The Woman Hater (The Hungry Courtier) · chunk 1 of 46
Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.80 · 473 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
GEntlemen, Inductions are out of date, and a Prologue in Verse is as stale, as a black Velvet Cloak, and a Bay Garland: Therefore you shall have it plain Prose thus: If there be any amongst you, that come to hear lascivious Scenes, let them depart: for I do pronounce this, to the utter discomfort of all two penny Gallery men, you shall have no bawdry in it: or if there be any lurking amongst you in corners, with Table books, who have some hope to find fit matter to feed his— malice on, let them clasp them up, and slink away, or stay and be converted. For he that made this Play, means to please Auditors so, as he may be an Auditor himself hereafter, and not purchase them with the dear loss of his ears: I dare not call it Comedy, or Tragedy; 'tis perfectly neither: A Play it is, which was meant to make you laugh, how it will please you, is not written in my part: For though you should like it today, perhaps yourselves know not how you should digest it tomorrow: Some things in it you may meet with, which are out of the common Road: a Duke there is, and the Scene lies in Italy, as those two things lightly we never miss. But you shall not find in it the ordinary and overworn trade of jesting at Lords and Courtiers, and Citizens, without taxation of any particular or new vice by them found out, but at the persons of them: such, he that made this, thinks vile; and for his own part vows, That he did never think, but that a Lord borne might be a wise man, and a Courtier an honest man. 'tIs now the sweetest time for sleep, the night is scarce spent; Arrigo, what's o'clock? Past four. Is it so much, and yet the morn not up? See yonder where the shamefaced maiden comes Into our sight, how gently doth she slide, Hiding her chaste cheeks, like a modest Bride, With a red vail of blushes; as is she, Even such all modest virtuous women be. Why thinks your Lordship I am up so soon? About some weighty State plot. And what thinks your knighthood of it? I do think, to cure some strange corruptions in the common wealth. You're well conceited of yourselves, to think I choose you out to bear me company In such affairs and business of state: But am not I a pattern for all Princes, That break my soft sleep for my subjects good? Am I not careful? very provident? Your grace is careful. Very provident. Nay knew you how my serious working plots, Concern the whole estates of all my subjects, I and their lives; then Lucio thou wouldst swear, I were a loving Prince.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
GEntlemen, Inductions are out of date, and a Prologue in Verse is as stale, as a blacke Veluet Cloake, and a Bay Garland: Therefore you shall haue it plaine Prose thus: If there be any amongst you, that come to heare lasciuious Scenes, let them depart: for I doe pronounce this, to the vtter discomfort of all two peny Gallerie men, you shall haue no bawdrie in it: or if there bee any lurking amongst you in corners, with Table bookes, who haue some hope to find fit matter to feede his — mallice on, let them claspe them vp, and slinke away, or stay and be conuerted. For he that made this Play, meanes to please Auditors so, as hee may bee an Auditor himselfe hereafter, and not purchase them with the deare losse of his eares: I dare not call it Comedie, or Tragedie; 'tis perfectly neyther: A Play it is, which was meant to make you laugh, how it will please you, is not written in my part: For though you should like it to day, perhaps your selues know not how you should disgest it to morrow: Some things in it you may meete with, which are out of the common Roade: a Duke there is, and the Scene lyes in Italy, as those two thinges lightly wee neuer misse. But you shall not find in it the ordinarie and ouer-worne trade of ieasting at Lordes and Courtiers, and Citizens, without taxation of any particular or new vice by them found out, but at the persons of them: such, he that made this, thinkes vile; and for his owne part vowes, That hee did neuer thinke, but that a Lord borne might bee a wise man, and a Courtier an honest man. TIs now the sweetest time for sleepe, the night is scarce spent; Arrigo, what's a clocke? Past foure. Is it so much, and yet the morne not vp? See yōder where the shamfac'd maidē comes Into our sight, how gently doeth shee slide, Hiding her chaste cheekes, like a modest Bride, With a red vaile of blushes; as is shee, Euen such all modest vertuous women be. Why thinkes your Lordship I am vp so soone? About some waightie State plot. And what thinkes your knighthood of it? I doe thinke, to cure some strange corruptions in the common wealth. Y'are well conceited of your selues, to thinke I choose you out to beare me company In such affaires and businesse of state: But am not I a patterne for all Princes, That breake my softe sleepe for my subiects good? Am I not carefull? very prouident? Your grace is carefull. Very prouident. Nay knew you how my serious working plots, Concerne the whole estates of all my subiects, I and their liues; then Lucio thou wouldst sweare, I were a louing Prince.