The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled · chunk 19 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 0.73 · 472 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
This Riddle shows A little like a Love-trick, o' one face, If I could understand it. I will study it. But whom doth your Poet mean now by this— Mr. Bias? what Lord's Secretary, doth he purpose to personate, or perstringe? You might as well ask me, what Alderman, or Alderman's Mate, he meant by Sir Moth Interest? or what eminent Lawyer, by the ridiculous Mr. Practise? who hath rather his name invented for laughter, than any offence, or injury it can stick on the reverend Professors of the Law: And so the wise ones will think. It is an insidious Question, Brother Damplay! Iniquity itself would not have urged it. It is picking the Lock of the Scene; not opening it the fair way with a Key. A Play, though it apparel, and present vices in general, flies from all particularities in persons. Would you ask of Plantus, and Terence, (if they both lived now) who were Davus, or Pseudolus in the Scene? who Pyrgopolinices, or Thraso? who Euclio or Menedemus? Yes, he would: And inquire of Martial, or any other Epigrammatist, whom he meant by Titius, or Seius (the common John à Noke, or Iohn à Style) under whom they note all vices, and errors taxable to the Times? As if there could not be a name for a Folly fitted to the Stage, but there must be a person in nature, found out to own it. Why, I can fantasy a person to myself Boy, who shall hinder me? And, in not publishing him, you do no man an injury. But if you will utter your own ill meaning on that person, under the Author's words, you make a Libel of his Comedy. O, he told us that in a Prologue, long since. If you do the same reprehensible ill things, still the same reprehension will serve you, though you heard it afore: They are his own words. I can invent no better, nor he. It is the solemn vice of interpretation, that deforms the figure of many a fair Scene, by drawing it awry; and indeed is the civil murder of most good Plays: If I see a thing vively presented on the Stage, that the Glass of custom (which is Comedy) is so held up to me, by the Poet, as I can therein view the daily examples of men's lives, and images of Truth, in their manners, so drawn for my delight, or profit, as I may (either way) use them: and will I, rather (than make that true use) hunt out the Persons to defame, by my malice of misapplying? and imperill the innocence, and candour of the Author, by his calumny? It is an unjust way of hearing, and beholding Plays, this, and most unbecoming a Gentleman to appear malignantly witty in another's Worke.
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)
This Riddle ſhewes A little like a Love-trick, o' one face, If I could underſtand it. I will ſtudie it. But whom doth your Poët meane now by this— Mr. Bias? what Lords Secretary, doth hee purpoſe to perſonate, or perſtringe? You might as well aske mee, what Alderman, or Aldermans Mate, hee meant by Sir Moath Intereſt? or what eminent Lawyer, by the ridiculous Mr. Practiſe? who hath rather his name invented for laughter, then any offence, or injury it can ſtick on the reverend Profeſſors of the Law: And ſo the wiſe ones will thinke. It is an inſidious Queſtion, Brother Damplay! Iniquity it ſelfe would not have urg'd it. It is picking the Lock of the Scene; not opening it the faire way with a Key. A Play, though it apparell, and preſent vices in generall, flies from all particularities in perſons. Would you aske of Plantus, and Terence, (if they both liv'd now) who were Davus, or Pſeudolus in the Scene? who Pyrgopolinices, or Thraſo? who Euclio or Menedemus? Yes, he would: And inquire of Martial, or any other Epigrammatiſt, whom he meant by Titius, or Seius (the common John à Noke, or Iohn à Style) under whom they note all vices, and errors taxable to the Times? As if there could not bee a name for a Folly fitted to the Stage, but there muſt be a perſon in nature, found out to owne it. Why, I can phant'ſie a perſon to my ſelfe Boy, who ſhall hinder me? And, in not publiſhing him, you doe no man an injury. But if you will utter your owne ill meaning on that perſon, under the Authors words, you make a Libell of his Comoedy. O, hee told us that in a Prologue, long ſince. If you doe the ſame reprehenſible ill things, ſtill the ſame reprehenſion will ſerve you, though you heard it afore: They are his owne words. I can invent no better, nor he. It is the ſolemne vice of interpretation, that deformes the figure of many a faire Scene, by drawing it awry; and indeed is the civill murder of moſt good Playes: If I ſee a thing vively preſented on the Stage, that the Glaſſe of cuſtome (which is Comedy) is ſo held up to me, by the Poet, as I can therein view the daily examples of mens lives, and images of Truth, in their manners, ſo drawne for my delight, or profit, as I may (either way) uſe them: and will I, rather (then make that true uſe) hunt out the Perſons to defame, by my malice of miſapplying? and imperill the innocence, and candor of the Author, by his calumnie? It is an unjuſt way of hearing, and beholding Playes, this, and moſt unbecomming a Gentleman to appeare malignantly witty in anothers Worke.