Jonson, Ben · published 1600 · first performed or written 1599 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.81 · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
No, for you do not know the Humour of the dog as we do: where shall we dine Carlo? I would fain go to one of these Ordinaries now I am a Gentleman. So you may, were you never at none yet? No faith, but they say there resorts your most choice gallants. True, and the fashion is, when any stranger comes in amongst 'em, they all stand up and stare at him, as he were some unknown beast brought out of Afric, but that'll be helped with a good adventurous face, you must be impudent enough, sit down and use no respect, when any thing's propounded above your capacity, smile at it, make two or three faces, and 'tis excellent, they'll think you have travailed: though you argue a whole day in Silence thus, and discourse in nothing but Laughter, 'twill pass. Only (now and then) give fire, Discharge a good full Oath, and offer a great Wager, 'twill be admirable. I warrant you, I am resolute, come good signor, there's a poor French crown for your ordinary. It comes well, for I had not so much as the least Portcullis of come before. I travel with another objection signor, which I fear will be enforced against the Author, ere I can be delivered of it What's that sir? That the argument of his Comedy might have been of some other nature, as of a Duke to be in love with a Countess, & that Countess to be in love with the Duke's son, & the son to love the lady's waiting maid: some such cross wooing, with a Clown to their servingman, better than to be thus near and familiarly allied to the time. You say well, but I would fain hear one of these Autumn- judgements define once, Quid sit Comoedia? if he cannot, let him content himself with Cicero's definition (till he have strength to propose to himself a better) who would have a Comedy to be Imitatio vitae, Speculum Consuetudinis, Imago veritatis, a thing throughout pleasant and ridiculous, and accommodated to the correction of manners: if the maker have failed in any particle of this, they may worthily tax him, but if not, why; be you (that are for them) silent, as I will be for him; and give way to the Actors. Nay Gods-precious, if the weather and the Season be so respectless, that Beggars shall live as well as their betters; and that my hunger and thirst for Riches, shall not make them hunger and thirst with Poverty; that my sleeps shall be broken, and their hearts not broken; that my coffers shall be full, and yet care; theirs empty, and yet merry: 'tis time that a Cross should bear flesh and blood, since flesh and blood cannot bear this cross. What will he hang himself? Faith I, it seems his Prognostication has not kept touch with him, and that makes him despair. Be shrew me, he will be out of his Humour then indeed.
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)
No, for you doe not know the Humor of the dog as wee do: whereshall we dine Carlo? I would faine goe to one of these Ordinaries now I am a Gentleman. So you may, were you neuer at none yet? No faith, but they say there resorts your most choise gallants. True, and the fashion is, when any straunger comes in amongst 'hem, they all stand vp and stare at him, as hee were some vnknowne beast brought out of Affricke, but that'll bee help't with a good adventurous face, you must bee impudent ynough, sit downe and vse no respect, when any thing's propounded aboue your capacitie, smile at it, make two or three faces, and 'tis excellent, they 'le thinke you haue trauail'd: though you argue a whole day in Silence thus, and discourse in nothing but Laughter, 'twill passe. Onely (now and then) giue fire, Discharge a good full Oth, and offer a great VVager, 'twill be admirable. I warrant you, I am resolute, come good Signior, theres a poore French crowne for your Ordenarie. It comes well, for I had not so much as the least Portullice of come before. I trauell with another objection Signior, which I feare will be enforc'd against the Author, ere I can be deliuer'd of it VVhat's that sir? That the argument of his Comedie might haue ben of some other nature, as of a Duke to be in loue with a Countesse, & that Countesse to be in loue with the Dukes son, & the son to loue the Ladies waiting maid: some such crosse woing, with a Clowne to their seruingman, better than to be thus neere and familiarly allied to the time. You say well, but I would faine hear one of these Autumne- judgements define once, Quid sit Comoedia? if he cannot, let him content himselfe with Ciceros definition (till hee haue strength to propose to himself a better) who would haue a Comedie to be mitatio vitae, Speculum Consuetudinis, Imago veritatis, a thing throughout pleasant and ridiculous, and accommodated to the correction of manners: if the maker haue fail'd in any particle of this, they may worthily taxe him, but if not, why; be you (that are for them) silent, as I will bee for him; and giue way to the Actors. Nay Gods-pretious, if the weather and the Season be so respectlesse, that Beggers shall liue as well as their betters; and that my hunger and thirst for Riches, shall not make them hunger and thirst with Pouertie; that my sleepes shall be broken, and their hearts not broken; that my coffers shall be full, and yet care; theirs emptie, and yet merry: Tis time that a Crosse should beare flesh and bloud, since flesh and bloud cannot beare this crosse. VVhat will he hang himselfe? Faith I, it seemes his Prognostication has not kept touch with him, and that makes him despaire. Be shrow me, he wil be out of his Humor then indeed.