Beaumont, Francis · published 1613 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.80 · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
FRom all that's near the Court, from all that's great Within the compass of the City-walls, We now have brought our Scene. Hold your peace goodman boy. What do you mean sir? That you have no good meaning: This seven years there hath been plays at this house, I have observed it, you have still girds at Citizens; and now you call your play, The London Merchant. Down with your Title boy, down with your Title. Are you a member of the noble City? I am. And a Freeman? Yea, and a Grocer. So Grocer, then by your sweet favour, we intend no abuse to the City. No sir, yes sir, if you were not resolved to play the Iacks, what need you study for new subjects, purposely to abuse your betters? why could not you be contented, as well as others, with the legend of Whittington, or the life & death of sir Thomas Gresham? with the building of the Royal Exchange? or the story of Queen Elinor, with the rearing of London bridge upon woolsacks? You seem to be an understanding man: what would you have us do sir? Why present something notably in honour of the Commons of the City. Why what do you say to the life and death of fat Drake, or the repairing of Fleet-privies? I do not like that, but I will have a Citizen, and he shall be of my own trade. Oh you should have told us your mind a month since, our play is ready to begin now. 'Tis all one for that, I will have a Grocer, and he shall do admirable things. What will you have him do? Marry I will have him— Husband, husband. Peace mistress. Hold thy peace Rafe, I know what I do I warrant tee. Husband, husband. What sayst thou coney? Let him kill a Lion with a pestle husband, let him kill a Lion with a pestle. So he shall, I'll have him kill a Lion with a pestle. Husband, shall I come up husband? I coney. Rafe help your mistress this way: pray gentlemen make her a little room, I pray you sir lend me your hand to help up my wife: I thank you sir. So. By your leave Gentlemen all, I'm something troublesome, I'm a stranger here, I was near at one of these plays as they say, before; but I should have seen Iane Shore once, and my husband hath promised me any time this Twelvemonth to carry me to the Bold Beauchams, but in truth he did not, I pray you bear with me. Boy, let my wife and I have a couple stools, and then begin, and let the Grocer do rare things. But sir, we have never a boy to play him, every one hath a part already. Husband, husband, for God's sake let Rafe play him, beshrew me if I do not think he will go beyond them all.
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)
FRom all that's neere the Court, from all that's great Within the compasse of the Citty-wals, We now haue brought our Sceane. Hold your peace good-man boy. What do you meane sir? That you haue no good meaning: This seuen yeares there hath beene playes at this house, I haue obserued it, you haue still girds at Citizens; and now you call your play, The London Marchant. Downe with your Title boy, downe with your Title. Are you a member of the noble Citty? I am. And a Free-man? Yea, and a Grocer. So Grocer, then by your sweet fauour, we intend no abuse to the Citty. No sir, yes sir, if you were not resolu'd to play the Iacks, what need you study for new subiects, purposely to abuse your betters? why could not you be contented, as well as others, with the legend of Whittington, or the life & death of sir Thomas Gresham? with the building of the Royall Exchange? or the story of Queene Elenor, with the rearing of London bridge vpon wool-sackes? You seeme to bee an vnderstanding man: what would you haue vs do sir? Why present something notably in honour of the Commons of the Citty. Why what doe you say to the life and death of fat Drake, or the repairing of Fleet-priuies? I do not like that, but I will haue a Citizen, and hee shall be of my owne trade. Oh you should haue told vs your minde a moneth since, our play is ready to begin now. 'Tis all one for that, I will haue a Grocer, and he shall do admirable things. What will you haue him do? Marry I will haue him— Husband, husband. Peace mistresse. Hold thy peace Rafe, I know what I do I warrant tee. Husband, husband. What sayst thou cunny? Let him kill a Lyon with a pestle husband, let him kill a Lyon with a pestle. So he shall, ll'e haue him kill a Lyon with a pestle. Husband, shall I come vp husband? I cunny. Rafe helpe your mistresse this way: pray gentlemen make her a little roome, I pray you sir lend me your hand to helpe vp my wife: I thanke you sir. So. By your leaue Gentlemen all, Im'e somthing troublesome, Im'e a strāger here, I was nere at one of these playes as they say, before; but I should haue seene Iane Shore once, aud my husband hath promised me any time this Twelue-moneth to carry me to the Bold Beauchams, but in truth he did not, I pray you beare with me. Boy, let my wife and I haue a cupple stooles, and then begin, and let the Grocer do rare things. But sir, we haue neuer a boy to play him, euery one hath a part already. Husband, husband, for Gods sake let Rafe play him, beshrew mee if I do not thinke hee will goe beyond them all.