Jonson, Ben · published 1631 · first performed or written 1614 [Oct 31] (Annals) comedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.69 · 559 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
In consideration of which, it is finally agreed, by the foresaid hearers, and spectators, that they neither in themselves conceal, nor suffer by them to be concealed any State-decipherer, or politic Picklock of the Scene, so solemnly ridiculous, as to search out, who was meant by the Gingerbread-woman, who by the Hobby-horse-man, who by the Costard-monger, nay, who by their Wares. Or that will pretend to affirm (on his own inspired ignorance) what Mirror of Magistrates is meant by the justice, what great Lady by the Pig-woman, what concealed Statesman, by the Seller of Mousetraps, and so of the rest. But that such person, or persons so found, be left discovered to the mercy of the Author, as a forfeiture to the Stage, and your laughter, aforesaid. As also, such as shall so desperately, or ambitiously, play the fool by his place aforesaid, to challenge the Author of scurrility, because the language some where savours of Smithfield, the Booth, and the Pig-broth, or of profaneness, because a Madman cries, God quit you, or bless you. In witness whereof, as you have preposterously put to your Seals already (which is your money) you will now add the other part of suffrage, your hands, The Play shall presently begin. And though the Fair be not kept in the same Region, that some here, perhaps, would have it, yet think, that therein the Author hath observed a special Decorum, the place being as dirty as Smithfield, and as stinking every whit. Howsoever, he prays you to believe, his Ware is still the same, else you will make him justly suspect that he that is so loath to look on a Baby, or an Hobby-horse, here, would be glad to take up a Commodity of them, at any laughter, or loss, in another place. A Pretty conceit, and worth the finding! I ha' such luck to spin out these fine things still, and like a Silkworm, out of myself. Her's Master Bartholomew Coke, of Harrow o'th' hill, i'th' County of Middlesex, Esquire, takes forth his Licence, to marry Mistress Grace Well-born of the said place and County: and when does he take it forth? to day! the four and twentieth of August! Bartholomew day! Bartholomew upon Bartholomew! there's the device! who would have marked such a leapfrog chance now? A very less than Ames-ace, on two Dices! well, go thy ways Iohn Little-wit, Proctor Iohn Little-wit: One o'the pretty wits o' Paul's, the Little wit of London (so thou art called) and some thing beside. When a quirk, or a quibbling does scape thee, and thou dost not watch, and apprehended it, and bring it afore the Constable of conceit: (there now, I speak quib too) let'hem carry thee out o' the Archdeacon's Court, into his Kitchen, and make a Iack of thee, in stead of a Iohn. (There I am again lafoy!) Win, Good morrow, Win. I marry Win! Now you look finely indeed, Win! this Cap does convince! you'd not ha' worn it, Win, nor ha' had it velvet, but a rough country Beaver, with a copper-band, like the Coney-skin woman of Budgerow? Sweet Win, let me kiss it! And. her fine high shoes, like the Spanish Lady! Good Win, go a little I would feign see thee pace, pretty Win! By this fine Cap, I could never leave kissing on't.
seed 43: T16 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
In conſideration of which, it is finally agreed, by the foreſaid hearers, and ſpectators, that they neyther in themſelues conceale, nor ſuffer by them to be concealed any State-decipherer, or politique Picklocke of the Scene, ſo ſolemnly ridiculous, as to ſearch out, who was meant by the Ginger-bread-woman, who by the Hobby-horſe-man, who by the Costard-monger, nay, who by their Wares. Or that will pretend to affirme (on his owne inſpired ignorance) what Mirror of Magiſtrates is meant by the Iuſtice, what great Lady by the Pigge-woman, what conceal'd Stateſ-man, by the Seller of Mouſe-trappes, and ſo of the reſt. But that ſuch perſon, or perſons ſo found, be left diſcouered to the mercy of the Author, as a forfeiture to the Stage, and your laughter, aforeſaid. As alſo, ſuch as ſhall ſo deſperately, or ambitiouſly, play the foole by his place aforeſaid, to challenge the Author of ſcurrilitie, becauſe the language ſome where ſauours of Smithfield, the Booth, and the Pig-broath, or of prophaneneſſe, becauſe a Mad-man cryes, God quit you, or bleſſe you. In witneſſe whereof, as you haue prepoſterouſly put to your Seales already (which is your money) you will now adde the other part of ſuffrage, your hands, The Play ſhall preſently begin. And though the Fayre be not kept in the ſame Region, that ſome here, perhaps, would haue it, yet thinke, that therein the Author hath obſeru'd a ſpeciall Decorum, the place being as durty as Smithfield, and as ſtinking euery whit. Howſoeuer, hee prayes you to beleeue, his Ware is ſtill the ſame, elſe you will make him iuſtly ſuſpect that hee that is ſo loth to looke on a Baby, or an Hobby-horſe, heere, would bee glad to take vp a Commodity of them, at any laughter, or loſſe, in another place. A Pretty conceit, and worth the finding! I ha' ſuch lucke to ſpinne out theſe fine things ſtill, and like a Silke-worme, out of my ſelfe. Her's Maſter Bartholomew Cokes, of Harrow o'th hill, i'th County of Middleſex, Eſquire, takes forth his Licence, to marry Miſtreſſe Grace Wel-borne of the ſaid place and County: and when do's hee take it foorth? to day! the foure and twentieth of Auguſt! Bartholmew day! Bartholmew vpon Bartholmew! there's the deuice! who would haue mark'd ſuch a leap-frogge chance now? A very leſſe then Ames-ace, on two Dice! well, goe thy wayes Iohn Little-wit, Proctor Iohn Little-wit: One o'the pretty wits o' Pauls, the Little wit of London (ſo thou art call'd) and ſome thing beſide. When a quirk, or a quiblin do's ſcape thee, and thou doſt not watch, and apprehend it, and bring it afore the Conſtable of conceit: (there now, I ſpeake quib too) let'hem carry thee out o' the Archdeacons Court, into his Kitchin, and make a Iack of thee, in ſtead of a Iohn. (There I am againe la!) Win, Good morrow, Win. I marry Win! Now you looke finely indeed, Win! this Cap do's conuince! youl'd not ha' worne it, VVin, nor ha' had it veluet, but a rough countrey Beauer, with a copper-band, like the Conney-skinne woman of Budge-row? Sweete VVin, let me kiſſe it! And. her fine high ſhooes, like the Spaniſh Lady! Good VVin, goe a litle I would faine ſee thee pace, pretty VVin! By this fine Cap, I could neuer leaue kiſſing on't.