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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	write_v	writer_n	year_n	279	4	4.3040	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59443	Psyche a tragedy / written by Tho. Shadwell.	Shadwell, Thomas, 1642?-1692.; Molière, 1622-1673. Psyché.; Locke, Matthew, 1621 or 2-1677.; Draghi, Giovanni Battista, ca. 1640-1708.	1675 (1675)	Wing S2866; ESTC R22616	40,888	96

considers that the great Design was to entertain the Town with variety of Musick curious Dancing splendid Scenes and Machines And that I do not nor ever did intend to value my self upon the writing of this Play For I had rather be Author of one Scene of Comedy like some of Ben. Johnsons then of all the best Plays of this kind that have been or ever shall be written Good Comedy requiring much more Wit and Iudgment in the Writer then any Rhiming unnatural Plays can do This I have so little valu'd that I have not alter'd six lines in it since it was first written which except the Songs at the Marriage of Psyche in the last Scene was all done Sixteen moneths since In all the words which are sung I did not so much take care of the Wit or Fancy of 'em as the making of 'em proper for Musick in which I cannot but have some little knowledge having been bred for many years of my Youth to some performance in it I chalked out the way to the Composer in all but the Song of Furies and Devils in the Fifth Act having design'd which Line I would have sung by One which by Two which by Three which by four Voices c. and what manner of Humour I would have in all the Vocal Musick And by his excellent Composition that long known able and approved Master of Musick Mr. Lock Composer to His Majesty and Organist to the Queen has done me a great deal of right though I believe the unskilful in Musick will not like the more solemn part of it as the Musick in the Temple of Apollo and the Song of the Despairing Lovers in the Second Act both which are proper and admirable in their kinds and are recommended to the judgment of able Musicians for those who are not so there are light and ayery things to please them All the Instrumental Musick which is not mingled with the Vocal was composed by that Great Master Seignior Gio Baptista Draghi Master of the Italian Musick to the King The Dances were made by the most famous Master of France Monsieur St. Andreé The Scenes were Painted by the Ingenious Artist Mr. Stephenson In those things that concern the Ornament or Decoration of the Play the great industry and care of Mr. Betterton ought to be remember'd at whose desire I wrote upon this Subject POSTSCRIPT I Had borrow'd something from two Songs of my own which till this Play was Printed I did not know were publick but I have since found 'em printed in Collections of Poems viz. part of the Song of the Despairing Lovers in the Second Act and about Eight lines in the First Act beginning at this line 'T is frail as an abortive Birth This I say to clear my self from Thiev'ry 't is none to rob my self The Reader may please to take notice ofseveral Errata's as Page 2. for bright Sun exhales read gross Earth exhales p. 6. after where you shall be adorn'd by me insert with all the Treasures of the East and West p. 15. l. 5. for upon the Tripod read before which stands the Tripod p. 18. before it Thunders insert As the Priestess Pythia is mounting the Tripod p 42. read Great Statues of Gold standing upon Pedesta●… with small Figures of Gold sitting at their feet Several other Errors there are which the sense will help you to correct Prologue AS a young Wanton when she first begins With shame and with regret of Conscience sins So fares our trembling Poet the first time He has committed the lewd sin of Rhime While Custom hardens others in the Crime It might in him that boldness too beget To lay about him without fear or wit But humbly he your pardon does implore Already he repents and says he 'll sin no more His bus'ness now is to shew splendid Scenes T' interpret 'twixt the Audience and Machines You must not here expect exalted Thought Nor lofty Verse nor Scenes with labour wrought His Subject's humble and his Verse is so This Theme no thundring Raptures would allow Nor would he if he could that way pursue He 'd ride unruly Fancy with a Bit And keep within the bounds of Sense and Wit Those bounds no boystrous Fustian will admit And did not gentle Hearers oft dispence With all the Sacred Rules of Wit and Sense Such tearing Lines as crack the Writers Brain And the laborious Actors Lungs o'rstrain Wou'd on our Stages be roar'd out in vain In all true Wit a due proportion's found To the just Rules of heighth and distance bound Wit like a Faulcon tow'ring in its flight When once it soars above its lawful height Lessens till it becomes quite out of sight But of such flights there is no danger now He would not soar too high nor creep too low Howe'r he hopes you will excuse his haste For he this gawdy Trifle wrote so fast Five weeks begun and finish'd this design In those few hours he snatch'd from Friends and Wine And since in better things h' has spent his time With which he hopes ere long t' atone this Crime But he alas has several pow'rful Foes Who are unjustly so and yet he knows They will what e'r he writes though good oppose If he the honour has to please the best 'T is not his fault if he offends the rest But none of them yet so severe can be As to condemn this Trifle more then he PSYCHE ACT I. The Scene is a very deep Walk in the midst of a mighty Wood through which is seen a Prospect of a very pleasant Country Enter Psyche and two Ladies Psyc. HOw charming are these Meads and Groves The Scene of Innocence and Artless Loves Where Interest no discord moves No stormy passions can the mind invade No Sacred Trust is violated here 1. Lad. Man does not here his own kind fear Traps are for Wolves and Foxes made And Toyls for Beasts not Men are laid Man is not here by Man betray'd 2. Lad. Here no man's ruine is with baseness sought For in this happy place no Court-like Arts are taught Psyc. How pleasant is this undisturb'd retreat With harmless Joys and Rural Sports Free from tumultuous Cares that trouble Courts And all the Factions which disturb the Great 1. Lad. How vain their gaudy Pomp and Show To which the cheated Vulgar bow Their Splendor and their perish'ng Pride Their shining Revels their adult'rate Joys When in the midst of all this pomp and noise In their unquiet minds still anxious thoughts reside 2. Lad. Their Triumphs are disturb'd with fears Their Joys allay'd with griefs and cares Envy and pride possess each breast And guilty dreams distract their rest Psyc. From sleep to dang'rous Arts they ' wake To undermine each other all mean ways they take Each strives who shall his Monarch lead Though at the price of his own Father's head Nor care they how much they their Prince misguide To serve their Lust their Avarice and Pride 1. Lad. Yet there the