Heywood, Thomas · published 1634 · first performed or written 1633 [c.1625-1634] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
PRologues to Plays in use, and common are, As Ushers to Great Ladies: Both walk bare, And comely both; conducting Beauty they And we appear, to usher in our Play. Yet, be their faces foul, or featured well, Be they hard-favoured, or in looks excel; Yet being Usher, he owes no less duty Unto the most deformed, than the choice Beauty. It is our case; we usher Acts and Scenes, Some honest, and yet some may prove like Queans. (Loose and base stuff) yet that is not our fault, We walk before, but not like Panders haut Before such crippled ware: Th' Acts we present We hope are Virgins, drawn for your content Unto this Stage: Maids grateful are to Men, Our Scenes being such, (like such) accept them then. THat she should do't? She? May we build upon't? As on a base of Marble; I have seen Strange passages of love, loose interchanges Of hands and eyes betwixt her and the Prince, Madama look too't. What hope hath he in one So meanly bred? or she t'obtain a Prince Of such descent and lineage? What but this That you must undergo the name of wife, And she to intercept the sweets of love Due to your bed. To be his strumpet Stroza? Madame a woman may guess unhappily. Thou shouldst be honest Stroza. Yes, many should Be what they are not: but I always was, And ever will be one, (that's still myself.) The General Sforsaes' daughter? is't not she? Is that yet questioned? as if the chaste Court Had save herself one so degenerate, So dissolutely wanton, so profuse In prostitution too, so impudent And blushless in her proud ambitious aim, As if no man could her intemperance please, Save him whom Heaven hath destined to your bed. I never saw them yet familiar. Ha, ha, as if they'd send for you to see't, To witness what they most strive to conceal, Be gulled? be branded:' lasto me, all's nothing, I shall ne'er smart for't, what is't to me? If being a Bride, you have a widowed fortune; If being married, you must throw yourself Upon a desolate bed, and in your arms, Clasp nought but Air, whilst his arms full of pleasure Borrowed from a stolen beauty, shall this grieve Or trouble me? break my sleeps? make me start At midnight up, and fill the house with clamours? Shall this bring strange brats to be bred and brought up at my fire, and call me Dad? No: this Concerns not me more than my love to you To your high Sovereignty. I now repent Too late, since I too lavishly have given him The utmost he could ask, and stretched my honour Beyond all lawful bounds of modesty. he's covetous of others, and neglects His own; but I will part those their stolen pleasures, And cross those lustful sports they have in chase, Not be the pillow to my own disgrace.
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)
PRologues to Playes in vse, and common are, As Vshers to Great Ladies: Both walke bare, And comely both; conducting Beauty they And wee appeare, to vsher in our Play. Yet, be their faces foule, or featur'd well, Be they hard-fauoured, or in lookes excell; Yet being Vsher, he owes no lesse duty Vnto the most deformed, then the choise Beautie. It is our case; we vsher Acts and Scenes, Some honest, and yet some may proue like Queanes. (Loose and base stuffe) yet that is not our fault, We walke before, but not like Panders hault Before such cripled ware: Th' Acts we present We hope are Virgins, drawne for your content Vnto this Stage: Maides gratefull are to Men, Our Scenes being such, (like such) accept them then. THat shee should doo't? Shee? May we build vpon't? As on a base of Marble; I haue seene Strange passages of loue, loose enterchanges Of hands and eyes betwixt her and the Prince, Madama looke too't. What hope hath he in one So meanly bred? or shee t'obtaine a Prince Of such discent and linnage? What but this That you must vndergoe the name of wife, And she to intercept the sweetes of loue Due to your bed. To be his strumpet Stroza? Madame a woman may guesse vnhappily. Thou shouldst be honest Stroza. Yes, many should Be what they are not: but I alwayes was, And euer will be one, (that's still my selfe.) The Generall Sforsaes daughter? is't not she? Is that yet questioned? as if the chaste Court Had saue her selfe one so degenerate, So dissolutely wanton, so profuse In prostitution too, so impudent And blushlesse in her proud ambitious aime, As if no man could her intemperance please, Saue him whom Heauen hath destin'd to your bed. I neuer saw them yet familiar. Ha, ha, as if they'd send for you to see't, To witnesse what they most striue to conceale, Be guld? be branded: 'lasto me, all's nothing, I shall ne're smart for't, what is't to me? If being a Bride, you haue a widdowed fortune; If being married, you must throw your selfe Vpon a desolate bed, and in your armes, Claspe nought but Ayre, whilst his armes full of pleasure Borrow'd from a stolne beauty, shall this grieue Or trouble me? breake my sleepes? make me starte At midnight vp, and fill the house with clamours? Shall this bring strange brats to be bred and brought Vp at my fire, and call me Dad? No: this Concernes not me more then my loue to you To your high Soueraignty. I now repent Too late, since I too lauishly haue giuen him The vtmost he could aske, and stretcht my honour Beyond all lawfull bounds of modesty. Hee's couetous of others, and neglects His owne; but I will part those their stolne pleasures, And crosse those lustfull sports they haue in chase, Not be the pillow to my owne disgrace.