Fletchers Faithfull Shepheardess is remarkably Moral, and a sort of Exhortation to Chastity. This Play met with ill Judges, 'twas Hiss'd before half Acted, and seems to have suffer'd on the account of its Innocence.Beauments, &c. Works.
Ibid.[98] Soon after Ben. Johnson and Beaumont appear and justifie the Author in a Copy of Verses. And as Beaumont commends Modesty in Fletcher, so he is commended himself by Mr. Earl for the same Quality.[99]
Such Passions, Such Expressions meet my Eye,
Such Wit untainted with Obscenity.
And as I remember Jasper Main has some stroaks to the same purpose.Ibid.[100] Fletcher is still more full for the Cause. Indeed nothing can be more express. He delivers himself by way of Prologue; where the Poet speaks in his own Person. The Prologue to the Woman-Hater, very frankly lets the Audience know what they are to expect. If there be any amongst you, (says he) that come to hear Lascivious Scenes, let them depart; For I do pronounce this, to the utter discomfort of all two-penny Gallery Men, you shall no Bawdry in it. We find in those days Smut was the expectation of a Coarse Palate, and relish'd by none but two-penny Customers. In the Knight of the Burning Pestle, part of the Prologue runs thus. They were banish'd the Theatre at Athens, and from Rome hiss'd, that brought Parasites on the Stage with Apish Actions, or Fools with uncivil Habits, or Courtezans with immodest words. Afterwards Prologue, who represents a Person, gives us more to the same purpose.
——Fly far from hence.
All private taxes, immodest phrases,
Whatever way but look like Vitious.
For wicked mirth, never true Pleasure brings;
For honest Minds, are pleas'd with honest things.
I have quoted nothing but Comedy in this Author. The Coronation is another. And the Prologue tells you there is