Day, John · published 1606 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Blackfriars T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.85 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
All that's nothing to me, and there be not Wormwood water and Copperes in't, I'll not like it, should Apollo write it, and Rosius himself act it. Fie upon thee, thou art too too Critical: is there any good bawdry in't, jests of an ell deep, and a fathom broad, good cuckolding, may a couple of young-setters up learn to do well in't? Give me a scene of venery, that will make a men's spirits stand on their tiptoes, and die his blood in a deep scarlet, like your Ovid's Ars Amandi, there flows the true Springhead of Poetry, and the very Crystal fount of Parnassus. Chaste ears would never endure it sir. Chaste ears, now deafness light upon 'em, what should chaste ears do at a play. 'tis strange now, I am of neither a both your opinions, I like neither railing nor bawdry: no, give me a stately penned history, as thus, The rugged winds, with rude and ragged ruffs. &c. Fie upon't, mere Fustian; I had rather hear two good bawdy jests, than a whole play of such teare-cat thunderclaps. Alas Gentlemen, how is't possible to content you? you will have railing, and invectives, which our Author neither dares, nor affects: you bawdy and scurril jests, which neither becomes his modesty to write, nor the ear of a generous Auditory to hear: you must ha' swelling comparisons, and bombast Epithets, which are as fit for the body of a Comedy, as Hercules' shoe for the foot of a Pygmy: yet all these we must have, and all in one play; or 'tis already condemned to the hell of eternal disgrace. Look to't, if there be not gall in't, it shall not pass. If it be not bawdy, 'tis impossible to pass. If it be both Critical and bawdy, if it be not high written, both your Poet and the house to, lose a friend of me. Nay I beseech you sir, if you be his friend, stand so to him still, for he hath too many enemies already, in whose judgements, he and his labours stand excommunicate, as though unworthy to present themselves in this assembly. Enemies, nays foot then there's some hope in's play, for Envy never works but against desert and merit. If he be envied there's some worth in him, and I'll see out his play for that only. Faith and I'll see an act or two out, but I tell you aforehand I cannot see it out. Not see it out? your reason. Fore God I lay in bed till past three o'clock, slept out my dinner, and my stomach will toll to supper afore five, therefore you must pardon me. Either see it all or none; for 'tis grown into a custom at plays, if any one rise (especially of any fashionable sort) about what serious business soever, the rest thinking it in dislike of the play, though he never thinks it, cry mew, by Iesus wild; and leave the poor heartless children to speak their Epilogue to the empty seats.
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)
All thats nothing to mee, and there be not Wormewood water and Copperes int, Ile not like it, ſhould Apollo write it, and Roſius himſelfe act it. Fie vpon thee, thou art too too Criticall: is there any good baudry int, ieſts of an ell deepe, and a fathome broad, good cuckolding, may a couple of young-ſetters vp learne to doe well int? Giue me a ſceane of venery, that will make a mens ſpirrits ſtand on theyr typtoes, and die his bloode in a deepe ſcarlet, like your Ouids Ars Amandi, there flowes the true Spring-head of Poetry, and the verie Chriſtall fount of Parnaſſus. Chaſt eares would neuer endure it ſir. Chaſt eares, now deafenes light vppon em, what ſhould chaſt eares doe at a play. Tis ſtrange now, I am of neither a both your opinions, I like neither rayling nor baudry: no, giue mee a ſtately pend hiſtorie, as thus, The rugged windes, with rude and ragged ruffes. &c. Fie vpont, meere Fuſtian; I had rather heare two good baudie ieſts, then a whole play of ſuch teare-cat thunderclaps. Alas Gentlemen, how iſt poſsible to content you? you will rayling, and inuectiues, which our Authour neither dares, nor affects: you baudy and ſcurrill ieſts, which neither becomes his modeſtie to write, nor the eare of a generous Auditory to heare: you muſt ha ſwelling compariſons, an bumbaſt Epithites, which are as fit for the body of a Cedie, as Hercules ſhooe for the foote of a Pygmey: yet all theſe we muſt haue, and all in one play; or tis alreadie condemnd to the hell of eternall diſgrace. Looke toot, if there be not gall int, it ſhall not paſſe. If it be not baudie, tis impoſsible to paſſe. If it be both Criticall and baudy, if it be not high written, both your Poet and the houſe to, looſe a friend of me. Nay I beſeech you ſir, if you be his friend, ſtand ſo to him ſtill, for he hath too many enemies already, in whoſe iudgements, he and his labours ſtand excommunicate, as though vnworthy to preſent themſelues in this aſſembly. Enemies, nays foote then theres ſome hope in's play, for Enuie neuer workes but againſt deſert and merrit. If hee be enuied theres ſome worth in him, and Ile ſee out his play for that onely. Faith and Ile ſee an act or two out, but I tell you afore-hand I cannot ſee it out. Not ſee it out? your reaſon. Fore God I lay in bed till paſt three a clock, ſlept out my dinner, and my ſtomacke will toule to ſupper afore fiue, therefore you muſt pardon me. Either ſee it all or none; for tis growne into a cuſtome at playes, if any one riſe (eſpecially of any faſhionable ſort) about what ſerious buſines ſoeuer, the reſt thinking it in diſlike of the play, tho he neuer thinks it, cry mew, by Ieſus vilde; and leaue the poore hartleſſe children to ſpeake their Epilogue to the emptie ſeates.