The Woman Hater (The Hungry Courtier) · chunk 6 of 46
Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) T62 The courtier as a type: fashion, affecta typicality 0.81 · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T62: courtier, shrug, face, court, italian, monsieur, scholar, fashion, french, courtiers.
Once more, if you stay in the presence till candlelight, keep on the foreside o'th' Curtain; & do you hear, take heed of the old Bawd, in the cloth of Tissue-sleeves, and the knit Mittins. Farewell Sister. Now am I idle, I would I had been a Scholar, that I might a studied now: the punishment of meaner men is, they have too much to do; our only misery is, that without company we know not what to do; I must take some of the common courses of our Nobility; which is thus: if I can find no company that likes me, pluck off my Hatband, throw an old Cloak over my face, and as if I would not be known, walk hastily through the streets, till I be discovered; then there goes Count such a one, says one; there goes Count such a one, says another: Look how fast he goes, says a third; there's some great matters in hand questionless, says a fourth; when all my business is to have them say so: this hath been used; or if I can find any company, I'll after dinner to the Stage, to see a Play; where, when I first enter, you shall have a murmur in the house, every one that does not know, cries, what Noble man is that; all the Gallants on the Stage rise, veil to me, kiss their hand, offer me their places: then I pick out some one, whom I please to grace among the rest, take his seat, use it, throw my cloak over my face, and laugh at him: the poor gentleman imagines himself most highly graced, thinks all the Auditors esteem him one of my bosom friends, and in right special regard with me. But here comes a Gentleman, that I hope will make me better sport, than either street and stage fooleries. This man loves to eat good meat, always provided he do not pay for it himself: he goes by the name of the Hungarie Courtier; marry, because I think that name will not sufficiently distinguish him, for no doubt he hath more fellows there, his name is Lazarello, he is none of these same ordinary eaters, that will devour three breakfasts, & as many dinners, without any prejudice to their beavers, drinkings or suppers; but he hath a more courtly kind of hunger, and doth hunt more after novelty, than plenty, I'll overhear him. O thou most itching kindly appetite, Which every creature in his stomach feels; O leave, leave yet at last thus to torment me. Three several Salads have I sacrificed, Bedewed with precious oil and vinegar Already to appease thy greedy wrath. Boy. Sir. Will the Count speak with me. One of his Gentlemen is gone to inform him of your coming Sir. There is no way left for me to compass this Fish head, but by being presently made known to the Duke. That will be hard Sir.
seed 43: T60 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Once more, if you stay in the presence till candlelight, keep on the foreside oth' Curtaine; & do you heare, take heed of the old Bawd, in the cloth of Tissue-sleeues, and the knit Mittins. Farewell Sister. Now am I idle, I would I had bin a Scholler, that I might a studied now: the punishment of meaner men is, they haue too much to doe; our onely miserie is, that without company we know not what to doe; I must take some of the common courses of our Nobilitie; which is thu: if I can find no company that likes mee, plucke off my Hatband, throw an old Cloake ouer my face, and as if I would not bee knowne, walke hastely through the streetes, till I be discouered; then there goes Counte such a one, sayes one; there goes Counte such a one, sayes another: Looke how fast he goes, sayes a third; there's some great matters in hand questionlesse, sayes a fourth; when all my businesse is to haue them say so: this hath beene vsed; or if I can find any companie, Ile after dinner to the Stage, to see a Play; where, when I first enter, you shall haue a murmure in the house, euery one that does not knowe, cries, what Noble man is that; all the Gallants on the Stage rise, vayle to me, kisse their hand, offer mee their places: then I picke out some one, whom I please to grace among the rest, take his seate, vse it, throw my cloake ouer my face, and laugh at him: the poore gentleman imagines himselfe most highly grac'd, thinkes all the Auditors esteeme him one of my bosome friendes, and in right speciall regard with me. But here comes a Gentleman, that I hope will make me better sport, then eyther street and stage fooleries. This man loues to eat good meate, alwayes prouided hee do not pay for it himselfe: he goes by the name of the Hungarie Courtier; marry, because I thinke that name will not sufficiently distinguish him, for no doubt hee hath more fellowes there, his name is Lazarello, he is none of these same ordinary eaters, that will deuour three breakfasts, & as many dinners, without any preiudice to their beauers, drinkings or suppers; but he hath a more courtly kind of hunger, and doth hunt more after nouelty, then plenty, Ile ouer-heare him. O thou most itching kindly appetite, Which euery creature in his stomacke feeles; O leaue, leaue yet at last thus to torment me. Three seuerall Sallets haue I sacrifiz'de, Bedew'd with precious oyle and vineger Already to appease thy greedy wrath. Boy. Sir. Will the Count speake with me. One of his Gentlemen is gone to enforme him of your comming Sir. There is no way left for me to compasse this Fish head, but by being presently made knowne to the Duke. That will be hard Sir.