Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
I should have opened the Argument of our Play, but stumbling on this stranger, makes me doubtful what we shall have— howsoever— The self distrust that guides his bashful pen will him entreat your patience, and if then This slight work please you, time more purely spent Shall once more sweat to better your content: Lighter defects a serious Muse amends; And slight beginnings have some perfect ends. SIgnior Antonio, pray how did you like the Mask we had here tonight, for my Lord Lucilio's been venuto? Well of a wooden one, set forth by a Dancer and an Architect, as the fashion is. Alas Signior, there must be something to prolong and strengthen these devices, when Poets, in favour of the ignorant, are fain to leave 'em so short winded, and almost speechless. So sir; But now tell me Rigazzo, what have you learned all this time you have been with your Lord at the University? More than I can reckon Signior, and yet I have the Art of memory to help me. As what sir? I can name you all the Alehouses and Taverns in Athens, and most part of the Bawdy-houses; marry to know them all, only Night, that has been some scores of years acquainted with 'em, and the Devil that gathers their rents, could teach me: and indeed I was too young to be their scholar, else I might have been a better proficient in them too. I think sir your time was spent in such studies. No, not all Signior, I can steal as desperately as a Pursuivant; fiddle the Geese, Ducks, Hens, Lambs, and Calves, five mile round by book; and cover the matter as smoothly as your Citizen does his perjury, and your Stoic his Lechery: for I had most sober Graduates for my Tutors in all. 'Twas pity your Rogueship had not proceeded Master of Art in the faculty of thieving. It's no matter Signior for thieves to proceed Masters of Art, when so many Masters of Art do proceed thieves, and that's the least conversion, you know Signior. Are you so nimble at your Logic sir? As a hungry Scholar at a hen-roost. Take heed you labour not yourself out o'breath, your learning's but short winded. Long enough to run with a Stoic, Signior. I may be able to read morality, get me some night-gear, and a red Nose, and then I am most illustriously complete. Away, the Duke. Thus hath our cost and best invention sweat To seal your welcome from th' Athenean Schools: And trust me son, your thanks are much in debt Unto these Ladies, whose too prodigal loves Have searched for jewels, thus to do you grace.
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)
I ſhould have opened the Argument of our Play, but ſtumbling on this ſtranger, makes me doubtfull what wee ſhall have — howſoever — The ſelfe diſtruſt that guides his baſhfull pen Wills him intreat your patience, and if then This ſlight worke pleaſe you, time more purely ſpent Shall once more ſweat to better your content: Lighter defects a ſerious Muſe amends; And ſlight beginnings have ſome perfect ends. SIgnior Antonio, pray how did you like the Maske wee had here to night, for my Lord Lucilio's ben venuto? Well of a wooden one, ſet forth by a Dancer and an Architect, as the faſhion is. Alas Signior, there muſt bee ſomething to prolong and ſtrengthen theſe devices, when Poëts, in favour of the ignorant, are faine to leave 'hem ſo ſhort winded, and almoſt ſpeechleſſe. So ſir; But now tell mee Rigazzo, what have you learn'd all this time you have beene with your Lord at the Vniverſitie? More than I can reckon Signior, and yet I have the Art of memorie to help me. As what ſir? I can name you all the Alehouſes and Tavernes in Athens, and moſt part of the Bawdy-houſes; marry to know them all, onely Night, that has beene ſome ſcores of yeares acquainted with 'hem, and the Devill that gathers their rents, could teach me: and indeed I was too young to be their ſcholler, elſe I might have beene a better proficient in them too. I thinke ſir your time was ſpent in ſuch ſtudies. No, not all Signior, I can ſteale as deſperately as a Purſivant; fiddle the Geeſe, Ducks, Hens, Lambs, and Calves, five mile round by booke; and cover the matter as ſmoothly as your Citizen does his perjury, and your Stoick his Lecherie: for I had moſt ſober Graduates for my Tutors in all. 'Twas pitty your Rogueſhip had not proceeded Maſter of Art in the facultie of theeving. It's no matter Signior for theeves to proceed Maſters of Art, when ſo many Maſters of Art doe proceed theeves, and that's the leaſt converſion, you know Signior. Are you ſo nimble at your Logick ſir? As a hungry Scholler at a Henrooſt. Take heed you labour not your ſelfe out o'breath, your learning's but ſhort winded. Long enough to runne with a Stoick, Signior. I may bee able to reade moralitie, get me ſome night-geere, and a red Noſe, and then I am moſt illuſtriouſly compleate. Away, the Duke. Thus hath our coſt and beſt invention ſweat To ſeale your welcome from th' Athenean Schooles: And truſt me ſonne, your thankes are much in debt Vnto theſe Ladies, whoſe too prodigall loves Have ſearch'd for jewels, thus to doe you grace.