The Ladies' Privilege (The Lady's Privilege) · chunk 1 of 31
Glapthorne, Henry · published 1640 · first performed or written 1637 [1637-1640] (Annals) not in BritDrama · before the Court T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.77 · 474 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
'tIs worth my Fears, to see within this place Wits most accomplished Senate; 'tis a grace Transcending our desert, though not our fear, lest what our Author writes should not appear Fit for this judging presence; all the ways He knows that lead to the true throne of Plays Are rough uneasy paths, such as to tread Would fright an active able Muse; strike dead A weak and timorous traveller: for some Will give the play a piteous martyrdom Ere it hath life; yet have t'excite that flame, Only distrust in the new author's name. Others for shortness force the Author run, And end his Play before his Plot be done. Some in an humorous squeamishness will say, They only come to hear, not see the Play, Others to see it only, there have been, And are good store, that come but to be seen: Not see nor hear the Play: How shall we then Please the so various appetites of men. It starts our author's confidence, who by me Tells you thus much t'excuse the Comedy. You shall not here be feasted with the sight Of antic shows; but Actions, such as might And have been real, and in such a phrase, As men should speak in: Ladies if you praise, At least allow his language and his plot, Your own just Privilege, his Muse hath got So full a wreath, that spite of Envies frown Shall in his Brow sit as a lasting Crown. IS the news certain he is arrived? The Duke Had sure intelligence, that the whole Fleet Anchored last night without the Bay: and now For confirmation of it, the thick breath Of his saluting Cannon hangs in Clouds Over the Citadel, and the glad noise Of the applauding people, gratulate His entrance to the River. The day rose So cheerfully, as if it meant to gild With unaccustomed light, his sails swollen big As pregnant mother with the pleasing air Of victory. The rumour of the Fleet Has filled all Italy with wonder, how So small a number should in open fight Defeat the Turkish Navy; and conclude The general's skill and valour, the mayne cause Of the achievement. He has returned as large Assurance of his worth, as when his force Backed with successive fortune which attends His mighty resolution, overthrew The power of Venice in a fight; which changed The Sea into a flame, and took me in't His fortunate Captive. Sir, 'tis noble in you To acknowledge that as good, which might have been Your eminent ruin; stately buildings so Rise out of ancient structures which the rage Of eating time, or anger of the winds Had tottered from the ground works: you may prove As fairly happy in the general's love, As in the honour which your name or Country Conferred on your desert.
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)
TIs worth my Feares, to see within this place Wits most accomplish'd Senate; tis a grace Transcending our desert, tho not our feare, Least what our Author writes should not appeare Fit for this Iudging presence; all the wayes He knowes that lead to the true throne of Playes Are rough uneasie pathes, such as to tread Would fright an active able Muse; strike dead A weake and timerous travailer: for some Will gine the play a pitious Martyrdome Ere it hath life; yet have t'excite that flame, Only distrust in the new Authors name. Others for shortnesse force the Author run, And end his Play before his Plot be done. Some in an humorous squemishnesse will say, They only come to heare, not see the Play, Others to see it only, there have beene, And are good store, that come but to be seene: Not see nor heare the Play: How shall we then Please the so various appetites of men. It starts our Authors confidence, who by me Tels you thus much t'excuse the Comedy. You shall not here be feasted with the sight Of anticke showes; but Actions, such as might And have beene reall, and in such a phrase, As men should speake in: Ladies if you praise, At least allow his language and his plot, Your owne just Priviledge, his Muse hath got So full a wreath, that spight of Envies frowne Shall in his Brow sit as a lasting Crowne. IS the newes certayne he is arriv'd? The Duke Had sure intelligence, that the whole Fleet Anchor'd last night without the Bay: and now For confirmation of it, the thick breath Of his saluting Cannon hangs in Clouds Over the Cittadell, and the glad noyse Of the applauding people, gratulate His entrance to the River. The day rose So cheerefully, as if it meant to gild With unaccustom'd light, his sayles swolne big As pregnant mother with the pleasing ayre Of victory. The rumour of the Fleet Has fild all Italy with wonder, how So small a number should in open fight Defeat the Turkish Navy; and conclude The Generals skill and valour, the mayne cause Of the atchievement. Hee has return'd as large Assurance of his worth, as when his force Back'd with successive fortune which attends His mighty resolution, over-threw The power of Uenice in a fight; which changed The Sea into a flame, and tooke me in't His fortunate Captive. Sir, tis noble in you To acknowledge that as good, which might have bin Your eminent ruine; stately buildings so Rise out of ancient structures which the rage Of eating time, or anger of the windes Had totter'd from the ground works: you may prove As fairely happy in the Generals love, As in the honour which your name or Country Confer'd on your desert.