Randolph, Thomas · published 1638 · first performed or written 1630 [licensed for stage, Nov 25] (Annals) moral · King's Revels Company T24 Apollo, Phoebus and the Muses typicality 0.78 · 526 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T24: apollo, phoebus, midas, muses, ears, play, hedone, gods, siren, time.
Yes sister, Birthright: and a Crown beside, Put on before the Altar of Apollo By his dear Priest Phenomoe, she that first Full of her God raged in Heroic numbers. How came it then the magistrate decreed A public charge to furnish out my Chorus, When you were fain t' appear in rags and tatters, And at your own expenses? My reward Came after, my deserts went before yours. Deserts? yes! what deserts, when like a gypsie You took a poor and begga●…ly Pilgrimage From village unto village; when I then As a fit ceremony of Religion In my full state contended at the Tomb Of mighty Theseus. I before that time Did chant out Hymns in praise of great Apollo The shepherd's Deity, whom they reverence Under the name of Nomius, in remembrance How with them once he kept Admetus' sheep. And 'cause you urge my poverty, what were you? Till Sophocles laid guilt upon your Buskins You had no ornaments, no robes of state, No rich and glorious Scene; your first Benefactors Who were they, but the reeling Priests of Bacchus; For which a Goat gave you reward and name? But sister who were yours, I pray, but such As chanted forth religious, bawdy sonnets, In honour of the fine chaste God Priapus? Let age alone, merit must plead our Title. And have you then the forehead to contend? I stalk in Princes Courts, great Kings, and Emperors▪ From their close cabinets, and Council Tables Yield me the fatal matter of my Scene. Inferior persons, and the lighter vanities, (Of which this age I fear is grown too fruitful,) Yield subjects various enough to move Plentiful laughter. Laughter! a fit object For Poetry to aim at. Yes, Laughter is my object: 'tis a property In man essential to his reason. So; But I move horror; and that frights the guilty From his dear sins: he that sees Oedipus Incestuous, shall behold him blind withal. Who views Orestes as a Parricide, Shall see him lashed with Furies too; Th' Ambitious Shall fear Prometheus' Vulture; Daring Gluttony Stand frighted at the sight of Tantalus: And every Family great in sins as Blood Shake at the memory of Pelops house. Who will rely on Fortune's giddy smile That hath seen Priam acted on the stage! You move with fear, I work as much with shame, A thing more powerful in a generous breast. Who sees an eating Parasite abused; A covetous Bawd laughed at; an ignorant Gull Cheated; a glorious Soldier knocked, and baflleed; A crafty servant whipped; a niggard Churl Hoarding up dicing-monies for his son; A spruce fantastic Courtier, a mad roarer, A jealous Tradesman, an overweening Lady, Or corrupt Lawyer rightly personated, But (if he have a blush), will blush and shame As well to act those follies as to own them. The subject of my Scene is in the persons Greater, as in the vices; Atheists, Tyrants, O'redaring Favourites, Traitors, Parasites, The Wolves and Cats of state, which in a language High as the men, and loud as are their crimes I thunder forth with terror and amazement Unto the ghastly wondering Audience.
seed 43: T29 · seed 44: T27 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Yes sister, Birth-right: and a Crown besides, Put on before the Altar of Apollo By his deare Priest Phenomoe, she that first Full of her God rag'd in Heroique numbers. How came it then the magistrate decreed A publique charge to furnish out my Chorus, When you were faine t' appeare in rags and tatters, And at your own expences? My reward Came after, my deserts went before yours. Deserts? yes! what deserts, when like a gypsie You took a poor and beggaly Pilgrimage From village unto village; when I then As a fit ceremony of Religion In my full state contended at the Tombe Of mighty Theseus. I before that time Did chaunt out Hymnes in praise of great Apollo The shepheards Deitie, whom they reverence Vnder the name of Nomius, in remembrance How with them once he kept Admetus sheep. And 'cause you urge my poverty, what were you? Till Sophocles laid guilt upon your Buskins You had no ornaments, no robes of state, No rich and glorious Scene; your first Benefactours Who were they, but the reeling Preists of Bacchus; For which a Goat gave you reward and name? But sister who were yours, I pray, but such As chaunted forth religious, bawdy sonnets, In honour of the fine chast God Priapus? Let age alone, merit must plead our Title. And have you then the forehead to contend? I stalk in Princes Courts, great Kings, and Emperours▪ From their close cabinets, and Councell Tables Yeild me the fatall matter of my Scene. Inferiour persons, and the lighter vanities, (Of which this age I feare is grown too fruitfull,) Yeild subjects various enough to move Plentifull laughter. Laughter! a fit object For Poetry to ayme at. Yes, Laughter is my object: tis a propertie In man essentiall to his reason. So; But I move horrour; and that frights the guilty From his deare sinnes: he that sees Oedipus Incestuous, shall behold him blind withall. Who views Orestes as a Parricide, Shall see him lash'd with Furies too; Th' Ambitious Shall feare Prometheus Vultur; Daring Gluttony Stand frighted at the sight of Tantalus: And every Family great in sinnes as Blood Shake at the memory of Pelops house. Who will relye on Fortunes giddy smile That hath seene Priam acted on the stage! You move with fear, I work as much with shame, A thing more powerfull in a generous brest. Who sees an eating Parasite abus'd; A covetous Bawd laugh'd at; an ignorant Gull Cheated; a glorious Souldier knockt, and baflle'd; A crafty servant whipt; a niggard Churle Hoarding up dicing-monies for his sonne; A spruce fantastique Courtier, a mad roarer, A jealous Tradesman, an over-weening Lady, Or corrupt Lawyer rightly personated, But (if he have a blush), will blush and shame As well to act those follies as to owne them. The subject of my Scene is in the persons Greater, as in the vices; Atheists, Tyrants, O'redaring Favorites, Traytours, Parasites, The Wolves and Cats of state, which in a language High as the men, and loud as are their crimes I thunder forth with terrour and amazement Vnto the gastly wondring Audience.