The Spanish Tragedy (Hieronimo is Mad Again) · chunk 36 of 41
Kyd, Thomas · published 1592 · first performed or written 1587 [1585-1589; revised c.1597(?) and 1601-2] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 518 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
And now it shall be played by Princes and Courtiers such as can tell how to speak: If as it is our Country manner, You will but let us know the argument. That shall I roundly: the Chronicles of Spain Record this written of a Knight of Rhodes, He was betrothed and wedded at the length, To one Perseda an Italian dame. Whose beauty ravished all that her beheld, Especially the soul of Soliman, Who at the marriage way the chiefest guest. By sundry means sought Soliman to win, Perseda's love, and could not gain the same. Then 'gan he break his passions to a friend, One of his bashaws whom he held full dear, Her had this Bashaw long solicited, And saw she was not otherwise to be won, But by her husband's death this Knight of Rhodes. Whom presently by treachery he slew, She stirred with an exceeding hate therefore, As cause of this slew Soliman. And to escape the bashaws tyranny, Did stab herself, and this the Tragedy. O excellent. But say Hieronimo what then became of him That was the Bashaw? Marry thus, moved with remorse of his misdeeds Ran to a mountain top and hung himself. But which of us is to perform that part, O, that will I my Lords, make no doubt of it. I'll play the murderer I warrant you, For I already have conceited that. And what shall I. Great Soliman the Turkish Emperor. And I. Erastus the Knight of Rhodes, And I. Perseda, chaste and resolute. And here my Lords are several abstracts drawn, For each of you to note your parts, And act it as occasion's offered you. You must provide a turkish cap, A black mustacio and a falchion. You with a cross like to a Knight of Rhodes. And madam, you must attire yourself, Like Phoebe, Flora, or the huntress, Which to your discretion shall seem best. And as for me my Lords I'll look to one, And with the ransom that the Viceroy sent, So furnish and perform this tragedy, As all the world shall say Hieronimo, Was liberal in gracing of it so. Hieronimo, methinks a Comedy were better. A Comedy, fie, comedies are fit for common wits But to present a Kingly troop withal, Give me a stately written Tragedy. Tragedia cothernato, fitting Kings, Containing matter, and not common things. My Lords, all this must be performed, As sitting for the first nights reveling. The Italian Tragedians were so sharp of wit, That in one hours meditation, They would perform any thing in action. And well it may, for I have seen the like In Paris, 'mongst the French Tragedians. In Paris, mass and well remembered, There's one thing more that rests for us to do. What's that Hieronimo forget not any thing. Each one of us must act his part, In unknown languages, That it may breed the more variety. As you my Lord in Latin, I in Greek, You in Italian, and for because I know, That Bel-imperia hath practised the French, In courtly French shall all her phrases be.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
And now it shall be plaide by Princes and Courtiers such as can tell how to speak: If as it is our Country manner, You will but let vs know the argument. That shall I roundly: the Cronicles of Spaine Recorde this written of a Knight of Rodes, He was betrothed and wedded at the length, To one Perseda an Italian dame. Whose beauty rauished all that her behelde, Especially the soule of Soliman, Who at the marriage way the cheefest guest. By sundry meanes sought Soliman to winne, Persedas loue, and could not gaine the same. Then gan he break his passions to a freend, One of his Bashawes whom he held full deere, Her had this Bashaw long solicited, And saw she was not otherwise to be wonne, But by her husbands death this Knight of Rodes. Whome presently by trecherie he slew, She stirde with an exceeding hate therefore, As cause of this slew Soliman. And to escape the Bashawes tirannie, Did stab her selfe, and this the Tragedie. O excellent. But say Hieronimo what then became of him That was the Bashaw? Marrie thus, moued with remorse of his misdeeds Ran to a mountain top and hung himselfe. But which of vs is to performe that parte, O, that will I my Lords, make no doubt of it▪ Ile play the murderer I warrant you, For I already haue conceited that. And what shall I. Great Soliman the Turkish Emperour. And I. Erastus the Knight of Rhodes, And I. Perseda, chaste and resolute. And heere my Lords are seuerall abstracts drawne, For eache of you to note your partes, And act it as occasion's offred you. You must prouide a turkish cappe, A black mustacio and a fauchion. You with a crosse like to a Knight of Rhodes. And Madame, you must attire your selfe, Like Phoeb, Flora, or the huntresse, Which to your discretion shall seeme best. And as for me my Lords Ile looke to one, And with the raunsome that the Vice-roy sent, So furnish and performe this tragedie, As all the world shall say Hieronimo, Was liberall in gracing of it so. Hieronimo, me thinks a Comedie were better. A Comedie, fie, comedies are fit for common wits But to present a Kingly troupe withall, Giue me a stately written Tragedie. Tragedia cother nato, fitting Kings, Containing matter, and not common things. My Lords, all this must be perfourmed, As itting for the first nights reuelling. The Italian Tragedian were so sharpe of wit, That in one houres meditation, They would performe any thing in action. And well it may, for I haue seene the like In Paris, mongst the French Tragedians. In Paris, mas and well remembred, Theres one thing more that rests for vs to doo. Whats that Hieronimo forget not any thing. Each one of vs must act his parte, In vnknowne languages, That it may breede the more varietie. As you my Lord in Latin, I in Greeke, You in Italian, and for because I know, That Bel-imperia hath practised the French, In courtly French shall all her phraises be.