Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1601 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (second) unassigned nearest T35 Fools, wit and railing · 462 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
Shall I tell you? Yes, and ingenuously. Then, by the hope, Which I prefer unto all other objects, I can profess, I never writ that piece More innocent, or empty of offence. Some salt it had, but neither tooth, nor gall, Nor was there in it any circumstance, Which, in the setting down, I could suspect Might be perverted by an enemy's tongue. Only, it had the fault to be called mine. That was the crime. No? why they, say you taxed The Law, and Lawyers; Captains; and the Players By their particular names. It is not so. I used no name. My Books have still been taught To spare the persons, and to speak the vices. These are mere slanders, and enforced by such As have no safer ways to men's disgraces, But their own lies, and loss of honesty. fellows of practised, and most laxative tongues, Whose empty and eager bellies, i' the year, Compel their brains to many desp'rate shifts, (I spare to name 'em: for, their wretchedness, Fury itself would pardon.) These, or such Whether of malice, or of ignorance, Or itch, t'have me their adversary (I know not) Or all these mixed; but sure I am, three years, They did provoke me with their petulant styles On every stage: And I at last, unwilling, But weary, I confess, of so much trouble, Thought, I would try, if shame could win upon 'em. And therefore chose AUGUSTUS Caesar's times, When wit, and arts were at their height in Rome, To show that VIRGIL, HORACE, and the rest Of those great master-spirits did not want Detractors, then, or practisers against them: And by this line (although no parallel) I hoped at last they would sit down, and blush. But nothing could I find more contrary. And though the impudence of flies be great, Yet this hath so provoked the angry wasps, Or as you said, of the next nest, the hornets; That they fly buzzing, mad, about my nostrils: And like so many screaming grasshoppers, Held by the wings, fill every ear with noise. And what? those former calumnies you mentioned. First, of the Law. Indeed, I brought in OVID, Chid by his angry father, for neglecting The study of their laws, for poetry: And I am warranted by his own words. Sape pater dixit, studium quid inutile tentas? Maeonides nullas ipse reliquit opes. And in far harsher terms elsewhere, as these: Non me verbosas leges ediscere, non me Ingrato voces prostituisse foro. But how this should relate, unto our laws, Or their just ministers, with least abuse, I reverence both too much, to understand! Then, for the Captain; I will only speak An Epigram I here have made: It is Unto true Soldiers. That's the lemma. Mark it.
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)
Shall I tell you? Yes, and ingenuously. Then, by the hope, Which I preferre vnto all other obiects, I can professe, I neuer writ that peece More innocent, or empty of offence. Some salt it had, but neyther tooth, nor gall, Nor was there in it any circumstance, Which, in the setting downe, I could suspect Might be peruerted by an enemies tongue. Onely, it had the fault to be call'd mine. That was the crime. No? why they, say you tax'd The Law, and Lawyers; Captaines; and the Players By their particular names. It is not so. I vs'd no name. My Bookes haue still beene taught To spare the persons, and to speake the vices. These are meere slanders, and enforc'd by such As haue no safer wayes to mens disgraces, But their owne lyes, and losse of honesty. Fellowes of practis'd, and most laxatiue tongues, Whose empty and eager bellies, i' the yeere, Compell their braynes to many desp'rate shifts, (I spare to name 'hem: for, their wretchednesse, Fury it selfe would pardon.) These, or such Whether of malice, or of ignorance, Or itch, t'haue me their aduersary (I know not) Or all these mixt; but sure I am, three yeeres, They did prouoke me with their petulant stiles On euery stage: And I at last, vnwilling, But weary, I confesse, of so much trouble, Thought, I would try, if shame could winne vpon 'hem. And therefore chose AVGVSTVS CAESARS times, When wit, and artes were at their height in Rome, To shew that VIRGIL, HORACE, and the rest Of those great master-spirits did not want Detractors, then, or practisers against them: And by this line (although no paralel) I hop'd at last they would sit downe, and blush. But nothing could I sinde more contrary. And though the impudence of flyes be great, Yet this hath so prouok'd the angry waspes, Or as you sayd, of the next nest, the hornets; That they fly buzzing, mad, about my nostrills: And like so many screaming grasse-hoppers, Held by the wings, fill euery eare with noyse. And what? those former calumnies you mention'd. First, of the Law. Indeed, I brought in OVID, Chid by his angry father, for neglecting The study of their lawes, for poetry: And I am warranted by his owne words. Sape pater dixit, studium quid invtile tentas? Maeonides nullas ipse reliquit opes. And in farre harsher termes elsewhere, as these: Non me verbosas leges ediscere, non me Ingrato voces prostituisse foro. But how this should relate, vnto our lawes, Or their iust ministers, with least abuse, I reuerence both too much, to vnderstand! Then, for the Captaine; I will onely speake An Epigramme I here haue made: It is Vnto true Souldiers. That's the lemma. Marke it.