wee may redeeme our opinion and passe agen in the ranke of discrete Courtiers. I thinke now to most of the beholders, he is invisible all but his head, for he has but a small grate to look out at. He shall gull no more with his art I warrant him. Nay, he is like to lye by't, for I heare since, all his Creditors, like so many Crowes haue light vpon him, and they'le leaue him but a thin Carkasse. Let 'em picke out his Eyes, what care wee. He sent me an Epistle to take pitty on him. But I hope thou hast more wit then to shew thy selfe a Christian to such a Rascall as he is. I returned him my Court complement, that I was sorry I could not serue him: I would doe him any office that strecth'd not to mine owne prejudice, that wee had taken order with his Keeper; vpon payment of our summes disburst, he might be enlarged. Which is impossible. Prethee let me see his Letter, in what submissiue language the Rogue does beseech vs,—Most hoique Signiors,—good—I throw my selfe at the feete of your mercy, for to your Iustice, I beg I may not be made a Sacrifice—nay, wee'll make him begere wee h'adone. At the grate. I confesse I ha' done you wrong—does he so? it shall not serve the turne—there is no hope I shall euer satisfie you,—all the better, lye and rot—if I be known a Prisoner to my Creditors, I am irrecoverably lost, oh compassionate, a miserable man, who otherwise must soone forfeite his day light, and dye in a dungeon. Ha, ha, ha. Saue you noble Signiors.— —Ha. ▪Tis he. Did he not dye in prison, and his Ghost haunts vs, braue!—'Tis not hee.