Chapman, George · published 1613 · first performed or written 1610 [c.1610-1611] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Whitefriars T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.73 · 488 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
True as truth: And therefore they had rather drown their substance In superfluities of bricks and stones; (Like Sisyphus, advancing of them ever, And ever pulling down) then lay the cost Of any sluttish corner, on a man, Built with God's finger, and enstiled his Temple. 'tis nobly said, my Lord. I would have these things Brought upon Stages, to let mighty Misers See all their grave and serious miseries, played, As once they were in Athens, and old Rome. Nay, we must now have nothing brought on Stages, But puppetry, and pied ridiculous Antics: Men thither come, to laugh, and feed fool-fat, check at all goodness there, as being profaned: When wheresoever goodness comes, she makes The place still sacred; though with other feet Never so much 'tis scandaled, and polluted. Let me learn any thing that fits a man, In any Stables shown, as well as Stages. Why? is not all the world esteemed a Stage? Yes: and right worthily: and Stages too Have a respect due to them: if but only, For what the good Greek Moralists says of them; Is a man proud of greatness, or of riches? Give me an expert Actor; I'll show all, That can within his greatest glory fall. Is a man 'fraid with poverty and lowness? Give me an Actor, I'll show every eye What he laments so, and so much doth fly, The best and worst of both: if but for this then, To make the proudest outside that most swells, With things without him, and above his worth, See how small cause he has to be so blown up; And the most poor man, to be grieved with poorness, Both being so easily borne by expert Actors. The Stage and Actors are not so contemptful, As every innovating Puritan, And ignorant sweater out of zealous envy, Would have the world imagine. And beside, That all things have been likened to the mirth, Used upon Stages, and for Stages fitted. The splenative Philosopher that ever Laughed at them all, were worthy the enstaging: All objects, were they ne'er so full of tears, He so conceited, that he could distill thence Matter that still fed his ridiculous humour. Heard he a Lawyer, never so vehement pleading, He stood and laughed. Heard he a Tradesman swearing Never so thriftily (selling of his wares;) He stood and laughed. Heard he an holy brother, For hollow ostentation at his prayers Ne'er so impetuously; he stood and laughed. Saw he a great man never so insulting, Severely inflicting, gravely giving laws, Not for their good, but his; he stood and laughed. Saw he a youthful widow Never so weeping, wringing of her hands, For her lost Lord, still the Philosopher laughed: Now whether he supposed all these presentments, Were only maskeries, and wore false faces: Or else were simply vain, I take no care, But still he laughed, how grave soe'er they were.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
True as truth: And therefore they had rather drowne their substance In superfluities of brickes and stones; (Like Sysiphus, aduancing of them euer, And euer pulling downe) then lay the cost Of any sluttish corner, on a man, Built with Gods finger, and enstil'd his Temple. Tis nobly said, my Lord. I would haue these things Brought vpon Stages, to let mightie Misers See all their graue and serious miseries, plaid, As once they were in Athens, and olde Rome. Nay, we must now haue nothing brought on Stages, But puppetry, and pide ridiculous Antickes: Men thither come, to laugh, and feede foole-fat, Checke at all goodnesse there, as ing prophan'd: When wheresoeuer goodnesse comes, shee makes The place still sacred; though with other feete Neuer so much tis scandal'd, and polluted. Let me learne any thing that fits a man, In any Stables showne, as well as Stages. Why? is not all the world esteem'd a Stage? Yes: and right worthily: and Stages too Haue a respect due to them: if but onely, For what the good Greeke Moralists sayes of them; Is a man proud of greatnesse, or of riches? Giue me an expert Actor; Ile shew all, That can within his greatest glory fall. Is a man fraid with pouertie and lownesse? Giue me an Actor, Ile shew euery eye What hee laments so, and so much doth flye, The best and worst of both: if but for this then, To make the proudest out-side that most swels, With things without him, and aboue his worth, See how small cause hee has to be so blowne vp; And the most poore man, to be grieu'd with poorenesse, Both being so easily borne by expert Actors. The Stage and Actors are not so contemptfull, As euery innouating Puritane, And ignorant sweater out of zealous enuie, Would haue the world imagine. And besides, That all things haue beene likened to the mirth, Vs'd vpon Stages, and for Stages fitted. The splenatiue Philosopher that euer Laught at them all, were worthy the enstaging: All obiects, were they ne'er so full of teares, He so conceited, that he could distill thence Matter that still fed his ridiculous humour. Heard he a Lawyer, neuer so vehement pleading, Hee stood and laught. Heard hee a Trades-man swearing Neuer so thriftily (selling of his wares;) Hee stood and laught. Heard hee an holy brother, For hollow otentation at his prayers Ne'er so impetuously; hee stood and laught. Saw hee a great man neuer so insulting, Seuerely inflicting, grauely giuing lawes, Not for their good, but his; hee stood and laught. Saw hee a youthfull widow Neuer so weeping, wringing of her hands, For her lost Lord, still the Philosopher laught: Now whether hee suppos'd all these presentments, Were onely maskeries, and wore false faces: Or else were simply vaine, I take no care, But still hee laught, how graue soere they were.