Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
HOw now Prologue! is your mind so much on your part, that you must run over men as you go? The fault was yours sir, that would so carelessly sit in his way, that was to do his part by you; though we hope to run over some before we have ended; and yet without any Cynical observation, especially of the wise. Why for Iuvenal's sake? what has thy new turned Poetry vented? will you rail? will you be satirical, and bite? and rub the City with salt? Faith sir you must know, that the giddy looseness of vicious humours, does so rankle in most parts of our time's imposthumed gallantry, that 'tis a hard thing Satyram non scribere: and therefore we are desirous to lance it a little, and give the sore an issue, that vanity seeing the foulness of the matter which made it swell to such a seeming greatness, may loathe itself, and seek a cure for the disease. Do you hear Prologue! your Author is a fool: is he desirous to buy Fame at such a rate, that he will smart for't? will not examples move him? can he not live private, but he must be meddling with Tigillinus? Did he never hear of the Proverb, that it's better railing at Hercules then at a Clown to his face? I prithee tell him of it, and let him know, 'tis better live still private and unknown, then have our smarts to every ear be blown. Troth it is true sir, I'll put him in mind of it. I prithee do, and tell him withal, that so choice an Audience desires not to glut their ears with others' infamy, nor ever wished their mirth should feed upon the rank distemperature of other men's vices; but come to behold a Scene merry and harmless, as free from sour invectives, as fulsome bawdry: as for those whose dull palates can relish nothing, unless it be sauced with the verjuice of a tart pen, be hostile enemies to their pishes and meawings, and scorn to beg or buy a reconciling; their defects make them desperate, and their envy cannot blast an unbeholding wit: to the candour of the rest, any mirth will be more pleasing than railing: some harmless and innocent humour, that may pass with allowance of the times, will be welcomer to them, and safer to you. Sir in our author's name I thank you: and would you but please to speak with him yourself— I will presently, and dissuade his intention, and yet I doubt not but to give sufficient contentation to his Auditors, whose patience I fear I have wronged by interrupting their Prologue.
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)
HOw now Prologue! is your mind ſo much on your part, that you muſt run over men as you goe? The fault was yours ſir, that would ſo careleſly ſit in his way, that was to doe his part by you; tho we hope to run over ſome before we have ended; and yet without any Cynicall obſervation, eſpecially of the wiſe. Why for Iuvenal's ſake? what has thy new tunn'd Poetry vented? will you raile? will you be ſatiricall, and bite? and rub the City with ſalt? Faith ſir you muſt know, that the giddy looſenes of vicious humors, does ſo rankle in moſt parts of our time's impoſthum'd gallantry, that tis a hard thing Satyram non ſcribere: and therefore we are deſirous to launce it a little, and give the ſore an iſſue, that vanity ſeeing the fouleneſſe of the matter which made it ſwell to ſuch a ſeeming greatneſſe, may loathe it ſelfe, and ſeeke a cure for the diſeaſe. Doe yoe heare Prologue! your Author is a foole: is he deſirous to buy Fame at ſuch a rate, that he wil ſmart for't? will not examples move him? can he not live private, but he muſt be medling with Tigillinus? Did he never heare of the Proverb, that it's better railing at Hercules then at a Clowne to his face? I prethee tell him of it, and let him know, tis better live ſtill private and unknowne, then have our ſmarts to ev'ry eare be blowne. Troth it is true ſir, Ile put him in mind of it. I prithee doe, and tell him withall, that ſo choiſe an Audience deſires not to glut their eares with others infamie, nor ever wiſh'd their mirth ſhould feed upon the ranke diſtemperature of other mens vices; but come to behold a Scene merry and harmeleſſe, as free from ſower invectives, as fulſome bawdery: as for thoſe whoſe dull palats can reliſh nothing, unleſſe it be ſawced with the verjuice of a tarte pen, be hoſtile enemies to their piſhes and meawings, and ſcorne to beg or buy a reconciling; their defects make them deſperate, and their envy cannot blaſt an unbeholding wit: to the candor of the reſt, any mirth will be more pleaſing than railing: ſome harmeleſſe and innocent humour, that may paſſe with allowance of the times, will be welcomer to them, and ſafer to you. Sir in our Authors name I thanke you: and would you but pleaſe to ſpeake with him your ſelfe— I will preſently, and diſſwade his intention, and yet I doubt not but to give ſufficient contentation to his Auditors, whoſe patience I feare I have wrong'd by interrupting their Prologue.