Edwards, Richard · published 1571 · first performed or written 1564 [1564-1568] (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) · before the Court T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.75 · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
ON every side, whereas I glance my roving eye, Silence in all ears bent I plainly do espy: But if your eager looks do long such toys to see, As heretofore in comical wise, were wont abroad to be: Your lust is lost, and all the pleasures that you sought, Is frustrate quite of toying Plays. A sudden change is wrought For lo, our authors Muse, that masked in delight, Hath forced his Pen against his kind, no more such sports to writ. Muse he that lust, (right worshipful) for chance hath made this change, For that to some he seemed too much, in young desires to range: In which, right glad to please: seeing that he did offend, Of all he humbly pardon craves: his Pen that shall amend: And yet (worwipfull Audience,) thus much I dare avouch. In Comedies, the greatest Skill is this, rightly to touch. All things to the quick: and eke to frame each person so, That by his common talk, you may his nature rightly know: A Roister aught not preach, that were to strange to hear, But as from virtue he doth swerve, so aught his words appear: The old man is sober, the young man rash, the Lover triumphing in joys, The Matron grave, the Harlot wild and full of wanton toys. Which all in one course they no wise do agreed: So correspondent to their kind their speeches aught to be. Which speeches well pronounced, with action lively framed, If this offend the lookers on, let Horace then be blamed, Which hath our Author taught at school, from whom he doth not swerve, In all such kind of exercise decorum to observe, Thus much for his defence (he saith) as Poetes erst have done, Which heretofore in Comedies the self same race did roune: But now for to be brief, the matter to express, Which here we shall present: is this Dimon and Pythias. A rare ensample of Friendship true, it is no Legend lie, But a thing once done in deed as Histories do descry, Which done of yore in long time passed, yet present shallbe here, Even as it were in doing now, so lively it shall appear: Lo here in Siracusae thancient Town, which onceth: Romaines won, Here Dionysius Palace, within whose court this thing most strange was done, Which matter mixed with mirth and care, a just name to apply, As seems most fit we have it termed, a Tragical Comedy, Wherein talking of Courtly toys, we do protest this flat, We talk of Dionysius Court, we mean no Court but that, And that we do so mean, who wisely calleth to mind, The time, the place, the Authors here most plainly shall it find, Lo this I speak for our defence, jest of others we should be shent: But worthy Audience, we you pray, take things as they be meant, Whose upright judgement we do crave, with heedful ear and Eye, To here the cause, and see th'effect of this new Tragical Comedy.
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)
ON euerie syde, wheras I glaunce my rouyng eye, Silence in all eares bent I playnly do espie: But if your egre lookes doo longe suche toyes to see, As heretofore in commycall wie, were wont abroade to bee: Your lust is lost, and all the pleasures that you sought, Is frustrate quite of toying Playes. A soden change is wrought▪ For loe, our Aucthors Muse, that masked in delight, Hath forst his Penne agaynst his kinde, no more suche sportes to write. Muse he that lust, (right worshipfull) for chaunce hath made this change▪ For that to some he seemed too muche, in yonge desires to range: In whiche, right glad to please: seyng that he did offende, Of all he humblie pardon traes: his Pen that shall amende: And yet (worwipfull Audience,) thus much I dare aduouche. In Commedies, the greatest Skyll is this, rightly to touche. All thynges to the quicke: and eke to frame eche person so, That by his common talke, you may his nature rightly know▪ A Royster ought not preache, that were to straunge to heare, But as from vertue he doth swerue, so ought his woordes appeare: The olde man is sober, the yonge man rashe, the Louer triumphyng in ioyes▪ The Matron graue▪ the Harlat wilde and full of wanton toyes. Whiche all in one course they no wise doo agree: So correspondent to their kinde their speeches ought to bee. Which speeches well pronoune, with action liuely framed, If this offende the lookers on, let Hrace then be blamed, Which hath our Athor taught at Shole, from whom he doth not swarue, In all suche kinde of exercise decorum to obserue, Thus much for his defence (he sayth) as Poetes arst haue donne, Which heretofore in Commodies the selfe same rase did roune: But now for to be briefe, the matter to expresse, Which here wee shall present: is this Dimon and Pithias ▪ A rare ensample of Frendship true, it is no Legend lie, But a thinge once donne in deede as Hystories doo discrie, Whiche doone of yor in longe time past, yet present shalbe here, Euen as it were in dooynge now, so liuely it shall appeare: Lo hre in Siracusae thauncient Towne, which onceth: Romaines wnne, Here Dionisius Pallace, within whose Caue this thing most strange was donne▪ Which matter mixt with myrth and care, a iust name to applie, As seemes most fit wee haue it termed, a Tragicall Commedie, Wherein talkyng of Courtly toyes, wee doo protest this flat, Wee talke of Dionisius Courte, wee meane no Court but that, And that wee doo so meane, who wysely calleth to minde, The time, the place, the Authours here most plainely shall it finde, Loe this I speake for our defence, lest of others wee should be shent: But worthy Audience, wee you pray, take thinges as they be ment, Whose vpright Iudgement wee doo craue, with heedefull eare and Eye▪ To here the cause, and see theffect of this newe Tragicall Commedie.