To conclude. Profaness tho' never so well corrected is not to be endured. It ought to be Banish'd without Proviso, or Limitation. No pretence of Character or Punishment, can excuse it; or any Stage-Discipline make it tolerable. 'Tis grating to Christian Ears, dishonourable to the Majesty of God, and dangerous in the Example. And in a Word, It tends to no point, unless it be to wear off the horrour of the Practise, to weaken the force of Conscience, and teach the Language of the Damn'd.
CHAP. III.
The Clergy abused by the Stage.
The Satyr of the Stage upon the Clergy is extreamly Particular. In other cases, They level at a single Mark, and confine themselves to Persons. But here their Buffoonry takes an unusual Compass; They shoot Chain'd-shot, and strike at Universals. They play upon the Character, and endeavour to expose not only the Men, but the Business. 'Tis true, the Clergy are no small Rub in the Poets way. 'Tis by their Ministrations that Religion is perpetuated, the other World Refresh'd, and the Interest of Virtue kept up. Vice will never have an unlimited Range, nor Conscience be totally subdued, as long as People are so easy as to be Priest-ridden! As long as these Men are look'd on as the Messengers of Heaven, and the Supports of Government, and enjoy their old Pretentions in Credit and Authority; as long as this Grievance continues, the Stage must decline of Course, and Atheism give Ground, and Lewdness lie under Censure, and Discouragment. Therefore that Liberty may not be embarrass'd, nor Principles make Head against Pleasure, the Clergy must be attack'd, and rendred Ridiculous.
To represent a Person fairly and without disservice to his Reputation, two Things are to be observ'd. First He must not be ill used by others: Nor Secondly be made to Play the Fool Himself. This latter way of Abuse is rather the worst, because here a Man is a sort of Felo de se; and appears Ridiculous by his own fault. The Contradiction of both these Methods is practised by the Stage. To make sure work on't, they leave no stone unturn'd, The whole Common place of Rudeness is run through. They strain their Invention and their Malice: And overlook nothing in ill Nature, or ill Manners, to gain their point.
To give some Instances of their Civility! In the Spanish Fryer, Dominick is made a Pimp for Lorenzo;20.[199] He is call'd a parcel of Holy Guts and Garbage, and said to have room in his Belly for his Church steeple.
Dominick has a great many of these Compliments bestow'd upon him. And to make the Railing more effectual, you have a general stroke or two upon the Profession. Would you know what are the Infallible Church Remedies. Why 'tis to Lie Impudently, and Swear Devoutly.p. 37.[200] A little before this Dominick Counterfits himself sick, retires, and leaves Lorenzo and Elvira together; And then the Remark upon the Intrigue follows. 'You see Madam (says Lorenzo)p. 23.[201] 'tis Interest governs all the World. He Preaches against Sin, why? Because he gets by't: He holds his Tongue; why? because so much more is bidden for his Silence. 'Tis but giving a Man his Price, and Principles of Church are bought off as easily as they are in State: No man will be a Rogue for nothing; but Compensation must be made, so much Gold for so much Honesty; and then a Church-man will break the Rules of Chess. For the Black Bishop, will skip into the White, and the White into the Black, without Considering whether the remove be Lawful.
At last Dominick is discover'd to the Company, makes a dishonourable Exit, and is push'd off the Stage by the Rabble. This is great Justice! The Poet takes care to make him first a Knave, and then an Example: But his hand is not even. For Lewd Lorenzo comes off with Flying Colours. 'Tis not the Fault which is corrected but the Priest. The Authors Discipline is seldom without a Biass. He commonly gives the Laity the Pleasure of an ill Action, and the Clergy the Punishment.
To proceed. Horner in his general Remarks upon Men, delivers it as a sort of Maxim, that your Church-man is the greatest Atheist. In this Play Harcourt puts on the Habit of a Divine.Country Wife p. 6.[202] Alithea does not think him what he appears; but Sparkish who could not see so far, endeavours to divert her Suspicion. I tell you (says he) this is Ned Harcourt of Cambridge, you see he has a sneaking Colledge look.p. 35.[203] Afterwards his Character is sufficiently abused by Sparkish and Lucy; but not so much as by Himself.Ibid.[204] He tells you in an Aside he must suit his Stile to his Coat. Upon this wise Recollection, He talks like a servile, impertinent Fop,
In the Orphan, The Young Soldier Chamont calls the Chaplain Sr. Gravity, and treats him with the Language of Thee, and Thou. The Chaplain instead of returning the Contempt; Flatters Chamont in his Folly, and pays a Respect to his Pride. The Cavalier encouraged I suppose by this Sneaking, proceeds to all the Excesses of Rudeness,