Hawkins, William · published 1627 · first performed or written 1627 [Feb 6] (Annals) comedy T24 Apollo, Phoebus and the Muses typicality 0.73 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T24: apollo, phoebus, midas, muses, ears, play, hedone, gods, siren, time.
You may take a better lesson thence, then weeping. The meaning of that fable is, that shrewd hoys must beware of spending their time in play, lest some mischief befalls them: Nay lest Apollo himself brain them. You construe false to us, so you do. But I say still, And so I will. I gather thence and will lay odds, That sport and play beseems the gods. Else our good Master Apollo would never himself have played at Quoits in his own proper person, with a paltry boy, like one of us. I have writ this note in the margin of my book. And I think verily if Ovid were alive again, and should see my wholesome lines, he would turn them into verse, and add them to that story. Ovid had never been so good a Poet, if he had spent his school time idly in play as you do. Ovid loved play well. I have heard that he played with Corynna. How this Lad prates? Ludio I tell thee that was no boys play. By your leave sir, Ovid hath honoured my exercises. He describes in verse our boys play. Parua tabella capit ternos utrinque lapillos, Twice three stones, set in a crossed square where he wins the game That can set his three along in a row, And that is sixpenny moral, I trow, This boy consters that true, which many a man understood not. Verily thou readest books only where they speak of play. I do not think that if he were here, he would entreat Apollo to play at Quoits with me or check stone, or spurn-point. Good Sir Lauriger, you are better acquainted with Apollo then I. I pray you entreat him to play with me this great play day. This is his fat remedy at his shrovingfeast they say. I challenge him at all games from blowpoint upward to football, and so on to mumchance, and tick-tack. How this boys' fancy makes him saucy. Is it not enough sirrah, that you trouble me thus with your idle chat, but you must be so bold with great Apollo? He thinks the gods can enjoy no greater bliss then gaming. Sir, do you hear? rather than sit out, I will give Apollo three of the nine at tick-tack. I do not think but I shall take him at a why not every other game. His mind will be so on the Muses, & upon his verses. Apollo and his Musaeus take you too often with a Why-not at-school. You know what should follow thereupon. Why-not, &c. Threaten me not. I tell thee, no torture can make me bate an ace of my play. You would not think it, but, as I am true Ludio whensoever I am trembling under the hand of the executioner, If I do but think on my play, than even then, those back blows, (which others think so rueful) seem to me nothing, but threshing hens at Shrovetide. He that spends his life in play, keeps Shrovetide all the year.
seed 43: T29 · seed 44: T27 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
You may take a better lesson thence, then weeping. The meaning of that fable is, that shrode hoyes must beware of spending their time in play, lest some mischiefe befal them: Nay lest Apollo himselfe brain them. You conster false to vs, so you doe. But I say still, And so I will. I gather thence and will lay ods, That sport and play beseemes the gods. Else our good Master Apollo would neuer himselfe haue plai at Quoits in his owne proper person, with a palty boy, like one of vs. I haue writ this note in the margine of my booke. And I thinke verily if Ouid were aliue againe, and should see my wholsome lines, he would turne them into verse, and adde them to that story. Ouid had neuer beene so good a Poet, if hee had spent his schoole time idly in play as you doe. Ouid lou'd play well. I haue heard that hee play'd with Corynna. How this Lad pates? Ludio I tell thee that was no boyes play. By your leaue sir, Ouid hath honour'd my exercises. He describes in verse our boyes play. Parna tabella capit ternos vtrinque lapillos, Twise three stones, set in a crossed square where he wins the game That can set his three along in a row, And that is sippeny morrell, I trow, This boy consters that true, which many a man vnderstood not. Verily thou readest bookes onely where they speake of play. I doe not thinke that if he were here, he would intreat Apollo to play at Quoits with me or checke stone, or spurnepoint. Good Sir Lauriger, you are better acquainted with Apollo then I. I pray you intreat him to play with mee this great play day. This is his fat remedy at his shrouingfeast they say. I challenge him at all games from blowpoint vpward to football, and so on to mumchance, and ticketacke. How this boyes fancy makes him saucy. Is it not enough sirra, that you trouble mee thus with your idle chat, but you must be so bold with great Apollo? Hee thinks the gods can injoy no greater blisse then gaming. Sir, doe you heare? rather than sit out, I will give Apollo three of the nine at Ticketacke. I doe not think but I shall take him at a why not euery other game. His mind will be so on the Muses, & vpon his verses. Apollo and his Musaeus take you too often with a Why-not at-schoole. You know what should follow thereupon. Why-not, &c. Threaten me not. I tell thee, no torture can make me bate an ace of my play. You would not thinke it, but, as I am true Ludio whensoever I am trembling vnder the hand of the executioner, If I doe but think on my play, then even then, those backe blowes, (which others thinke so rufull) seeme to me nothing, but threshing hennes at Shrouetide. He that spend his life in play, keepes Shrouetide all the yeere.