Middleton, Thomas · published 1608 · first performed or written 1606 [1604-1607] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.72 · 516 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Players? by the mass they are welcome, they'll grace my entertainment well, but for certain players there thou liest boy; they were never more uncertain in their lives, now up & now down, they know not when to play, where to play, nor what to play, not when to play for fearful fools, where to play for Puritan fools, nor what to play for critical fools— go call 'em in,— how fitly the whoresons come upo'th' feast, troth I was een wishing for 'em,— oh welcome, welcome my friends. The month of May delights not in her flowers, More than we joy in that sweet sight of yours. Well acted a my credit, I perceive he's your best Actor. He has greatest share sir; and may live of himself sir. What what? put on your hat sir, pray put on; go too, wealth must be respected, let those that have least feathers stand bare; and whose men are you I pray? nay keep on your hat still. We serve my Lord Owemuch sir. My L. Owemuch, by my troth the welcom'st men alive give me all your hands at once, that honourable gentleman? he lay at my house in a robbery once, and took all quietly, went away cheerfully. I made a very good feast for him; I never saw a man of honour bear things bravelier away, serve my L. Owemuch? welcome i'faith: some Bastard for my Lords Players,— where be you boys? They come along with the wagon sir. Good, good, and which is your Politician amongst you? now i'faith he that works out Restraints, makes best legs at Court and has a suit made of purpose, for the company's business, which is he, come, be not afraid of him. I am he sir. Art thou he? give me thy hand, hark in thine ear, thou row lest too fast to gather so much moss as thy fellow there, champ upon that, ah, and what play shall we have my masters? A pleasant witty Comedy sir. ay, ay, ay, a Comedy in any case, that I and my guests may laugh a little, what's the name out? 'tis called the Slip. The Slip? By my troth a pretty name, and a glib one: go all and slip intoot, as fast as you can cover a table for the players. First take heed of a Lurcher, he cuts deep, he will eat up all from you. Some sherry for my Lords players there. Sirrah, why this will be a True feast, a right Mitre supper, a play and all, more lights— I called for light, here come in two are light enough for a whole house i'faith. Dare the thief look me i'th' face? O impudent times! go too, dissemble it. Bless you sir Bounteous. O welcome, welcome, Thief, Quean, and Bawd, welcome all three. Nay here's but two on's sir. A my troth, I took her for a couple, I'd have sworn there had been two faces there. Not all under one hood sir. Yes faith would I, to see mine eyes bear double.
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)
Players? by the maſſe they are welcome, the'yle grace my entertainment well, but for certain players there thou lyeſt boy; they were neuer more vncertaine in their liues, now vp & now downe, they know not when to play, where to play, nor what to play, not when to play for fearful fools, where to play for Puritane fooles, nor what to play for criticall fooles—goe call em in,—how fitly the whorſons come vpo'th feaſt, troth I was een wiſhing for em,—oh welcome, welcome my friends. The month of May delights not in her flowers, More then we ioy in that ſweete ſight of yours. Well acted a my credit, I perceiue hees your beſt Actor. He has greateſt ſhare ſir; and may liue of himſelfe ſir. What what? put on your hat ſir, pray put on; go too, welth muſt be reſpected, let thoſe that haue leaſt fethers ſtand bare; and whoſe men are you I pray? nay keep on your hat ſtill. We ſerue my Lord Owemuch ſir. My L. Owemuch, by my troth the welcomſt men aliue giue me all your hands at once, that honorable gentleman? hee lay at my houſe in a robbery once, and tooke all quietly, went away cheerfully. I made a very good feaſt for him; I neuer ſaw a man of honor beare things brauelier away, ſerue my L. Owemuch? welcome yfaith: ſome Baſtard for my Lords Players,— where be you boyes? They come along with the Waggon ſir. Good, good, and which is your Polititian amongſt you? now yfaith he that workes out Reſtraints, makes beſt legs at Court and has a ſuit made of purpoſe, for the companies buſines, which is he, come▪ be not afraid of him. I am he ſir. Art thou he? giue me thy hand, harke in thine eare, thou row leſt too faſt to gather ſo much moſſe as thy fellow there, champ vpon that, ah, and what play ſhall we haue my maſters? A pleaſant witty Comedy ſir. I, I, I, a Comedy in any caſe, that I and my gueſts may laugh a little, whats the name out? Tis cald the Slip. The Slip? By my troth a pretty name, and a glib one: go all and ſlip intoot, as faſt as you can couer a table for the players. Firſt take heed of a Lurcher, hee cus deep, hee will eate vp all from you. Some Shirry for my Lords players there. Sirra, why this will be a True feaſt, a right Miter ſupper, a play and all, more lights—I cald for light, heere come in two are light inough for a whole houſe yfaith. Dare the theefe looke me i'th face? O impudent times! go too, diſſemble it. Bleſſe you ſir Bounteous. O welcome, welcome, Theefe, Queane, and Bawd, welcome all three. Nay heeres but two on's ſir. A my troth, I tooke her for a couple, I'de haue ſworne there had beene two faces there. Not all vnder one hood ſir. Yes faith would I, to ſee mine eies beare double.