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 0.79 · 490 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Master Lantern, that gives light to the business, In good time, Sir, I would feign see 'em, I would be glad drink with the young company; which is the Tiring-house? Troth, Sir, our Tiring-house is somewhat little, we are but beginners, yet, pray pardon us; you cannot go upright in't. Not? not now my hat is of? what would you have done with me, if you had had me, feather, and all, as I was once to day? Ha' you none of your pretty impudent boys, now; to bring stools, fill Tobacco, fetch Ale, and beg money, as they have at other houses? let me see some o'your Actors. Show him 'em, show him 'hem. Master Lantern, this is a Gentleman, that is a favourer of the quality. I, the favouring of this licentious quality, is the consumption of many a young Gentleman; a pernicious enormity. What, do they live in baskets? They do lie in a basket, Sir, they are o'the small Players. These be Players minors, indeed. Do you call these Players? They are Actors, Sir, and as good as any, none dispraised, for dumb shows: indeed, I am the mouth of'hem all! Thy mouth will hold 'em all. I think, one Tailor, would go near to beaten all this company, with a hand bound behind him. I, and eat 'em all, too, an they were in cakebread. I thank you for that, Master Littlewit, a good jest! which is your Burbage now? What mean you by that, Sir? Your best Actor. Your Field? Good i'faith! you are even with me, Sir. This is he, that acts young Leander, Sir. He is extremely beloved of the womankind, they do so affect his action, the green gamesters, that come here, and this is lovely Hero; this with the beard, Damon; and this pretty Pythias: this is the ghost of King Dionysius in the habit of a scrivener: as you shall see anon, at large. Well they are a civil company, I like 'em for that; they offer not to fleer, nor gear, nor break jests, as the great Players do: And than, there goes not so much charge to the feasting of'hem, or making 'em drunk, as to the other, by reason of their littleness. Do they use to play perfect? Are they never flustered? Not, Sir, I thank my industry, and policy for it; they are as well governed a company, though I say it— And here is young Leander, is as proper an Actor of his inches; and shakes his head like an hostler· But do you play it according to the printed book? I have read that. By no means, Sir. Not? How than? A better way, Sir, that is too learned, and poetical for our audience; what do they know what Hellespont is? Guilty of true love's blood? or what Abydos is? or the other Sestos height? thou'rt i'the right, I do not know myself.
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)
Maſter Lanterne, that giues light to the buſineſſe, In good time, Sir, I would faine ſee 'hem, I would be glad drinke with the young company; which is the Tiring-houſe? Troth, Sir, our Tiring-houſe is ſomewhat little, we are but beginners, yet, pray pardon vs; you cannot goe vpright in't. No? not now my hat is off? what would you haue done with me, if you had had me, feather, and all, as I was once to day? Ha' you none of your pretty impudent boyes, now; to bring ſtooles, fill Tabacco, fetch Ale, and beg money, as they haue at other houſes? let me ſee ſome o'your Actors. Shew him 'hem, ſhew him 'hem. Maſter Lanterne, this is a Gentleman, that is a fauorer of the quality. I, the fauouring of this licencious quality, is the conſumption of many a young Gentleman; a pernicious enormity. What, doe they liue in baskets? They doe lye in a basket, Sir, they are o'the ſmall Players. Theſe be Players minors, indeed. Doe you call theſe Players? They are Actors, Sir, and as good as any, none diſprais'd, for dumb ſhowes: indeed, I am the mouth of'hem all! Thy mouth will hold 'hem all. I thinke, one Taylor, would goe neere to beat all this company, with a hand bound behinde him. I, and eate 'hem all, too, an' they were in cake-bread. I thanke you for that, Maſter Littlewit, a good ieſt! which is your Burbage now? What meane you by that, Sir? Your beſt Actor. Your Field? Good ifaith! you are euen with me, Sir. This is he, that acts young Leander, Sir. He is extreamly belou'd of the womenkind, they doe ſo affect his action, the green gameſters, that come here, and this is louely Hero; this with the beard, Damon; and this pretty Pythias: this is the ghoſt of King Dionyſius in the habit of a ſcriuener: as you ſhall ſee anone, at large. Well they are a ciuill company, I like 'hem for that; they offer not to fleere, nor geere, nor breake ieſts, as the great Players doe: And then, there goes not ſo much charge to the feaſting of'hem, or making 'hem drunke, as to the other, by reaſon of their littleneſſe. Doe they vſe to play perfect? Are they neuer fluſter'd? No, Sir, I thanke my induſtry, and policy for it; they are as well gouern'd a company, though I ſay it—And here is young Leander, is as proper an Actor of his inches; and ſhakes his head like an hoſtler· But doe you play it according to the printed booke? I haue read that. By no meanes, Sir. No? How then? A better way, Sir, that is too learned, and poeticall for our audience; what doe they know what Helleſpont is? Guilty of true loues blood? or what Abidos is? or the other Seſtos height? Th'art i'the right, I doe not know my ſelfe.