A Second Thing which I have to object against the Stage is their encouraging Revenge. What is more Common than Duels and Quarrelling in their Characters of Figure? Those Practises which are infamous in Reason, Capital in Law, and Damnable in Religion, are the Credit of the Stage. Thus Rage and Resentment, Blood and Barbarity, are almost Deified: Pride goes for Greatness, and Fiends and Hero's are made of the same Mettal. To give Instances were needless, nothing is more frequent. And in this respect the French Dramatists have been to blame no less than the English.Vid. Corneille Cid, Cinna & Pompee.[503] And thus the Notion of Honour is mistated, the Maxims of Christianity despised, and the Peace of the World disturb'd. I grant this desperate Custom is no Original of the Stage. But then why was not the Growth of it check'd? I thought the Poets business had not been to back false Reasoning and ill Practise; and to fix us in Frensy and Mistake! Yes. They have done their endeavour to cherish the Malignity, and keep the Disorder in Countenance. They have made it both the Mark, and the Merit of a Man of Honour; and set it off with Quality, and Commendation. But I have discours'd on this Subject elswhere,Moral Essays.[504] and therefore shall pursue it no farther.
To draw towards an End. And here I must observe that these two later Exceptions are but Petty Mismanagements with respect to the Former. And when the best are thus bad, what are the worst? What must we say of the more foul Representations, of all the Impudence in Language and Gesture? Can this Stuff be the Inclination of Ladies? Is a Reading upon Vice so Entertaining, and do they love to see the Stews Dissected before them? One would think the Dishonour of their own Sex, the Discovery of so much Lewdness, and the treating Human Nature so very Coarsly, could have little Satisfaction in't. Let us set Conscience aside, and throw the other World out of the Question: These Interests are but the greatest, but not all. The Ladies have other Motives to confine them. The Restraints of Decency, and the Considerations of Honour, are sufficient to keep them at Home. But hoping They will be just to themselves I shall wave this unacceptable Argument. I shall only add, that a Surprize ought not to be Censured. Accidents are no Faults. The strictest Virtue may sometimes stumble upon an Ill Sight. But Choise, and Frequency, and ill Ground, conclude strongly for Inclination. To be assured of the inoffensiveness of the Play is no more than a Necessary Precaution. Indeed the Players should be generally discouraged. They have no relish of Modesty, nor any scruples upon the Quality of the Treat. The grossest Dish when 'twill down is as ready as the Best. To say Money is their Business and they must Live, is the Plea of Pick pockets, and High way men. These later may as well pretend their Vocation for a Lewd practise as the other. But
To give the Charge its due Compass: To comprehend the whole Audience, and take in the Motives of Religon.
And here I can't imagine how we can reconcile such Liberties with our Profession. These Entertainments are as it were Litterally renounc'd in Baptism. They are the Vanities of the wicked World, and the Works of the Devil, in the most open, and emphatical Signification. What Communion has Light with Darkness, and what concord has Christ with Belial.2 Cor. 6. 14.[505] Call you this Diversion? Can Profaness be such an irresistable Delight? Does the Crime of the Performance make the Spirit of the Satisfaction, and is the Scorn of Christianity the Entertainment of Christians? Is it such a Pleasure to hear the Scriptures burlesqu'd? Is Ribaldry so very obliging, and Atheism so Charming a Quality? Are we indeed willing to quit the Privilege of our Nature; to surrender our Charter of Immortality, and throw up the Pretences to another Life? It may be so! But then we should do well to remember that Nothing is not in our Power. Our Desires did not make us, neither can they unmake us. But I hope our wishes are not so mean, and that we have a better sense of the Dignity of our Being. And if so, how can we be pleas'd with those Things which would degrade us into Brutes, which ridicule our Creed, and turn all our Expectations into Romance.
And after all, the Jest on't is, these Men would make us believe their design is Virtue and Reformation. In good time! They are likely to combat Vice with success, who destroy the Principles of Good and Evil! Take them at the best, and they do no more than expose a little Humour, and Formality. But then, as the Matter is manag'd, the Correction is much worse than the Fault. They laugh at Pedantry, and teach Atheism, cure a Pimple, and give the Plague. I heartily wish they would have let us alone. To exchange Virtue for Behaviour is a hard Bargain. Is not plain Honesty much better than Hypocrisy well Dress'd? What's Sight good for without Substance? What is a well Bred Libertine but a well bred Knave? One that can't prefer Conscience to Pleasure, without calling himself Fool: And will sell his Friend, or his Father, if need be, for his Convenience.
In short: Nothing can be more disserviceable to Probity and Religion, than the management of the Stage. It cherishes those Passions, and rewards those Vices, which 'tis the business of Reason to discountenance. It strikes at the Root of Principle, draws off the Inclinations from Virtue, and spoils good Education: 'Tis the most effectual means to baffle the Force of Discipline, to emasculate peoples Spirits, and Debauch their Manners. How many of the Unwary have these Syrens devour'd? And how often has the best Blood been tainted, with this Infection? What Disappointment of Parents, what Confusion in Families, and What Beggery in Estates have been hence occasion'd? And which is still worse, the Mischief spreads dayly, and the Malignity grows more envenom'd. The Feavour works up towards Madness; and will scarcely endure to be touch'd. And what hope is there of Health when the Patient strikes in with the Disease, and flies in the Face of the Remedy? Can Religion retrive us? Yes, when we don't despise it. But while our Notions are naught, our Lives will hardly be otherwise. What can the Assistance of the Church signify to those who are more ready to Rally the Preacher, than Practise the Sermon? To those who are overgrown with Pleasure, and hardned in Ill Custom? Who have neither Patience to hear, nor Conscience to take hold of? You may almost as well feed a Man without a Mouth, as give Advice where there's no disposition to receive it. 'Tis true; as long as there is Life there's Hope. Sometimes the Force of Argument, and the Grace of God, and the anguish of Affliction, may strike through the Prejudice, and make their way into the Soul. But these circumstances don't always meet, and then the Case is extreamly dangerous. For this miserable Temper, we may thank the Stage in a great Measure: And therefore, if I mistake not, They have the least pretence to Favour, and the most, need of Repentance, of all Men Living.
THE END.
NOTES (In margin in the Original).
[1] Reflect upon Aristot. &c.
[2] Eurip. Hippolit.
[3] Hamlet.
[4] Don Quixot.
[5] Relapse.
[6] Love for Love.
[7] Mock Astrologer.
[8] Old Batchelour.
[9] Mock Astrologer. Country Wife. Cleomenes. Old Batchelour.
[10] Plaut.
[11] Cistellar.
[12] Terent. Eunuch.
[13] Asinar.
[14] Cistellar.
[15] Bacchid.
[16] Casin.
[17] Mercat. Act. 3.
[18] Persa.
[19] Trucul.
[20] Persa.
[21] Trinum.
[22] Act. 2. 1.
[23] Act. 2. 2.
[24] Casin.
[25] Mil. Glor.
[26] Pers.
[27] Trucul.
[28] Cistellear. A. 1.
[29] Ibid. A. 2.
[30] Heauton.
[31] Eunuch.
[32] Love Triump.
[33] Heauton. A. 5. 4.
[34] Eunuch A. 5. 4. 5. Adelph. A. 2. 3.
[35] Eunuch.
[36] Casaub. Annot. in Curcul. Plauti.
[37] De A te Poet.
[38] Var. apud. Nonium.
[39] Corn. Nep.
[40] Arist. Lib. 4. de Mor. cap. 14.
[41] Vit. Eurip. ed Cantab. 1694.
[42] Love for Love. Love Triump. &c.
[43] p. 14. Ed. Scriv.
[44] Hippol.
[45] Aristoph. Ran.
[46] Χοηφορ. 253, Ed. Steph.
[47] Orest. 48. Ed. Cantab.
[48] Ευμεν. 305.
[49] p. 79.
[50] Ἱκέτ. 340.
[51] Don Sebast. p. 12.
[52] Oedip. Tyran. Ed Steph.
[53] Antig. 242. 244.
[54] Ibid. 264.
[55] Trach. 348.
[56] Μωρία τὸ Μῶρον Ed. Cant. 241. 250. 252.
[57] Ibid. 232. 233.
[58] Androm. p. 303.
[59] Iphig. in Aulid. p. 51.
[60] Helen. 277, 278.
[61] Mourning Bride. p. 36.
[62] Spanish Fryar. Ep. Ded.
[63] Troad. p. 146.
[64] Plain Dealer. p. 21.
[65] Provok'd Wife. p. 41.
[66] Remarks upon Quixot.
[67] Nub. Act. 1. Sc. 3. p. 104. Ed. Amstel.
[68] Sat. 14.
[69] p. 106.
[70] Nub. p. 110.
[71] Act. 5. p. 176.
[72] Plat. Apol. Socrat.
[73] Nub. p. 86.
[74] Plut. A. 1. Sc. 2.
[75] Ran. p. 188.
[76] 536. 538. 546.
[77] 542.
[78] 582.
[79] Ibid.
[80] 602.
[81] Eiren. 616.
[82] p. 142. p. 200.
[83] 242.
[84] p. 244.
[85] p. [......] p. [......]
[86] Ranæ p. 186. p. 182.
[87] p. 192, 194, 196.
[88] Act 2. Sc. 6.
[89] Ranæ p. 242.
[90] Ranæ A. 1. Sc. 1. Concionat.
[91] Ranæ p. 238.
[92] p. 240.
[93] p. 242. 244.
[94] 255. 267.
[95] Discov. p. 700.
[96] p. 701.
[97] p. 706. 717.
[98] Beauments, &c. Works.
[99] Ibid.
[100] Ibid.
[101] Theodore. Ed. Roven. Ep. Ded.
[102] Gad for God.
[103] p. 31.
[104] p. 37.
[105] p. 24.
[106] Hebr. 12.
[107] 34. 36.
[108] 55.
[109] 59.
[110] Orph. p. 20.
[111] p. 31.
[112] Lactan.
[113] p. 19.
[114] p. 28.
[115] p. 31.
[116] 38.
[117] p. 39.
[118] p. 39.
[119] Id. 49.
[120] Double Dealer. 34.
[121] 36.
[122] 55.
[123] p. 40.
[124] Sebast. p. 9.
[125] Id. p. 10.
[126] p. 47.
[127] Id. p. 83. Exod. 12, 13.
[128] Ibid.
[129] Ibid.
[130] Ded. p. 51.
[131] Love Triumph. p. 3.
[132] Id. p. 11.
[133] Id. p. 11.
[134] p. 34.
[135] 58.
[136] p. 62.
[137] 1st. Eliz. cap. 2.
[138] p. 63.
[139] p. 72.
[140] Love for Love. p. 42.
[141] 26.
[142] p. 27.
[143] p. 47.
[144] Vid. Person. Dram.
[145] p. 80.
[146] p. 91.
[147] p. 92.
[148] Prov. Wife p. 38.
[149] Id. p. 77.
[150] Relapse. p. 32, 33.
[151] p. 44, 45.
[152] Vid. Infra.
[153] p. 51.
[154] p. 96, 97.
[155] Ibid.
[156] p.91.
[157] Don. Sebastian. p. 51.
[158] Double Dealer. p. 19.
[159] p. 17.
[160] p. 44.
[161] Double Dealer. p. 18.
[162] Gen. 2. St. Math. 9.
[163] Love, &c. p. 59, 61.
[164] Provok'd Wife. p. 3.
[165] p. 4.
[166] p. 65.
[167] Relapse. p. 19.
[168] p. 96.
[169] Eccles. 8. 11.
[170] Gal. 6.
[171] Eunuch.
[172] Heauton. A. 5. 1.
[173] Adelp. A. 5. 7.
[174] Lyconides. Aulular. A. 2. 4. Palæstra. Rud. A. 1. 3. Dinarchus. Trucul. A. 2. 4.
[175] Mil. Glor.
[176] Pseud. A. 1. 3.
[177] Prom. vinct. 57.
[178] p. 92.
[179] p. 101.
[180] Περσ. 161.
[181] 164.
[182] Ajax. Flagell.
[183] Oedip. Tyran. p. 187.
[184] p. 188.
[185] Antig. p. 256.
[186] Trach. p. [......].
[187] Trach. p. 375.
[188] Trach. p. 340.
[189] Cleom. p. 54.
[190] Id. p. 55.
[191] p. 54.
[192] De Art. Poet.
[193] Philoct. 402.
[194] 419.
[195] p. 431.
[196] Act. 2.
[197] p. 295.
[198] Agam. Act. 3.
[199] 20.
[200] p. 37.
[201] p. 23.
[202] Country Wife p. 6.
[203] p. 35.
[204] Ibid.
[205] p. 25.
[206] p. 26.
[207] Ibid.
[208] Old Batch. p. 19, 20.
[209] p. 27.
[210] p. 41.
[211] p. 71.
[212] Absal. and Achi.
[213] p. 24.
[214] p. 96.
[215] p. 32.
[216] Oedip. p. 38.
[217] p. 43.
[218] Ibid.
[219] Ibid.
[220] Provok'd Wife. p. 45, 46, 52, 52.
[221] Relapse. p. 74.
[222] p. 75.
[223] p. 86.
[224] p. 97.
[225] 89.
[226] p. 94.
[227] p. 95, 97, 105.
[228] Hom. Il. α. p. 3. & dein. Ed. Screvel.
[229] Il. B. p. 91.
[230] Ibid. p. 92.
[231] Il. E. p. 154, 155.
[232] Il. E. p. 154, 155.
[233] Ibid. p. 158.
[234] Odyss. I p. 174, 181.
[235] Ænid. 2.
[236] Ruaus. in Loc.
[237] Æneid 2.
[238] Ibid.
[239] Æneid. 3.
[240] Ibid.
[241] Ænead. 1st.
[242] Æn. 6.
[243] Ibid.
[244] Æneid. 7.
[245] Lib. 1.
[246] Æneid. 10.
[247] Æneid. 11.
[248] Æneid. 9. 10. 11.
[249] Guther. de jure veter. pontif.
[250] Oedip. Tyr. p. 148.
[251] Ibid. 169.
[252] p. 38.
[253] Antig. p. 250, 258.
[254] Eurip. Phœniss. p. 158, 159.
[255] Bacch. Act. 1. Act. 4.
[256] Jon. Act 5.
[257] Iphig. in Aulid. & in Taur.
[258] Oedip.
[259] Troad. A. 2. p. 193.
[260] Plut. Ran. Aves.
[261] Bacchid. Act. 2. 5. 3.
[262] Rud. A. 1. 5. A. 2. 3.
[263] Act [......]
[264] Rud. A. 4. S. 7.
[265] Measure for Measure. Much a do about Nothing. Twelf-Night. Henry 4th pt. 1st. Hen. 6. pt. 3d. Romeo and Juliet. * Merry Wives of Windsor.
[266] Essay of Dramat. &c.
[267] De Bell. Judaic.
[268] Deut. 17. 9. 20. 2. Chron. 19. 8.
[269] Math. 27. Act. 4. Vid. seldon de Synedr.
[270] Joseph.
[271] Diod. Sic.
[272] Gen. 41.
[273] Porph. de Abstin. Lib. 4. Cæsar de Bell. Gall. Lib. 6
[274] Lib. 6.
[275] Ser. in Controv.
[276] Dion. Halic.
[277] Pro Dom. ad Pontif.
[278] Hebr. 7.
[279] Davila Filmers Freeholders Grand Inq.
[280] Miræus De Statu Relig. Christ.
[281] Fletchers Embassy.
[282] Puffendorf Introduction à l'Histoire.
[283] Heylins Cosgmog.
[284] 2, Hen. 8. cap. 22. 26, Hen. 8 cap 2. 1. Edw. 6. cap. 12, &c. Preamb.
[285] S. Luke 12.
[286] Moral Essays.
[287] Mock Astrol. p. 3, &c.
[288] Mock Astrol. p. 57, 59.
[289] Spanish Fryar. p. 61.
[290] Country Wife. p. 25.
[291] Old Batch.
[292] Double Dealer. p. 34.
[293] Love for Love p. 90.
[294] Love for Love. p. 6, 7. 25. 61. 89. 91.
[295] p. 35.
[296] Don Sebast.
[297] Love for Love. p. 20.
[298] Provok'd Wife. p. 64.
[299] Chap. 1. & 2.
[300] Mostel. A. 1. 2. Trinum. A. 2. 1. A. 2. 2. Enuch. A. 3. 3. Hecyr. A. 3. 4.
[301] Trinum. A. 2. 1.
[302] A. 2. 2.
[303] Enuch. A. 3. 3.
[304] Hecyr. A. 3. 4.
[305] Stich A. 1. 1.
[306] p. 3.
[307] Stich. A. 1. 2.
[308] p. 60.
[309] Ibid.
[310] De Art. Poet.
[311] Ibid.
[312] [......] Schol.
[313] Libr. de Poet. cap. 5.
[314] Psyche.
[315] Ibid.
[316] Pref. Mock. Astrol.
[317] Ibid.
[318] Ibid.
[319] Essay of Dramatick Poetry. p. 28.
[320] The London Prodigall.
[321] Ibid.
[322] Ibid.
[323] Ibid.
[324] Rapin Reflect. &c. p. 10.
[325] Libr. 4. de Morib. cap. 14.
[326] De Mor. Lib. 10, cap. 2.
[327] Institut. Lib. 6; c. 3.
[328] p. 32.
[329] p. 52.
[330] Spanish Fryar. p. 36.
[331] p. 70.
[332] p. 61.
[333] Enuch.
[334] King Arth. p. 2.
[335] Love Trium. p. 26.
[336] p. 47.
[337] Oedip. p. 3.
[338] Old Batch. p. 41.
[339] p. 35.
[340] p. 22.
[341] Don. Sebast. p. 5.
[342] Double Dealer. Person. Dram. Relapse. Provok'd Wife. p. 4. p. 2.
[343] Relapse.
[344] p. 4.
[345] p. 2.
[346] Don Sebast. p. 16.
[347] p. 17.
[348] Don. Quix. part. 2. p. 37.
[349] Relapse. p. 84.
[350] p. 24.
[351] L'Ombre de Moliere
[352] Essay Dram. poet. p. 5.
[353] Amphit. p. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9.
[354] p. 8. 17.
[355] p. 18.
[356] 19.
[357] Eunuch.
[358] Euseb. præpar. Evang.
[359] Ep. Ded.
[360] p. 1.
[361] p. 3, 16, etc.
[362] p. 1.
[363] Pref.
[364] p. 1.
[365] 19.
[366] Troil. and Cressid.
[367] The Hist. of Sr. John Old Castle.
[368] King Arthur.
[369] Ep. Ded.
[370] p. 6.
[371] Ep. Ded. Don Sebast.
[372] Ded. King Arthur.
[373] Sebast. K. Arth.
[374] Ibid.
[375] Part 1st. p. 20.
[376] p. 20.
[377] p. 37.
[378] p. 13.
[379] Part. 1. p. 13.
[380] Person. Dram.
[381] p. 51.
[382] p. 3.
[383] p. 7.
[384] p. 10.
[385] p. 41.
[386] p. 47.
[387] Part. 1st. p. 7, 8. pt. 2d. p. 57.
[388] pt. 2d. p. 60;
[389] pt. 1st. p. 38. pt. 2d. p. 14.
[390] pt. 1st. p. 7, 8. pt. 2d. p. 52. pt. 2d. p. 36, 49. pt. 2d. p. 37. 44.
[391] Pref. pt. 3d.
[392] Ibid.
[393] Pref.
[394] Ibid.
[395] Person. Dram.
[396] pt. 2d. p. 31.
[397] p. 51.
[398] Pref. pt. 1st.
[399] Ibid.
[400] pt. 3d.
[401] p. 53.
[402] Reflect, &c. p. 131.
[403] Relapse. p. 19
[404] Reflect. p. 133.
[405] p. 27.
[406] p. 79.
[407] Ibid.
[408] p. 81.
[409] p. 83.
[410] p. 59.
[411] p. 11.
[412] p. 47.
[413] p. 51.
[414] p. 74.
[415] Reflect. p. 40.
[416] Tragedies of the last Age consider'd, &c. p. 113, 114.
[417] p. 59.
[418] p. 61.
[419] p. 42.
[420] p. 43.
[421] p. 44.
[422] p. 64. At top.
[423] p. 85.
[424] p. 64.
[425] p. 94.
[426] p. 15.
[427] p. 99.
[428] Ibid.
[429] p. 100.
[430] Rapin Reflect, &c.
[431] Discourse des Trois Unitez. pt. 3d.
[432] p. 88.
[433] Pref.
[434] see Chap. 2d.
[435] Pref.
[436] An Academy in Lithuania, for the Education of Bears. Pere Auvill Voyage en Divers Etats, &c. p. 240.
[437] Plat. de Repub. Lib. 10. Euseb. Præpar. Evang.
[438] Cyropæd. p. 34
[439] Polit. Lib. 7. c. p. 12.
[440] Polit. Lib. 8.
[441] Tusc. Quest. Lib. 4. De Leg. Lib. 1.
[442] Dec. 1. Lib. 7.
[443] Lib. 2. cap. 4.
[444] cap. 6.
[445] Natural Quest. Lib. 7. cap. 32.
[446] Epist. 7.
[447] Annal. Lib 14. cap. 14.
[448] De Mor. German. cap. 19
[449] Symposiac. Lib. 7. De Audiend. Poet. p. 15. Ed. Par.
[450] Lib. 1.
[451] Remed. Amor.
[452] Lib. 2.
[453] Ep. Ded.
[454] Plut. De Glor. Atheniens.
[455] Plut. Lacon. Institut.
[456] Cic. de Repub. Lib. 4. cited by, St. Augustine. Libr. 2. de civ. dei. cap. 13.
[457] Lib. 2. cap. 29.
[458] Dec. 1. Libr. 7.
[459] Ab Histrionibus Pollui.
[460] XV. Cod. Theod. Tit. vii. p.375.
[461] in loco Honesto.
[462] turpe munus.
[463] L. 1. §. 6. de his qui notantur infamia. Gothofred. Ibid. p. 376.
[464] Rawlidge his Monster, lately found out, &c. p. 2, 3, 4.
[465] Gazett Roterdam: Dec. 20. Paris.
[466] French Amsterdam Harlem Gazetts. Paris, May. 17th. 1697.
[467] Trois lettres Pastorales De Monseigneur L'Eveque D'Arras &c. A Delf. 1697.
[468] Ann. 305. Can. 67.
[469] Ann. 314. Can. 5.
[470] Ann. 452.
[471] Ann. 397. Can. 11.
[472] Secularia spectacula, which manifestly comprehends the Stage.
[473] Ann. 424. Can. 96
[474] Concil. Cabilon. Ann. 813. Can. 9.
[475] Libr. 3. ad Autol.
[476] Spectacula.
[477] Chap. 38.
[478] Chap. 3.
[479] Ibid. Cap. 10.
[480] The Play-houses were dedicated to Bacchus.
[481] Ibid. cap. 15.
[482] Ibid. cap. 22.
[483] Ibid. cap. 23.
[484] Ibid. cap. 26.
[485] Ibid. cap. 27.
[486] Ibid. cap. 28.
[487] Ibid. cap. 29.
[488] By Exorcisms
[489] Lib. 3. Pædag. Ann. 204. cap. 11.
[490] Ann. 206.
[491] Ad Eucrat.
[492] Lib. 6. cap. 20.
[493] Ibid. cap. 21.
[494] Ibid. cap. 22.
[495] In Psal. 119.
[496] Ep. 9. 12. Advers. Jovinian. Lib. 2. cap. 7.
[497] Chap. 20.
[498] cap. 33.
[499] Didac. &c. in D. Thom. p. 546.
[500] De Repub. L. 4.
[501] Cic. de Leg. L. 2.
[502] A Famous Musician
[503] Vid. Corneille Cid, Cinna & Pompee.
[504] Moral Essays.
[505] 2 Cor. 6. 14.