I did not know before that a Man's Dross lay in his Ribs; I believe sometimes it lies Higher. But the Philosophy, the Religion, and the Ceremony of these Lines, are too tender to be touched. Creon a Prince in Oedipus,Oedip. p. 3.[337] railes in General at the Sex, and at the same time is violently in Love with Euridice. This upon the Matter, is just as natural, as 'tis Civil. If any one would understand what the Curse of all tender hearted Women is, Belmour will inform him. What is it then? 'Tis the Pox.Old Batch. p. 41.[338] If this be true, the Women had need lay in a stock of ill Nature betimes. It seems 'tis their only preservative. It guards their Virtue, and their Health, and is all they have to trust to. Sharper another Man of Sense in this Play, talks much at the same rate. Belinda would know of him where he got that excellent Talent of Railing?
Sharp. Madam the Talent was Born with me.——I confess I have taken care to improve it, to qualifie me for the Society of Ladies.p. 35.[339] Horner, a Topping Character in the Country Wife, is advised to avoid Women, and hate them as they do him. He Answers.
Because I do hate them, and would hate them yet more, I'll frequent e'm; you may see by Marriage, nothing makes a Man hate a Woman more than her Constant Conversation.p. 22.
Don. Sebast. p. 5.[340] There is still something more Coarse upon the Sex spoken by Dorax[341] but it is a privileged Expression, and as such I must leave it. The Relapse mends the Contrivance of the Satir, refines upon the Manner, and to make the Discourse the more probable, obliges the Ladies to abuse themselves. And because I should be loath to tire the Reader, Berenthia shall close the Argument. This Lady having undertook the Employment of a Procuress, makes this remark upon it to her self.
Berinth. So here is fine work! But there was no avoiding it.——Besides, I begin to Fancy there may be as much Pleasure in carrying on another Bodies Intrigue, as ones own. This is at least certain, It exercises almost all the Entertaining Faculties of a Woman. For there is Employment for Hypocrisie, Invention, Deceit, Flattery, Mischief, and Lying.
Let us now see what Quarter the Stage gives to Quality. And here we shall find them extreamly free, and familiar. They dress up the Lords in Nick Names, and expose them in Characters of Contempt. Lord Froth is explain'd a Solemn Coxcomb;Double Dealer. Person. Dram.
Relapse.
Provok'd Wife.
p. 4. p. 2.[342] And Lord Rake, and Lord Foplington give you their Talent in their Title.[343] Lord Plausible in the Plain Dealer Acts a ridiculous Part, but is with all very civil. He tells Manly he never attempted to abuse any Person, The other answers; What? you were afraid?[344] Manly goes on and declares He would call a Rascal by no other Title, tho' his Father had left him a Dukes.[345] That is, he would call a Duke a Rascal. This I confess is very much Plain Dealing. Such Freedoms would appear but odly in Life, especially without Provocation. I must own the Poet to be an Author of good Sense; But under favour, these jests, if we may call them so, are somewhat high Season'd, the Humour seems overstrain'd, and the Character push'd too far. To proceed. Mustapha was selling Don Alvarez for a Slave. The Merchant asks what Virtues he has.Don Sebast. p. 16.[346] Mustapha replies. Virtues quoth ah! He is of a great Family and Rich, what other Virtues would'st thou have in a Nobleman? Don Carlos in Love Triumphant stands for a Gentleman, and a Man of Sense, and out-throws Mustapha a Bars Length. He tells us Nature has given Sancho an empty Noddle, but Fortune in revenge has fill'd his Pockets: just a Lords Estate in Land and Wit.p. 17.[347] This is a handsom Compliment to the Nobility! And my Lord Salisbury had no doubt of it a good Bargain of the Dedication.Don. Quix. part. 2. p. 37.[348] Teresa's general Description of a Countess is considerable in its Kind: But only 'tis in no Condition to appear. In the Relapse, Sir Tunbelly who had Mistaken Young Fashion for Lord Foplington, was afterwards undeceiv'd; and before the surprize was quite over, puts the Question, is it then possible that this should be the true Lord Foplington at Last? The Nobleman removes the scruple with great Civility and Discretion! Lord Fopl. Why what do you see in his Face to make you doubt of it? Sir without presuming to have an extraordinary Opinion of my Figure, give me leave to tell you, if you had seen as many Lords as I have done you would not think it Impossible A Person of a worse Taille then mine might be a Modern Man of Quality.Relapse. p. 84.[349]
I'm sorry to hear Modern Quality degenerates so much. But by the way, these Liberties are altogether new. They are unpractised by the Latin Comedians, and by the English too till very lately, as the Plain Dealer observes.p. 24.
L'Ombre de Moliere[350] And as for Moliere in France, he pretends to fly his Satir no higher than a Marquis.[351]
And has our Stage a particular Privilege? Is their Charter inlarg'd, and are they on the same Foot of Freedom with the Slaves in the Saturnalia? Must all Men be handled alike? Must their Roughness be needs play'd upon Title? And can't they lash the Vice without pointing upon the Quality? If as Mr. Dryden rightly defines it, a Play ought to be a just Image of Humane Nature;Essay Dram. poet. p. 5.[352] Why are not the Decencies of Life, and, the Respects of Conversation observ'd? Why must the Customes of Countries be Cross'd upon, and the Regards of Honour overlook'd? What necessity is there to kick the Coronets about the Stage, and to make a Man a Lord, only in order to make him a Coxcomb. I hope the Poets don't intend to revive the old Project of Levelling and Vote down the House of Peers. In earnest, the Play-house is an admirable School of Behaviour! This is their way of managing Ceremony, distinguishing Degree, and Entertaining the Boxes! But I shall leave them at present to the Enjoyment of their Talent, and proceed to another Argument.