Marston, John · published 1602 · first performed or written 1602 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.83 · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
'tis steady, and must seem so impregnably fortressed with his own content, that no envious thought could ever invade his spirit: never surveying any man so unmeasuredly happy, whom I thought not justly hateful for some true impoverishment: never beholding any favour of Madam Felicity gracing another, which his well bounded content persuaded not to hang in the front of his own fortune: and therefore as far from envying any man, as he valued all men infinitely distant from accomplished beatitude. These native adjuncts appropriate to me the name of Feliche. But last, good thy humour. 'tis to be described by signs & tokens. For unless I were possessed with a legion of spirits, 'tis impossible to be perspicuous by any utterance: For sometimes he must take austere state, as for the person of Galeatzo, the son of the duke of Florence, & possess his exterior presence with a formal majesty: keep popularity in distance, and on the sudden fling his honour so prodigally into a common Arm, that he may seem to give up his indiscretion to the mercy of vulgar censure: Now as solemn as a travailer, and as grave as a Puritans ruff: with the same breath as slight and scattered in his fashion as as as a a any thing. Now, as sweet and neat as a barbours's casting-bottle; straight as slovenly as the yeasty breast of an Ale-knight: now, lamenting: then chafing: straight laughing: then What then? Faith I know not what: 'thad been a right part for Proteus or Gew: ho, blind Gew would ha' done't rarely, rarely. I fear it is not possible to limb so many persons in so small a tablet as the compass of our plays afford. Right: therefore I have heard that those persons, as he & you Feliche, that are but slightly drawn in this Comedy, should receive more exact accomplishment in a second Part: which, if this obtain gracious acceptance, means to try his fortune. Peace, here comes the Prologue, clear the Stage. THE wreath of pleasure, and delicious sweets, begird the gentle front of this fair troup: Select, and most respected Auditors, For wit's sake do not dream of miracles. Alas, we shall but falter, if you lay The least sad weight of an unused hope, Upon our weakness: only we give up The worthless present of flight idleness, To your authentic censure; O that our Muse Had those abstruse and sinewy faculties, That with a strain of fresh invention She might press out the rarity of Art; The purest elixed juice of rich conceit, In your attentive ears; that with the lip Of gracious elocution, we might drink A sound carouse unto your health of wit. But O, the heathy dryness of her brain, Foil to your fertile spirits, is ashamed To breathe her blushing numbers to such ears: Yet (most ingenious) deign to vail our wants; With sleek acceptance, polish these rude Scenes: And if our slightness your large hope beguiles, Check not with bended brow, but dimpled smiles.
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)
Tis steddie, and must seeme so impregnably fortrest with his own cōtent, that no enuious thought could euer inuade his spirit: neuer surueying any man so vnmeasuredly happie, whome I thought not iustly hatefull for some true impouerishment: neuer beholding any fauour of Madam Felicity gracing another, which his well bounded content perswaded not to hang in the front of his owne fortune: and therefore as farre from enuying any man, as he valued all men infinitely distant from accomplisht beatitude. These natiue adiuncts appropriate to me the name of Feliche. But last, good thy humour. Tis to be describ'd by signes & tokens. For vnlesse I were possest with a legiō of spirits, 'tis impossible to be perspicuous by any vtterance: For sometimes he must take austere state, as for the person of Galeatzo, the sonne of the duke of Florence, & possesse his exteriour presence with a formall maiestie: keepe popularitie in distance, and on the sudden fling his honour so prodigally into a common Arme, that hee may seeme to giue vp his indiscretion to the mercy of vulgar cēsure: Now as solemne as a trauailer, and as graue as a Puritanes ruffe: with the same breath as slight and scatterd in his fashion as as as a a any thing. Now, as sweet and neat as a Barbours casting-bottle; straight as slouenly as the yeasty breast of an Ale-knight: now, lamenting: then chafing: straight laughing: then What then? Faith I know not what: 'rad bene a right part for Proteus or Gew: ho, blinde Gew would ha don't rarely, rarely. I feare it is not possible to limme so many persons in so small a tablet as the compasse of our playes afford. Right: therefore I haue heard that those persons, as he & you Feliche, that are but slightly drawen in this Comedie, should receiue more exact accomplishment in a second Part: which, if this obtaine gratious acceptance, meanes to try his fortune. Peace, here comes the Prologue, cleare the Stage. THE wreath of pleasure, and delicious sweetes, Begirt the gentle front of this faire troope: Select, and most respected Auditours, For wits sake doe not dreame of miracles. Alas, we shall but falter, if you lay The least sad waight of an vnused hope, Vpon our weakenesse: onely we giue vp The woorthlesse present of flight idlenesse, To your authentick censure; Othat our Muse Had those abstruse and synowy faculties, That with a straine of fresh inuention She might presse out the raritie of Art; The pur'st elixed ioyce of rich conceipt, In your attentiue eares; that with the lip Of gratious elocution, we might drinke A sound carouse vnto your health of wit. But O, the heathy drynesse of her braine, Foyle to your fertile spirits, is asham'd To breath her blushing numbers to such eares: Yet (most ingenious) deigne to vaile our wants; With sleeke acceptance, polish these rude Sceanes: And if our slightnesse your large hope beguiles, Check not with bended brow, but dimpled smiles.