Webster, John · published 1623 · first performed or written 1614 [1612-1614; revised 1617-23(?)] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men · Blackfriars T62 The courtier as a type: fashion, affecta typicality 0.86 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T62: courtier, shrug, face, court, italian, monsieur, scholar, fashion, french, courtiers.
you are welcome to your Country (dear Antonio) You have been long in France, and you return A very formal Frenchman, in your habit. How do you like the French Court? I admire it, In seeking to reduce both State, and People To a fixed Order, there judicious King Begins at home: Quits first his Royal Palace Of flattering Sycophants of dissolute, And infamous persons which he sweetly terms His Master's Masterpiece (the work of Heaven) Considering duly, that a PRINCE's Court Is like a common Fountain, whence should flow, Pure silver-drops in general: But if 't chance Some cursed example poison't near the head, " Death, and diseases through the whole land spread. And what is't makes this blessed government, But a most provident Council, who dare freely Inform him, the corruption of the times? Though some o'th' Court hold it presumption To instruct Princes what they ought to do, It is a noble duty to inform them What they ought to foresee: Here comes Bosola The only Court-Gall: yet I observe his railing Is not for simple love of Piety: Indeed he rails at those things which he wants, Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud, Bloody, or envious, as any man, If he had means to be so: Here's the Cardinal. I do haunt you still. So. I have done you Better service than to be slighted thus: Miserable age, where only the reward Of doing well, is the doing of it. You enforce your merit too-much. I fell into the Galleys in your service, Where, for two years together, I wore two Towels in stead of A shirt, with a knot on the shoulder, after the fashion of a Roman Mantle: Slighted thus? I will thrive some way: Blackbirds fatten best in hard weather: why not I, In these dog days? Would you could become honest, With all your divinity, do but direct me the way to it, I Have known many travel far for it, and yet return as Arrant knaves, as they went forth; because they carried Themselves always along with them; Are you gone? Some fellows (they say) are possessed with the devil, But this great fellow, were able to possess the greatest Devil, and make him worse. He hath denied thee some suit? He, and his brother, are like Plum-trees (that grow crooked Over standing-pools) they are rich, and o'erladen with Fruit, but none but Crows, Pies, and Caterpillars feed On them: Could I be one of their flattering Panders, I Would hang on their ears like a horseleech, till I were full, an Then drop off: I pray leave me. Who would rely upon these miserable dependences, in expectation to Be advanced tomorrow? what creature, ever fed worse, then hoping Tantalus? nor ever did any man more fearfully, than he that hoped For a pleadon: There are rewards for hawks, and dogs, and When they have done us service; but for a Soldier, that hazards his Limbs in a battle, nothing but a kind of Geometry, is his last Supportation.
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)
YOV are wel-come to your Country (deere Atoni ) You haue bin long in France, and you returne A very formall French-man, in your habit. How doe you like the French Court? I admire it, In seeking to reduce both State, and People To a fix'd Order, there iuditious King Begins at home: Quits first his Royall Pallace Of flattring Sicophants of dissolute, And infamous persons which he sweetely termes His Masters Master-peece (the worke of Heauen) Considring duely, that a Princes Court Is like a common Fountaine, whence should flow, Pure siluer-droppes ingenerall: But if 't chance Some curs'd example poyson't neere the head, "Death, and diseases through the whole land spread. And what is't makes this blessed gouernment, But a most prouident Councell, who dare freely Informe him, the corruption of the times? Though some oth'Court hold it presumption▪ To instruct Princes what they ought to doe, It is a noble duety to informe them What they ought to fore-see: Here comes Bosola The onely Court-Gall: yet I obserue his rayling Is not for simple loue of Piety: Indeede he rayles at those things which he wants, Would be as leacherous, couetous, or proud, Bloody, or enuious, as any man, If he had meanes to be so: Here's the Cardinall. I doe haunt you still. So. I haue done you Better seruice then to be slighted thus: Miserable age, where onely the reward Of doing well, is the doing of it. You inforce your merrit to-much. I fell into the Gallis in your seruice, Where, for two yeares together, I wore two Towells in stead of A shirt, with a knot on the shoulder, after the fashion of a Romaine Mantle: Slighted thus? I will thriue some way: Black-birds fatten best in hard weather: why not I, In these dogge dayes? Would you could become honest, With all your diuinity, do but direct me the way to it, I Haue knowne many trauell farre for it, and yet returne as Arrant knaues, as they went forth; because they carried Themselues alwayes a long with them; Are you gon? Some fellowes (they say) are possessed with the diuell, But this great fellow, were able to possesse the greatest Diuell, and make him worse. He hath denied thee some suit? He, and his brother, are like Plum-trees (that grow crooked Ouer standing-pooles) they are rich, and ore-laden with Fruite, but none but Crowes, Pyes, and Catter-pillers feede On them: Could I be one of their flattring Panders, I Would hang on their eares like a horse-leach, till I were full, an Then droppe off: I pray leaue me. Who wold relie vpon these miserable dependances, in expectation to Be aduanc'd to morrow? what creature, euer fed worse, then hoping Tantalus? nor euer did any man more fearefully, then he that hop'd For a pleadon: There are rewards for hawkes, and dogges, and When they haue done vs seruice; but for a Souldier, that hazards his Limbes in a battaile, nothing but a kind of Geometry, is his last Supportation.