A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage / Together with the Sense of Antiquity on this Argument

by Jeremy Collier

In this Citation we have the Opinion of the Poet, the Practise of the French Theatre, and the Sense of that Nation, and all very full to our purpose.

To conclude this Chapter. By what has been offer'd, it appears that the Present English Stage is superlatively Scandalous. It exceeds the Liberties of all Times and Countries: It has not so much as the poor plea of a Precedent, to which most other ill Things may claim a pretence. 'Tis mostly meer Discovery and Invention: A new World of Vice found out, and planted with all the Industry imaginable. Aristophanes himself, how bad soever in other respects, does not amplyfie, and flourish, and run through all the Topicks of Lewdness like these Men. The Miscellany Poems are likewise horribly Licentious. They are sometimes Collections from Antiquity, and often, the worst parts of the worst Poets. And to mend the Matter, the Christian Translation, is more nauseous than the Pagan Original. Such stuff I believe was never seen, and suffer'd before. In a word, If Poverty and Diseases, the Dishonour of Families, and the Debauching of Kingdoms, are such valuable Advantages, then I confess these Books deserve encouragement. But if the Case is otherwise, I humbly conceive the Proceeding should be so too.

CHAP. II.

The Profaness of the Stage.

An other Instance of the Disorders of the Stage is their Profaness: This Charge may come under these two particulars.

1st. Their Cursing and Swearing.

2dly. Their Abuse of Religion and Holy Scripture.

1st Their Cursing and Swearing.

What is more frequent then their wishes of Hell, and Confusion, Devils, and Diseases, all the Plagues of this World, and the next, to each other? And as for Swearing; 'tis used by all Persons, and upon all Occasions: By Heroes, and Paltroons; by Gentlemen, and Clowns: Love, and Quarrels, Success, and Disappointment, Temper, and Passion, must be varnish'd, and set off with Oaths. At some times, and with some Poets Swearing is no ordinary Releif. It stands up in the room of Sense, gives Spirit to a flat Expression, and makes a Period Musical and Round. In short, 'tis almost all the Rhetorick, and Reason some People are Masters of: The manner of performance is different. Some times they mince the matter; change the Letter, and keep the Sense,Gad for God.^[102] as if they had a mind to steal a Swearing, and break the Commandement without Sin. At another time the Oaths are clipt, but not so much within the Ring, but that the Image and Superscription are visible. These expedients, I conceive are more for variety, then Conscience: For when the fit comes on them, they make no difficulty of Swearing at Length. Instances of all these kinds may be met with in the Old Batchelour, Double Dealer, and Love for Love. And to mention no more, Don Quixot, the Provok'd Wife, and the Relapse, are particularly rampant and scandalous. The English Stage exceed their predecessors in this, as well as other Branches of immorality. Shakespear is comparatively sober, Ben Jonson is still more regular; And as for Beaument and Fletcher, In their Plays they are commonly Profligate Persons that Swear, and even those are reprov'd for't. Besides, the Oaths are not so full of Hell and Defiance, as in the Moderns.

So much for matter of Fact: And as for point of Law, I hope there needs not many words to prove Swearing a Sin: For what is more provoking than contempt, and what Sin more contemptuous than common Swearing? what can be more Insolent and Irreligious, than to bring in God to attest our Trifles, to give Security for our Follies, and to make part of our Diversion? To Play with Majesty and Omnipotence in this manner, is to render it cheap and despicable. How can such Customes as these consist with the belief of Providence or Revelation? The Poets are of all People most to blame. They want even the Plea of Bullies and Sharpers. There's no Rencounters, no starts of Passion, no suddain Accidents to discompose them. They swear in Solitude and cool Blood, under Thought and Deliberation, for Business, and for Exercise: This is a terrible Circumstance; It makes all Malice Prepence, and enflames the Guilt, and the Reckoning.