Ford, John · published 1629 · first performed or written 1628 [licensed for stage, Nov 24] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · Globe T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.84 · 469 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
TO tell ye (Gentlemen) in what true sense The Writer, Actors, or the audience Should mould their judgements for a Play, might draw Truth into Rules, but we have no such law. Our Writer, for himself would have ye know, That in his following Scenes, he doth not owe To others' Fancies, nor hath lain in wait For any stolen Invention, from whose height He might commend his own, more than the right A Scholar claims, may warrant for delight. It is art's scorn, that some of late have made The Noble use of Poetry a Trade. For your parts (Gentlemen) to quite his pains, Yet you will please, that as you meet with strains Of lighter mixtures, but to cast your eye Rather upon the main, then on the buy. His hopes stand firm, and we shall find it true, The lover's Melancholy cured by you. DAngers? How mean you dangers? that so courtly You gratulate my safe return from dangers? From Travails (noble Sir.) These are delights, If my experience hath not truant-like Misspent the time, which I have strove to use, For bettering my mind with observation. As I am modest, I protest 'tis strange: But is it possible? What? To bestride The frothy foams of Neptune's surging waves, When blustering Boreas tosseth up the deep, And thumps a thunder bounce? Sweet Sir, 'tis nothing, Straight comes a Dolphin playing near your ship, Heaving his crooked back up, and presents A Featherbed, to waft'ee to the shore, As easily as if you slept i'th' i'th' Court. Indeed, is't true, I pray? I will not stretch Your Faith upon the Teinters, prithee Pelias, Where didst thou learn this language? I this language? Alas, Sir, we that study words and forms Of compliment, must fashion all discourse, According to the nature of the subject. But I am silent, now appears a Sun, Whose shadow I adore. My honoured Father. From mine eyes, son, son of my care, my love, The joys that bid thee welcome, do too much speak me a child. O Princely Sir, your hand. Perform your duties where you owe them first, I dare not be so sudden in the pleasures, Thy presence hath brought home. Here thou still findest A Friend as noble (Menaphon) as when Thou left'st at thy departure. Yes, I know it, To him I owe more service.— Pray give leave, He shall attend your entertainments soon, Next day, and next day, for an hour or two, I would engross him only. Noble Lord. You're both dismissed. Your creature, and your Servant. Give me thy hand, I will not say, thouart welcome, That is the common road of common friends, I am glad I have thee here— O, I want words To let thee know my heart. 'Tis pieced to mine.
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)
TO tell yee (Gentlemen) in what true sense The Writer, Actors, or the audience Should mold their Iudgemēts for a Play, might draw Truth into Rules, but we haue no such law. Our Writer, for himselfe would haue yee know, That in his following Sceanes, he doth not owe To others Fancies, nor hath layne in wait For any stolne Inuention, from whose height He might commend his owne, more then the right A Scholer claimes, may warrant for delight. It is Arts scorne, that some of late haue made The Noble vse of Poetry a Trade. For your parts (Gentlemen) to quite his paines, Yet you will please, that as you meet with straines Of lighter mixtures, but to cast your eye Rather vpon the maine, then on the bye. His hopes stand firme, and we shall find it true, The Louers Melancholy cur'd by you. DAngers? How meane you dangers? that so courtly You gratulate my safe returne from dangers? From Trauailes (noble Sir.) These are delights, If my experience hath not Trewant-like Mis-spent the time, which I haue stroue to vse, For bettering my mind with obseruation. As I am modest, I protest 'tis strange: But is it possible? What? To bestride The frothy fomes of Neptunes surging waues, When blustring Boreas tosseth vp the deepe, And thumps a thunder bounce? Sweet Sir, 'tis nothing, Straight comes a Dolphin playing neere your ship, Heauing his crooked backe vp, and presents A Feather-bed, to waft'ee to the shoare, As easily as if you slepti'th' Court. Indeed, is't true, I pray? I will not stretch Your Faith vpon the Teinters, prethee Pelias, Where didst thou learne this language? I this language? Alas, Sir, we that study words and formes Of complement, must fashion all discourse, According to the nature of the subiect. But I am silent, now appeares a Sunne, Whose shadow I adore. My honour'd Father. From mine eyes, son, son of my care, my loue, The ioyes that bid thee welcome, doe too much speake me a child. O Princely Sir, your hand. Performe your duties where you owe them first, I dare not be so sudden in the pleasures, Thy presence hath brought home. Here thou still findest A Friend as noble (Menaphon) as when Thou left'st at thy departure. Yes, I know it, To him I owe more seruice.— Pray giue leaue, He shall attend your intertainements soone, Next day, and next day, for an houre or two, I would engrosse him onely. Noble Lord. Y'are both dismist. Your creature, and your Seruant. Giue me thy hand, I will not say, Th'art welcome, That is the common roade of cōmon friends, I am glad I haue thee here—O, I want words To let thee know my heart. 'Tis peec'd to mine.