Shakespeare, William · published 1600 · first performed or written 1596 [1594-1596] (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 490 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our Interlude, before the Duke, & the Duchess, on his wedding day at night. First good Peter Quince, say what the Play treats on: then read the names of the Actors: & so grow to a point. Mary, our Play is the most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe. A very good piece of work, I assure you, & a merry. Now good Peter Quince, call forth your Actors, by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves. Answer, as I call you. Nick Bottom, the Weaver? Ready: Name what part I am for, and proceed. You, Nick Bottom are set down for Pyramus. What is Pyramus? A lover, or a tyrant? A lover that kills himself, most gallant, for love. That will ask some tears in the true performing of it. If I do it, let the Audience look to their eyes: I will move storms: I will condole, in some measure. To the rest yet, my chief humour is for a tyrant. I could play Hercules rarely, or a part to tear a Catin, to make all split the raging rocks: and shivering shocks, shall break the locks of prison gates, and Phibbus car shall shine from far, and make & mar the foolish Fates. This was lofty. Now, name the rest of the Players. This is Hercules vain, a tyrant's vain: A lover is more condoling. Francis Flute, the bellows mender? Here Peter Quince. Flute, you must take Thisbe, on you. What is Thisbe? A wandering knight? It is the Lady, that Pyramus must love. Nay faith: let not me play a woman: I have a beard coming. That's all one: you shall play it in a Mask: and you may speak as small as you will. And I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe to: I'll speak in a monstrous little voice; Thisbe, Thisbe, ah Pyramus, my lover dear, thy Thysby dear, & Lady dear. No, no▪ you must play Pyramus: & Flute, you Thysby. Well, proceed. Robin Starueling, the Tailor? Here Peter Quince. Robin Starueling, you must play Thysbyes' mother▪ Tom Snowte, the Tinker? Here Peter Quince. You, Pyramus father; myself, Thisbe's father; Snugge, the joiner, you the lions part: And I hope here is a Play fitted. Have you the lions part written? Pray you, if it be, give it me▪ for I am slow of study. You may do it, extempore: for it is nothing but roaring. Let me play the Lion to. I will roar, that I will do any man's heart good to heat me. I will roar, that I will make the Duke say; Let him roar again: let him roar again. And you should do it too terribly, you would fright the Duchess, and the Ladies, that they would shriek: and that were enough to hang us all.
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)
Here is the scrowle of euery mans name, which is thought fit, through al Athens, to play in our Enterlude, before the Duke, & the Dutches, on his wedding day at night. First good Peeter Quince, say what the Play treats on: then read the names of the Actors: & so grow to a point. Mary, our Play is the most lamentable comedy, and most cruell death of Pyramus and Thisby. A very good peece of worke, I assure you, & a merry. Now good Peeter Quince, call forth your Actors, by the scrowle. Masters, spreade your selues. Answere, as I call you. Nick Bottom, the Weauer? Readie: Name what part I am for, and proceede. You, Nick Bottom are set downe for Pyramus. What is Pyramus? A louer, or a tyrant? A louer that kils himselfe, most gallant, for loue. That will aske some teares in the true performing of it. If I doe it, let the Audience looke to their eyes: I wil mooue stormes: I will condole, in some measure. To the rest yet, my chiefe humour is for a tyrant. I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to teare a Catin, to make all split the raging rocks: and shiuering shocks, shall breake the locks of prison gates, and Phibbus carre shall shine from farre, and make & marre the foolish Fates. This was loftie. Now, name the rest of the Players. This is Ercles vaine, a tyrants vaine: A louer is more condoling. Francis Flute, the Bellowes mender? Here Peeter Quince. Flute, you must take Thisby, on you. What is Thisby? A wandring knight? It is the Lady, that Pyramus must loue. Nay faith: let not me play a womā: I haue a beard cō ming. Thats all one: you shall play it in a Maske: and you may speake as small as you will. And I may hide my face, let me play Thisby to: Ile speake in a monstrous little voice; Thisne, Thisne, ah Pyramus, my louer deare, thy Thysby deare, & Lady deare. No, no▪ you must play Pyramus: & Flute, you Thysby. Well, proceede. Robin Starueling, the Tailer? Here Peeter Quince. Robin Starueling, you must play Thysbyes mother▪ Tom Snowte, the Tinker? Here Peter Quince. You, Pyramus father; my selfe, Thisbies father; Snugge, the Ioyner, you the Lyons part: And I hope here is a Play fitted. Haue you the Lyons part written? Pray you, if it bee, giue it mee▪ for I am slowe of studie. You may doe it, extempore: for it is nothing but roaring. Let mee play the Lyon to. I will roare, that I will doe any mans heart good to heate mee. I will roare, that I will make the Duke say; Let him roare againe: let him roare againe. And you should do it too terribly, you would fright the Dutchesse, and the Ladies, that they would shrike: and that were inough to hang vs all.