Chapman, George · published 1605 · first performed or written 1601 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · before the Court T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.79 · 468 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
THe fortune of a Stage (like Fortunes: self) Amazeth greatest judgements: And none knows The hidden causes of those strange effects, That rise from this Hell, or fall from this Heaven: Who can show cause, why your wits, that in-aim At higher Objects, scorn to compose Plays; (Though we are sure they could, would they vouchsafe it?) Should (without means to make) judge better far, Than those that make, and yet ye see they can; For without your applause, wretched is he That undertakes the Stage, and he's more blessed, That with your glorious favours can contest. Who can show cause, why th'ancient Comic vain Of Eupolis and Cratinus (now revived, Subject to personal application) Should be exploded by some bitter spleens? Yet merely Comical, and harmless jests (Though near so witty) be esteemed but toys, If void of th' other satyrisms sauce? Who can show cause why quick Venerean jests, Should sometimes ravish? sometimes fall far short, Of the just length and pleasure of your ears? When our pure Dames, think them much less obscene, Than those that win your Panegyric spleen? But our poor dooms (alas) you know are nothing; To your inspired censure, ever we Must needs submit, and there's the mystery. Great are the gifts given to united heads, To gifts, attire, to fair attire, the stage Helps much, for if our other audience see You on the stage depart before we end, Our wits go with you all, and we are fools; So Fortune governs in these stage events, That merit bears least sway in most contents. Auriculas Asini quis non habet? How we shall then appear, we must refer To Magic of your dooms, that never err. CAn one self cause, in subjects so a like As you two are, produce effect so unlike? One like the Turtle, all in mournful strains, Wailing his fortunes? Th'other like the Lark Mounting the sky in shrill and cheerful notes, Chanting his joys aspired, and both for love: In one, love raiseth by his violent heat, Moist vapours from the heart into the eyes, From whence they drown his breast in daily showers; In th'other, his divided power infuseth Only a temperate and most kindly warmth, That gives life to those fruits of wit and virtue, Which the unkind hand of an uncivil father, Had almost nipped in the delightsome blossom. O brother love rewards our services With a most partial and injurious hand, If you consider well our different fortunes: Valerio loves, and joys the dame he loves: I love, and never can enjoy the sight Of her I love, so far from conquering In my desires assault, that I can come To lay no battery to the Fort I seek; All passages to it, so strongly kept, By strait guard of her Father.
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)
THe fortune of a Stage (like Fortunes: selfe) Amazeth greatest iudgements: And none knowes The hidden causes of those strange effects, That rise from this Hell, or fall from this Heauen: Who can shew cause, why your wits, that in-ayme At higher Obiects, scorne to compose Playes; (Though we are sure they could, would they vouchsafe it?) Should (without meanes to make) iudge better farre, Then those that make, and yet yee see they can; For without your applause, wretched is he That vndertakes the Stage, and he's more blest, That with your glorious fauours can contest. Who can shew cause, why th'ancient Comick vaine Of Eupolis and Cratinus (now reuin'd, Subiect to personall application) Shoul be exploded by some bitter splenes? Yet merely Comicall, and harmelesse iestes (Though nere so witty) be esteem'd but toyes, If voide of th other satyrismes sauce? Who can shew cause why quick Uenerian iestes, Should sometimes rauish? sometimes fall farre short, Of the iust length and pleasure of your eares? When our pure Dames, thinke them much lesse obscene, Then those that winne your Panegyrick splene? But our poore doomes (alas) you know are nothing; To your inspired censure, euer we Must needs submit, and there's the mistery. Great are the giftes giuen to vnited heades, To gifts, attyre, to faire attyre, the stage Helps much, for if our other audience see You on the stage depart before we end, Our wits goe with you all, and we are fooles; So Fortune gouernes in these stage euents, That merit beares least sway in most contents. Auriculas Asini quis non habet? How we shall then appeare, we must referre To Magicke of your doomes, that neuer erre. CAn one selfe cause, in subiects so a like As you two are, produce effect so vnlike? One like the Tule, all in mournesull straines, Wailing his fortunes? Th'other like the Larke Mounting the sky in shrill and cheerefull notes, Chaunting his ioyes aspir'd, and both for loue: In one, loue rayseth by his violent heate, Moyst vapours from the heart into the eyes, From whence they drowne his brest in dayly showers; In th'other, his diuided power infuseth Onely a temperate and most kindly warmth, That giues life to those fruites of wit and vertue, Which the vnkinde hand of an vnciuile father, Had almost nipt in the delightsome blossome. O brother loue rewards our seruices With a most partiall and iniurious hand, If you consider well our different fortunes: Valerio loues, and ioyes the dame he loues: I loue, and neuer can enioy the sight Of her I loue, so farre from conquering In my desires assault, that I can come To lay no battry to the Fort I seeke; All passages to it, so strongly kept, By straite guard of her Father.