Shirley, James · published 1640 · first performed or written 1635 [licensed for stage, Feb 6] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.75 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
SInce 'tis become the Title of our Play, A woman once in a Coronation may With pardon, speak the Prologue, give as free A welcome to the theatre, as he That with a little beard, a long black cloak, With a starched face, and supple leg hath spoke Before the plays the twelvemonth, let me then Present a welcome to these Gentlemen, If you be kind, and noble, you will not Think the worse of me for my petticoat. But to the Play, the Poet bade me tell His fears first in the title, lest it swell Some thoughts with expectation of a strain, That but once could be seen in a King's reign, This Coronation, he hopes you may See often, while the genius of his Play, Doth prophesy the conduits may run wine, When the days triumphs ended, and divine Brisk Nectar swell his temples to a rage, With something of more price to invest the stage. There rests but to prepare you, that although It be a Coronation, there doth flow No undermirth, such as doth lard the scene For coarse delight, the language here is clear. And confident our Poet bade me say, he'll bate you but the folly of a Play. For which although dull souls his pen despise, Who thinks it yet too early to be wise. The nobler will thank his muse, at least Excuse him, cause his thought aimed at the best, But we conclude not, it dost rest in you. To censure Poet, Play, and Prologue too. But what have I omitted? is there not A blush upon my cheeks that I forgot The Ladies, and a Female Prologue too? Your pardon noble Gentlewomen, you Were first within my thoughts, I know you sit As free, and high Commissioners of wit, Have clear, and active souls, nay though the men Were lost in your eyes, they'll be found again, You are the bright intelligences move, And make a harmony this sphere of Love, Be you propitious then, our Poet says, Our wreath from you, is worth their grove of bays: MAke way for my Lord Protector. Your grace's servants. I like your diligent waiting, where's Lysimachus? I wait upon you sir. The Queen looks pleasant This morning, does she not? I ever found Her gracious smiles on me. She does consult Her safety in't, for I must tell thee boy, But in the assurance of her love to thee, I should advance thy hopes another way, And use the power I have in Epire, to Settle our own, and uncontrolled greatness; But since she carries herself so fairly, I am content to expect, and by her marriage Secure thy fortune, that's all my ambition Now, be still careful in thy applications To her, I must attend other affairs, Return, and use what art thou canst to lay More charms of love upon her. I presume She always speaks the language of her heart, And I can be ambitious for no more Happiness on earth than she encourages Me to expect.
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)
SInce tis become the Title of our Play, A woman once in a Coronation may With pardon, speake the Prologue, give as free A welcome to the Theater, as he That with a little beard, a long blacke clok, With a starch'd face, and supple legge hath spoke Before the Playes the twelvemonth, let me the ▪ Present a welcome to these Gentlemen, If you be kind, and noble, you will not Thinke the worse of e for my petticote. But to the Play, the Poet bad me tell His feares first in the title, lest it swell Some thoughts with expectation of a straine, That but once could be seene in a Kings raigne, This Coronation, e hopes you may See often, while the of his Play, Doth prophsit the Conduites may runne wine, When the dayes triumph's ended, and divine Briske Nectar swell his temples to a rage, With something of more price to invest the stage▪ There rests but to prepare you, that although It b a Coronation, there doth flow No undermirth, such as doth lar' the scene For course delight, the language here is cleare. And confident our Poet bad me say, Heele bate you but the folly of a Play. For which although dull soules his pen dispise, Who thinkes it yet too earely to be wise. The nobler will thanke his muse, at least Excuse him, cause his thought aym'd at the best, But we conclude not, it dost rest in you. To cnsure Poet, Play, and Prologue too. But what have I omitted? is there not A blush upon my cheekes that I forgt The Ladies, and a Female Prologue too? Your pardon noble Gentlewomen, you Were first within my thoughts, I know you sit As free, and high Commissioners of wit, Have cleare, and active soules, nay though the men Were lost in your eyes, they'l be found agen, You are the bright intelligences move, And make a harmony this sphere of Love, Be you propitious then, our Poet sayes, Our wreath from you, is worth their grove of Bayes: MAke way for my Lord Protector. Your graces servants. I like your diligent waiting, where's Lisimachus? I waite upon you sir. The Queene lookes pleasant This morning, does she not? I ever found Her gracious smiles on me. She does consult Her safety in't, for I must tell thee boy, But in the assurance of her love to thee, I should advance thy hopes another way, And use the power I have in Epire, to Settle our owne, and uncontrouled greatnesse; But since she carries her selfe so fairely, I am content to expect, and by her marriage Secure thy fortune, that's all my ambition Now, be still carefull in thy applications To her, I must attend other affaires, Returne, and use what art thou canst to lay More charmes of love upon her. I presume Shee alwayes speakes the language of her heart, And I can be ambitious for no more Happinesse on earth then she encourages Me to expect.