Marlowe, Christopher · published 1633 · first performed or written 1589 [c.1589-1590] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown · before the Court T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.71 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
GRacious and Great, that we so boldly dare, (' Mongst other Plays that now in fashion are) To present this; writ many years agone, And in that Age, thought second unto none; We humbly crave your pardon: we pursue The story of a rich and famous Jew Who lived in Malta: you shall find him still, In all his projects, a sound Machiavel; And that's his Character: He that hath passed So many Censures, is now come at last To have your princely Ears, grace you him; than You crown the Action, and renown the pen. IT is our fear (dread Sovereign) we have been Too tedious; neither can't be less than sin To wrong your Princely patience: If we have, (Thus low dejected) we your pardon crave: And if aught here offend your ear or sight, We only Act, and Speak, what others write. WE passe this Stage, But by the best of * Poets in that age The Malta-Jew had being, and was made; And He, then by the best of * Actors played: In Hero and Leander, one did gain A lasting memory: in Tamburlaine, This Jew, with others many: th' other man The Attribute of peerless, being a man Whom we may rank with (doing no one wrong) Proteus for shapes, and Roseius for a tongue, So could he speak, so vary; nor is't hate To merit: in * him who doth personate Our Jew this day, nor is it his ambition To exceed, or equal, being of condition More modest; this is all that he intends, (And that too, at the urgence of some friends) To prove his best, and if none here gainsay it, The part he hath studied, and intends to play it. IN Graving, with Pygmalion to contend; Or Painting, with Apelles; doubtless the end Must be disgrace: our Actor did not so, He only aimed to go, but not out go. Nor think that this day any prize was played, Here were no bets at all, no wagers laid; All the ambition that his mind doth swell, Is but to hear from you, (by me) 'twas well. ALbeit the world think Machiavel is dead, Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps, And now the Guize is dead, is come from France To view this Land, and frolic with his friends. To some perhaps my name is odious, But such as love me, guard me from their tongues, And let them know that I am Machiavel, And weigh not men, and therefore not men's words: Admired I am of those that hate me most. Though some speak openly against my books, Yet will they read me, and thereby attain To Peter's Chair: And when they cast me off; Are poisoned by my climing followers. I count Religion but a childish Toy, And hold there is no sin but Ignorance. Birds of the Air will tell of murders past; I am ashamed to hear such fooleries:
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)
GRacious and Great, that we so boldly dare, ('Mogst other Playes that now in fashion are) To present this; writ many yeares agone, And in that Age, thought second vnto none; We humbly cave your pardon: we pursue The story of a rich and famous Jew Who liu'd in Malta: you shall find him still, In all his poiects, a sound Macheuill; And that's is Character: He that hath past So many Cesures, is now come at last To haue your princely Eares, grace you him; then You crown the Action, and renowne the pen. IT is our feare (dread Soueraigne) we haue bin Too teious; neither can't be lesse than sinne To wrong your Princely patience: If we haue, (Thus lo deiected) we your pardon craue: And if ought here offend your eare or sight, We oney Act, and Speake, what others write. WE passe this Stage, But by the best of Poets in that ag The Malta-Jew had being, and was made; And He, then by the best of Actors play'd: In Hero and Leander, one did gaine A lasting memorie: in Tamberlaine, This Jew, with others many: th' other man The Attribute of peerelesse, being a man Whom we may ranke with (doing no one wrong) Proteus for shapes, and Roseius for a tongue, So could he speake, so vary; nor is't hate To merit: in him who doth personate Our Jew this day, nor is it his ambition To exceed, or equall, being of condition More modest; this is all that he intends, (And that too, at the vrgence of some friends) To proue his best, and if none here gaine-say it, The part he hath studied, and intends to play it. IN Graving, with Pigmalion to contend; Or Painting, with Apelles; doubtlesse the end Must be disgrace: our Actor did not so, He onely aym'd to goe, but not out goe. Nor thinke that this day any prize was plaid, Here were no bett at all, no wagers laid; All the ambition that his mind doth swell, Is but to heare from you, (by me) 'twas well. ALbeit the world thinke Macheuill is dead, Yet was his soule but flowne beyond the Alpes, And now the Guize is dead, is come from Franc To view this Land, and frolicke with his friends. To some perhaps my name is odious, But such as loue me, gard me from their tongues, And let them know that I am Macheuill, And weigh not men, and therefore not mens words: Admir'd I am of those that hate me most. Though some speake openly against my bookes, Yet will they reade me, and thereby attaine To Peters Chayre: And when they cast me off; Are poyson'd by my climing followers. I count Religion but a childish Toy, And hold there is no sinne but Ignorance. Birds of the Aire will tell of murders past; I am asham'd to heare such fooleries: