Randolph, Thomas · published 1638 · first performed or written 1630 [licensed for stage, Nov 25] (Annals) moral · King's Revels Company unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 511 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Why so is that like thine. Dost thou not see, 'Tis not the glass but thy deformity That makes this ugly shape; if they be fair That view the Glass such the reflections are. This serves the body: The soul sees her face In Comedy, and has no other Glass. Nay then farewell, for I had rather see Hell then a Looking-glass or Comedy. And yet me thinks if 'twere not for this Glass, Wherein the form of man beholds his grace, We could not find another way to see How near our shapes approach Divinity. Ladies, let they who will your glass deride, And say it is an Instrument of Pride: I will commend you for it; there you see If ye be fair, how truly fair yeebee: Where finding beauteous faces, I do know You'll have the greater care to keep them so. A heavenly vision in your beauty lies, Which nature hath denied to your own eyes; Were it not pity you alone should be Debarred of that others are blessed to see? Then take your glasses, and yourselves enjoy The benefit of yourselves; it is no toy, Though ignorance at slight esteem hath set her, That will preserve us good or make us better. A Country slut, (for such she was, though here Ith City may be some as well as there:) Kept her hands clean, (for those being always seen Had told her else how sluttish she had been) But ●…ad her face as nasty as the stall Of a fishmonger, or a Usurer's Hall Daubed o●…e with dirt: One might have dared to say She was a true piece of Prometheus' clay, Not yet informed: And then her unkembed hair Dressed up with cobwebs, made her hag-like stare. One day within her pail (for Country Lasses (Fair Ladies) have no other Looking-glasses:). She spied her ugliness, and fain she would Have blushed if through so much dirt she could: Ashamed, within that water, that I say Which showed her filth, she washed her filth away. So Comedies, as Poets do intend them, Serve first to show our faults and then to mend them▪ Upon our Stage two glasses oft there be, The Comic Mirror and the Tragedy: The Comic glass is full of merry strife, The low reflection of a Country life. Grave Tragedy void of such homely sports Is the sad glass of Cities and of Courts. I'll show you both, Thalia come and bring Thy Buskined sister, that of Blood doth ●…ing▪ Why do you stop? go on. I charge him stay. My robe of state, Buskins, and Crown of Gold Claim a priority. Your Crown of Gold Is but the wreath of wealth; 'Tis mine of Laurel Is virtue's Diadem: This grew green and flourished, When nature pitying poor mortality, Hid thine within the bowels of the earth: Men looking up to heaven found this that's mine, Digging to find out hell they lied on thine. I know youhave tongue enough. Besides my Birthright Gives me the first possession. How, your Birthright?
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)
Why so is that like thine. Dost thou not see, 'Tis not the glasse but thy deformitie That makes this ugly shape; if they be fayre That view the Glasse such the reflections are. This serves the body: The soule sees her face In Comedy, and has no other Glasse. Nay then farewell, for I had rather see Hell then a Looking-glasse or Comedie. And yet me thinks if 'twere not for this Glasse, Wherein the forme of man beholds his grace, We could not find another way to see How neere our shapes approach Divinitie. Ladies, let they who will your glasse deride, And say it is an Instrument of Pride: I will commend you for it; there you see If yee be fayre, how truly fayre yeebee: Where finding beauteous faces, I doe know You'l have the greater care to keepe them so. A heavenly vision in your beauty lyes, Which nature hath denied to your own eyes; Were it not pitty you alone should bee Debarr'd of that others are blest to see? Then take your glasses, and your selves enjoy The benefit of your selves; it is no toy, Though ignorance at slight esteeme hath set her, That will preserve us good or make us better. A Country slut, (for such she was, though here Ith City may be some as well as there:) Kept her hands clean, (for those being alwaies seene Had told her else how sluttish she had beene) But ad her face as nasty as the stall Of a fishmonger, or a Vsurers Hall Daub'd oe with dirt: One might have dar'd to say She was a true peice of Prometheus clay, Not yet inform'd: And then her unkemb'd haire Drest up with cobwebs, made her hag-like stare. One day within her paile (for Country Lasses (Faire Ladies) have no other Looking-glasses:). She spied her uglinesse, and faine she would Have blusht if through so much dirt she could: Asham'd, within that water, that I say Which shew'd her filth, she wash'd her filth away. So Comedies, as Poets doe intend them, Serve first to shew our faults and then to mend them▪ Vpon our Stage two glasses oft there be, The Comick Mirrour and the Tragedie: The Comick glasse is full of merry strife, The low reflection of a Country life. Grave Tragedy void of such homely sports Is the sad glasse of Cities and of Courts. I'le shew you both, Thalia come and bring Thy Buskin'd sister, that of Bloud doth ing▪ Why doe you stop? goe on. I charge him stay. My robe of state, Buskins, and Crown of Gold Claime a priority. Your Crown of Gold Is but the wreath of wealth; 'Tis mine of Lawrell Is vertues Diadem: This grew greene and flourish'd, When nature pittying poore mortalitie, Hid thine within the bowells of the earth: Men looking up to heaven found this thats mine, Digging to find out hell they li't on thine. I know you'have tongue enough. Besides my Birth-right Gives me the first possession. How, your Birth-right?