The Bird in a Cage (The Beauties) · chunk 24 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 unassigned nearest T62 The courtier as a type: fashion, affecta · 533 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T62: courtier, shrug, face, court, italian, monsieur, scholar, fashion, french, courtiers.
You may imagine with what variety of lamentable faces, the Courtier heard his unexpected sentence, some would have pleaded for him but for laughter, which continued so long and so high, that he had time to collect his scattered senses, and instead of swooning, which was expected, he grew fortified, and most humbly besought the Duke, since his sentence had passed so definitive, he would be so merciful, to admit him that course of a Moon to be his jester, that since he could not shake off the fool's Coat, that he might have that favourable pretence to keep it on. Very good— 'Twas easily granted, but ever since, to the astonishment of the hearers, he is grown so jocund and airy, nay as if he had been borne with a Song in's head, he talks everlasting Ballad, no man laughs at him but he lashes him in Rhyme worse than a satire, the Duke has privileged his mirth, made him fool-free, and now he plays the Tyrant— he's here already. Oyes, o yes, o yes, If there be any one in City or in Town Can show me a wise man I'll please him for his pain. Disgrace has made him witty. What will you say to him, will show you a wise man? Marry if he go far, he is not so wise as he should be. Dondolo, Grutti! Old acquaintance how is't? How is't? The case is altered with you. It does appear so, but nothing can make me proud, I'll know my Fellows. How do you mean Morello? Your Lordship may make one at Football, 'tis all the sport nowadays. What other is the world then a Ball, Which we run after with whoop and with hollow, He that doth catch it is sure of a fall, His heels tripped up by him that doth follow. Do not women play too? They are too light, quickly down. Oyes, they are the best Gamesters of all, For though they often lie on the ground, Not one amongst a hundred will fall, But under her coats the Ball will found. But we be three of old, without exception to your Lordship, only with this difference, I am the wisest Fool, for you play the fool in your old clothes, and I have a new Coat on. Does it not become him. Rarely well, do you ever mean to resign it. 'Twere pity but he should have a patent for't, to him and his posterity. Hark you Gentlemen, d'ye hear the News? News! what news? D'ee not hear on't yet, why 'tis in a Ballad already. And thou canst sing it? 'Twas well guessed, and I can but hit o'th' Tune. There was an Invisible Fox by chance, Did meet with two invisible Geese, He led 'em a fine invisible dance, For a hundred crowns a piece. Invisible all but his hand he would go, But when it came to be tried, Not only his hand which was left he did show, But a fair pair of heels beside. Invisible since their wits have been, But yet there is hope of either, Their wit and their Crowns may return again, Invisible altogether.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
You may imagine with what variety of lamentable faces, the Courtier heard his unexpected sentence, some would have pleaded for him but for laughter, which continued so long and so high, hat he had time to collect his scattered senses, and instead of sowning, which was expected, he grew fortifi'd, and most humbly besought the Duke, since his sentence had past so definitive, hee would be so mercifull, to admit him that course of a Moone to be his Ieaster, that since hee could not shake off the Fooles Coat, that he might have that favourable pretence to keepe it on. Very good— 'Twas easily granted, but ever since, to the astonishment of the hearers, he is growne so▪ iocund and ayrie, nay as if he had beene borne with a Song in's head, he talkes everlasting Ballad, no man laughes at him but hee lashes him in Rime worse then a Satyr, the Duke has priviledg'd his mirth, made him foole-free, and now hee playes the Tyrant—hee's here already. Oyes, o yes, o yes, If there be any one in City or in Towne Can shew me a wise man Ile please him for his paine. Disgrace has made him witty. What will you say to him, will shew you a wise man? Marry if he goe farre, he is not so wise as hee should be. Dondolo, Grutti! Old acquaintance how is't? How is't? The case is alter'd with you. It does appeare so, but nothing can make mee proud, Ile know my Fellowes. How doe you meane Morello? Your Lordship may make one at Football, ▪Tis all the sport now a dayes. What other is the world then a Ball, Which we run after with whoope and with hollow, He that doth catch it is sure of a fall, His heeles tript up by him that doth follow. Doe not women play too? They are too light, quickly downe. Oyes, they are the best Gamesters of all, For though they often lye on the ground, Not one amongst a hundred will fall, But under her coates the Ball will found. But we be three of old, without exception to your Lordship, onely with this difference, Iam the wisest Foole, for you play the foole in your old clothes, and I have a new Coate on. Does it not become him. Rarely well, doe you ever meane to resigne it. 'Twere pitty but he should have a patent for't, to him and his posterity. Harke you Gentlemen, d'yee heare the Newes? Newes! what newes? Dee not heare on't yet, why 'tis in a Ballad already. And thou canst sing it? 'Twas well guest, and I can but hit oth' Tune. There was an Invisible Foxe by chance, Did meet with two invisible Geese, He led e a fine invisible dance, For a hundred crownes a peece. Invisible all but his hand he would goe, But when it came to be tride, Not onely his hand which was left he did show, But a faire paire of heeles beside. Invisible since their wits have beene, But yet there is hope of eyther, Their wit and their Crownes may returne againe, Invisible altogether.