Mason, John · published 1610 · first performed or written 1607 [1607-1608] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the King's Revels T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.76 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
THe marks and notions extant in each spirit, Sealed by th'industrious hand of art & merit, methinks appear transparent (as the mind By sense were bounded and might seem confined In th'external eye) nor shall our tragic muse, (If strong hope fail not) need a coined excuse But to those marginal notes of yours do bring (In following numbers from the learned spring) Matter instructive to enrich their parts Where knowledge reigns crowned with it own deserts, Let such with serious and impartial hearing Sound sense, quick sight and judgement never erring: Survey and censure the Minerval frame Of his elaborate work: and if his name Merit regard, and you vouchsafe to grace him With eminent love, or 'mongst those laureates place him, That with the magic of sweet poesy, Transfer Parnassus into Brittany, He shall digest the Chaos of his brain, To tuneful order and acquire a strain, Near to the music of the heavenly spheres, To fit Times guard and rawish choicest ears. FAme and Opinion like the two winged cap On Hermes head, do lift all Poets up: Some, though deserving, yet above the Sphere Of true impartial censure, whose tuned ear Listens to all and can with judgement say, Others sing well, though Thracian Orpheus play. Our Muse affects no excellence: if Fame tell And through her shrill trump at the Muses well (Where the thrice trebled bench of learning sits In strict examination of others wits) Sound ours, though humbly strains, whose infant growth Nor dares, nor will, with times hugged darlings quarrel, Nor stand the lightning with the sacred Laurel) We rest content: yet thus far may conceit Carry each labouring Artist, where the weight Of his old task is over, that his tongue May like a father of his tender young Speak natures language and not be withstood, When with our Muse he saith, that This is good. HOw sweet are things known in their contraries When only apprehension, and sick thoughts Foster a greedy longing Amada? madam you breath: no covetous hand Takes the air from you: no contrariety bandies against your rest: as I am modest, My father's seeming harsh ungentleness Is but a misty policy, to be guile some time. Then be yourself and Iomiall: Yet why should I repine, At this my foret restraint of liberty? Our life is but a sailing to our death, Through the world's Ocean: it makes no matter then Whether we put into the world's vast Sea, Shipped in a Pinnace or an Argosy: No Matter: when we hope for change of vessels Lady And in that hope beguile your passions: Give your sight freedom o'er the city walls And see what worthy objects meet your eyes: See where two Dukes, each like a god of war, Lie both entrenched against the gates of Florence To gain your love: on the west side, there's Ferrara hangs his scarlet ensigns forth And woos in blood: then from the East behold
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)
THe markes and notions extant in each spirit, Seald by th'industrious hand of art & merit, Me thinkes appeare transparant (as the minde By sence were bounded and might seeme confind In th'externall eye) nor shall our tragicke muse, (If strong hope faile not) need a coynd excuse But to those marginall noates of yours do bring (In following nombers from the learned spring) Matter instructiue to inrich their parts Where knowledge raignes crownd with it own desarts, Let such with serious and impartiall hearing Sound sence, quicke sight and iudgement neuer erring: Suruay and censure the mineruall frame Of his elaborate worke: and if his name Merrit regard, and you vouchfafe to grace him With eminent loue, or mongst those lawreats place him, That with the magicke of sweet poesie, Transfer Pernassus into Brittany, He shall digest the Chaos of his braine, To tunefull order and acquire a straine, Neere to the musicke of the heauenly spheres, To fit Times guard and rawish choysest eares. FAme and Opinion like the two vvingd cap On Hermes head, do lift all Poets vp: Some, though deseruing, yet aboe the Sphere Of true impartiall censure, vvhose tun'd eare Listens to all and can vvith iudgement say, Others sing vvell, though Thracian Orpheus play. Our Muse affects no excellence: if Fame tell And through her shrill trompe at the Muses well (Where the thrice trebled bench of learning sits In strict examination of others wits) Sound ours, thogh humbly straines, whose infant growth Nor dares, nor will, with times hugd darlings quarrell, Nor stand the lightning with the sacred Lawrell) We rest content: yet thus farre may conceipt Carry each labouring Artist, where the weight Of his ovld taske is ouer, that his tongue May like a father of his tender young Speak natures lauguage and not be withstood, When with our Muse he saith, that This is good. HOw sweet are things knowne in their contraries When onely apprehension, and sicke thoughts Foster a gredy longing Amada? Madame you breath: no couetous hand Takes the aire from you: no contrariety Bandy's against your rest: as I am modest, My fathers seeming harsh vngentlenesse Is but a misty pollicy, to be guile some time. Then be your self and Iomiall: Yet why should I repine, At this my foret restraint of libertie? Our life is but a sayling to our death, Through the worlds Ocean: it makes no matter then Whether we put into the worlds vast Sea, Shipt in a Pinasse or an Argosy: No Matter: when we hope for change of vessels Ladye And in that hope beguile your passions: Giue your sight freedome o're the citty walls And see what worthie obiectsmeete your eyes: See where two Dukes, each like a god of warre, Lye both entrench't against the gates of Florence To gaine your loue: on the west side, ther's Ferrara hangs his scarlet ensignes foorth And wooes in blood: then from the East behould