Shirley, James · published 1632 · first performed or written 1632 [licensed for stage, Jan 10] (Annals) comedy · King's Revels Company (?); Prince Charles's Men (second) (?) · Salisbury Court unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Master Caperwit, before you read, pray tell me, Have your verses any adjectives? Adjectives, would you have a Poem without Adjectives? they are the flowers, the grace of all our language: A well chosen Epithet doth give new soul To fainting Poesy, and makes every verse A bride, with Adjectives we bait our lines, When we do fish for Gentlewomen's loves, And with their sweetness catch the nibbling ear Of amorous Ladies, with the music of These ravishing Nouns, we charm the silken Tribe, And make the Gallant melt with apprehension Of the rare word: I will maintain 't against A bundle of Grammarians, in Poetry, The Substantive itself, cannot subsist Without an Adjective. But for all that, Those words would sound more full, methinks, that are not So larded, and if I might counsel you, You should compose a Sonnet clean without 'em: A row of stately Substantives, would march Like Switzers, and bear all the field before 'em; Carry their weight, show fair like Deeds enrolled, Not Writs, that are first made, and after filled. Thence first came up the title of blank verse, You know Sir, what blank signifies? when the sense First framed, is tied with Adjectives like points, And could not hold together without wedges: Hang't 'tis pedantic, vulgar Poetry, Let children when they versify, stick here, And there these piddling words for want of matter: Poets write Masculine numbers. You have given me a pretty hint, 'tis new. And will be grateful, My daughter will affect it much the better, And 'twill be honour, if she be the first, To whom so choice a Poem is presented. I wish you well Sir. You oblige my service, I will bestow these verses o'my footman; They'll serve a Chambermaid, let me see I want a little quickening, two or three Infusions of sack will heighten me, And make my Genius dance, than Lady, Lady— Gone? she's hard of Soul, but I must supple her, And there's a conceit new struck upon my brain Will do't, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} forces united conquer, Lady grow soft, if merit cannot prove Happy, we must use policy in love. No more; you do not well to wrong your friend, That trusts you with his bosom. Fair one, hear me. He gave you welcome hither, and you practise Unworthily to supplant him. You are too Severe, I have no thought so wicked Lady, Deny me not that liberty, which all The Creatures have, to wish their own felicity; Which cannot be without you, he will not Repine to see me happy in your love. In seeming to extenuate your error, You thus enlarge it, and bring into question The honour of your friend, for whom I must Though weak, rise up a Champion for his virtue, And to beat off all argument, on your part To move for my affection, know, he is next heaven, The only object of my heart, nor can it know a change.
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)
Master Caperwit, before you read, pray tell me, Have your verses any adjectives? Adjectives, would you have a Poem without Adjectives? they are the flowers, the grace of al our language: A well chosen Epithete doth give new soule To fainting Poesie, and makes every verse A bride, with Adjectives we baite our lines, When we doe fish for Gentlewomens loves, And with their sweetnesse catch the nibling eare Of amorous Ladies, with the musicke of These ravishing Nownes, we charme the silken Tribe, And make the Gallant melt with apprehension Of the rare word: I will maintain t against A bundle of Grammarians, in Poetry, The Substantive it selfe, cannot subsist Without an Adjective. But for all that, Those words would sound more full, me thinks, that are not▪ So larded, and if I might counsell you, You should compose a Sonnet cleane without e'm: A row of stately Substantives, would march Like Switzers, and beare all the field before e'm; Carry their weight, shew faire like Deeds enrold, Not Writs, that are first made, and after fild. Thence first came up the title of blancke verse, You know Sir, what blancke signifies? when the sense First framed, is tyed with Adjectives like points, And could not hold together without wedges: Hang't tis pedanticke, vulgar Poetry, Let children when they versifie, sticke here, And there these pidling words for want of matter: Poets write Masculine numbers. You have given me a pretty hint, tis new. And will bee gratefull, My daughter will affect it much the better, And twill be honour, if shee be the first, To whom so choice a Poem is presented. I wish you well Sir. You oblige my service, I will bestow these verses o'my footman; They'l serve a Chambermaid, let me see I want a little quickning, two or three Infusions of sacke will heighten mee, And make my Genius dance, then Lady, Lady—Gone? Shee's hard of Soule, but I must supple her, And there's a conceit new strucke upon my braine Will doo't, forces united conquer, Lady grow soft, if merit cannot prove Happy, wee must use policie in love. No more; you doe not well to wrong your friend, That trusts you with his bosome. Faire one, heare mee. He gave you welcome hither, and you practise Vnworthily to supplant him. You are too Severe, I have no thought so wicked Lady, Deny me not that liberty, which all The Creatures have, to wish their owne felicity; Which cannot bee without you, hee will not Repine to see mee happy in your love. In seeming to extenuate your error, You thus enlarge it, and bring into question The honour of your friend, for whom I must Though weake, rise up a Champion for his vertue, And to beate off all argument, on your part To move for my affection, know, he is next heaven, The onely object of my heart, nor can it know a change.