Heywood, Thomas · published 1633 · first performed or written c.1627 (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.81 · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
A Strange Play you are like to have, for know, We use no Drum, nor Trumpet, nor Dumb show; No Combat, Marriage, not so much today, As Song, Dance, Masque, to bombast out a Play; Yet thèse all good, and still in frequent use With our best Poets; nor is this excuse Made by our Author, as if want of skill Caused this defect; it's rather his self will: Will you the reason know? There have so many Been in that kind, that He desires not any At this time in His Scene, no help, no strain, Or flash that's borrowed from another's brain; Nor speaks He this that He would have you fear it, He only tries if once bare Lines will bear it; Yet may't afford, so please you silent sit, Some Mirth, some Matter, and perhaps some Wit. OH friend, that I to mine own Notion Had joined but your experience; I have the Theoric, But you the practic. I perhaps, have seen what you have only read of. There's your happiness. A Scholar in his study knows the stars, Their motion and their influence, which are fixed, And which are wandering, can decipher Seas, And give each several Land his proper bounds; But set him to the Compass, he's to seek, When a plain Pilot can, direct his course From hence unto both th'Indies; can bring back His ship and charge, with profits quintuple. I have read Ierusalem, and studied Rome, Can tell in what degree each City stands, Describe the distance of this place from that, All this the Scale in every Map can teach, Nay, for a need could punctually recite The Monuments in either; but what I Have by relation only, knowledge by travel Which still makes up a complete Gentleman, Proves eminent in you. I must confess, I have seen Ierusalem and Rome, have brought Mark from th'one, from th'other Testimony, Know Spain, and France, and from their airs have sucked A breath of every language: but no more Of this discourse since we draw near the place Of them we go to visit. Noble master Geraldine, worshipful master Dalavill. I see thou still remember'st us. Remember you, I have had so many memorandums from the multiplicities of your bounties, that not to remember you were to forget myself, you are both most ingeniously and nobly welcome. And why ingeniously and nobly? Because had I given your welcomes other attributes than I have done, the one being a Soldier, and the other seeming a Scholar, I should have lied in the first, and showed myself a kind of blockhead in the last. I see your wit is nimble as your tongue, But how doth all at home? Small doings at home sir, in regard that the age of my Master corresponds not with the youth of my Mistress, and you know cold Ianuary and lusty May seldom meet in conjunction. I do not think but this fellow in time may for his wit and understanding make Almanacs?
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)
A Strange Play you are like to haue, for know, We use no Drum, nor Trumpet, nor Dumbe show; No Combate, Marriage, not so much to day, As Song, Dance, Masque, to bumbaste out a Play; Yet thèse all good, and still in frequent vse With our best Poets; nor is this excuse Made by our Author, as if want of skill Caus'd this defect; it's rather his selfe will: Will you the reason know? There haue so many Beene in that kind, that Hee desires not any At this time in His Sceane, no helpe, no straine, Or flash that's borrowed from an others braine; Nor speakes Hee this that Hee would haue you feare it, He onely tries if once bare Lines will beare it; Yet may't afford, so please you silent sit, Some Mirth, some Matter, and perhaps some Wit. OH friend, that I to mine owne Notion Had ioyned but your experience; I haue the Theoricke, But you the Practicke. I perhaps, haue seene what you haue onely read of. There's your happinesse. A Scholler in his study knowes the starres, Their motion and their influence, which are fixt, And which are wandering, can decipher Seas, And giue each seuerall Land his proper bounds; But set him to the Compasse, hee's to secke, When a plaine Pilot can, direct his course From hence vnto both th'Indies; can bring backe His ship and charge, with profits quintuple. I haue read Ierusalem, and studied Rome, Can tell in what degree each City stands, Describe the distance of this place from that, All this the Scale in euery Map can teach, Nay, for a neede could punctually recite The Monuments in either; but what I Haue by relation onely, knowledge by trauell Which still makes vp a compleat Gentleman, Prooues eminent in you. I must confesse, I haue seene Ierusalem and Rome, haue brought Marke from th'one, from th'other Testimony, Know Spaine, and France, and from their ayres haue snckt A breath of euery language: but no more Of this discourse since wee draw neere the place Of them we goe to visit. Noble master Geraldine, worshipfull master Dalauill. I see thou still remember'st vs. Remember you, I haue had so many memorandomes from the multiplicities of your bounties, that not to remember you were to forget my selfe, you are both most ingeniously and nobly welcome. And why ingeniously and nobly? Because had I giuen your welcomes other attributes then I haue done, the one being a Souldier, and the other seeming a Scholler, I should haue lied in the first, and shewed my selfe a kind of blockhead in the last. I see your wit is nimble as your tongue, But how doth all at home? Small doings at home sir, in regard that the age of my Master corresponds not with the youth of my Mistris, and you know cold Ianuary and lusty May seldome meet in coniunction. I doe not thinke but this fellow in time may for his wit and vnderstanding make Almanackes?