Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 30 of 66
Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1600 [1600-1601] (Annals) satire · Children of the Chapel (second) T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.67 · 518 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Come, sit down; troth (and you be good Beauties) let's run over 'em all now: Which is the proper'st man amongst them? I say, the travailer, AMORPHUS. O, fie on him, he looks like a venetian trumpeter, i' the battle of Lepanto, in the gallery yonder; and speaks to the tune of a country lady, that comes ever i' the rearward, or train of a fashion. I should have judgement in a feature, sweet Beauties. A body would think so, at these years. And I prefer another now, far before him, a million at least. Who might that be, Guardian? marry (fair Charge) ANAIDES. ANAIDES! you talked of a tune PHILAUTIA, there's one speaks in a key: like the opening of some justices gate, or a post-boy's horn, as if his voice feared an arrest for some ill words it should give, and were loath to come forth. ay, and he has a very imperfect face. Like a sea-monster, that were to ravish ANDROMEDA from the rock. His hand's too great too, by at least a straws breadth Nay, he has a worse fault than that, too. A long heel? That were a fault in a lady, rather than him: No, they say, he puts off the calves of his legs, with his stockings, every night. Out upon him: turn to another of the pictures, for loves sake. What says ARGURION? whom does she commend, afore the rest? I hope, I have instructed her sufficiently for an answer. Troth, I made the motion to her ladyship for one today, i' the presence, but it appeared she was otherways furnished before: She would none. Who was that, ARGURION? marry, the poor plain gentleman, i' the black, there. Who, CRITES? ay, ay, he. A fellow, that nobody so much as looked upon, or regarded, and she would have had me done him particular grace. That was a true trick of yourself, MORIA, to persuade ARGURION, to affect the scholar. Tut, but she shall be no chooser for me. In good faith, I like the citizen's son there, ASOTUS, methinks, none of them all come near him. Not, HEDON? HEDON, in troth no. HEDON'S a pretty slight courtier, and he wears his clothes well, and sometimes in fashion; Marry, his face is but indifferent, and he has no such excellent body. No, th'other is a most delicate youth, a sweet face, a straight body, a well proportioned leg and foot, a white hand, a tender voice. How now, ARGURION? O, you should have let her alone, she was bestowing a copy of him upon us. Such a nose were enough to make me love a man, now. And then his several colours he wears; wherein he flourisheth changeably, every day. O, but his short hair, and his narrow eyes! Why, she dotes more palpably upon him, then ere his father did upon her. Believe me, the young gentleman deserves it. If she could dote more, 'twere not amiss. He is an exceeding proper youth, and would have made a most neat barber-surgeon, if he had been put to it in time.
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)
Come, sit downe; troth (and you be good Beauties) let's runne ouer 'hem all now: Which is the properst man amongst them? I say, the trauailer, AMORPHVS. O, fie on him, he lookes like a venetian trumpetter, i' the battaile of Lepanto, in the gallerie yonder; and speakes to the tune of a countrey ladie, that comes euer i' the rereward, or traine of a fashion. I should haue iudgement in a feature, sweet Beauties. A bodie would thinke so, at these yeeres. And I preferre another now, far before him, a million at least. Who might that be, Guardian? Mary (faire Charge) ANAIDES. ANAIDES! you talk't of a tune PHILAVTIA, there's one speakes in a key: like the opening of some Iustices gate, or a poste-boies horne, as if his voice fear'd an arrest for some ill wordes it should giue, and were loth to come forth. I, and he has a very imperfect face. Like a sea-monster, that were to rauish ANDROMEDA from the rocke. His hand's too great too, by at least a strawes breadth Nay, he has a worse fault then that, too. A long heele? That were a fault in a ladie, rather then him: No, they say, hee puts off the calues of his legs, with his stockings, euery night. Out vpon him: turne to another of the pictures, for loues sake. What saies ARGVRION? whom doo's shee commend, afore the rest? I hope, I haue instructed her sufficiently for an answere. Troth, I made the motion to her ladiship for one to day, i' the presence, but it appear'd shee was other-waies furnisht before: Shee would none. Who was that, ARGVRION? Mary, the poore plaine gentleman, i' the blacke, there. Who, CRITES? I, I, he. A fellow, that no body so much as lookt vpon, or regarded, and shee would haue had me done him particular grace. That was a true tricke of your selfe, MORIA, to perswade ARGVRION, to affect the scholer. Tut, but shee shall be no chuser for me. In good faith, I like the citizens sonne there, ASOTVS, mee thinkes, none of them all come neere him. Not, HEDON? HEDON, in troth no. HEDON'S a pretty slight courtier, and he weares his clothes well, and sometimes in fashion; Mary, his face is but indifferent, and he has no such excellent body. No, th'other is a most delicate youth, a sweet face, a streight body, a well proportion'd legge and foot, a white hand, a tender voice. How now, ARGVRION? O, you should haue let her alone, shee was bestowing a copy of him vpon vs. Such a nose were inough to make me loue a man, now. And then his seuerall colours he weares; wherein he flourisheth changeably, euery day. O, but his short haire, and his narrow eyes! Why, shee dotes more palpably vpon him, then ere his father did vpon her. Beleeue mee, the young gentleman deserues it. If shee could dote more, 'twere not amisse. Hee is an exceeding proper youth, and would haue made a most neate barber-surgeon, if hee had beene put to it in time.