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 his De Tristibus, He endeavours to make some Amends for his scandalous Poems, and gives Augustus a sort of Plan for a Publick Reformation. Amongst other Things, he advises the suppressing of Plays, as being the promoters of Lewdness, and Dissolution of Manners.

Ut tamen hoc fatear ludi quoque semina præbent

Nequitiæ, tolli tota Theatra jube.Lib. 2.^[452]

To the Testimony of Ovid, I could add Plautus, Propertius, and Juvenal, but being not willing to overburthen the Reader, I shall content my self with the Plain-Dealer as one better known at Home.

This Poet in his Dedication to Lady B, some Eminent Procuress, pleads the Merits of his Function, and insists on being Billeted upon free Quarter. Madam (says he) I think a Poet ought to be as free of your Houses, as of the Play-Houses: since he contributes to the support of both, and is as necessary to such as you, as the Ballad-singer to the Pick-purse, in Convening the Cullies at the Theatres to be pick'd up, and Carried to a supper, and Bed, at your Houses.Ep. Ded.^[453] This is franck Evidence, and ne're the less true, for the Air of a Jest.

I shall now in the Second Place proceed to the Censures of the State; And show in a few Words how much the Stage stands discouraged by the Laws of other Countrys and our own.

To begin with the Athenians.Plut. De Glor. Atheniens.^[454] This People tho' none of the worst Freinds to the Play-House 'thought a Comedy so unreputable a Performance, that they made a Law that no Judge of the Ariopagus should make one.'

The Lacedemonians,Plut. Lacon. Institut.^[455] who were remarkable for the Wisdom of their Laws, the Sobriety of their Manners, and their Breeding of brave Men. This Government would not endure the Stage in any Form, nor under any Regulation.

To pass on to the Romans. TullyCic. de Repub. Lib. 4. cited by, St. Augustine. Libr. 2. de civ. dei. cap. 13.^[456] informs us that their Predecessours 'counted all Stage-Plays uncreditable and Scandalous. In so much that any Roman who turn'd Actor was not only to be Degraded, but likewise as it were disincorporated, and unnaturalized by the Order of the Censors.

St. Augustine in the same Book,Lib. 2. cap. 29.^[457] commends the Romans for refusing the Jus Civitatis to Players, for seizing their Freedoms, and making them perfectly Foreign to their Government.