Lingua, or The Combat of the Tongue and the Five Senses for Superiority · chunk 16 of 51
Tomkis, Thomas · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1602-1607] (Annals) comedy; allegory unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 504 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
I remember in the age of Assaracus and Ninus, and about the wars of Thebes, and the siege of Troy, there was few things committed to my charge, but those that were well worthy the preserving, but now every trifle must be wrapped up in the volume of eternity. A rich pudding-wife, or a Cobbler cannot die but I must immortalize his name with an Epitaph: A dog cannot piss in a nobleman's she, but it must be sprinkled into the Chronicles, so that I 〈◊〉 could remember my Treasure more full, & never emptier of honourable, and true heroical actions. By your leave Memory you are not alone troubled, Chronologers many of them are so so Fantastic, as when they bring a Captain to the Combat, lifting up his revengeful arm to dispart the head of his enemy, they'll hold up his arms so long till they have bestowed three or four pages in describing the gold hilts of his threating Falchion. So that in my Fancy the reader may well wonder his adversary stabs him not, before he strikes, moreover they are become most palpable flatterers always begging at my gates for Invention. This is a great fault in a Chronologer to turn Parasite: An absolute history should be in fear of none, neither should he write any thing more than truth for friendship, or less for hate, but keep himself equal and constant in all his discourses, but for us we must be contented, for as our honours increase, so must the burden of the cares of our offices urge us to waxeheavy. But not till our backs break, ●lud there was never any so haunted as I am, this da●e there comes a Sophister to my house, knocks at my door, his errand being asked, forsooth his answer was to borrow a fair suit of conceits out of my wardrobe, to apparraile a show he had in hand, and what think you is the plot? Nay I know not, for I am little acquainted with such toys. Meanwhile he's somewhat acquainted with you, for he's bold to bring your person upon the stage. What me? I cannot remember, that I was ever brought upon the stage before. Yes you and you, and myself with all my Phantisticall tricks and humours▪ but I trow I have fitted him with Fooleries I trust he'll never trouble me again. O times, O manners, when Boys dare to traduce men in authority was ever such an attempt heard? I remember there was▪ For (to say the truth) at my ●ast being at others (It is now, let me see, about 1800. years a go) I was at a Comedy of Aristophanes making, (I shall never forget it) The Arch-governor of Athens took me by the hand and placed me, and there I say, I saw Socrates abused most grossly, himself being then a present spectator: I remember he sat full against me, and did not so much as show the least countenance of discontent.
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)
I remember in the age of Assaracus and Ninus, and about the warres of Thebes, and the siege of Troy, thee was few things committed to my charge, but those that were well worthy the preseruing, but now euery trifle must be wrapped vp in the volume of eternitie. A rich pudding-wife, or a Cobler cānot die but I must immortalize his name with an pitaph: A dog cannot pisse in a Noblemans shee, but it must be spinkled into the Chronicles, so that I could remēber my Treasure more full, & neuer emptier of honorable, and true heroycall actions. By your leaue Memory you are not alone troubled, Chronologers many of them are so so Phantasticke, as when they bring a Captaine to the Combate, lifting vp his reuengefull arme to dispart the head of his enemie, they'le hold vp his armes so long till they haue bestowed three or foure pages in describing the gold hilts of his threating Fauchion. So that in my Fancie the reader may well wonder his aduersary stabs him not, before he strikes, moreouer they are become most palpable flatterers alwaies begging at my gates for Inuention. This is a great fault in a Chronologer to turne Parasite: An absolute history should bee in feare of none, neither should hee write any thing more then truth for friend-ship, or lesse for hate, but keepe himselfe equall and constant in all his discourses, but for vs we must bee contented, for as our honors increase, so must the burthen of the cares of our offices vrge vs to waxeheauy. But not till our backes breake, lud there was neuer any so haunted as I am, this dae there comes a Sophister to my house, knocks at my dore, his errand being ask'd, forsoth his answere was to borrow a faire sute of conceites out of my wardrop, to apparraile a shewe he had in hand, and what thinke you is the plot? Nay I know not, for I am little acquainted with such toies. Meane-while he's somewhat acquainted with you, for he's bould to bring your person vpon the stage. What me? I cannot remember, that I was euer brought vpon the stage before. Yes you and you, and my selfe with all my Phantisticall tricks and humors▪ but I trow I haue fitted him with Fooleries I trust heele neuer troble me againe. O times, O manners, when Boies dare to traduce men in authority was euer such an attempt heard? I remember there was▪ For (to say the truth) at my ast being at others (It is now, let me see, about 1800. yeares a goe) I was at a Commedie of Aristophanes making, (I shall neuer forget it) The Arch-gouernor of Athens tooke me by the hād and placed me, and there I say, I saw Socrates abused most grosly, himselfe being then a present spectator: I remember he sate full against me, and did not so much as shew the least countenance of discontent.