Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 31 of 66
Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1600 [1600-1601] (Annals) satire · Children of the Chapel (second) T62 The courtier as a type: fashion, affecta typicality 0.77 · 518 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T62: courtier, shrug, face, court, italian, monsieur, scholar, fashion, french, courtiers.
Say you so? methinks, he looks like a tailor already. ay, that had said on one of his customers suits. His face is like a squeezed orange, or— Well, ladies, jest on: the best of you both would be glad of such a servant. ay, I'll be sworn would they, though he be a little shamefaced. Shamefaced, MORIA! out upon him. Your shamefaced servant is your only gull. Go to, Beauties, make much of time, and place, and occasion, and opportunity, and favourites, and things that belong to 'em, for I'll ensure you, they will all relinquish; they cannot endure above another year; I know it out of future experience: and therefore take exhibition, and warning. I was once a reveller myself, and though I speak it (as mine own trumpet) I was then esteemed— The very marchpane of the court, I warrant you? And all the gallants came about you like flies, did they not? Go to, they did somewhat, that's no matter now. Nay, good MORIA, be not angry. Put case, that we four now had the grant from JUNO, to wish ourselves into what happy estate we could? what would you wish to be, MORIA? Who I? Let me see now. I would wish to be a wise woman, and know all the secrets of court, city, and country. I would know what were done behind the arras, what upon the stairs, what i' the garden, what i' the nymph's chamber, what by barge, & what by coach. I would tell you which courtier were scabbed, and which not; which lady had her own face to lie with her a-nights, & which not; who put off their teeth with their clothes in court, who their hair, who their complexion; and in which box they put it. There should not a Nymph, or a widow be got with child i' the verge, but I would guess (within one or two,) who was the right father: and in what month it was gotten; with what words; and which way. I would tell you, which Madame loved a Monsieur, which a player, which a page; who slept with her husband, who with her friend, who with her gentleman-usher, who with her horse-keeper, who with her monkey, and who with all. Yes, and who jigged the cock too. Fie, you'd tell all, If I should wish now, it should be to have your tongue out. But what says PHILAUTIA? who would she be? Troth, the very same I am. Only I would wish myself a little more command, and sovereignty; that all the court were subject to my absolute beck, and all things in it depending on my look; as if there were no other heaven, but in my smile, nor other hell, but in my frown; that I might send for any man I list, and have his head cut off, when I have done with him; or made an eunuch, if he denied me: and if I saw a better face than mine own, I might have my doctor to poison it. What would you wish, PHANTASTE?
seed 43: T60 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Say you so? me thinkes, he lookes like a taylour alreadie. I, that had sayed on one of his customers sutes. His face is like a squeezed orange, or— Well, ladies, jest on: the best of you both would be glad of such a seruant. I, I'le be sworne would they, though hee be a little shame-fac'd. Shame-fac'd, MORIA! out vpon him. Your shame-fac'd seruant is your onely gull. Goe to, Beauties, make much of time, and place, and occasion, and opportunitie, and fauourites, and things that belong to 'hem, for I'le ensure you, they will all relinquish; they cannot indure aboue another yeere; I know it out of future experience: and therefore take exhibition, and warning. I was once a reueller my selfe, and though I speak it (as mine owne trumpet) I was then esteem'd— The very march-pane of the court, I warrant you? And all the gallants came about you like slyes, did they not? Goe to, they did somewhat, that's no matter now. Nay, good MORIA, be not angrie. Put case, that wee foure now had the grant from IVNO, to wish our selues into what happie estate wee could? what would you wish to be, MORIA? Who I? Let me see now. I would wish to be a wise woman, and know all the secrets of court, citie, and countrie. I would know what were done behind the arras, what vpon the staires, what i' the garden, what i' the Nymphs chamber, what by barge, & what by coach. I would tel you which courtier were scabbed, and which not; which ladie had her owne face to lie with her a-nights, & which not; who put off their teeth with their clothes in court, who their haire, who their complexion; and in which boxe they put it. There should not a Nymph, or a widdow be got with childe i' the verge, but I would guesse (within one or two,) who was the right father: and in what moneth it was gotten; with what words; and which way. I would tell you, which Madame lou'd a Monsieur, which a player, which a page; who slept with her husband, who with her friend, who with her gentleman-vsher, who with her horse-keeper, who with her monkie, and who with all. Yes, and who jigg'd the cocke too. Fye, you'ld tell all, If I should wish now, it should bee to haue your tongue out. But what sayes PHILAVTIA? who would she be? Troth, the verie same I am. Onely I would wish my selfe a little more command, and soueraignetie; that all the court were subiect to my absolute becke, and all things in it depending on my looke; as if there were no other heauen, but in my smile, nor other hell, but in my frowne; that I might send for any man I list, and haue his head cut off, when I haue done with him; or made an eunuch, if he denyed mee: and if I saw a better face then mine owne, I might haue my doctor to poyson it. What would you wish, PHANTASTE?