The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled · chunk 2 of 45
Jonson, Ben · published 1640 · first performed or written 1632 [licensed for stage, Oct 12] (Annals) comedy · King's Men T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.75 · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Of London, Gentlemen: but Knights brothers, and Knights friends, I assure you. And Knights fellow's too. Every Poet writes Squire now. You are good names! very good men, both of you! I accept you. And what is the Title of your Play, here? The Magnetic Lady? Yes, Sir, an attractive title the Author has given it. A Magnete, I warrant you. O, no, from Magnus, Magna, Magnum. This Gentleman, hath found the true magnitude— Of his portal, or entry to the work, according to Vitruvius. Sir all our work is done without a Portall— or Vitruvius. In Foro, as a true Comedy should be. And what is concealed within, is brought out, and made present by report. We see not that always observed, by your Authors of these times: or scarce any other. Where it is not at all known, how should it be observed? The most of those your people call Authors, never dreamt of any Decorum, or what was proper in the Scene; but grope at it, i'the dark, and feel, or fumble for it; I speak it, both with their leave, and the leave o'your people. But, why Humours reconciled? I would feign know? I can satisfy you there, too: if you william. But, perhaps you desire not to be satisfied. Not? why should you conceive so, Boy? My conceit is not ripe, yet: I'll tell you that anon. The Author, beginning his studies of this kind, with every man in his Humour; and after, every man out of his Humour; and since, continuing in all his Plays, especially those of the Comic thread, whereof the New-inn was the last, some recent humours still, or manners of men, that went along with the times, finding himself now near the close, or shutting up of his Circle, hath fancied to himself, in Idea, this Magnetic Mistress. A Lady a brave bountiful Housekeeper, and a virtuous Widow: who having a young Niece, ripe for a man and marriageable, he makes that his Centre attractive, to draw thither a diversity of Guests, all persons of different humours to make up his Perimiter. And this he hath called Humours reconciled. A bold undertaking! and far greater, than the reconciliation of both Churches, the quarrel between humours having been much the ancienter, and, in my poor opinion, the root of all Schism, and Faction, both in Church and Commonwealth. Such is the opinion of many wisemen, that meet at this shop still; but how he will speed in it, we cannot tell, and he himself (it seems) lessecares. For he will not be entreated by us, to give it a Prologue. He has lost too much that way already, he says. He will not woe the gentle ignorance so much. But careless of all vulgar censure, as not depending on common approbation, he is confident it shall super-please judicious Spectators, and to them he leaves it to work, with the rest by example, or otherwise.
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)
Of London, Gentlemen: but Knights brothers, and Knights friends, I aſſure you. And Knights fellow's too. Every Poët writes Squire now. You are good names! very good men, both of you! I accept you. And what is the Title of your Play, here? The Magnetick Lady? Yes, Sir, an attractive title the Author has given it. A Magnete, I warrant you. O, no, from Magnus, Magna, Magnum. This Gentleman, hath found the true magnitude— Of his portall, or entry to the worke, according to Vitruvius. Sir all our worke is done without a Portall— or Vitruvius. In Foro, as a true Comoedy ſhould bee. And what is conceald within, is brought out, and made preſent by report. Wee ſee not that alwayes obſerv'd, by your Authors of theſe times: or ſcarce any other. Where it is not at all knowne, how ſhould it be obſerv'd? The moſt of thoſe your people call Authors, never dreamt of any Decorum, or what was proper in the Scene; but grope at it, i'the darke, and feele, or fumble for it; I ſpeake it, both with their leave, and the leave o'your people. But, why Humors reconcil'd? I would faine know? I can ſatisfie you there, too: if you will. But, perhaps you deſire not to be ſatisfied. No? why ſhould you conceive ſo, Boy? My conceit is not ripe, yet: Ile tell you that anon. The Author, beginning his ſtudies of this kind, with every man in his Humour; and after, every man out of his Humour; and ſince, continuing in all his Playes, eſpecially thoſe of the Comick thred, whereof the New-Inne was the laſt, ſome recent humours ſtill, or manners of men, that went along with the times, finding himſelfe now neare the cloſe, or ſhutting up of his Circle, hath phant'ſied to himſelfe, in Idaea, this Magnetick Miſtris. A Lady a brave bountifull Houſe-keeper, and a vertuous Widow: who having a young Neice, ripe for a man and marriageable, hee makes that his Center attractive, to draw thither a diverſity of Gueſts, all perſons of different humours to make up his Perimiter. And this hee hath call'd Humors reconcil'd. A bold undertaking! and farre greater, then the reconciliation of both Churches, the quarrell betweene humours having beene much the ancienter, and, in my poore opinion, the root of all Schiſme, and Faction, both in Church and Common-wealth. Such is the opinion of many wiſemen, that meet at this ſhop ſtill; but how hee will ſpeed in it, wee cannot tell, and hee himſelfe (it ſeems) leſſecares. For hee will not be intreated by us, to give it a Prologue. He has loſt too much that way already, hee ſayes. Hee will not woo the gentile ignorance ſo much. But careleſſe of all vulgar cenſure, as not depending on common approbation, hee is confident it ſhall ſuper-pleaſe judicious Spectators, and to them he leaves it to worke, with the reſt by example, or otherwiſe.