Essays on the Stage Part 3

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 Circ.u.mstances, 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 Pa.s.sages 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 inst.i.tuting 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 pa.s.s 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 Wors.h.i.+p and more immediate Service of Almighty G.o.d,

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 Pa.s.sages 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 a.s.sert 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 Pa.s.sion, 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 n.o.bler 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 d.a.m.ned_, 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 distinguis.h.i.+ng, 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 p.r.o.nounced 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 b.r.e.a.s.t.s, which are due to the Corrupters of Mankind, And such are all They, who soften men's abhorrence of Vice, and cherish their dangerous Pa.s.sions. 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 G.o.d, 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 n.o.ble 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.

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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.

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Edward Moore, _The Gamester_ (1753). [#16267]

Nevil Payne, _Fatal Jealousy_ (1673).

Mrs. Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709).

Charles Macklin, _Man of the World_ (1781).

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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.

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