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diff --git a/16335-8.txt b/16335-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df19c38 --- /dev/null +++ b/16335-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2668 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Essays on the Stage, by Thomas D'Urfey and Bossuet + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Essays on the Stage + Preface to the Campaigners (1689) and Preface to the + Translation of Bossuet's Maxims and Reflections on Plays + (1699) + +Author: Thomas D'Urfey and Bossuet + +Commentator: Joseph Wood Krutch + +Release Date: July 20, 2005 [EBook #16335] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ESSAYS ON THE STAGE *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + Series Three: + _Essays on the Stage_ + + No. 4 + + + Thomas D'Urfey, Preface to _The Campaigners_ (1698) + + and + + Anonymous, Preface to the Translation of Bossuet's + _Maxims and Reflections upon Plays_ (1699) + + + With an Introduction by + Joseph Wood Krutch + + + + +The Augustan Reprint Society +March, 1948 +Price: $1.00 + + + * * * * * + +GENERAL EDITORS + +RICHARD C. BOYS, University of Michigan +EDWARD NILES HOOKER, University of California, Los Angeles +H.T. SWEDENBERG, JR., University of California, Los Angeles + + +ASSISTANT EDITOR + +W. EARL BRITTON, University of Michigan + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + +EMMETT L. AVERY, State College of Washington +BENJAMIN BOYCE, University of Nebraska +LOUIS I. BREDVOLD, University of Michigan +CLEANTH BROOKS, Yale University +JAMES L. CLIFFORD, Columbia University +ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, University of Chicago +SAMUEL H. MONK, University of Minnesota +ERNEST MOSSNER, University of Texas +JAMES SUTHERLAND, Queen Mary College, London + + + + + Lithoprinted from copy supplied by author + by + Edwards Brothers, Inc. + Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. + 1948 + + * * * * * + + +Introduction + +The three parts of D'Urfey's "The Comical History of Don Quixote" were +performed between 1694 and (probably) the end of 1696. Some of the +songs included were conspicuously "smutty"--to use a word which D'Urfey +ridiculed--but the fact that the plays were fresh in the public mind +was probably the most effective reason for Jeremy Collier's decision +to include the not very highly respected author among the still living +playwrights to be singled out for attack in "A Short View of the +Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage", which appeared at +Easter time 1698. In July of the same year D'Urfey replied with the +preface to his "smutty" play "The Campaigners". It is this preface +which is given as the first item of the present reprint. + +Pope's contemptuous prologue, written many years later and apparently +for a benefit performance of one of D'Urfey's plays, is sufficient +evidence that the playwright was not highly regarded; but he was reputed +to be a good natured man and, by the standards of the time, his twitting +of Collier--whom he accused of having a better nose for smut than a +clergyman should have--is not conspicuously vituperative. Even his +attack on the political character of the notorious Non-Juror is bitter +without being really scurrilous. But like his betters Congreve and +Vanbrugh, D'Urfey both missed the opportunity to grapple with the real +issues of the controversy and misjudged the temper of the public. Had +that public been, as all the playwrights seem to have assumed, ready to +side with them against Collier, there might have been some justification +in resting content as he and Congreve did with the scoring of a few +debater's points. But the public, even "the town", was less interested +in mere sally and rejoinder than it was in the serious question of the +relation of comedy to morality, and hence Collier was allowed to win the +victory almost by default. + +Collier's own argument was either confused or deliberately disingenuous, +since he shifts his ground several times. On occasion he argues merely +in the role of a moderate man who is shocked by the extravagances of the +playwrights, and on other occasions as an ascetic to whom all worldly +diversion, however innocent of any obvious offence, is wicked. At one +time, moreover, he accuses the playwrights of recommending the vices +which they should satirize and at other times denies that even the most +sincere satiric intention can justify the lively representation of +wickedness. But none of his opponents actually seized the opportunity +to completely clarify the issues. Vanbrugh, it is true, makes some real +points in his "A Short Vindication of The Relapse and The Provok'd +Wife", and John Dennis, in his heavy handed way, showed some realization +of what the issues were both in "The Usefulness of the Stage to the +Happiness of Mankind, to Government and to Religion" (1698) and, much +later, In "The Stage Defended" (1726). But, Vanbrugh is casual, Dennis +is slow witted, and it is only by comparison with the triviality of +D'Urfey or the contemptuous disingenuity of Congreve's "Amendments of +Mr. Collier's False and Imperfect Citations" (1698) that they seem +effective. + +At least forty books and pamphlets published between 1698 and 1725 are +definitely part of the Collier controversy, but the fact that none of +them really discusses adequately fundamental premises concerning the +nature, method, and function of comedy had serious consequences for the +English stage. The situation was further complicated by the rise of +sentimental comedy and the fact that the theories supposed to justify +it were expounded with all the completeness and clarity which were so +conspicuously lacking in the case of those who undertook halfheartedly +to defend what we call "high" or "pure", as opposed to both sentimental +and satiric comedy. Steele's epilogue to "The Lying Lover", which +versified Hobbes' comments on laughter and then rejected laughter itself +as unworthy of a refined human being, is a triumphant epitaph inscribed +over the grave of the comic spirit. + +The second item included in the present reprint, namely the anonymous +preface to a translation of Bossuet's "Maxims and Reflections Upon +Plays", belongs to a different phase of the Collier controversy. It +serves as an illustration of the fact that Collier was soon joined by +men who were, somewhat more frankly than he had himself admitted he was, +open enemies of the stage as such. He had begun with arguments supported +by citations from literary critics and he called in the support of +ascetic religious writers after his discourse was well under way. But +the direct approach by way of religion was soon taken up by others, +of whom Arthur Bedford was probably the most redoubtable as he was +certainly the most long winded, since his "Evil and Danger of Stage +Plays" (1706) crowds into its two hundred and twenty-seven pages some +two thousand instances of alleged profaneness and immorality with +specific references to the texts of scripture which condemn each one. +But Bedford had not been the first to treat the issue as one to be +decoded by theologians rather than playwrights or critics. Somewhat +unwisely, perhaps, Motteux had printed before his comedy "Beauty in +Distress" a discourse "Of the Lawfulness and Unlawfulness of Plays" +(1698), written by the Italian monk Father Caffaro, who was professor of +divinity at the Sorbonne. Unfortunately Caffaro had, some years before +this English translation appeared, already retracted his mild opinion +that stage plays were not, _per se_, unlawful, and it was possible not +only to cite his retraction but also to offer the opinions of the Bishop +of Meux, who was better known to English readers than Father Caffaro. +The anonymous author of the preface to "Maxims and Reflections" +grants that dramatic poetry might, under certain circumstances, be +theoretically permissible, but rather more frankly than Collier he makes +it clear that his real intention is to urge the outlawing of the theater +itself, since all efforts to reform it are foredoomed to failure. "But +if", he writes, "the Reformation of the Stage be no longer practicable, +reason good that the incurable Evil should be cut off". That lets the +cat out of the bag. + +Both pieces reprinted here are from copies owned by the University of +Michigan. + + Joseph Wood Krutch + Columbia University + + * * * * * + + + The Campaigners: + or, the + _Pleasant Adventures at_ Brussels. + + A + COMEDY + + As it is Acted at the _Theatre-Royal_. + + + with a + Familiar Preface + upon + _A Late Reformer of the STAGE._ + + Ending with a Satyrical Fable + of + the DOG and the OTTOR. + + + Written by Mr. _D'urfey_. + + LONDON, + + +Printed for _A. Baldwin_, near the _Oxford Arms_ Inn + in _Warwick lane_. MDCXCVIII. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +I Must necessarily inform the Partial, as well as Impartial Reader, +that I had once design'd another kind of Preface to my Comedy than what +will appear in the following sheets; but having in the interim been +entertain'd with a Book lately Printed, full of Abuses on all our +Antient as well as Modern Poets, call'd _A view of the Immorality and +Prophaness of the English Stage_; and finding the Author, who, no doubt, +extreamly values himself upon his Talent of _Stage-reforming_, not +only (to use his own Ironical words) _particular in his Genius and +Civilities_, but indecently, unmanner'd, and scurrilous in his unjust +Remarks on me, and two of my Plays, _viz._ the first and second parts +of the _Comical History of_ Don Quixote. [Footnote: Collier, p. 196.] +I thought I cou'd not do better, first as a Diversion to the Town, and +next to do a little Iustice to my self, than (instead of the other) to +print a short Answer to this very Severe and Critical Gentleman; and at +the same time give him occasion to descant upon the following Comick +Papers, and my self the opportunity of vindicating the other; with some +familiar Returns (_en Raillere_) upon his own Extraordinary _Integrity_, +and Justness of the _Censure_. + +But first, lest I should plunge my self out of my depth, or like an +unskilful Swimmer, endanger my self by a too precipitate Rashness, let +me warily consider the Office and Habit of this unchristianlike Critick +before I Attack him: He has, or had the honour to wear the Robe of a +Clergyman of the Church of _England_: A Church, which for its Purity, +Principles, and most Incomparable Doctrines, surpasses without objection +all others in the world, which with a number of its pious, virtuous and +learned Rulers and Ministers, I admire and acknowledge with all the +faculties of my soul, heart and understanding; and on which I never +seriously reflect, but I feel a secret shame for my remissness of duty, +and my neglect, in not living hitherto up to its Admirable Principles. +This reflection would indeed have been enough to awe any one in my +circumstances from proceeding to answer his bold Censures, had I not +Courage to consider that the rest of the worthy Gentlemen of that Robe +are so good, that they will not excuse or defend our aforesaid Critick's +Injustice or Mistakes in some places, tho they are pleas'd with his +Truths in others; or be angry at me for endeavouring to gain their good +opinion, by defending my self from most of his black Aspersions (how +fair soever as yet they seem) and by unfolding him be judg'd by their +impartial reason, start a question, whither he, tho a happy member of +the aforesaid Adorable Church, does not come in for his share of +_Immorality_, and other frailties; and consequently is not as fit to be +detected, by the Wit of a Satyrical Poet; as the Poet by the positive +Authority of an Angry Malecontent, tho in the garb of an humble +Churchman. + +The _Vates_, or Poets in antient times were held in special veneration, +even their Kings, and other chief Rulers, often submitted to the virtue +of their Inspiration: Amongst which, the never enough admir'd Mr +_Cowley_, in his noble version of the _Davideidos_, gives the _Royal +David_ this Title, _Rex olim & Vates duo Maxima munera Coeli_; and +numbers of others might be inserted to prove Poetical Authority, and +the respect it bore in past Ages; which, tho I have not capacity to +parallel, I hope I may be allow'd to imitate on another subject; and in +this have leave to acquit my self of several heinous Accusations, which +this Tyrannical Critick has Impos'd upon me. + +I am not at all Ignorant of his eminent parts, Learning, and other +qualifications; nor am I insensible, as well as the rest of his Readers, +that his Book has a very fair and engaging Title-page, and is no less +Illustrated with many weighty and just censures upon the _Immorality of +the Stage_, and our licentious Writings for many years past; and tho +this has been proved by the late Ingenious Author of _the Vindication of +the Stage_ to be occasion'd by the vices of the Times, and not those of +the Poets; yet thus for we can endure the Scourge, and kiss his Rod with +patience enough: And for my own part, I declare if I had found his +Severity had been moral, and had ended in the good design of cleansing +the Stage from its Impurities, and had been only a kind Instruction to +my Brethren and my self, to reform our Immoral errors, I had, as the +rest of us, with all humility imaginable, thank'd him for his wit and +good reproof; and had been so far from answering in this manner, that I +should have been proud to have my name before his Book, with a Copy of +Verses in applause of his Admirable Design. But when, instead of this, +I find he strikes at the root of our Dramatick Labours, and the Town's +diversion, for some sly and selfish ends; and instead of reproving us +with a Pastorly Mildness, Charity and Good Nature, gives us the basest +language, and with the most scurillous expression, sometimes raging and +even foaming at mouth, taxing the little liberty has always been us'd, +with horrid horrid Blasphemy, Prophaneness, and Damnable Impiety; when +Reason must inform every one we intend nothing of the matter, besides +the poor priviledge _Poetica Licentia_: and pretending to prove this +with false Quotations, unnatural Mistakes, and Hypocritical Hypotheses, +I resolv'd to controvert him, and endeavour to prove that 'tis meerly +his malice that has abus'd me and the rest, without Reason or +Provocation; and that his own Wit and Morals are not so Infallible, +but they lye also open to the censure of any Poetical Critick, who +has Courage and Sense enough to attack 'em. + +I once more therefore address my self to the Reverend of the Gown, from +highest to the lowest, and humbly desire that they will not appear +Interested against me, because I defend myself against one that has +abus'd me, and has the honour to wear one, (to what purpose the Judgment +and Clemency of our Government knows best) I assure 'em my design is +only to turn, like the Worm that is trod upon, complain being hurt, +vindicate my self from abusive malice, and at the same time am heartily +sorry that ever I had the occasion. + +'Tis a pleasure to me however to know that I have for many years, as +well as now, the honour of the Conversation of several eminent men of +the Church; and I dare say, upon occasion, I could easily gain their +good words to prove my good behaviour. I do declare I never abus'd the +sacred order in my life, but have always had, and still have, all the +veneration for 'em that's possible; nor have any of my printed Writings +contradicted this, unless when spoken in the person of Atheists, +Libertines, and Ignorants, where 'tis natural in Comedy; nay, in my Book +of Poems you will find a _Satyr against Atheists_, and in another Book, +call'd _Colin's walk thro' London and Westminster_, a Moral through the +whole, and design'd in the honour of the Church of _England_, to shew +the stubbornness of _Romanists_, Grumblers, and other dissenting Sects; +but this my partial Antagonist never read, nor heard of; nay, tho by his +Book we may suppose he has read a thousand, yet amongst twenty of my +Comedies Acted and Printed, he never heard of the _Royalist_, the +_Boarding School_, the _Marriage Hater Match'd_, the _Richmond Heiress_, +the _Virtuous Wife_, and others, all whose whole Plots and designs I +dare affirm, tend to that principal instance, which he proposes, and +which we allow, _viz._ the depression of Vice and encouragement of +Virtue. Not he, he has not had leisure since his last _holding forth in +the late Reign_, to do me this Justice, 'tis enough for him that he has +encounter'd _Don Quixot_. [Footnote: Collier, p.] And truly, I must own, +was a most proper Combatant for him; for if he had not been mad with the +Wind-mill that was in his pate, or had ever perus'd that _Giant_ of an +Author, upon whom I am the _Pigmy_, as he wittily observes, he would +have found the Bockheaded Chaplain had been greazing his old Gassock +there long before I new rigg'd him: But that's all one, I, poor I, must +be denounc'd as Criminal; I brought him upon the Stage, I wash'd his +Face, put on a new Crape Vest, and a clean Band, which, oh, fatal +accident, made him look so like somebody, that I, in his opinion, and +condemn'd by his infallibility, have been no body ever since, _vox & +præterea nihil_. Well, however this is determin'd, let me beg of my +impartial Readers, to give me leave to try what I can be, I have had +good fortune I am told by others in Lyrical Verse, which I am sure is +one principal part of Poetry, I'll see now if I can match my Antagonist +in Rallying Prose. Several ingenious Authors have already, I think, so +well confuted his Assertions against the Stage, by proofs from the +Antient Poets, the Primitive Fathers, and their Authorities, that they +have far excell'd what I can pretend to do there; only, I could have +wish'd one who is best able, and whose admirable Genius and Skill in +Poetry would have been remarkably serviceable, had drawn his Pen to +defend the Rights of the Stage, tho he had own'd the loosenesses of it, +and had ventured the being presented for it; but since we, the forlorn, +are not so happy to have that Aid, let my Antagonist, the Reformer, who, +for all the gravity in some part of his Book, and the solid Piety he +would insinuate in his Arguments, I perceive to be a Joker, and as full +of Puns, Conundrums, Quibbles, Longinquipetites, and Tipiti-witchets, as +the rest of us mortals, be pleas'd to take the length of my Weapon at +that sport, for now I cannot help telling my Audience, which is the +Town, that he has laid his reforming Cudgel upon me so severely, and it +smarts so damnably, that I can't forbear smiting again if I were to be +hang'd, desiring only, as the usual method is, a clear Stage, and from +him no favour. + +To begin then, I shall illustrate my first Scene with a comical hint +upon some part of his Character; and that the Jest may be worthy of +making you laugh, you are to know, that the first view I ever had of +this extraordinary Person, was neither better nor worse than under the +_Gallows_. Well, but think you, I warrant, 'twas about some Charitable +Duty that his sacred Function and Piety oblig'd him to, such as +Exhorting the poor Souls to confess their Crimes, in order to be sav'd, +or the like; no, faith, but quite contrary, for he was rather hardning +them, and infusing a strong Portion of his own obstinacy, to fortifie +'em for their dubious Journey; and in few minutes after, possess'd with +a stronger Spirit of Priesthood than e'er, for some past Ages there has +been Example for, pronounc'd the _Absolution_, the extremest and most +mysterious Grace the Church can possibly give to the most repentant +Sinner, to wretches Justly condemn'd by Law to die, for the most +horrible Crimes in nature, _viz._ the intended Murder of the King, +and Subversion of the Protestant Religion and Government. Now that +such a Person should set up for a Protestant Example, and a Teacher +of Morality, is somewhat new, for upon my veracity, this Gentleman may +insinuate as he pleases, that our Church, and its Doctrines govern his +heart; but as to that matter what may be in his heart I can't tell, but +if a Pope is not crept into his belly, very near it, I am very much +mistaken. + +_Pliny_ indeed, in his Natural History, _Lib._ 28, _Cap._ 10. tells ye, +He that is bitten by a Scorpion may have relief, if immediately he go +and whisper his grief into the Ear of an Ass. This Historian, perhaps, +had so great credit with these Malefactors that they thought the remedy, +by Auricular Confession, might serve too in their Concerns. But we are +confirm'd, they were enough mistaken in the rest of their Opinions, and +so 'tis very likely were in this. If this Parallel be found a little +gross, I hope the Reader will excuse it, when he examines the bold +Critick's Stile relating to the Poets. Besides, how wise soever he may +be in other things, I'm sure all those that are so, and true Sons of +the Church, when they reflect on that Action of his, will own that he +deserves that, or a worse Title. And so to proceed. + +But before we inspect further, or touch upon the Moralist's Immorality, +for I dare ingage it is not altogether impossible to prove, the +_Pulpiteer_ may be tainted a little as well as the _Poetaster_, let us +see whether we can find him guilty of the first Charge against us, which +is _Immodesty_; and upon this subject indeed, if our Learn'd Reformer +did not impose upon us with a Fallacy, I should (to shew my good Nature +walk hand in hand with my resentment) once more admire him for his +Character of Modesty in the 11th page of his Book, which is, to do him +Justice, very fine; but then he only tells us of one kind of Modesty, +when he knows there are two, and therein he is Falacious, in not +exposing the other, which is decency of Speech and Behaviour; and truly, +meerly, I believe, through a conscious reflection of his own frequent +miscarriages in that case. If therefore, these Papers differ a little +from that Civility which is proper, I beg the Readers pardon, and assure +him 'tis only in imitation of his Stile to me, as all those that read +his Book may find. + +For, in the first place, he does not shew his own, nor, indeed, any part +of decent modesty, in exposing any Gentlemans Name in print, when the +subject matter is Satyr, Reflection, Scandal, _&c._ and in which case I +believe the Law might do Justice, if apply'd to; but if not, I am sure +good Manners, and civil Education, ought to tie the Cassock as close as +the Sash or Sursingle; but this our Divine helper, most Bully-like, +disallows; for he, puff'd with his Priestly Authority, calls us boldly +to the Bar of his Injustice by our own Names, the same minute that he is +roaringly accusing us of Blasphemy, Smuttery, Foolery, and a thousand +Monstrosities besides, as he'd make you believe; unless for variety, he +picks out one amongst the rest, now and then, to abuse a little more +civilly, and then, rubbing up his old College Wit, he Nicknames 'em, +as you may find elegantly made out at the latter end of his Book, +(for he shall see that I have read it quite through, and can hop over +pages as fast as he for the life of him) where he can find no other +Name or Character for two Gentlemen of Honour and Merit, _viz._ Mr. +_Congreve_ and Captain _Vanbrooke_, who have written several excellent +Plays, and who are only scandalous to our Critick, by being good Poets, +yet these he can give no other Names or Characters, but what are Abusive +and Ridiculous. [Footnote: Collier, p. 74] The first, for only making +_Jeremy_, in _Love for Love_, call the Natural inclinations to eating +and drinking, _Whorson Appetites_, he tells, That the _Manicheans, +who made Creation the Work of the Devil, scarcely spoke any thing so +course_. And then very modestly proceeding onwards says, _The Poet was +_Jeremy_'s Tutor_. The t'other Gentleman he dignifies by a new Coin'd +name of his own, _viz._ _The Relapser_, and much like an humble Son of +the Church, a Man of Morals and Manners tells us, _This Poet is fit to +Ride a Match with Witches: And, that _Juliana Cox_ (_a Non-juring Hag, +I suppose, of his Acquaintance_) never switch'd a Broom-stick with more +expedition._ [Footnote: Collier, p. 230.] Faith, such sentences as +these, may be taking enough amongst his Party; but if this be his way of +Reproving the Stage, and Teaching the Town Modesty, he will have fewer +Pupils, I believe, than he imagines. + +But to do that Gentleman Broom-stick Rider some Justice, and because we +shall want a Name hereafter to Christen the t'other, as he has given the +Name of _Relapser_, so I think that of the _Absolver_ will be a very +proper one to distinguish our Switcher, by which the Reader may observe, +that we are civiller to him than he to us however. And first then, I +desire all Persons to observe, that in other places of the same Chapter +of his Book, our _Absolver_, for all his detestation of the Stage, and +of Poetry in general, yet takes a huge deal of pains in taking to +pieces, and mending the Comedy of the _Relapse_; nay, and to shew how +transcendent his own Skill in these things is, he has help'd the Author +to a better Name for his Play, and says, _The Younger Brother_, or, _The +Fortunate Cheat_, had been much properer. [Footnote: Collier, p. 210.] +This shews some good will he has to the Comick Trade however; and I +doubt not, but if his Closet were Ransack'd, we might find a divertive +Scene or two, effects of his idle Non-preaching hours, where Modesty, +Wit, and good Behaviour, would be shewn in perfection. + +And yet, as to his own humour, we find it to be, by his Book, more +fickle than even the Wind, or Feminine frailty in its highest +Inconstancy. One while he's for Instructing our Stage, Modelling our +Plays, Correcting the Drama, the Unity, Time and Place, and acts as very +a Poet as ever writ an ill Play, or slept at an ill Sermon; and then, +presently after, wheiw, in the twinkling of an Ejaculution, as Parson +_Say-grace_ has it, he's summoning together a Convocation of old +Fathers, to prove the Stage in past Ages exploded, and all Plays +horrible, abominable Debauchers of youth, and not to be encourag'd in a +Civil Government. What can we think of this, especialiy when I find him +in this Paragraph of his Book * raving on at this rate, and quoting to +us, That St. _Cyprian_, or the Author _de Spectaculis_, argues thus +against those who thought the Play-House no unlawful diversion; 'tis too +tedious to recite all, but enough of St. _Cyprian_ for my purpose runs +thus: + + What business has a Christian at such Places as these? A Christian + who has not the liberty so much as to think of an ill thing, why + does he entertain himself with lewd Representations? Has he a mind + to discharge his Modesty, and be flesh'd for the Practice? Yes, + this is the consequence, by using to see these things, he'll learn + to do them; what need I mention the Levities and Impertinencies in + Comedies, or the Ranting distractions of Tragedy, were these things + unconcern'd with Idolatry, Christians ought not to be at them, for + were they not highly Criminal, the foolery of them is Egregious, + and unbecoming the gravity of Believers. + +And then again, before he is out of breath, + + A Christian has much better Sights than these to look at, he has + solid Satisfactions in his power, which will please and improve him + at the same time. Would a Christian be agreeably refresh'd, let him + read the Scriptures, here the Entertainment will suit his Character, + and be big enough for his quality. Ah, Beloved, how noble, how + moving, how profitable a thing is it, to be thus employ'd, to have + our expectations always in prospect, and be intent on the glories + of Heaven! + +Very good, and who is he so reprobated, that will not allow this +to be devout, and admirable good Counsel? But now let us see how the +_Absolver_, for all Pious quotation, has follow'd St. _Cyprian_'s +Advice; that holy Father charges him not to entertain himself with such +lewd things as Plays, and he very dutifully reads a thousand as fast as +he can; nay, scans and weighs 'em, and, no doubt, not without tickling +satisfaction, at the present, for all his Saturnine Remarks at last. +Now if his Answer to this is, That it belongs to his Office, as a +Church-man, and that he could not reprehend the Vices in 'em without +reading the Books themselves, I must tell him, That St. _Cyprian_, nor +the rest of the Fathers, did not allow that, neither do we find they did +it themselves, for all their inveighing against the Stage; so that he +makes his own Quotation altogether invalid, _He not being to do ill +that good might come of it._ + +And therefore, why may not a Poet now, who, perhaps, is a greater Votary +to St. _Cyprian_ in other Matters than the _Absolver_ is in this, rally +him thus, and turn his Quotation upon himself, Phrase by Phrase? "What +business has a Parson with such Books as these? A Parson who has not the +liberty so much as to think of an ill thing? Why does he entertain +himself with lewd Comedies? Has he a mind to discharge his Priestcraft, +and flesh himself up for a Poet? Yes, this is the consequence, by using +to see these _smutty_ things, he'll learn to write 'em. What need I +mention the Sham-Oaths, and looseness of Farce, or the Fustian raving +against the Gods in Tragedy, were these things really unconcern'd with +Idolatry, a Parson, of all Mankind, should not be known to ogle them, +for were they not highly Criminal, the foolery of them is Egregious, and +unbecoming the gravity of all that thump the Cushion, or intend to thump +a true Belief into the Pates of an incorrigible Congregation." + +And now methinks I see the Spiritual Critick, with a certain sallow +Male-contented Phiz, poring upon this Page, and sucking his Ring-finger, +gives himself an unpleasurable minute to Judge whether I have +paraphras'd right or no; well, all's one, fall back fall edge, I'm +resolv'd to bait him with St. _Cyprian_ a little more. "A Parson has, +or should have, much better Books than Plays to look in; he has many +Authors of Pious and Solid Authorities to please, and improve himself +with, at the same time. Would a Parson be agreeably refresh'd, let him +read the Scriptures, let him find out Treatises of Morality, Meekness, +Charity, and holy Life, there the Entertainment will suit his Character. +Ah, Beloved, how noble, how moving, how profitable a pleasure would it +be to us, to see a Parson thus employ'd, to let the Stage's diversions +be too little for his grave Consideration, and be intent himself on the +glories of Heaven!" And here now, I do not at all question but the +_Absolver_, a little nettled at this last Parallel, will fall to biting +of his fingers again, his Righteous Spirit being offended at my +Insolence, in scribling the Word _Parson_ so oft, it being a Nickname, +and only invented by some idle fellow, who resolv'd to use the Order +with no more respect. Why truly, I confess, in this Case, Modesty is +a little gravell'd, but then she may thank him for it, for he has +dignify'd the Poets with so many _Hell-defying_, _deep-mouth'd +Swearing_, _Relapsing_, _Witch-riding Titles_, that the worthy Ministry +cannot reasonably be angry, especially when the Word is only meant to +him, whom I shall prove has lessen'd the true Title, by his _Immorality_ +and _Hypocrisie_, more than ever the Poets did the Reputation of the +Stage, by their Time-serving Loosenesses and Licentious Diversions. + +It is, no doubt, a considerable Maim to us, in some Peoples opinions, +who never digested the benefits arising from the Stage in its Moral +Representations, that this smarting Lash is given us by a Clergy-man of +the Church of _England_, that is, good friends, if he be so, for some +Judicious Heads are not resolv'd in that Affirmative--but let that be +_discuss'd_ in another place, I'm sure, if he is, _Obedience to +Government, in the first place, should be his principal Tenet_; and +whether that is a part of the _Absolver_'s Character, I think has +sufficiently appear'd. But let him be what he will, I shall now take the +pleasure to inform those People, that but few years since, we had a Man +of Wit and Learning, that wore the Gown, and as true a Son of the Church +as she could possibly breed; that was intirely devoted a Champion in our +Cause, and Asserted the Rights of the Stage with Success and Applause; +and whoever will but look back a little, and incline his Eyes towards +the delectable River _Cam_, may Encounter the fam'd Wit of that +University, the Ingenious Mr. _Thomas Randolph_, who in one of his great +many admirable Pieces, call'd the _Muses Looking-glass_, makes his whole +Moral to be the Vindication of the Stage, and its usefulness, and by +shewing the passions in their Kinds, contrives to confute some canting +prejudic'd Zealots, whose ignorance and frenzy had conspir'd before to +run it down; I will treat the Reader here with some of it. + + A Country Lass, for such she was, tho here + In th' City may be Sluts as well as there; + Kept her hands clean, for those being always seen, + Had told her else how sluttish she had been; + Yet was her Face, as dirty as the Stall + Of a Fish-monger, or a Usurer's Hall + Begrim'd with filth, that you might boldly say, + She was a true piece of _Prometheus_'s Clay. + At last, within a Pail, for Country Lasses + Have oft you know, no other Looking-glasses, + She view'd her dirty Face, and doubtless would + Have blush'd, if through so much dirt she could. + At last, within that Water, that I say, + That shew'd the Dirt, she wash'd the Dirt away. + _So, Comedies, as Poets still intend 'em,_ + _Serve first to shew your faults, and then to mend 'em._ + + [Footnote: _Muses Looking-Glass._] + +Here was a pretty Compliment to our Art now, a good Moral with good +Manners into the bargain; and yet 'tis certain the times then were as +Licentious as now, and the Poets took as little care of their Writings; +but Mr _Randolph_ always made his good Nature agree with his Wit, and +put as favourable construction upon Scenes of Diversion, as reason would +allow, tho he perhaps had as much occasion for 50 _l._ as the Absolver +when he writ his Book. He knew that if there was so stupid a Temper, +that the Moral of a Play could not reform, the looseness that was in it +could not prejudice; nor if a wild Town-Fellow, or a baffl'd Bully, or +passionate Lover, being characters in a Play, spoke some extravagances +proper for 'em, would he roar it out for Blasphemy, Profaneness, &_c._ +and make a malicious scrutiny, and unreasonable interpretation of words, +which had no other intention but to make the Character natural by +customary manner of Speech, as he has shewn examples by two of his own, +in the extremes of Vain-glory and Hypocrisie: And yet this Gentleman +was as Learned, as good a Critick, and as Consciencious a man, as our +Absolver can pretend to be; and if I say, I had somewhat a better Title +to Modesty and good Manners, I think it may be made out, he having a +civil regard to the Poets, defended their Cause, and excus'd some +failings for the sake of some other Merits, when this treats 'em all +like fools, tho he has only rak'd up a few of their errors, which he +has made a huge heap of Rubbish, by peering through his own Magnifying +Glass, without any allowance to their qualifications, or any modest +care to do 'em justice, which ought to have been one way as well as +another. + +So much then for his _Modesty_ in one of its kinds, which is decency of +behaviour and expression; as for the other, he has plaid such a Game at +Hide and Seek with us, that we have been long in a Mist, not knowing how +to discover it: But the Air clears, and 'tis time for us now to take the +right end of the perspective, tho he would give us the Wrong, and then +try if we cannot discern, in the midst of his Garden of Divinity, a neat +friend of his call'd Immorality, tho he would subtly insinuate him into +the world as a stranger, leading his darling daughter dear Hypocrisie +into an Arbor; where, after they had been some time alone, our Critick +knowing how to be civil to his own creature, and to give 'em time enough +to beget a right understanding, he is very glad at last to be a third in +the company. + +I should not have put him upon this warm Office, if I had not found him +too hot and bold with our Famous Ancient Truth-telling Poet _Juvenal_, +when in his Book he tells us, _he teaches those vices he would correct, +and writes more like a Pimp than a Poet_ [Footnote: Collier, p. 70, +71.]--But upon just consideration, I believe if the Absolver taught the +Art of Rebellion no more than _Juvenal_ the Art of Pimping, the one +would be respected in after Ages, as much as we know the other has +in the former: But every one is Fool or Knave that is not of this +Gentlemans kidney. A little while after, at the usual rate of his own +accustom'd civility, he falls upon the _Renown'd Shakespear_, and says, +he is so guilty, that he is not fit to make an Evidence. [Footnote: +Collier, p. 50.] Why now it 'twere possible for his Complexion to blush, +there's ne're a Robe of any Friend Cardinal the Absolver has at _Rome_, +that can be redder than his would be for such a Position: Nor does it +end here, but is mixt with some more foolish and insolent Remarks in +another place, upon the admirable Tragedy of _Hamlet_. And here he has +no other way to shew his malice, but by ridiculously quibbling upon the +prettiest Character in it, the innocent young Virgin _Ophelia_, who, +because the Poet makes her run mad for the death of her Father, and loss +of her Lover, and consequently makes her sing and speak some idle +extravagant things, as on such an occasion is natural, and at last drown +her self, he very masterly tells us, the Poet, _since he was resolv'd to +drown her like a Kitten, should have set her a swimming a little sooner; +to keep her alive, only to sully her Reputation, is very cruel_. +[Footnote: Collier, p. 10.] Yes, but I would fain ask Doctor Absolution +in what she has sullied her Reputation, I am sure five hundred Audiences +that have view'd her could never find it out, tho he has; but the +Absolver can't help being positive and partial to his own humour, tho +he were to be hang'd, as the Lady was drown'd, for he is very angry in +another place with the aforesaid Author, for making Sir _Hugh Evens_ in +the Merry Wives of Windsor, a silly, eating, chattering _Welch_ Priest, +but vindicates and speaks well, of Sir _John_, Parson of _Wrotham_, in +the History of Sir _John Oldcastle_; [Footnote: Collier, p. 125.] tho +he swears, games, wenches, pads, tilts and drinks, and does things which +our Reformers Guts are ready to come up at another time, only, forsooth, +because he is stout; but 'tis indeed only _because he is a Parson_, and +sullen, which he thinks wise, for he cannot endure that Copyhold should +be touch'd, as you may see more plainly a little further, where he says +in _Loves Labour Lost_, the Curate plays the fool egregiously; and so +does the Poet too: there he clenches the Nail, there he gives +_Shakespear_ a bold stroke, there obstinacy and malice appear in true +colours: And yet if a parcel of the ones Plays, were set up by way of +Auction against t'others _Sermons and Essays_; nay, tho the Loyal and +Politick _Desertion discussd_ was thrown in to boot, I know not what the +Grave would do, but I am sure the Wise would quickly find difference. +And yet to Remark him nicely, this humour of railing is only where the +Poets do not suit with his design; for in another place you'll find this +same _Shakespear_, that was before too guilty to make an Evidence, a +very civil person now; for the Reformer is troubl'd with Fits, you must +know, disturbances i th' brain, which makes him forget one hour what he +rails at another, for here now _Shakespear_'s _Falstaff_ is call'd the +admir'd, because he is to serve his turn. And that the Poet _was not so +partial as to let his humour compound for his lewdness_; but punishes +him at last, tho he makes him all his life time a damnable, _smutty_ +fellow. [Footnote: ...54] And now, I think, having said enough of his +modest behaviour, 'twon't be amiss to have a touch or two at his +Hypocrisy. And first, concerning the word Smutt. + +"Smutt, Smutt"! Why does this tarmagant Correcter of our Lives and +Manners pretend to make us believe that his Mouth or Conscience is so +streight, that the t'other word can't get passage, or did his Mistress +(honourable I mean) sit knotting under his Nose when he was writing, +and so gave occasion for the changing it instead of Bawdy, that that +odious word might not offend her, tho the Phrase was made Nonsence by +it--hum--No faith, the case seems to me now to be quite otherwise, and +really the effect of downright _Hypocrisy_, unless done as I said for +the last reason; for those that have read his Book, may find sprinkling +up and down the other words extreamly plain upon occasion, _Ribaldry_ +and _Bawdy_, and _Whores_, and _Whoring_, and _Strumpets_, and +_Cuckoldmakers_, with as fat a signification as any of the last nam'd +could wish for their hearts; for example, by way of Tract, first, he +says, _Euripides_ in his _Hipolitus_, calls _Whoring_ stupidness and +playing the fool; and secondly, does _Ribaldry_, (not Smut) and Nonsence +become the dignity of their station. [Footnote: Collier, p 30, 32.] +Again, _Berinthia_ incourages _Amanda_ to play the _Whore_; and then +sowse upon _Don Quixot_, [Footnote: p. 74.] when there is not so much +as one little tiny todpol of _Smut_, that I know of, unless he creates +it--Yet I am Crambo'd with, _who, with low, nauseous Bawdry fills his +Plays_. [Footnote: p. 208.] Again speaking of _Jupiter_ and _Alcmena_-- +but her Lover--_that is her Whore-master_. [Footnote: p. 178.] And at +last with a Rowzer upon Mr _Congreeve_'s _Double Dealer_, where he +particularly Remarks, _that there are but four Ladies in his Play, and +three of em are Whores_; adding, withal, that 'tis _a great Compliment +to Quality, to tell em there is but a quarter of 'em honest_. [Footnote: +p. 12.] Why who, in the name of _Diana_, and all the rest of the Maiden +_Goddesses_, does tell 'em so, unless it be Doctor _Crambo_ here--If any +one calls 'em _Whores_ 'tis he, he that by an assum'd Authority thinks +he may say any thing; the Ladies, I dare say for the Poet, were drest in +such clean Linnen, and were so far from being Tawdry, that no Scrutineer +but our severe Master of Art but wou'd have thought Charitably of 'em. +Well, but huge Rampant _Whores_ they must be with him tho, and through +that very mouth that simper'd and primm'd before, as if such a filthy +word cou'd not possibly break through: It comes out now in sound and +emphasis, and the modest Pen is as prone and ready to write it. So that +I once more affirm, that if it were not done in respect to his Lady, +who, no doubt, peruses him extreamly, it must naturally be the effect +of _Hypcrisie_, for, to be squeamish in one place and not in another is +Ridiculous, especially when one word is Innocent in its kind, and makes +the sense, and the other when us'd makes it wretched Affectation, and +almost Nonsence. + +Now if the _Absolver_ thought Affectation would appear a vertue in him, +he ought to have squeamifyed the before-mention'd Ladies with some title +that was new, and if _Smutt_ was chosen to be his fine darling word (and +the course one of _Whores_ slipt out of his Mouth, or from his Pen, by +misfortune or chance) he should, in my opinion, have given 'em the title +of _Smutters_: a primming neat word extremely proper for the occasion: +And I hope I shall live to see the Master of Art have Modesty enough to +thank me for't; or else (for my fancy wou'd fain oblige him if it cou'd) +to make it yet more _German_ to the matter, as _Shakespear_ has it, to +call em _Colliers_ would be as significant as any thing; for there's +allusion enough to _Smutt_, or the Devil's in't: For, to deal sincerely, +and without _Hypocrisie_, I cannot imagine what this learned Gentleman +can mean by all that Smutt, Smutt, when the other word is as decent and +more significant, unless he banters, or dissembles, or fear'd the Ladies +peeping, or is so full of his own name, that he goes along quibbling +upon't through his Book, with design that way to make himself more +famous. + +In another part of his Treatise too I fancy I find the _Hypocrite_ a +great deal more than the _Moralist_, and that is, in his kecking at a +word in one place, and gobbling it up in another. To prove this, I find +him very like a Ghostly Father of the old _Roman_ Kidney, condemning +even to the Inquisition: One _Carlos_ in Mr _Dryden_'s _Love +Triumphant_, for blundring out this _horrible Expression_, as he calls +it, _Nature has given me my portion of Sense, with a Pox to her_. +[Footnote: Collier, p. 82.] Now pray observe, the _Absolvers_ Stomach +is so horribly squeamish, at this he belches, turns pale, and is so very +sick, that a quartern of Cherry is administered in vain, to set him to +rights; he prints instead of the word only a great P---- and tells the +gentle Reader, (that he is intending to lead by the Nose) that the +_Hellish syllable_ may be found there at length if he pleases. Would +not any one think now, that did not know that the Small Pox is a common +Disease, that this word had been _Blasphemy_ in the extremity, the +renouncing the Deity, or something beyond pardon, and would not one lay +a Scholars Egg against a Tost and Ale, that the Doctor would ne're be +concern'd with it as long as he was able to eat or drink either of 'em. +Why see now how an honest man may be cheated; do but turn to the one +hundred seventy second page of his Book, and you will find this +horrible, this hellish, syllable, in its Pontificallibus, at length, +sitting almost a straddle upon the top of the Page, and us'd familiarly +and friendly, without so much as once kacking at it, or one invective +near it, tho the sense of the Curse is as broad as t'other, and has +rather the worse signification. [Footnote: Collier, p. 172.] + +And pray what can this be else but Hypocrisy; if the word were really +terrifying and horrible to him, it would certainly be so in one place as +well as another. No, no, these are only flights and amusements, tricks +of his own studied Legerdemain, to make the bubbled ignorants believe +him a Saint, and admire his Divinity, when, if they could dive to the +bottom of the secret, 'tis solemnly believ'd by many of the dutiful Sons +of the Church, that our Sham-reformer is a much fitter man to win Money +by his skill at a game of Whisk and Swabbers, than as the case of +Allegiance, and Morality, stand with him, to win Souls from Reprobation +by the Integrity of his Principles. + +I must treat ye with one instance more of his _Hypocrisie_, and then I +pass on to another Head. This instance I find Mr _Vanbrook_ has taken +particular notice of at the latter end of his Book, where, 'tis true, +every one may see the _Absolvers_ Foible is very plain, but that Author +has not made the Case parallel with the others Remark upon _Mr. +Congreve_'s Comedy the _Old Batchelor_, which shews his contradiction of +himself, and his fallacy undeniable, for there he seems to roar at young +_Belmour_ for his forgetfulness of Religion, at a minute when he is +desiring _Letitia to give him leave to swear by her Lips and Eyes_, when +he is kissing and telling her, _Eternity was in that moment_. [Footnote: +Collier, p. 63.] In short, when he has got her fast in his Arms, and +intends to go through stitch with the matter; for which he calls the +Lady Strumpet, and raves at the smuttiness of the Action; and yet, a +little while after, in another page, rallies, jokes upon, and banters +young _Worthy_ in the _Relapse_, for letting his Lady slip through his +fingers, and calls him a _Town-Spark_, and a _Platonick Fool_ for't. +[Footnote: Collier, p. 127.] Hey Jingo, here's Riddling for ye! what +would this whimsical Gentleman be at? first he rails at a Lover for +holding a pretty Woman fast, and then he jokes upon him for letting +her go; this runs almost parallel with the Fable of the Satyr and the +Traveller; but if the Doctor is observ'd to have the faculty of blowing +hot and cold thus, I believe he may keep his breath either to cool his +Porridge, or to warm his fingers, and be much better employ'd, than by +using it to make any Proselytes to his Doctrine; and so much for this +Head. Now let us try if we can scratch another, and find it out under +his Night-cap of + + + _Immorality._ + +It is not enough to prove a Man is a Moralist, only because he is noted +for a Regular Life; that may be one good instance indeed; but it can +never arrive to a proof of the whole, for his living Soberly, and by +Rule, may as well be caus'd by the defect of his Constitution, as by the +effect of his Inclination, but 'tis the Spirit and Will, by the fire of +whose other Virtues, this of Morality is kindled and illustrated. Now I +will not be so byass'd by other Peoples opinions that know him, to say, +That our devout Critick owes him seeming Piety, and good life, to his +ill habit of Body; nor will I load him with Abuse, _right or wrong, as +he has done me, particularly through a whole Chapter_, but leave that +charitably to natural Conscience, or studied Artifice, which he pleases, +and only reflect a little on the temper of his Mind, as I have found it +blazing in this last, as well as others of his Books. In the first +place, if Stubbornness, which causes wrong opinion of the present Regal +Authority and Government, is an Immoral Vice, if he is not tainted, +I know not who is; for let any one, who is not blinded with Partiality, +but read his _Desertion Discuss'd_, with the admirable Answer to it, and +I am satisfied he cannot help joining with me in this opinion, That what +he would insinuate to be the effect of Right in others, and of +Conscience in himself, is nothing but the effect of Error in one, and +Obstinacy and Stubborn Will in t'other, a humour resolv'd to defend and +carry on a hot Argument, tho it has been never so plain and reasonably +confuted: the Positions and Answers on this subject I shall not insert +here, but leave the Reader, whose curiosity obliges him, to the Papers +themselves, only I wish the _Absolver_ had made _Newgate_ the last Scene +of that part of his _Immorality_, and by an humble acknowledgment to his +Patron that redeemed him, (I hope the word will bear in this place) have +spar'd his Office of _Absolution_ in another Scene, and consequently +given no occasion to believe that his disobedient humour, and turbulent +nature, still proceeds daily, to cultivate his Party with the same +Principles as far as he can. + +Another spice of _Immorality_ I believe I can make appear by his Pride, +and tho' in other places it is to be found, yet is most fairly instanc'd +in his _Book of Essays_, where, tho' we find one Chapter wholly upon +that Vice, which, to shew his Justice, begins with a Compliment upon the +same _Juvenal_, now he has use for him whom he call'd Pimp before, yet +it has not bulk enough to Skreen from us his haughtiness in another, +which he calls the _Office of a Chaplain_, for there you shall find +he has collected the Spirit of them all, and blended them into one +Character; I mean the ill Spirits of the ill _Chaplains_, _those that +are good I honour_. Here you may find his Likeness in _Don Quixot_, +_Roger_ in the _Scornful Lady_, _Bull_ in the _Relapse_, _Say-grace_, +_Cuff-cushion_, and others, all learning their Lessons of their stubborn +Superior our Reformer, and all tending to governing, brow-beating, +snubbing, commanding Families, and the like, but not one word of +_humility_ tack'd to't, for fear of spoiling the Character; there +you may find 24 pages, one after another, all written to prove most +gloriously, that 'tis impossible for a _Chaplain_ to be a Servant; that +tho' you find a poor fellow in a tatter'd Excommunicated Gown with one +sleeve, Shoes without heels, miserable Antichristian breeches, with +some two dozen of creepers brooding in the seams; and tho' you take +him charitably to your House, feed, clothe, and give him wages, yet +he belongs only _to God_, and not you, and you must not think him your +_Domestick_, but your _Superior_. Why, what a Scheme is here laid for +Vanity and Folly, add how much more shining and beautiful does gratitude +and humility appear in such a Depender, than such a bloated opinion as +this? Would any honest Gentleman, that has his sences, shew his +Indulgence and Generosity to Wit or Learning, on such terms as these? +And does not this Chapter shew more the Spirit of Pride in our +_Absolver_, relating to his own humour, than the veneration he has for +the Clergy, or the Justice he would seem to do them in it? I dare +affirm, most of them are against this Opinion, at least I'm sure all +the modest part are, who cannot but own themselves subservient to their +Patrons that maintain them, tho' at the same time they are Ministers of +_Gods holy Words and Sacraments_. Yet he buffly goes on, _He is Gods +Minister, not Mans Servant_. [Footnote: _Office of a Chaplain_, p. 178.] +And a little way further, he clenches this admirable Notion through and +through; therefore, says he, _for a Patron to acconnt such a Consecrated +Person, as if he belong'd to him as a Servant, is in effect to challenge +Divine Honours, and set himself up for a God_. [Footnote: Ib. _p._ 185.] +Here's Ambition, here's Perfection, here's old _Bonner_ for ye. Now by +his _Hollidame_, for I can't forbear that Oath now, what can a squeamish +Critick, that would make _Remarks_ upon the _Remarker_ call this? But +stay, he's at it again, _Dolopion_, says he, _was Priest to _Scamander_, +and regarded like the God he belong'd to_. [Footnote: Collier, _p. +113._] Pray mind him, the Priest was worshipp'd equal with the God--oh +rare Moralist--if he were, 'twas an _Ægyptian_ Worship, where only +_Calves_ and _Apes_, and _Carrots_ and _Onions_, were _Gods_. But pray +let us see a little, has not this Divine quotation a tang of _Blasphemy_ +in't? Oh fie, no; what, the _Moralist_! _Reformer_ of _Vices_! Speak +_Blasphemy_! Impossible! he can't sure! Yes, yes, he may, when he thinks +no body can find him out: and faith, to my sence now, this smells as +rank of _Pandemonium_, of fire and brimstone, to the full, if not worse, +than Mr. _Dryden_'s Verse, _Whether inspir'd with a Diviner Lust his +father got him_, &c. [Footnote: Absalom _and_ Achit.] which is spoken +only in the figurative Person of _David_; yet he says 'tis _downright +defiance of the Living God, and the very Essence and Spirit of +Blasphemy_. [Footnote: Collier _p. 184._] And here now his Stomach +wambled more terribly than before; so that if his Friend were by, he +must of necessity hold the Bason. Oh me! he reaches and reaches, and +first up comes--egh--_I question whether_--egh--_the torments and +despair of the Damn'd_--egh--_dare venture at such flights as these_. +And now the Head being held by the same hand, at two reaches more it +comes all up, mix'd with a Tincture of old _Bonner_ again--egh-- +_I can't forbear saying, that the next bad thing to writing these +Impieties_--egh--_is to suffer them_. And now the Fit's over, leaving +us to imagine what rare Church Discipline we should have, if this +Gentleman, and his Cat with nine Tails, were in Power; I think a Couplet +or two here, by way of Advice to him, is not improper. + + Your Tribe should all be in Opinion steady, + Not turn or wind for Power or for Place, + Nor covet Wealth but in Spiritual Grace. + The Gifts of _Mammon_ you should ne'r implore, + Nor wish for Gold, unless to give the Poor; + It makes your Art contemptible appear, + Less follow'd too, and look'd into more near; + For if all those that preach up Paradise, + Will have their shares of every human Vice, + They shall Cant long enough e're I believe, + Or pin my Soul's Salvation on their sleeve. + + [Footnote: Weesils, p. 11.] + +Here now, ten to one, but I shall make our Reformer fall into another +fit, by pretending to Counsel him, or take his Office of Ordinary upon +my self; for in page 138, he will not give up that leave, _What, is the +Pulpit under the Discipline of the Stage? And are those fit to correct +the Church, that are not fit to come into it_? [Footnote: Collier, p. +138.] Ah! Doctor, rub your eyes a little, and see what the Vindicator +of the Stage says, quoting Divine _Herbert_: + + A Verse may find him who a Sermon flies, + And turn delight into a Sacrifice. + +Besides I do assure you, spite of your Ghostly Authority, and +Uncharitable Position, that we are not fit, we will come in, and not +only imbibe the Mystery of _Divinity_ from the Pulpit, but unriddle +the Mystery of _Iniquity_, if we can find any there. _Ben Johnson_ +found out _Ananias_ and _Rabby Buisy_; _Fletcher_, _Hypocritical +Roger_; _Shakespear_, _Sir John_ of _Wrotham_; _Congreve_, _Say-grace_; +_Vanbrook_, _Bull_; _Shadwell_, _Smirk;_ and if _Durfey_ can find out +a proud, stubborn, immoral _Bernard_, [Footnote: The Chaplains Name +in _Don Quixot_.] one, that when he was a Country Curate, _would not +let the Children be brought to Church to be Christned for some odd +Jesuitical Reasons_ best known to himself, he shall presume to draw his +Picture, tho the _Absolver_ drop another Chapter of Abuse upon him for +so doing. + +We find, for many Ages past, Poets have enjoy'd this Priviledge; our +Prince of Poets, _Chaucer,_ had so much to do in this kind, that we find +him weary himself, and loth to weary others with. + + Of Freers I have told before, + In a making of a Crede, + And yet I cold tell worse, or more, + But Men would werien it to read. + + [Footnote: Chaucer] + +This I think is pithy, but here again I think his Counsel to them is +much better. + + Fly fro the Prease and dwell with soothfastness, + Suffice unto thy good, tho it be small, + For horde hath, and climbing tickleness, + Prease hath Envy, and wele is blent ore all; + Savour no more then thee behove shall, + Rede wele thy self that other folk canst rede, + And trouth thee shall deliver it is no drede. + +Now if he be Moral enough to take old _Chaucer_'s Advice I shall be +glad; and so much for that subject. There is nothing now remains, before +I come to vindicate _Don Quixot_, but a large Remark of his, upon the +little or no swearing in Plays, which commonly is only a kind of an +Interjection, as gad, I cod, oonz, _&c._ which I don't defend neither, +and if any others have carelesly past the Press I'm sorry for't, for I +hate them as much as he, yet because the Doctor has quoted the Statute +Law against it and Players, to slander on one side, tho to reform on +t'other, I will in return quote another piece of Law relating to Oaths, +extreamly for his advantage, for there is only this quibbling difference +between us, 'Tis a fault in us in swearing when we should not, and in +him for not swearing when he should; but that now he may have occasion +to say my Civilities are particular to him, I will make him do't. + + I _J.C._ do sincerely promise and swear, that I will be faithful, + and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King _William_: And I do + swear that I do, from my heart, abhor, detest and abjure, as Impious + and Heretical, that damnable Doctrine and Position, that Princes + excommunicated, or depriv'd by the Pope, or any Authority of the + See of _Rome_, may be Depos'd or Murther'd by their Subjects, or + any other whatsoever. + + And I do declare that no Foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State + or Potentate, hath, or aught to have, any Jurisdiction, Power, + Superiority, Preeminence or Authority, Ecclesiastical or Spiritual, + within this Realm. _So help me God._ + +This now, with a sincerity proper, and coming to Church to hear our +Divine Service, with the _Prayer_ for the _King_ in't, would give one a +little satisfaction as to the Doctors present opinion, for what he has +been, if you will but examine and scan it by his Book, tho it be a +Reforming Book, is I am sure very disputable; in one Page of it he seems +very zealous for the Protestant Reformation, and says, being very much +piqu'd at _Sir John Brute_'s putting on a Clergy-man's Habit in the +_Provok'd Wife_, _that the Church of _England_, he means the Men in her, +is the only communion in the world, that will endure such insolencies as +these_ [Footnote: Collier, p. 108.]; and this, tho it be somewhat +_Bonnerish_ again, and _Switcher_-like, yet however seems to leer of +our side; but then presently in another place he's as zealous for the +_Roman_ Sect, and Jesuitically condemns a little wholesom Satyr in the +Character of a pamper'd hypocritical covetous _Spanish Fryer_, for +incivility in making him a Pimp to _Lorenzo_, and is very angry at the +Author for calling this virtuous person _a parcel of holy Guts and +Garbidge_, and telling him _that he has room in his Belly for his +Church-steeple_; [Footnote: Collier, p. 98.] and here his Lash is up +again for abusing them--oh--if _Doctor Absolution_ were Inquisitor +general, and a Satyrist against Priests came under his hand, mercy upon +us, how that poor Rascal would be flaug'd, for I find 'tis only the +person of the Priest that he would have reverenc'd, let his opinion be +what it will; nay, tho he were a _Priest of Baal_, as may be prov'd a +little further, for here his Zeal shews itself not only for Christians, +but the very _Turks_ too; and cavils again with _Jacinta_, in the _Mock +Astrologer_, for jesting with _Alla_, and honest _Mahomet_, for he was +a Brother Priest too: [Footnote: Collier, p. 61.] But stay, what's worst +of all, have but patience to walk to another Page, and here you will +find him just sinking into a downright doze and despondency, whither he +had best set up for any Religion at all, or at least for one very +indifferent. + +_Our Poets, I suppose, would call this Preaching, and think it a dull +business; however, I can't forbear saying, an honest Heathen is none +of the worst men, a very indifferent Religion well believ'd, will go a +great way._ [Footnote: Collier, p. 28.] --Will it so, pray friends de'e +not think our hot reforming Gentleman is very Luke-warm here, or not a +little craz'd when he writ this, or, as the vulgar have it, was not his +mighty Wit run a Wool-gathering; for if he be for _Protestantism_, and +_Popery_, and then whip--amongst the _Bens of the _Arabians_ for _Alla_ +and _Mahomet_,_ and at last for little or no Religion at all, I'm afraid +I shall never bring my self to be reform'd by him. And so at him agen +Weesil. + + For who with Reason, if this be your way, + Will ever value what you Preach or Pray. + + [Footnote: _Weesils_.] + +But now I think I have said enough for the Plays, whose Authors are much +better able to speak for themselves; and therefore will fall off to +vindicate my self a little, and my Acquaintance _Don Quixot_; in which +I will endeavour to prove another Immoral Vice in our Stage-Reformer, +which is + + + _Injustice and Error in Criticism._ + +And first, his _Injustice_ appears by his ungentlemanlike exposing me +and others by name, upon a scandalous occasion (as he endeavours to +make it) without any Injury done by me to him, or ever giving him any +provocation, or the Play's any way deserving it. Oh, but he'll say his +Conscience urg'd him to do it--No--not a jot; 'twas dear darling +Interest, in good faith, as shall hereafter appear; but in the mean +time I am planted upon the shoulders of a Gyant, which is the Ingenious +Author of the History of _Don Quixote_; and there indeed he guesses +right, tho he knows nothing of him or of his History, as I will prove +by and by, yet confidently, and Absolver-like, he ranges his objections +under three heads, which are every one malicious and false, _viz._ + +First, _The Prophaneness, with respect to Religion and the Holy +Scriptures_. + +Secondly, _The Abuse of the Clergy_. + +Thirdly, _The want of Modesty, and Regard to the Audience_. + +Well, to prove the Prophaneness, he first instances a bold Song of mine, +as he calls it, against Providence; four of the last lines of which he +is only pleas'd to shew ye. + + But Providence, that form'd the fair + In such a charming skin, + Their outside made its only care, + And never look'd within. + + [Footnote: D. Quix. p. 1. p. 20.] + +_Here_, says he, _the Poet tells ye Providence makes Mankind by halves, +huddles up the Soul, and takes the least care of the better Moyety; this +is direct blaspheming the Creation, and a Satyr upon God Almighty_. +[Footnote: Collier p. 97.] Why, now this, I confess, is enough to +provoke some heat in a fellow of my Constitution, to hear this Religious +Raving; but yet it looks so like _Oliver's Porter's in Bedlam_, that I +will be calm, and patiently holding up my hand, plead _Not Guilty_--to +all of these objections. But first, pray why does he foyst in the word +Mankind here to express the Female Sex, when t'other word is so much +more proper. I did intend indeed a small Satyr upon _Womankind_, +pursuant to _Marcella_'s Character, and he has vary'd from that word, +I suppose, to amuse the Reader--I'll give ye the whole Stanza. + + Did coy _Marcella_ own a Soul + As beauteous as her Eyes, + Her Judgment wou'd her Sence controul, + And teach her how to prize. + But Providence, that form'd the fair + In such a charming Skin, + Their outside made its only care, + And never look'd within. + +I only rally a pretty coy wench here for her sullen ill nature, without +any Satyr on the Deity, or any thing like it; for as to the _Blasphemy_, +as he calls it, by naming the word _Providence_, 'tis generally intended +in Lyrical Poetry for _Goddess Nature_, or _Fortune_, as Mr _Vanbrooke_ +notes; but never apply'd seriously to the true Deity, but only by Dr +_Crambo_. How often have we this phrase in Poetry, _Nature has made her +Body charming; see her bright Eyes, the charming gifts of Nature_, &c. +making use still of the second cause instead of the first, which we yet +know to be the original of all. And 'tis no more Blasphemy to say that +Providence took more care of a perverse beautiful Womans Body than her +Soul, than 'tis to say that the Sun made a gay Tulip flourish in a +Garden to delight the Eye, not caring three-pence tho it never smelt +so sweet as a Province rose. + +But I have a Rigid Critick and a Severe Inquisitor to deal with--He will +have a Satyr upon the true Deity, tho I intend nothing of it. And to go +on, my next advance he says is to Droll upon the _Resurrection_; and to +prove it, squirts out these two lines, which are pick'd out of +twenty--which he thinks are fit for his purpose-- + + Sleep and Indulge thy self with rest, + Nor dream thou e're shalt rise again. + + [Footnote: Ibid.] + +Now you must know this Song was design'd a solemn piece of morality, +and sung as a Requiem or Dirge at the Funeral of _Ambrosio_--A young +Gentleman that dy'd for Love of the aforesaid _Marcella_--You shall have +it all, that you may judge what Drolling is in't. + + (1.) + Sleep, sleep, poor Youth, sleep, sleep in Peace, + Reliev'd from Love, and mortal care, + Whilst we that pine in Life's disease, + Uncertain blest, less happy are. + (2.) + Couch'd in the dark and silent Grave, + No ills of Fate thou now canst fear; + No more shall Tyrant Power inslave, + Or scornful Beauty be severe. + (3.) + Wars, that do fatal storms disperse, + Far from thy happy Mansion keep; + Earthquakes, that shake the Universe, + Can't rock thee into sounder sleep. + (4.) + With all the Charms of Peace possest, + Secur'd from Life's tormentor, Pain: + Sleep and indulge thy self with rest, + Nor dream thou e're shall rise again. + (5.) + Past are the Pangs of fear and doubt, + The Sun is from the Dial gone, + The Sands are sunk, the Glass is out, + The folly of the Farce is done. + + [Footnote: D. Quix. p 20.] + +Now will I be judg'd by any reasonable Man, if these words comparatively +are not fitter for an _Anthem_ than a Droll, but the Reformers way of +doing me Justice, is to take bits and morsels out of things, that for +want of the connexion, they may consequently appear ridiculous, as here +he does. Again, in his third objection against my third Song, where he +says-- _I_, (that is in my own person) _make a jest of the Fall, rail +at _Adam_ and _Eve_;_ and then _Oliver's Porter_, raving again, says, +_I burlesque the Conduct of God Almighty_; [Footnote: Ibid.] now, pray +judge whether it ought to be Constru'd so or no. This Song is suppos'd +to be made and sung by _Gines de Passamonte_, a most notorious +Atheistical Villain, who, as he is going Chain'd to the Galleys, is +redeem'd from them by _Don Quixot_ in his frantick fit; after which, +being extreamly pleas'd at the success, he, to make his deliverer merry, +entertains him with this Vindication of a Rogue, which is indeed a Satyr +upon Humanity in general. I will add agen to our Criticks morsel, for he +notes but the four first lines in a place, and give ye one whole Stanza. + + When the World first knew Creation, + A Rogue was a Top profession; + When there were no more + In all Nature but four, + There were two of 'em in Transgression. + And the seeds are no less + Since that we may guess, + But have in all Ages bin growing apace; + And Lying and Thieving, + Craft, Pride and Deceiving, + Rage, Murder and Roaring, + Rape, Incest and Whoring, + Branch out from Stock, the rank Vices in vogue, + And make all Mankind one Gigantical Rogue. + +And so on: Now tho I grant this might be look'd on as prophane in it +self, without application, yet when spoken by one of his character, whom +I design to expose, it is no more than natural Character, and has so +little the quality of Prophaneness, that my impartial Reader will find a +very good Moral in it, by the odious representation of such Atheistical +impudence; yet our good natur'd Critick makes me the Prophaner. He, +cramm'd full of wonderful Justice, makes me the _Vice_ my self, that +only act the true duty of a Poet, and hold up the Glass for others to +see their _Vices_ in, but his Malice will not be Authentick with every +one, no more than his next Addle Criticism, upon my using the word +_Redeemer_ will bear the Test; for he that will argue that that word may +not be innocently spoken in Temporal Matters, because it is sometimes +us'd as a _Divine Attribute_, will prove himself rather a Coxcomb than a +Casuist: And yet for only this poor word the Cat with Nine Tails are up +again, and the Inquisitor in a rage cries out, _these insolencies are +too big for the Correction of a Pen_. [Footnote: Collier, p. 198.] Very +fine, what horrible correction this deserves, is easily judg'd, and I +believe 'twill be own'd too, that if Doctor Absolution (when the +charitable Prelates good Nature and Purse got him out of his Stone +Apartment yonder, into which _his bigotted obstinacy and not his tender +Conscience_ had thrown him) did not think him his _Redeemer_, and thank +him as his _Redeemer_, he does not only deserve Correction for his +wicked ingratitude, (which _especially in one of his Coat, is an immoral +Cheat upon Heaven_) but to have the same punishment that another of +his Coat and Kidney lately had, for a Cheat upon the Government and +People. + +But to go on: In the next place he finds fault with my making sport with +Hell, and recites six Lines, which are made of Dogril Stuff, on purpose +by the Duke's Servants, who, for his diversion, Acting a kind of Farce +are to fright _Sancho_ with Goblings and Furies--but to shew his own Wit +in the first Onset here, he has notably made the two first Lines half +nonsence. + + Appear ye fat Fiends that in Limbo do groan, + That were, when in flesh, the same Souls as his own. + +Instead of-- _that wore when in flesh_, &c. + + You that always in _Lucifer_'s Kitchin reside, + 'Mongst Sea-coal and Kettles, and grease newly Try'd, + That pamper'd each day with the Garbidge of Souls, + Broil Rashers of Fools for a Break-fast on Coals. + + [Footnote: Collier, p. 198.] + +Words adapted only to _Sancho_'s Clownship, course Breeding, and Kitchin +Profession, and with no more intent of Impiety in them, than if one +should put on a Devils Vizard to play with a Child, does he note again +as horrible Prophaneness, and says he does me no wrong in't; now if he +insists that Hell is too serious a thing to ridicule, why, perhaps, I +think so too, in its Intense quality; but to act a Goblin, a Ghost, a +Frog, or a Fury, and to sing to a Country Clown of such Bugbear matters, +only to cause a little Diversion in a Noblemans House, has always been +very customary, especially at Festivals, and far from being thought to +ridicule the main matter. The _Absolver_, to turn back a little, affirms +indeed, That _those that bring Devils upon the stage, can hardly +believe them any where else_ [Footnote: Collier, p. 189.]; but I can +give an instance, that our famous _Ben Johnson_, who I will believe had +a Conscience as good as the Doctors, and who liv'd in as Pious an Age, +in his Comedy call'd the _Devil's an Ass_ [Footnote: Vid. _Devil's an +Ass_, p. 9.], makes his first Scene a Solemn Hell, where _Lucifer_ sits +in State with all his Privy-Council about him: and when he makes an +under Pug there beaten and fool'd by a Clod-pated Squire and his wanton +Wife, the Audience took the Representation morally, and never keck'd at +the matter. Nay, _Milton_, tho' upon his secred Subject, comes very near +the same thing too; but we must not laugh at silly _Sancho_, nor put on +a Devils face to fright him, but we must be disciplin'd; nay, more, +Presented for it. Here, tho' I digress a little, I cannot forbear +telling some, that were too busie in doing that Office, that 'tis more +easie to accuse our Writings for Blasphemous, than to prove them to be +so. To detect us indeed fairly, and prove it upon us, would deserve +severe Chastisement; but if it be mistake, and our reputations are +injur'd by Rashness and Injustice, or Ignorance, reflection upon it is +at least reasonable, and just reproof I think not improper. But to go +on; my next fault is the Ass that's brought upon the Stage in the +Epilogue, with two lines alluding to _Balaam_'s. + + And as 'tis said a Parlous Ass once spoke, + When Crab-tree Cudgel did his rage provoke, &c. + +Here he says, _I brought the Ass in only to laugh at the Miracle_: +[Footnote: Collier, p. 199.] Not I, truly, I had no such intention upon +my word; I brought the Ass in, and _Dogget_ upon him, only to make the +Audience laugh at his figure at the end of the Play, as well as they had +at the beginning; but I believe if I had put an _Absolver_ upon his +back, giving him a Blessing, it would have been more divertive by half; +but let him alone, the next horrible Crime is, I meddle with Churchmen, +and there my _malice makes me_, he says, _lay about me like a Knight +Errant_; [Footnote: Collier, p. 200.] but I believe I shall prove, for +all the modesty he pretends to, that his malice is more in reference to +Poets, than ever mine was to Churchmen. Well, my Second Part begins, he +says, with _Devil's being brought upon the Stage_, who cries, _As he +hopes to be sav'd; and _Sancho_ warrants him a good Christian._ Now this +is a ridiculous mistake, for this Devil is only a Butler, and a Jest of +his _Giants_, the witty Author of the History of _Don Quixot_, where one +of the Duke's Servants acting a Devils Part to fright the Knight and +Squire, blunders it out before he is aware, and _Sancho _hearing it, as +foolishly replies. This would be humorously witty now with any one but +our Critick; but he's resolv'd to see double, as he does presently again +with my _deep-mouth'd swearing_ which he says is frequent, tho he has +quoted none on't, and therefore the Reader is not oblig'd to believe +him. But then I have made the _Curate _Perez_ assist at the ridiculous +Ceremony of _Don Quixot_;_ I have so--what then?--but I have made him +_have wit enough_, however, to know _Don Quixot_ for a Madman; but then +_Sancho_, by way of Proverb, tells him, _Ah--Consider dear Sir, no Man +is born wise_: to which briskly replies the Doctor, _What if he were +born wise, he might be bred a Fool_. [Footnote: Collier, Ibid.] Faith, +no Doctor: and to be free with ye, (_en Raillere_) as you have been with +me, must beg leave to tell ye, If you had been born wise enough to be +a Reformer, your Breeding could never have made ye Fool enough to be +an Absolver; I mean in a Case like you know what; but let us proceed. +The next is a swinger, and his Lash cuts even to the blood: for here +_Sancho_, full of innocent simplicity, says, _A Bishop is no more than +another Man, without Grace and good Breeding_. To which he presently +darts out, _I must needs say, if the Poet had any share of either of +these Qualities, he would be less bold with his Superiors, and not give +his Clowns the liberty to Droll thus heavily upon a solemn Character_. +[Footnote: Ibid.] Why, faith, now this is very hard, I have known a +Country Wench name a _Bishop_ in the Burning-too of a Hasty-Pudding, +and never heard that any of the Reverend took it ill, because it was +a Common Saying, and below their notice. But poor _Sancbo_, or rather +indeed _Sancho_'s Poet, my self, must be corrected for it, tho the +Phrase be Moral, and no more than an honest truth: But come, since it +must be so, let me ask the doctor why he does not shew me an example +for this himself, and Practice better before he Accuses; for let the +Reader look into his _Desertion Discuss'd_ (for he shall find that I +have trac'd him through all his Writings), and page the 3d you will +find him, I think, somewhat more guilty of this fault than I have been, +for there you'll see he insolently affirms, _That the Succession cannot +be interrupted by an Act of Parliament, especially when the Royal Assent +is given by a King _de Facto_, and not _de Jure_. [Footnote: _Desertion +Discuss'd_, Anno 1688.] And again; tho this next is hinted covertly, +with the meaning disguis'd, yet Sir _William Temple_ in his Memoirs, +page 295, and the aforesaid Vindicater of the Stage, as well as my self, +have observed, that the _Absolver_ in the first Volume of his Essays, +page 120, in his Chapter of the _A..._ tells us, _Whether the honesty or +dishonesty are discernable in the face, is a question which admits of +dispute; King _Charles_ the Second thought he could depend upon these +Observations, but with submission, I believe an instance might be +given, in which his Rules of Physiognomy fail'd_ [Footnote: _Essays_, +p.120.]. Now I'm sure the first is insolently plain, and the next shews +enough to let us into his meaning; which granted, I think I may say, he +ought to be less bold with his Superiors too, and not give himself the +liberty to treat at this rate, not only a Solemn, but a _Royal +Character_. Well, the next is, I, (naming me) take care to tell ye, that +_Sancho_ is _a dry shrewd Countryfellow_ in his Character, _because he +blunders out Proverbs upon all occasions, tho never so far from the +purpose_--and merrily drolls upon me for making blundering and talking +nothing to the purpose, an argument of shrewdness--Why truly, I must +confess to the Doctor, there is no great matter in that Argument, and +not much whither there be or no--But, as unperforming as I am, I fancy I +shall find as great a Blunder in his performance presently-- _We ought +to be just in our Looks, as well as in our Actions_, says he in his +Essays, _for the mind may be declar'd one way no less than the other: +A man might as good break his Word as his Face, especially upon some +Critical occasions_ [Footnote: Essays p. 118.]. Now what he means by a +mans breaking his Face there, unless he is to run his Nose against a +Post, I can't imagine; and therefore will set it down for a Blunder--And +so there's Tit for Tat, and the Dice in my hand still. But poor _Sancho_ +is horribly unfortunate agen, for by and by he catches him answering the +Curate, who threatens him for calling him Finisher of Fornication, and +Conjunction Copulative, with Excommunication, _I care not if you do, +says Sancho, I shall lose nothing by it but my Nap in an afternoon_ +[Footnote: Collier, p. 201.]. Why truly this might be thought a little +sawcy from one in Trowsers, to one in a Cassock, especially as the +Reformer would have him reverenc'd. But perhaps this Pragmatical Curate +_Perez_ was some _Non-Juror_, and poor _Sancho_ did not think he should +profit by his Doctrine; and then the honest fellow was much in the +right. This puts me in mind of a passage in one of Mr _Crown_'s +Comedies, where a surly Joyner is rallying with a Doctor of no very +good Reputation too; _Sirrah, Sirrah, says the Doctor, I shall have +your Ears--No, No, says _Chizzel_, never when you preach, Doctor_. +Our Absolver may apply this now as he pleases. + +And here are a bundle of faults together--_Jodolet_, another Priest, is +call'd holy Cormorant [Footnote: Ibid.], only because he eats a Turkey, +and drinks a Bottle or two of Malaga for his Breakfast; and the Poet is +jerk'd because a gormandizing _Romish_ Priest is call'd a Pimp agen; and +the Duke's Steward, _Manuel_, is no _witty pleasant fellow_, because he +calls the Chaplain, whom I mentioned in the beginning of my Preface, and +who is, no doubt, the sole occasion of this Gentleman's Pique to me--Mr +_Cuff-cushion_; and because having an insight into his Character, he +tells him, _a Whore is a Pulpit be loves_ [Footnote: Ibid.]; but my hope +is, that my Reader will think him no fool for this, tho the Carper does, +who then tells the Chaplain _Saygrace_, _and he supposes prays to God +to bless the entertainment of the Devil_, tho there is not a word of +a Grace spoke at all; and after, when he grows hot, positive, and +impertinent, which the Duke his patron being at Table, only bears with, +to divert himself, he insolently calls _Don Quixot_, Don Coxcomb, who +justly enrag'd, returns him in this Language: + + Oh thou vile black Fox, with a Firebrand in thy Tail, thou very + priest, thou kindler of all Mischiefs in all Nations, de'e hear, + Homily, did not the reverence I bear these Nobles--I would so thrum + your Cassock, you Church Vermin-- [Footnote: Collier, p. 202.] + +Here now, to shew his Justice he slily stops and gives a dash, so +makes it Nonsense, but I shall make bold to piece it out again. _Did +not the reverence I bear these Nobles, tye up my hands from doing myself +Justice, I would so thrum your Cassock you Church Vermin_--Now, because +my Reader shall find that I have naturally pursu'd the character of this +Chaplain, as _Don Quixot_'s Historian has presented him to me, you shall +hear what account he gives of him. Here is, says he, + + a good Character of a poor Pedant; one of them that govern great + men's Houses, one of those, that as they are not born Noble, so they + know not how to instruct those that are; one of those, that would + have great men's Liberality measur'd by the streightness of their + own Minds; one of those, that teaching those they govern to be + frugal, would make 'em miserable. [Footnote: Shelton's _Translation + of the History of _D. Quix._ Chap._ 31. p. 152.] + +Now this considerable person as you find him here, who was indeed for +his senseless humour of designing to govern--us'd no otherwise than as +the Buffoon of the Family--takes upon him to call _Don Quixot_ (whom the +Authour imbellishes, with all manner of learning and good sense, bating +his whimsical Chimæra of Knight Errantry,) _Goodman Dulpate_ and _Don +Coxcomb_. Well, however the _Switcher_ here has escap'd for his usage of +a Gentleman in or near this manner, I believe my Judges will agree, that +my Knight was so far from injuring the sawcy Trencherfly, by the reply +he give him, that if he had not known and practic'd good breeding, +better than the other, he would have broke his head into the bargain. As +for his bidding him adieu in Language too prophane and scandalous for +our Reformer to relate, is impossible, for he has prov'd often enough +the contrary of that in his Book already. But for the Song in the Fourth +Act, where the Country Fellow says, _Folks never mind now what those +black Cattle say_ [Footnote: Ibid.]: He is only suppos'd for another +Bumpkin, that amongst the rest of the Parishioners, had found out the +Parsons blind side, and so behind his back took occasion to put a joke +upon him, as well as the rest in that Satyr mention'd. + +And now his third place is to prove my want of Modesty, and regard to +the Audience--And here he's chewing his savoury word _Smutt_ agen, and +says _Sancho_ and _Teresa_ talk it broad [Footnote: Collier, p. 203.]; +but since his Modesty has not quoted it, I hope my Reader will believe +so well of mine, to think I have not written it; I assure him I don't +know of any. And I have prov'd our Reformer can mistake, as he does of +_Marcellas_ Epilogue, who Raves, he says, with Raptures of Indecency, +when the poor Creature is so cold, after her hot fit, that she rather +wants a dram of the Bottle--But now, Bounce, for a full charge of Small +Shot; here he has gather'd up a heap of Epithets together, without any +words between, or connexion to make 'em sense; and this he says I divert +the Ladies with--_Snotty nose, filthy vermin in the Beard, Nitty Jerkin, +and Louse snapper, with the Letter in the Chamber-pot, and natural +evacuation_. Why truly this is pretty stuff indeed, as his Ingenuity +has put it together--but I hope every one will own, that each of these +singly, when they are tagg'd to their sensible phrases, may be proper +enough in Farce or Low Comedy; but as he has modell'd 'em, 'tis true +they are very frightful--And if I had nothing to sing or say to divert +Ladies better than this, I should think my self so despicable, that I +would e'en get into the next Plot, amongst his Brother Grumblers--then +despairing, do some doughty thing to deserve hanging, and depend upon +no other comfort but his Absolution. + +I remember, being lately at St. _James_'s, this very part of the Doctors +Book was read or rather spelt out to me, with tickling satisfaction, by +one whose Wit and good Manners are known to be just of the same weight, +who, since he can be merry so easily, he shall laugh at some of the +Reformers Hotch-potch too, as I have mingled it for him. _Jewish +Tetragramaton, Stigian Frogs, reeking Pandæmoniums, Debauch'd +Protagonists, Nauseous Ribaldry, Ranting Smutt, Abominable Stench_, +Venus _and St _George_, _Juliana_, the Witch and the Parson of _Wrotham_ +[Footnote: Collier's Epithetes.], with the admirable Popish story of the +Woman that went to the Play-House and brought home the Devil with her_ +[Footnote: Collier, p. 257.]--And the Devil's in't indeed, if this +charming Rhetorick of his, (since he calls mine so) especially joyn'd +with that fine story from _Tertullian_, don't divert the Ladies as well +as t'other; for 'tis very like a Catholick miracle you must know, and +the top wit of it is, that when the Parson is Conjuring, _he asks the +Devil how he durst attack a Christian?_ who, like an admirable Joker as +he was, answers, _I have done nothing but what I can justify, for I +seiz'd her upon my own ground_. Now let the Devil be as witty as he can, +I am sure the story, maugre _Tertullian_'s Authority, or the Doctor's +either, is confounded silly, and downright nonsense, what credit soever +it has with him for its likeness to Jesuiticism. And now I think I have +prov'd too, that _a Clergy man can speak nonsense, pass it for humour +too, and gratify his ease and his malice at once, without a Poet's +putting his into his Mouth_. And since we have been speaking of +quibbling, I shall digress a little to entertain the Reader on that +subject. Our Critick rallies Mr _Dryden_'s _Sancho_ in _Love +Triumphant_, for saying, _dont provoke me, I'm mischievously bent_, +to which _Carlos_ a man of sense replys, _nay you are bent enough in +conscience, but I have a bent Fist for Boxing; Here_ says he (smartly) +_you have a brace of quibbles started in a line and a half [Footnote: +Collier, p. 170.]_--Very true, you have so--But suppose quibbling or +punning--but I think this is call'd punning--Is this Gentlemans +humour--if so, being a Soldier, I don't see it calls his sense in +question at all--but now pray let's see, how our Critick manages a +quibble, with a blunder tack'd to the Tail on't, in the page before, +there, in the aforesaid Play, _Celidea_ in a passion cries, + + Great Nature break thy Chain that links together + The Fabrick of this Globe, and make a Chaos, + Like that within my Soul-- + + [Footnote: Collier, p. 68.] + +_Now_, says the Doctor, keen as a Razor, _if she had call'd for a Chair, +instead of a Chaos, tripp'd off, and kept her folly to herself, the +woman had been wiser._ Calling for a Chair instead of a Chaos is an +extreme pretty Quibble truly--but if the Critick had let the Chair-men +have tripp'd off with her, instead of doing it herself as she sat in a +Chair, I'm sure the blunder had been sav'd, and I think he had exprest +himself a little wiser than he has--And come, now my hand's in, let's +parallel Mr _Dryden_ with our Reformer a little longer--_Church-men_ +(says _Benducar_ in _Don Sebastian_, + + Tho they Itch to govern all, + Are silly, woful awkward Politicians, + They make lame mischiefs, tho they meant it well. + + [Footnote: Collier, p.104.] + +So much the better_, says he, _for tis a sign they are not beaten to the +trade_--Oh, that's a mistake, Doctor, they may be beaten to the Trade, +and yet be bunglers--And proceeding: + + _Their Interest is not finely drawn, and hid,_ + _But Seams are coursely bungled up, and seen. + + [Footnote: Ibid.] + +_These Lines_, says he, _are an Illustration taken from a Taylor._ They +are so, but what Justice is it in him to lessen 'em, whose own flights +are ten times more ridiculous: For example, talking just before of +tumbling the Elements together, he says, _and since we have shewn our +skill of Vaulting on the High Ropes, a little Tumbling on the Stage +may not do amiss for variety_ [Footnote: Collier, p. 158.]. And now I +will refer my self to the severest Critick of his party, whether an +Illustration taken from a Taylor is not better than one taken from a +Vagabond Rope-dancer, or Tumbler, forty times over; but his sense and +way of Writing he thinks will infallibly overcome censure; not with +me I assure him, to confirm it I must remark him once more, and then +my digression shall end. He tells ye _Cleora_, in the Tragedy of +_Cleomenes_, _is not very charming, her part is to tell you_, her +Child suck'd to no purpose. + + It pull'd and pull'd but now, but nothing came; + At last it drew so hard that the Blood follow'd, + And that red Milk I found upon its Lips, + Which made me swoon for fear. + + [Footnote: Cleomenes.] + +There, says he, is a description of sucking for ye: And then like +another Devil of a Joker runs on, truly _one would think the Muse on't +were scarcely wean'd_--Very likely; and here I warrant he thinks his +Witty Criticism, as safely hous'd now as a Thief in a Mill, as the old +Saw has it, did not his plaguee want of Memory now and then contrive to +disgrace him; or if you turn to the thirty fourth page of his Lampoon, +as Mr _Vanbrooke_ calls it, after he has been comparing a fine young +Lady to a _Setting-bitch-teacher. + +Lower yet--down, down_, and after he has been bringing forth a Litter +of Mr. _Congreeves_ Epithetes, as he calls them, _soothing softness, +sinking Ease, wafting Air, thrilling Fears, and incessant scalding Rain_ +[Footnote: Collier, p. 34.], all Crude, just as he did mine before, +without any connexion of sense to 'em: He tells ye more plain in troth +than wittily, that _they make the Poem look like a Bitch overstock'd +with Puppies, and suck the sense almost to Skin and Bone_. [Footnote: +Ibid, --.] For a Child to suck the Mother till the Blood follows, +I think is not unreasonable, but for a Litter of Epithetes to suck +the sense of a Poem to the Skin and Bone, is such Fustian stuff that +nothing but a Creature, only fit for a Sucking-bottle, could be +Author of--And now I think if he has given me any _Crocus Metallorum_, +I am even with him with a Dose of _Jollop_, and can whisk too from one +Play to another indifferently well, tho not so fast as he; for when I +perus'd him first, I could compare him to nothing but an Humble Bee +in a Meadow, Buz upon this Daizy, Hum upon that Clover, then upon that +Butter-flower--sucking of Honey, as he is of Sense--or as if upon the +hunt for knowledge, he could fly from hence to the Colledge at _Downy_, +then to St. _Peter_'s at _Rome_, then to _Mahomet_ at _Mecha_, then to +the Inquisition at _Goa_--And then buz home again to his own dormitory +in _Shooe-lane_: And so much for his injustice, now to his errour in +Criticism again, and to proceed in defence of _Don Quixot_. + +_Mary_ the Buxom, he says now swears faster 'tis false, and I deny it, +she is so far from swearing fast, that she does not (rude as her +character is) swear at all, unless the poor interjection I'cod--by his +Authority can be made an Oath; and then if you'll peruse him on, here is +a whole page and half upon this hint, That the Ladies must have left +their Wits and Modesties behind them that came, and lik'd her Words or +Actions; and that her Nastiness, and dirty Conversation, is a Midnight +Cart, or a Dunghil, instead of an Ornamental Scene. [Footnote: Collier, +p. 204.] Now you don't find out our Gentlemans malicious meaning by +this, but I shall inform ye. He says, I'm sorry the Ladies brought their +Wits and Modesties with them, that came to see this Character; and yet +all the whole Town can witness, that as many of the Ladies as could get +into the Play-House came thither, to wait upon Her late _Majesty of +Sacred Memory_, who did me that honour only for my benefit; and who +was of so nice a Temper, relating to Modesty, that if so much as a hint +had been given her by those had seen it before, of such a thing as +Immodesty, she had never came, much less had been diverted, as she was, +when she did come; but this I take as striking at _her_ through my +sides; and I think, to use his own words, _is above the Correction of +the Pen_. [Footnote: Collier, p. 206.] The next is such senseless +malice, or ignorance, that it deserves a hoot; he finds _Manuel_ in +_Don Quixot_ (playing in his Farce for the Dukes diversion) addressing +to the Dutchess in this manner, in a Jargon of Phrase made ridiculous +on purpose: _Illustrious beauty, I must desire to know whether the most +purifidiferous _Don Quixot_ of the _Manchissima_, and the Squireiferous +_Pancha_, be in this Company or no_. To whom _Sancho_ replies, +imitating, as he thinks this fine stile, _Why lookee, forsooth, +without any more flourishes, the Governor _Pancha_ is here, and _Don +Quixotissimo_ too, therefore, most Afflictedissimous Matronissima, speak +what you Willissimus, for we are all ready to be your Servitorissimus_. +[Footnote: Vid. Shelton's _Translation of _Don Quixot_, p._ 205.] And +this now he inserts as my own Invention and manner of Stile, which is +taken _verbatim_ from the History of _Don Quixot_, and is by all those +that can judge of humour, very pleasant and fit for that purpose. Now if +he has never read that History, his ignorance has abus'd me; and if he +has, his impudence has, of which us perceiv'd he has Stock enough, for +presently he worries me for saying, in my Epistle Dedicatory to the +Duchess of _Ormond_, That _I date my good fortune from her prosperous +influence_, and says 'tis _Astrological_. [Footnote: Collier, p. 207.] I +don't know whether it has that sort of Learning in't or no, but 'tis as +good sense as when he says, like a Wag as he is, that the Ladies fancy +is just _slip-stocking high, and she seems to want sense more than her +Break-fast_. [Footnote: Collier, p. 92.] Fancy slip-stocking high? no, +no, the merry Grig must mean her pretty Leg was seen so high, for the +Master of Art, I beg pardon of the rest that their Title is scandaliz'd, +could never mean such Nonsence as t'other sure. + +And now drawing near to an end, his malice grows more plainly to a head, +by endeavouring to lessen my Credit with my Patron Mr. _Montague_, whose +generous Candor and good Nature to me, and indeed to us all, he perhaps +has heard of, for here our modest and moral Critick, has either mistaken +the words, or found out a slip of the Press, which because it happens to +be Nonsence, he has very gladly exposed for mine; 'tis in my Epistle to +my aforesaid Patron, thus: + + Had your Eyes shot the haughty Austerity upon me of a right Courtier, + your valued minutes had never been disturbed with dilatory Trifles + of this nature; but my heart, on dull Consideration of your Merit, + had supinely wish'd you Prosperity at a distance_. + [Footnote: Collier, p. 207.] + +Mine in my Copy was written [_due Consideration_] but Doctor Crambo +will have you believe, I consider'd so little to write the t'other; but +now I will hold twenty Stubble Geese to the same number of Tithe Pigs, +whenever he is preferr'd to be a Curate again, that I make my Patron +smile more at my Entertainment of him at his own Cost, than ever he did +at his quoting my _dull Consideration_, which no body but the _dull +Absolver_ could imagine a Man with any Brains could write. And to prove +I have yet a few, I will try to Paraphrase upon his Farewel to me, the +Translation in Verse, but the Reader shall have his first. + + I like an Author that Reforms the Age, + And keeps the right Decorum of the Stage; + That always pleases by Just Reason's Rule; + But for a tedious Droll, a quibbling Fool, + Who with low nauseous Bawdry fills his Plays, + Let him be gone, and on two Tressels raise + Some _Smithfield_ Stage, where he may act his Pranks, + And make _Jack Puddings_ speak to Mountebanks. + + [Footnote: Collier,] + +Your humble Servant good Doctor--Well, now for me. + + I like a Parson, that no Souls does Lurch, + And keeps the true Decorum of the Church; + That always preaches by Just Reason's Rule; + But for a Hypocrite, a Canting Fool, + Who, cramm'd with Malice, takes the Rebels side, + _And would, for Conscience, palm on us his Pride,_ + Let him, for Stipend, to the _Gubbins*_ sail, + And there Hold-forth for Crusts and Juggs of Ale. + + [*: A Savage kind of People in the West of _England_.] + +And so much by way of Prose, I shall only now give the Reformer a +little further Advice, in return of his, in my Lyrical way, which is in +a Fable of _A Dog and an Otter_; and to turn his own words upon him, the +Citation may possibly be of some service to him, for if not concern'd in +the Application, he may at least be precaution'd by the Moral. I find he +knows I can sing to other Peoples sense, I'll try now if I can make him +sing to mine: And when he Diverts, or is Diverted with _Vox_, then, +_Preterea nihil_. + + * * * * * + + + _Maxims_ and _Reflections_ + + upon + + PLAYS. + + + (_In Answer to a Discourse, Of the Lawfullness + and Unlawfullness of PLAYS. Printed + Before a late PLAY Entituled, + BEAUTY in DISTRESS_.) + + + + Written in FRENCH by + the Bp. of MEAVX. + + And now made ENGLISH + + + + The PREFACE By another HAND. + + + + _LONDON_, + +Printed for R. Sare, at _Grays-Inn_ Gate, in + _Holborne_. 1699. + + * * * * * + + + + THE PREFACE + + +The Charge drawn up by _Mr. Collier_, against the English Stage hath +obliged the Persons concerned in it, to use all possible methods for +their own Vindication. But their Endeavours of this kind have been such +as seem to have done no great Service to their Cause. The natural +Reflection, arising upon the present State of the Controversy, is, that, +when Persons so nearly concerned and so well qualified, to say all that +the case will bear, have yet been able to say so little to the main +points of the Accusation brought against them, the only effectual Reply +would be either to write no more for the Stage, or to write for it +after quite another manner, than of late hath been done. They that have +attempted to answer the _View_ are in good hands already. But since +other Succours are called in from abroad, 'tis fit the World should +know, that this Reserve too hath been already defeated in it's own +Countrey. And that we ought not to be imposed upon here in England, with +an Adversary, _whose Arguments have been not only confuted and Scorned +by Others, but also retracted by Himself, at home. + +That Moroseness of humour, which Some in great good manners have of late +been pleased to fix upon the English as their peculiar Character, might +possibly be thought to dispose us to a blameable Extreme of Rigor in +these matters. And therefore a Forreign Authority was artificially +enough brought in, to reproach our pretended Niceness and Austerity. +But when the Arguments of this Reply are observed to carry the Point +as high, as even the so much upbraided _View_ it self; All but the +Willfully blind must see, that even the Gayeties of France could not +endure the Corruptions of the Modern Theatres. And that the Complaints +against such detestable Abuses are not due to any Quality of the +Climate, or particular turn of Temper; but to the common and uniform +Principles of Christianity and Virtue, which are the same in every +Nation, professing to be governed by them. + +To give that _Discourse_ a better face, it is introduced by way of +Letter from a _Worthy Divine_ of the Church of England; and published +before a late Play called _Beauty in Distress_. [Footnote: P. IX. X. +XXVI.] Tis said to be approved, and recommended by that Reverend Person, +for the satisfying some Scruples, _whether a man may Lawfully write for +the Stage_. For a full Resolution whereof the doubting Poet is referred +to this _Discourse_, as that which is presumed _to come fully up to his +purpose_. But we are not told, whether the _Divine_ or the _Poet_, or +who else was the Translator of this Discourse: Or whether that _Worthy_ +Friend perused it in French, or in English only. Which yet in the +present Case are Material Circumstances, and such as ought not to have +been concealed, for Two Reasons particularly, which I hold myself +obliged to give the Reader Intimation of. + +The First is, That the following Reply produces and answers some +Passages of the French Discourse, not to be found in the English. And +these not only Expressions or single Sentences, but entire Arguments. +Such is that of Plays being a Diversion suitable to the Design of +instituting the Sabbath. Such again That which justifies the Acting them +the whole Lent throughout. Now this manner of dealing is not exactly +agreeable with that _Impartiality_ and _Freedom_ promised in the +beginning of the _Worthy Divines_ Letter. [Footnote: _P. IX._] And +therefore I can very hardly be perswaded, that One of that Character +and Function, had the Forming of the _Discourse_, in the manner it now +appears before _Mr. M's._ Play. + +The other Reason, why I Suspect the _Discourse_ not to be translated, +or indeed so throughly approved, by a _Divine of the Church of England_, +is, that, even in what does appear there, he speaks very favourably of +acting Plays upon Sundays. Now admitting, that all the Profession are +not such sowr Criticks as _Mr. Collier_, yet this is a Liberty, which I +do not remember to have heard, that any Modern Divines of that Church +allow. And whatever the Poet's Friend may be in _His_ esteem, I shrewdly +suspect, that He would hardly pass for a very _Worthy Divine_, who +should so far Countenance these _Diversions_, as to let them into a +share of that Holy day, dedicated to the Worship and more immediate +Service of Almighty God, + +One would not hastily question Testimonies in matters of Fact, where +there appears any probable Arguments to support them. And therefore +I am far from objecting against the Knowledge and Integrity of the +Booksellers called in to vouch for that Letter, But withall I must beg +leave to think it strange, that a Person of Learning and Character +should so incautiously espouse a _Discourse_, and recommend it for the +direction of a Gentleman's Conscience, who consulted him for Advice; the +Reasoning whereof is not only so weak and Superficiall, but grounded +upon Misconstruction in some, and Misrepresentation in Other Authorities +cited by it. Methinks these ought to have been well examined, before a +man had so perfectly gone into the Consequences drawn from them: such of +them at least as are exceeding obvious, and might have been detected by +recurring to Books, which almost every Divine hath ready at hand. + +In this translated Reply the Reader will not have cause to complain of +such Neglect. The Passages out of _Thom: Aquinas, St. Jerom_, and some +others, have been diligently compared, and the Originals faithfully +inserted in most material points. And I cannot but wish, that this Book, +extant at Paris ever since _1694_, had fallen into the hands of this +Doubting Gentleman, instead of that _Discourse_, which it was intended +to confute: That neither the Translator, nor his Friend the _Worthy +Divine_, might have given themselves the Trouble of a Vindication of +Plays; so reproachfully treated, and so substantially answered, that +one would wonder it should have the confidence to appear in English +afterwards, to tempt the same Scorn here, when followed cross the Seas +by the Bishop of Meaux. + +By some expressions, I confess one might be apt to think, that the +Author of the Discourse was not perfectly known. But of that no +reasonable Doubt can remain, when we find the Replyer to have retracted: +and Submitted to the Censure of the Church, Why the Author expresses +himself in Terms so soft and general I undertake not to determine. He +might in Tenderness forbear his Adversarys Name; He might be content to +look upon him as an unwary Publisher, rather than the Writer; and, after +Submission made, might charitably desire, as far as might be, to cover +his Reproach. It Suffices, that the Opinions in the Book be confuted, +and exposed to shame; and when this is done in the Punishment of the +Reputed Author, the matter is not great, if the Name from thenceforth +be forgotten. If Mons'r _Caffaro_ had the Hardiness to assert a Tract +so unworthy his Character, his Answerer would not add perhaps to the +Scandall, when that Shame had been taken to himself, with a Remorse +becoming the Fact. But be this how it will, Censures, we know, are not +inflicted upon _Indefinite Some-bodies_; that such were inflicted, and a +Retractation made, the very first period is peremptory: And I hope the +Bp. of Meaux, and his manner of writing, are at least as credible an +Evidence of this, as the Booksellers can be Allowed to be, of that +Letter being genuine, which refers _Mr. M's_ Conscience to the +_Discourse_ for Satisfaction. + +I am heartily glad, if the Plays written by that ingenious Gentleman are +so chast and inoffensive, as he declares them to be. The rather, because +the Success he mentions overthrows that frivolous Pretence, of the Poets +lying under a Necessity of writing lewdly in order to please the Town. +And if this Gentleman do yet retain the same tenderness of doing nothing +for Gain or Glory, which does not strictly become him: If he be still as +desirous to be satisfied what does, or does not, become him to do, with +regard to the matter in hand, as I ought to presume he was, when he +consulted his Friend, I would make it my request, that this Reply may be +Seriously and impartially considered. And I cannot but hope, that it may +disabuse him of the Errours the _Discourse_ might lead him into, and I +am much mistaken, if, upon these Terms, he ever writes for the Stage +any more. Prejudice and Passion, Vainglory and Profit, not Reason, and +Virtue, and the Common Good, seem but too plainly, to support this +Practice, and the Defence of it, as the matter is at present managed +among us. And a Person of _Mr. M's_ Parts and Attainments cannot be +at a loss, for much nobler subjects to employ them upon. + +A Popular one perhaps it may be, but sure a wilder Suggestion, never +was offered to men of Common sense, than, that _if the Stage be damned_, +the _Art used_ by _Moses, and David, and Solomon, must be no more_. +[Footnote: _See Mr. D's. verses before Beauty, in Distress._] Are we +fallen into an Age so incapable of of distinguishing, that there should +be no visible difference left between, the Excellencies and the Abuse of +any Art? No. _Mr: Dryden_ himself hath taught us better. We will have +all due regard for the Author of _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_, and several +other pieces of just renown, and should admire him for a rich Vein of +Poetry, though he had never written a Play in his whole Life. Nor shall +we think our selves obliged to burn the Translation of _Virgil_ by +vertue of that sentence, which seems here to be pronounced upon that of +the Fourth Book of _Lucretius_. The World, I Suppose, are not all +agreed, that then is but _One_ Sort of Poetry, and as far from allowing, +that the _Dramatick_, is that One. They who write after those_ Divine, +Patterns of Moses &c_: will be no whit the less Poets, though there were +not a Theatre left upon the Face of the Earth; Their Honours will be +more deserved, Their Laurells more verdant and lasting, when blemished +with none of those Reproaches from Others, or their own breasts, which +are due to the Corrupters of Mankind, And such are all They, who soften +men's abhorrence of Vice, and cherish their dangerous Passions. To tell +us then, that All, even Divine, Poetry must be silenced and for ever +lost, when the Play-houses are once shut up, is to impose too grossely +upon our Understandings. And their Sophistry bears hard, methinks, upon +Profaneness, which insinuates the Hymns dictated by the Holy Spirit, of +God, to be so nearly related to the Modern Compositions for the Stage, +that both must of necessity stand and fall together. + +If Poetry have of late sunk in its credit, that misfortune is owing to +the degenerate and Mercenary Pens, of some who have set up for the great +Masters of it. No man I presume, is for exterminating that noble Art, +no not even in the _Dramatick_ part; provided it can be effectually +reformed. But if the Reformation of the Stage be no longer practicable, +reason good that the incurable Evil should be cut off: If it be +practicable, let the Persons concerned give Evidence of it to the World, +by tempering their Wit so, as to render it Serviceable to Virtuous +purposes, without giving just offence to wise, and Good men. For it is +not the Pretence of a good Design which can free the Undertakers from +Blame, unless the Goodness of the end and Intention be Seconded with a +Prudent Management of the Means. And if Matters once should come to that +Extremity, better and much more becoming of the Two, no doubt it were, +that our _Maker's Praises should be sunk into Prose_ (as this Ingenious +Person phrases it) than that in the midst of a Christan City, that +_Maker_ should be six days in seven publickly insulted and blasphemed +in poetry. + + * * * * * + + THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + Announces Its + + _Publications for the Third Year (1948-1949)_ + + +_At least two_ items will be printed from each of the _three_ +following groups: + +[Transcriber's Note: +Many of the listed titles are or will be available from Project +Gutenberg. Where possible, the e-text number is given in brackets.] + +Series IV: Men, Manners, and Critics + +Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre _(1720). +Aaron Hill, Preface to _The Creation_; and Thomas Brereton, Preface + to _Esther_. [#15870] +Ned Ward, Selected Tracts. + + +Series V: Drama + +Edward Moore, _The Gamester_ (1753). [#16267] +Nevil Payne, _Fatal Jealousy_ (1673). +Mrs. Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). +Charles Macklin, _Man of the World_ (1781). + + +Series VI: Poetry and Language + +John Oldmixon, _Reflections on Dr. Swifts Letter to Harley_ (1712); + and Arthur Mainwaring, _The British Academy_ (1712). +Pierre Nicole, _De Epigrammate_. +Andre Dacier, Essay on Lyric Poetry. + + +Issues will appear, as usual, in May, July, September, November, +January, and March. In spite of rising costs, membership fees will +be kept at the present annual rate of $2.50 in the United States +and Canada; $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent. British and +continental subscriptions should be sent to B.H. Blackwell, Broad +Street, Oxford, England. American and Canadian subscriptions may +be sent to any one of the General Editors. + + +NOTE: All income received by the Society is devoted to defraying cost +of printing and mailing. + + * * * * * + + _THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY_ + + Makes Available + + + _Inexpensive Reprints of Rare Materials_ + + + from + + ENGLISH LITERATURE OF THE + + SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES + + +Students, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, and +philology will find the publications valuable. _The Johnsonian News +Letter_ has said of them: "Excellent facsimiles, and cheap in price, +these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sure +to become a subscriber; and take it upon yourself to see that your +college library is on the mailing list." + +The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization, +run without overhead expense. By careful management it is able to +offer at least six publications each year at the unusually low +membership fee of $2.50 per year in the United States and Canada, and +$2.75 in Great Britain and the continent. + +Libraries as well as individuals are eligible for membership. Since +the publications are issued without profit, however, no discount can +be allowed to libraries, agents, or booksellers. + +New members may still obtain a complete run of the first year's +publications for $2.50, the annual membership fee. + +During the first two years the publications are issued in three +series: I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. +Essays on the Stage. + + * * * * * + +PUBLICATIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR (1946-1947) + +MAY, 1946: Series I, No. 1--Richard Blackmore's _Essay upon Wit_ +(1716), and Addison's _Freeholder_ No. 45 (1716). [#13484] + +JULY, 1946: Series II, No. 1--Samuel Cobb's _Of Poetry_ and +_Discourse on Criticism_ (1707) [#14528] + +SEPT., 1946: Series III, No. 1--Anon., _Letter to A.H. Esq.; +concerning the Stage_ (1698), and Richard Willis' _Occasional Paper_ +No. IX (1698). + +NOV., 1946: Series I, No. 2--Anon., _Essay on Wit_ (1748), together +with Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton's _Adventurer_ Nos. 127 +and 133. [#14973] + +JAN., 1947: Series II, No. 2--Samuel Wesley's _Epistle to a Friend +Concerning Poetry_ (1700) and _Essay on Heroic Poetry_ (1693). + +MARCH, 1947: Series III, No. 2--Anon., _Representation of the Impiety +and Immorality of the Stage_ (1704) and anon., _Some Thoughts +Concerning the Stage_ (1704). [#15656] + + +PUBLICATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR (1947-1948) + +MAY, 1947: Series I, No. 3--John Gay's _The Present State of Wit_; +and a section on Wit from _The English Theophrastus_. With an +Introduction by Donald Bond. [#14800] + +JULY, 1947: Series II, No. 3--Rapin's _De Carmine Pastorali_, +translated by Creech. With an Introduction by J. E. Congleton. [#14495] + +SEPT., 1947: Series III, No. 3--T. Hanmer's (?) _Some Remarks on the +Tragedy of Hamlet_. With an Introduction by Clarence D. Thorpe. [#14899] + +NOV., 1947: Series I, No. 4--Corbyn Morris' _Essay towards Fixing the +True Standards of Wit_, etc. With an Introduction by James L. Clifford. +[#16233] + +JAN., 1948: Series II, No. 4--Thomas Purney's _Discourse on the +Pastoral_. With an Introduction by Earl Wasserman. [#15313] + +MARCH, 1948: Series III, No. 4--Essays on the Stage, selected, with +an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch. + + +The list of publications is subject to modification in response to +requests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will be +included in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by a +scholar of special competence in the field represented. + +The Augustan Reprints are available only to members. They will never +be offered at "remainder" prices. + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + +RICHARD C. BOYS, University of Michigan +EDWARD NILES HOOKER, University of California, Los Angeles +H.T. SWEDENBERG, JR., University of California, Los Angeles + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + +EMMETT L. AVERY, State College of Washington +LOUIS I. BREDVOLD, University of Michigan +BENJAMIN BOYCE, University of Nebraska +CLEANTH BROOKS, Yale University +JAMES L. CLIFFORD, Columbia University +ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, University of Chicago +SAMUEL H. MONK, University of Minnesota +JAMES SUTHERLAND, Queen Mary College, London + + * * * * * + +[Errors, Problems and Anomalies +(all in _The Campaigners_ unless otherwise noted): + +J. W. Krutch Introduction (1948) + good natured, heavy handed, slow witted, long winded + _no hyphens in original_ + +title page + the DOG and the OTTOR + spelling as in the original + +p. 2 + horrid horrid Blasphemy + _duplication in original_ + +p. 3 + [Footnote: Collier, p.] + _number missing in original_ + +p. 3 + the Blockheaded Chaplain had been greazing his old Cassock + _original reads_ Bockheaded ... Gassock + +p. 6 + in the twinkling of an Ejaculation, as Parson _Say-grace_ has it + _original reads_ Ejaculution + (source is Congreve, _The Double-Dealer_: + all texts consulted have _a_) + when I find him in this Paragraph of his Book * raving on at this rate + _asterisk in original_ + +p. 8 + contrives to confute some canting prejudic'd Zealots + _original reads_ coutrives + would he roar it out for Blasphemy, Profaneness, &_c._ + _original reads_ Balsphemy + +p. 10 + [Footnote: ...54] + _5 or 6 letters missing_ + Again speaking of _Jupiter_ and _Alcmena_ + _original reads_ Aclmena + +p. 13 + Yet he buffly goes on, + _so in original, possibly error for_ busily + (printed text uses long _s_ but reading is unambiguous) + +p. 14 + _Ben Johnson_ found out _Ananias_ and _Rabby Buisy_ + _spellings as in original_ + +p. 16 + yet however seems to leer of our side + _reading uncertain, possibly_ loer + +p. 17 + [Footnote: D. Quix. p. 1. p. 20.] + _? part 1, page 20_ + +p. 19 + and has so little the quality of Prophaneness + _original reads_ Prohaneness + +p. 20 + those that bring Devils upon the Stage + _conjectural reading: entire word "Stage" is illegible_ + +p. 21 + But then I have made the Curate _Perez_ assist + _original reads_ Per.. + (character's name in _Don Quixote_ is Pero Perez) + + let me ask the doctor why he does not shew me an example for this + himself, and Practice better before he Accuses; for let the Reader + look into his _Desertion Discuss'd_ (for he shall find that I have + trac'd him through all his Writings) and + _original reads_ + let me ask the ..ctor why he does not shew me an example for this + himself, and Pract... better before he Accuses; for let the Reader + look into his _Desertion Discuss'd_ (for he shall find that I have + trac'd him through all his Writing.....d + + that the _Absolver_ in the first Volume of his Essays, page 120, + in his Chapter of the _A..._ tells us, _Whether the honesty or + dishonesty are discernable in the face, is a question which + admits of dispute + _original reads_ + that the _Ab......_ in the first Volume of his Essays, page 120, + in his Chapter of the _A...._ tells us, _Whether the honesty or + dishonesty are discernable in the face, .. . .uestion which + admits of dispute + + I believe an instance might be given + _original reads_ + an instan.. .ight be + +p. 23 + here has escap'd for his usage of a Gentleman + _original reads_ Gentlemen + +p. 24 + as she sat in a Chair + _original reads_ Chiar + +p. 25 + he thinks will infallibly overcome censure + _original reads_ iufallibly + + There, says he, is a description of sucking for ye + _original reads_ + There, says he, .. . description of sucking for ye + + And then like another Devil of a Joker runs on + _original reads_ ruus + + did not his plaguee want of Memory + _so in original_ + + after he has been bringing forth a Litter of Mr. _Congreeves_ + Epithetes, as he calls them + _original reads_ + Epithetes, [blank] calls them + + and incessant scalding Rain + _original reads_ incess... + + He tells ye more plain in troth than wittily + _original reads_ + He tells ye more plain in trot. ..an wittily + + they make the Poem look like a Bitch overstock'd with Puppies, and + suck the sense almost to Skin and Bone. For a Child to suck the + Mother till the Blood follows, I think is not unreasonable, but + for a Litter of Epithetes to suck the sense of a Poem to the Skin + and Bone, is such Fustian stuff that + _original reads_ + they make the Poem look like a Bitch overstock'd with Pup...s, and + suck ... sense almost to Skin and Bone. For a C.ild to suck t.. + Mother t... ... Blood follows, I think is not unrea...able, but + fo. . ..tter of Ep....... .o suck the sense of a Poem to the Skin + and Bone, is such Fustian ..... that + + I am even with him with a Dose of _Jollop_ + _capital J uncertain_ + + And then buz home again to his own dormitory in _Shooe-lane_ + _original reads_ Sho.e-lane + +p. 27 + [Footnote: Collier,] + _page reference missing in original_ + +p. A2v (_Maxims_ ...) + might possibly be thought + _original reads_ possibly ] + + +[_Supplementary Note_: + +Neither of the verse passages quoted on pg. 15 is by Chaucer. The first +is from _The Plowman's Tale_, written about 1380 and traditionally +attributed to Chaucer: + + Of freres I have tolde before, + In a makynge of a Crede. + And yet I coulde tell worse and more, + But men wolde weryen it to rede. + +The second was printed in Tottel's Miscellany ("Songes and Sonettes +written by the ryght honorable Lorde Henry Haward late Earle of Surrey, +and other", 1557): + + Flee frõ the prese & dwell with sothfastnes + Suffise to thee thy good though it be small, + For horde hath hate and climyng ticklenesse + Praise hath enuy, and weall is blinde in all + Fauour no more, then thee behoue shall. + Rede well thy self that others well canst rede, + And trouth shall the deliuer it is no drede. ] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Essays on the Stage, by Thomas D'Urfey and Bossuet + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ESSAYS ON THE STAGE *** + +***** This file should be named 16335-8.txt or 16335-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/3/16335/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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