Neptune's Triumph for the Return of Albion · chunk 1 of 6
Jonson, Ben · published 1641 · first performed or written 1624 [Jan 6 (projected)] (Annals) masque · before the Court unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 431 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Do you hear, you, Creature of diligence, and business! what is the affair, that you pluck for so, under your cloak? Nothing, but what I colour for, I assure you; and may encounter with, I hope, if Luck favour me, the Gamester's Goddess. You are a Votary of hers, it seems by your language. What went you upon? may a man ask you? Certainties, indeed Sir, and very good ones; the presentation of a Masque; you'll see't, anon. Sir, this is my room, and region too, the banqueting-house. And in matter of feast, the solemnity, nothing is to be presented here, but with my acquaintance, and allowance to it. You are not his Majesty's Confectioner? Are you? Not, but one that has as good title to the room, his Master-cook. What are you, Sir? The most unprofitable of his servants, I, Sir, the Poet. A kind of a Christmas Ingine? one, that is used, at lest once a year, for a trifling instrument, of wit, or so. Were you ever a Cook? A Cook? no surely. Than you can be no good Poet: for a good Poet differs nothing at all from a Master-cook. Either's Art is the wisdom of the Mind. As how, Sir? Expect. I am by my place, to know how to please the palates of the guests; so, you, are to know the palate of the times: study the several tastes, what every Nation, the Spaniard, the Dutch, the French, the Walloun, the Neapolitan, the Briton, the Sicilian, can expect from you. That were a heavy and hard task, to satisfy Expectation, who is so severe an exactresse of duties; ever a tyrannous mistress: and most times a pressing enemy. She is a powerful great Lady, Sir, at all times, and must be satisfied: So must her sister, Madam Curiosity, who hath as dainty a palate as she, and these will expect. But, what if they expect more than they understand? That's all one, Mr. Poet. you are bound to satisfy them. For, there is a palate of the Understanding, as well as of the Senses. The Taste is taken with good relishes, the Sight with fair objects, the Hearing with delicate sounds, the Smelling with pure scents, the feeling with soft and plump bodies, but the Understanding with all these: for all which you must begin at the Kitchin. There, the Art of Poetry was learned, and found out, or no where: and the same day, with the Art of Cookery. I should have given it rather to the Cellar, if my suffrage had been asked.
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)
Doe you heare, you, Creature of diligence, and buſineſſe! what is the affaire, that you plucke for ſo, under your cloake? Nothing, but what I colour for, I aſſure you; and may encounter with, I hope, if Luck favour me, the Gamſters Goddeſſe. You are a Votary of hers, it ſeemes by your language. What went you upon? may a man aske you? Certainties, indeed Sir, and very good ones; the preſentation of a Maſque; you'll ſee't, anone. Sir, this is my roome, and region too, the banquetting-houſe. And in matter of feaſt, the ſolemnitie, nothing is to be preſented here, but with my acquaintance, and allowance to it. You are not his Majeſties Confectioner? Are you? No, but one that has as good title to the roome, his Maſter-Cooke. What are you, Sir? The moſt unprofitable of his ſervants, I, Sir, the Poet. A kind of a Chriſtmas Ingine? one, that is uſed, at leaſt once a yeare, for a trifling inſtrument, of wit, or ſo. Were you ever a Cooke? A Cooke? no ſurely. Then you can be no good Poet: for a good Poet differs nothing at all from a Maſter-Cooke. Eithers Art is the wiſedome of the Mind. As how, Sir? Expect. I am by my place, to know how to pleaſe the palates of the gueſts; ſo, you, are to know the palate of the times: ſtudy the ſeverall taſtes, what every Nation, the Spaniard, the Dutch, the French, the Walloun, the Neapolitan, the Brittan, the Sicilian, can expect from you. That were a heavie and hard taske, to ſatisfie Expectation, who is ſo ſevere an exactreſſe of duties; ever a tyrannous miſtreſſe: and moſt times a preſſing enemie. She is a powerfull great Lady, Sir, at all times, and muſt be ſatisfied: So muſt her ſiſter, Madam Curioſitie, who hath as daintie a palate as ſhe, and theſe will expect. But, what if they expect more then they underſtand? That's all one, Mr. Poet. you are bound to ſatisfie them. For, there is a palate of the Underſtanding, as well as of the Senſes. The Taſte is taken with good reliſhes, the Sight with faire objects, the Hearing with delicate ſounds, the Smelling with pure ſents, the feeling with ſoft and plumpe bodyes, but the Underſtanding with all theſe: for all which you muſt begin at the Kitchin. There, the Art of Poetrie was learn'd, and found out, or no where: and the ſame day, with the Art of Cookery. I ſhould have giv'n it rather to the Cellar, if my ſuffrage had bin askt.