Jonson, Ben · published 1600 · first performed or written 1599 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T62 The courtier as a type: fashion, affecta · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T62: courtier, shrug, face, court, italian, monsieur, scholar, fashion, french, courtiers.
What's he, gentle Monsieur Briske? not that Gentleman? No Lady, this is a Kinsman of justice Silence. Pray sir, give me leave to report him: he's a Gentleman (Lady) of that rare and admirable faculty, as (I protest) I know not his like in Europe: he is exceedingly Valiant, an excellent Scholar, and so exactly travailed, that he is able in discourse, to deliver you a Model of any PRINCE's Court in the world: speaks the Languages with that purity of Phrase, and facility of Accent, that it breeds astonishment: his Wit, the most Exuberant, and (above wonder) pleasant, of all that ever entered the concave of this care. 'Tis most true Lady; mary he is no such excellent proper man. His Travails have changed his complexion, Madam. O Sir Puntarvolo, you must think every man was not borne to have my Servant Briske's feature. But that which transcends all, Lady; he doth so Peerlessely imitate any manner of person for Gesture, Action, Passion, or whatever— ay, especially a Rustic or a Clown Madam, that it is not possible for the sharpest-sighted wit (in the world) to discern any sparks of the Gentleman in him, when he does it. O Monsieur Briske, be not so Tyrannous to confine all Wits within the compass of your own: Not find the sparks of a Gentleman in him, if he be a Gentleman? No in truth (sweet Lady) I believe you cannot. Do you believe so? Why I can find sparks of a Gentleman in you Sir. ay, he is a Gentleman Madam, and a Reveller. Indeed I think I have seen your Ladyship at our Revels. Like enough sir: but would I might see this wonder you talk of: may one have a sight of him for any reasonable sum? Yes Madam, he will arrive presently. What, and shall we see him Clown it? i'faith (sweet Lady) that you shall: see here he comes. This is he; pray observe him Lady. Beshrew me, he clowns it properly indeed. Nay, mark his Courtship. How does my sweet Lady; hot and moist? Beautiful and lusty? ha? Beautiful and it please you sir, but not lusty. O ho Lady; it pleases you to say so in truth: and how does my sweet Lady; in health? Bonaroba, quaeso? que Novelles? que Novelles? Sweet creature. O excellent: why Gallants, is this he cannot be Deciphered? they were very blear-witted i'faith that could not discern the Gentleman in him. But do you, in earnest Lady? Do I sir? why if you had any true Court-judgement in the carriage of his eye, and that inward power that forms his countenance, you might perceive his counterfeiting as clear as the noon day: Alas; Nay if you would have tried my Wit indeed, you should never have told me he was a Gentleman, but presented him for a true Clown indeed; and then have seen if I could have Deciphered him. 'Fore God, her Ladyship says true (Knight:) but does he not affect the Clown most naturally, Mistress?
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)
VVhat's hee, gentle Monsieur Briske? not that Gentleman? No Lady, this is a Kinsman of Iustice Silence. Pray' sir, giue me leaue to report him: hee's a Gentleman (Ladie) of that rare and admirable acultie, as (I protest) I know not his like in Europe: he is exceedingly Valiant, an excellent Scholler, and so exactly trauail'd, that hee is able in discourse, to deliuer you a Modell of any Princes Court in the world: 'speakes the Languages with that puritie of Phrase, and facilitie of Accent, that it breeds astonishment: his VVit, the most Exuberant, and (aboue wonder) pleasant, of all that euer entred the concaue of this care. 'Tis most true Ladie; mary he is no such excellent proper man. His Trauailes haue chang'd his complexion, Madam. O Sir Puntarvolo, you must thinke euery man was not borne to haue my Seruant Briskes feature. But that which transcends all, Ladie; he doth so Peerlessely imitate any manner of person for Gesture, Action, Passion, or what euer— I, especially a Rusticke or a Clowne Madam, that it is not possible for the sharpest-sighted wit (in the world) to discerne any sparkes of the Gentleman in him, when he does it. O Monsieur Briske, be not so Tyranous to confine all VVits within the compasse of your owne: Not find the sparks of a Gentleman in him, if he be a Gentleman? No in truth (sweet Ladie) I beleeue you cannot. Doe you beleeue so? Why I can find sparkes of a Gentleman in you Sir. I, he is a Gentleman Madam, and a Reueller. Indeed I thinke I haue seene your Ladiship at our Reuels. Like enough sir: but would I might see this wonder you talke of: may one haue a sight of him for any reasonable summe? Yes Madam, he will arriue presently. VVhat, and shall we see him Clowne it? I faith (sweet Ladie) that you shall: see here he comes. This is hee; pray obserue him Ladie. Beshrew me, he Clownes it properly indeed. Nay, marke his Courtship. How does my sweet Ladie; hote and moist? Beautifull and lustie? ha? Beautifull and it please you sir, but not lustie. O ho Ladie; it pleases you to say so in truth: and how does my sweet Ladie; in health? Bonaroba, quaeso? que Novelles? que Novelles? Sweet creature. O excellent: why Gallants, is this hee cannot be Decipher'd? they were very bleare-witted yfaith that could not discerne the Gentleman in him. But doe you, in earnest Ladie? Doe I sir? why if you had any true Court-judgement in the carriage of his eye, and that inward power that forms his countenance, you might perceiue his counterfaiting as cleere as the noone day: Alas; Nay if you would haue tried my VVit indeed, you should neuer haue told me hee was a Gentleman, but presented him for a true Clowne indeed; and then haue seene if I could haue Decipher'd him. 'Fore God, her Ladiship sayes true (Knight:) but does he not affect the Clowne most naturally, Mistresse?