Selected quad for the lemma: majesty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
majesty_n	act_v	servant_n	theatre_n	2,674	5	12.8313	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36692	The Spanish fryar, or, The double discovery acted at the Duke's Theatre / written by John Dryden ...	Dryden, John, 1631-1700.	1681 (1681)	Wing D2368; ESTC R11507	59,675	120

the_o spanish_a friar_n or_o the_o double_a discovery_n act_v at_o the_o duke_n theatre_n ut_fw-la melius_fw-la possis_fw-la fallere_fw-la sum_n togam_fw-la ma._n alterna_fw-la revisens_fw-la lusit_fw-la &_o in_o solido_fw-la rursus_fw-la fortuna_fw-la locavit_fw-la vir._n write_a by_o john_n dryden_n servant_n to_o his_o majesty_n london_n print_v for_o richard_n tonson_n and_o jacob_n tonson_n at_o grays-inn-gate_n in_o grays-inn-lane_n and_o at_o the_o iudge's-head_n in_o chancery-lane_n 1681._o to_o the_o right_n honourable_a john_n lord_n haughton_n my_o lord_n when_o i_o first_o design_v this_o play_n i_o find_v or_o think_v i_o find_v somewhat_o so_o move_v in_o the_o serious_a part_n of_o it_o and_o so_o pleasant_a in_o the_o comic_a as_o may_v deserve_v a_o more_o than_o ordinary_a care_n in_o both_o according_o i_o use_v the_o best_a of_o my_o endeavour_n in_o the_o management_n of_o two_o plot_n so_o very_o different_a from_o each_o other_o that_o it_o be_v not_o perhaps_o the_o talent_n of_o every_o writer_n to_o have_v make_v they_o of_o a_o piece_n neither_o have_v i_o attempt_v other_o play_n of_o the_o same_o nature_n in_o my_o opinion_n with_o the_o same_o judgement_n though_o with_o like_a success_n and_o though_o many_o poet_n may_v suspect_v themselves_o for_o the_o fondness_n and_o partiality_n of_o parent_n to_o their_o young_a child_n yet_o i_o hope_v i_o may_v stand_v exempt_v from_o this_o rule_n because_o i_o know_v myself_o too_o well_o to_o be_v ever_o satisfy_v with_o my_o own_o conception_n which_o have_v seldom_o reach_v to_o those_o idea_n that_o i_o have_v within_o i_o and_o consequent_o i_o presume_v i_o may_v have_v liberty_n to_o judge_v when_o i_o write_v more_o or_o less_o pardonable_o as_o a_o ordinary_a markes-man_n may_v know_v certain_o when_o he_o shoot_v less_o wide_a at_o what_o he_o aim_v beside_o the_o care_n and_o pain_n i_o have_v bestow_v on_o this_o beyond_o my_o other_o tragi-comedy_n may_v reasonable_o make_v the_o world_n conclude_v that_o either_o i_o can_v do_v nothing_o tolerable_o or_o that_o this_o poem_n be_v not_o much_o amiss_o few_o good_a picture_n have_v be_v finish_v at_o one_o sitting_z neither_o can_v a_o true_a just_a play_n which_o be_v to_o bear_v the_o test_n of_o age_n be_v produce_v at_o a_o heat_n or_o by_o the_o force_n of_o fancy_n without_o the_o maturity_n of_o judgement_n for_o my_o own_o part_n i_o have_v both_o so_o just_a a_o diffidence_n of_o myself_o and_o so_o great_a a_o reverence_n for_o my_o audience_n that_o i_o dare_v venture_v nothing_o without_o a_o strict_a examination_n and_o be_o as_o much_o ashamed_a to_o put_v a_o loose_a indigested_a play_n upon_o the_o public_a as_o i_o shall_v be_v to_o offer_v brass_n money_n in_o a_o payment_n for_o though_o it_o shall_v be_v take_v as_o it_o be_v too_o often_o on_o the_o stage_n yet_o it_o will_v be_v find_v in_o the_o second_o tell_v and_o a_o judicious_a reader_n will_v discover_v in_o his_o closet_n that_o trashy_a stuff_n who_o glitter_v deceive_v he_o in_o the_o action_n i_o have_v often_o hear_v the_o stationer_n sigh_v in_o his_o shop_n and_o wish_v for_o those_o hand_n to_o take_v off_o his_o melancholy_a bargain_n which_o clap_v its_o performance_n on_o the_o stage_n in_o a_o playhouse_n every_o thing_n contribute_v to_o impose_v upon_o the_o judgement_n the_o light_n the_o scene_n the_o habit_n and_o above_o all_o the_o grace_n of_o action_n which_o be_v common_o the_o best_a where_o there_o be_v the_o most_o need_n of_o it_o surprise_v the_o audience_n and_o cast_v a_o mist_n upon_o their_o understand_n not_o unlike_o the_o cunning_a of_o a_o juggler_n who_o be_v always_o stare_v we_o in_o the_o face_n and_o overwhelm_v we_o with_o gibberish_n only_o that_o he_o may_v gain_v the_o opportunity_n of_o make_v the_o clean_a conveyance_n of_o his_o trick_n but_o these_o false_a beauty_n of_o the_o stage_n be_v no_o more_o last_a than_o a_o rainbow_n when_o the_o actor_n cease_v to_o shine_v upon_o they_o when_o he_o guild_v they_o no_o long_o with_o his_o reflection_n they_o vanish_v in_o a_o twinkle_n i_o have_v sometime_o wonder_v in_o the_o read_n what_o be_v become_v of_o those_o glare_a colour_n which_o amaze_v i_o in_o bussy_n damboy_n upon_o the_o theatre_n but_o when_o i_o have_v take_v up_o what_o i_o suppose_v a_o fall_v star_n i_o find_v i_o have_v be_v cozen_v with_o a_o jelly_n nothing_o but_o a_o cold_a dull_a mass_n which_o glitter_v no_o long_o than_o it_o be_v shoot_v a_o dwarfish_a thought_n dress_v up_o in_o gigantic_a word_n repetition_n in_o abundance_n looseness_n of_o expression_n and_o gross_a hyperbole_n the_o sense_n of_o one_o line_n expand_a prodigious_o into_o ten_o and_o to_o sum_n up_o all_o uncorrect_a english_a and_o a_o hideous_a mingle_v of_o false_a poetry_n and_o true_a nonsense_n or_o at_o best_a a_o scantling_n of_o wit_n which_o lie_v gasp_v for_o life_n and_o groan_v beneath_o a_o heap_n of_o rubbish_n a_o famous_a modern_a poet_n use_v to_o sacrifice_v every_o year_n a_o statius_n to_o virgil_n mane_n and_o i_o have_v indignation_n enough_o to_o burn_v a_o d'amboy_n annual_o to_o the_o memory_n of_o johnson_n but_o now_o my_o lord_n i_o be_o sensible_a perhaps_o too_o late_o that_o i_o have_v go_v too_o far_o for_o i_o remember_v some_o verse_n of_o my_o own_o maximin_n and_o almanzor_n which_o cry_n vengeance_n upon_o i_o for_o their_o extravagance_n and_o which_o i_o wish_v hearty_o in_o the_o same_o fire_n with_o statius_n and_o chapman_n all_o i_o can_v say_v for_o those_o passage_n which_o be_v i_o hope_v not_o many_o be_v that_o i_o know_v they_o be_v bad_a enough_o to_o please_v even_o when_o i_o write_v they_o but_o i_o repent_v of_o they_o among_o my_o sin_n and_o if_o any_o of_o their_o fellow_n intrude_v by_o chance_n into_o my_o present_a write_n i_o draw_v a_o stroke_n over_o all_o those_o dalilah_n of_o the_o theatre_n and_o be_o resolve_v i_o will_v settle_v myself_o no_o reputation_n by_o the_o applause_n of_o fool_n it_o be_v not_o that_o i_o be_o mortify_v to_o all_o ambition_n but_o i_o scorn_v as_o much_o to_o take_v it_o from_o half-witted_a judge_n as_o i_o shall_v to_o raise_v a_o estate_n by_o cheat_v of_o bubble_n neither_o do_v i_o discommend_v the_o lofty_a style_n in_o tragedy_n which_o be_v natural_o pompous_a and_o magnificent_a but_o nothing_o be_v true_o sublime_a that_o be_v not_o just_a and_o proper_a if_o the_o ancient_n have_v judge_v by_o the_o same_o measure_n which_o a_o common_a reader_n take_v they_o have_v conclude_v statius_n to_o have_v write_v high_a than_o virgil_n for_o quae_fw-la superimposito_fw-la mole_n geminata_fw-la colosso_n carry_v a_o more_o thunder_a kind_n of_o sound_n than_o tityre_fw-la tu_fw-la patulae_fw-la recubans_fw-la sub_fw-la tegmine_fw-la fagi_fw-la yet_o virgil_n have_v all_o the_o majesty_n of_o a_o lawful_a prince_n and_o statius_n only_o the_o bluster_a of_o a_o tyrant_n but_o when_o man_n affect_v a_o virtue_n which_o they_o can_v reach_v they_o fall_v into_o a_o vice_n which_o bear_v the_o near_a resemblance_n to_o it_o thus_o a_o injudicious_a poet_n who_o aim_v at_o loftiness_n run_v easy_o into_o the_o swell_a puffie_v style_v because_o it_o look_v like_o greatness_n i_o remember_v when_o i_o be_v a_o boy_n i_o think_v inimitable_a spencer_n a_o mean_a poet_n in_o comparison_n of_o sylvester's_n dubartas_n and_o be_v rapt_v into_o a_o ecstasy_n when_o i_o read_v these_o line_n now_o when_o the_o winter_n be_v keen_a breath_n begin_v to_o crystallise_v the_o baltic_a ocean_n to_o glaze_v the_o lake_n to_o bridle_v up_o the_o flood_n and_o periwig_n with_o snow_n the_o bald_a pate_n wood_n i_o be_o much_o deceive_v if_o this_o be_v not_o abominable_a fustian_n that_o be_v thought_n and_o word_n ill_o sort_v and_o without_o the_o least_o relation_n to_o each_o other_o yet_o i_o dare_v not_o answer_v for_o a_o audience_n that_o they_o will_v not_o clap_v it_o on_o the_o stage_n so_o little_a value_n there_o be_v to_o be_v give_v to_o the_o common_a cry_n that_o nothing_o but_o madness_n can_v please_v madman_n and_o a_o poet_n must_v be_v of_o a_o piece_n with_o the_o spectator_n to_o gain_v a_o reputation_n with_o they_o but_o as_o in_o a_o room_n contrive_v for_o state_n the_o height_n of_o the_o roof_n shall_v bear_v a_o proportion_n to_o the_o area_n so_o in_o the_o heightning_n of_o poetry_n the_o strength_n and_o vehemence_n of_o figure_n shall_v be_v suit_v to_o the_o occasion_n the_o subject_a and_o the_o person_n all_o beyond_o this_o be_v monstrous_a it_o be_v out_o of_o nature_n it_o be_v a_o excrescence_n and_o not_o a_o live_a part_n of_o poetry_n i_o have_v not_o say_v thus_o much_o if_o some_o young_a gallant_n who_o pretend_v to_o criticism_n have_v not_o tell_v i_o that_o this_o tragi-comedy_n

want_v the_o dignity_n of_o style_n but_o as_o a_o man_n who_o be_v charge_v with_o a_o crime_n of_o which_o he_o think_v himself_o innocent_a be_v apt_a to_o be_v too_o eager_a in_o his_o own_o defence_n so_o perhaps_o i_o have_v vindicate_v my_o play_n with_o more_o partiality_n than_o i_o ought_v or_o than_o such_o a_o trifle_n can_v deserve_v yet_o whatever_o beauty_n it_o may_v want_v it_o be_v free_a at_o least_o from_o the_o grossness_n of_o those_o fault_n i_o mention_v what_o credit_v it_o have_v gain_v upon_o the_o stage_n i_o value_v no_o far_o than_o in_o reference_n to_o my_o profit_n and_o the_o satisfaction_n i_o have_v in_o see_v it_o represent_v with_o all_o the_o justness_n and_o gracefulness_n of_o action_n but_o as_o it_o be_v my_o interest_n to_o please_v my_o audience_n so_o it_o be_v my_o ambition_n to_o be_v read_v that_o i_o be_o sure_a be_v the_o more_o last_a and_o the_o noble_a design_n for_o the_o propriety_n of_o thought_n and_o word_n which_o be_v the_o hide_a beauty_n of_o a_o play_n be_v but_o confuse_o judge_v in_o the_o vehemence_n of_o action_n all_o thing_n be_v there_o behold_v as_o in_o a_o hasty_a motion_n where_o the_o object_n only_o glide_v before_o the_o eye_n and_o disappear_v the_o most_o discern_a critic_n can_v judge_v no_o more_o of_o these_o silent_a grace_n in_o the_o action_n than_o he_o who_o ride_v post_n through_o a_o unknown_a country_n can_v distinguish_v the_o situation_n of_o place_n and_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o soil_n the_o purity_n of_o phrase_n the_o clearness_n of_o conception_n and_o expression_n the_o boldness_n maintain_v to_o majesty_n the_o significancie_n and_o sound_n of_o word_n not_o strain_v into_o bombast_n but_o just_o elevate_v in_o short_a those_o very_a word_n and_o thought_n which_o can_v be_v change_v but_o for_o the_o worse_o must_v of_o necessity_n escape_v our_o transient_a view_n upon_o the_o theatre_n and_o yet_o without_o all_o these_o a_o play_n may_v take_v for_o if_o either_o the_o story_n move_v we_o or_o the_o actor_n help_v the_o lameness_n of_o it_o with_o his_o performance_n or_o now_o and_o then_o a_o glitter_a beam_n of_o wit_n or_o passion_n strike_v through_o the_o obscurity_n of_o the_o poem_n any_o of_o these_o be_v sufficient_a to_o effect_v a_o present_a like_n but_o not_o to_o fix_v a_o last_a admiration_n for_o nothing_o but_o truth_n can_v long_o continue_v and_o time_n be_v the_o sure_a judge_n of_o truth_n i_o be_o not_o vain_a enough_o to_o think_v i_o have_v leave_v no_o fault_n in_o this_o which_o that_o touchstone_n will_v not_o discover_v neither_o indeed_o be_v it_o possible_a to_o avoid_v they_o in_o a_o play_n of_o this_o nature_n there_o be_v evident_o two_o action_n in_o it_o but_o it_o will_v be_v clear_a to_o any_o judicious_a man_n that_o with_o half_a the_o pain_n i_o can_v have_v raise_v a_o play_n from_o either_o of_o they_o for_o this_o time_n i_o satisfy_v my_o own_o humour_n which_o be_v to_o tack_n two_o play_n together_o and_o to_o break_v a_o rule_n for_o the_o pleasure_n of_o variety_n the_o truth_n be_v the_o audience_n be_v grow_v weary_a of_o continue_a melancholy_a scene_n and_o i_o dare_v venture_v to_o prophesy_v that_o few_o tragedy_n except_o those_o in_o verse_n shall_v succeed_v in_o this_o age_n if_o they_o be_v not_o lighten_v with_o a_o course_n of_o mirth_n for_o the_o feast_n be_v too_o dull_a and_o solemn_a without_o the_o fiddle_n but_o how_o difficult_a a_o task_n this_o be_v will_v soon_o be_v try_v for_o a_o several_a genius_n be_v require_v to_o either_o way_n and_o without_o both_o of_o they_o a_o man_n in_o my_o opinion_n be_v but_o half_a a_o poet_n for_o the_o stage_n neither_o be_v it_o so_o trivial_a a_o undertake_n to_o make_v a_o tragedy_n end_v happy_o for_o it_o be_v more_o difficult_a to_o save_v than_o it_o be_v to_o kill_v the_o dagger_n and_o the_o cup_n of_o poison_n be_v always_o in_o a_o readiness_n but_o to_o bring_v the_o action_n to_o the_o last_o extremity_n and_o then_o by_o probable_a mean_n to_o recover_v all_o will_v require_v the_o art_n and_o judgement_n of_o a_o writer_n and_o cost_v he_o many_o a_o pang_n in_o the_o performance_n and_o now_o my_o lord_n i_o must_v confess_v that_o what_o i_o have_v write_v look_v more_o like_o a_o preface_n than_o a_o dedication_n and_o true_o it_o be_v thus_o far_o my_o design_n that_o i_o may_v entertain_v you_o with_o somewhat_o in_o my_o own_o art_n which_o may_v be_v more_o worthy_a of_o a_o noble_a mind_n than_o the_o stale_a explode_a trick_n of_o fulsome_a panegyric_n it_o be_v difficult_a to_o write_v just_o on_o any_o thing_n but_o almost_o impossible_a in_o praise_n i_o shall_v therefore_o wave_v so_o nice_a a_o subject_n and_o only_o tell_v you_o that_o in_o recommend_v a_o protestant_a play_n to_o a_o protestant_a patron_n as_o i_o do_v myself_o a_o honour_n so_o i_o do_v your_o noble_a family_n a_o right_a who_o have_v be_v always_o eminent_a in_o the_o support_n and_o favour_n of_o our_o religion_n and_o liberty_n and_o if_o the_o promise_n of_o your_o youth_n your_o education_n at_o home_n and_o your_o experience_n abroad_o deceive_v i_o not_o the_o principle_n you_o have_v embrace_v be_v such_o as_o will_v no_o way_n degenerate_a from_o your_o ancestor_n but_o refresh_v their_o memory_n in_o the_o mind_n of_o all_o true_a englishman_n and_o renew_v their_o lustre_n in_o your_o person_n which_o my_o lord_n be_v not_o more_o the_o wish_n than_o it_o be_v the_o constant_a expectation_n of_o your_o lordship_n most_o obedient_a faithful_a servant_n john_n dryden_n prologue_n now_o luck_n for_o we_o and_o a_o kind_a hearty_a pit_n for_o he_o who_o please_v never_o fail_v of_o wit_n honour_n be_v you_o and_o you_o like_o king_n at_o city_n treat_v bestow_v it_o the_o writer_n kneel_v and_o be_v bid_v rise_v a_o poet_n but_o you_o be_v fickle_a sovereign_n to_o our_o sorrow_n you_o dubb_v to_o day_n and_o hang_v a_o man_n to_o morrow_n you_o cry_v the_o same_o sense_n up_o and_o down_o again_o just_o like_o brass_n money_n once_o a_o year_n in_o spain_n take_v you_o in_o the_o mood_n what_o ever_o base_a metal_n come_v you_o coin_n as_o fast_o as_o groat_n at_o bromingam_n though_o it_o be_v no_o more_o like_o sense_n in_o ancient_a play_n than_o rome_n religion_n like_o st._n peter_n day_n in_o short_a so_o swift_a your_o judgement_n turn_v and_o wind_n you_o cast_v our_o fleet_a wit_n a_o mile_n behind_o it_o be_v well_o your_o judgement_n but_o in_o play_n do_v range_v but_o even_o your_o folly_n and_o debauch_n change_v with_o such_o a_o whirl_n the_o poet_n of_o your_o age_n be_v tire_v and_o can_v score_v they_o on_o the_o stage_n unless_o each_o vice_n in_o shorthand_n they_o indite_v even_o as_o notch_v prentice_n whole_a sermon_n write_v the_o heavy_a hollander_n no_o vice_n know_v but_o what_o they_o use_v a_o hundred_o year_n ago_o like_o honest_a plant_n where_o they_o be_v stick_v they_o grow_v they_o cheat_z but_o still_o from_o cheat_v sire_n they_o come_v they_o drink_v but_o they_o be_v christen_v first_o in_o mum._n their_o patrimonial_a sloth_n the_o spaniard_n keep_v and_o philip_n first_o teach_v philip_n how_o to_o sleep_v the_o french_a and_o we_o still_o change_v but_o here_o be_v the_o curse_n they_o change_v for_o better_a and_o we_o change_v for_o worse_a they_o take_v up_o our_o old_a trade_n of_o conquer_a and_o we_o be_v take_v they_o to_o dance_v and_o sing_v our_o father_n do_v for_o change_v to_o france_n repair_v and_o they_o for_o change_n will_v try_v our_o english_a air._n as_o child_n when_o they_o throw_v one_o toy_n away_o straight_o a_o more_o foolish_a gugaw_n come_v in_o play_n so_o we_o grow_v penitent_a on_o serious_a think_n leave_v whore_v and_o devout_o fall_v to_o drink_v scour_v the_o watch_n grow_v out_o of_o fashion_n wit_n now_o we_o set_v up_o for_o tilt_v in_o the_o pit_n where_o it_o be_v agree_v by_o bully_n chicken-hearted_a to_o fright_v the_o lady_n first_o and_o then_o be_v part_v a_o fair_a attempt_n have_v twice_o or_o thrice_o be_v make_v to_o hire_v night-murth'rers_a and_o make_v death_n a_o trade_n when_o murder_n be_v out_o what_o vice_n can_v we_o advance_v unless_o the_o new_a find_v poison_v trick_n of_o france_n and_o when_o their_o art_n of_o ratsbane_n we_o have_v get_v by_o way_n of_o thanks_o we_o will_v send_v they_o over_o our_o plot_n dramatis_fw-la personae_fw-la leonora_n queen_n of_o arragon_n mrs._n barry_n teresa_n woman_n to_o leonora_n mrs._n crofts_n elvira_n wife_n to_o gomez_n mrs._n betterton_n torrismond_n mr._n betterton_n bertran_n mr._n williams_n alphonso_n mr._n wilisheir_v lorenzo_n his_o son_n mr._n smith_n raymond_n mr._n gillow_n pedro_n mr._n underhill_n gomez_n mr._n nokes_n