A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage: Together with the Sense of Antiquity on this ArgumentCollier, Jeremy
General
A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage: Together with the Sense of Antiquity on this Argument
Collier, Jeremy
Theater -- England -- Early works to 1800; Theater -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Early works to 1800
By his favour, all Imitations tho' never so well Counterfeited are not
proper for the _Stage_. To present Nature under every Appearance would be
an odd undertaking. A Midnight _Cart_, or a _Dunghil_ would be no
Ornamental _Scene_. Nastyness, and dirty Conversation are of the same kind.
For _Words_ are a Picture to the Ear, as Colours and _Surface_ are to the
Eye. Such Discourses are like dilating upon Ulcers, and Leprosies: The more
_Natural_, the worse; for the Disgust always rises with the Life of the
Description. Offensive Language like offensive Smells, does but make a
Man's Senses a burthen, and affords him nothing but Loathing and Aversion.
Beastliness in Behaviour, gives a disparaging Idea of Humane Nature, and
almost makes us sorry we are of the same Kind. For these reasons 'tis a
Maxime in Good Breeding never to shock the Senses, or Imagination. This
Rule holds strongest before _Women_, and especially when they come to be
entertain'd. The Diversion ought to be suited to the Audience; For nothing
pleases which is disproportion'd to Capacity, and Gust. The Rudenesses and
broad Jests of Beggars, are just as acceptable to Ladies as their Rags, and
Cleanliness. To treat Persons of Condition like the _Mob_, is to degrade
their Birth, and affront their Breeding. It levells them with the lowest
Education. For the size of a Man's Sense, and Improvement, is discovered by
his Pleasures, as much as by any thing else.
But to remove from _Scenes of Decency_, to _Scenes_ of Wit. And here
_Mannel_ and _Sancho_, two _pleasant sharp Fellows_, will divert us
extreamly.[395] _Mannel_ in the Disguise of a Lady addresses the Dutchess
in this manner. _Illustrious Beauty----I must desire to know whether the
most purifidiferous Don_ Quixote _of the Manchissima, and his
Squireiferous_ Panca, _be in this Company or no_. This is the Ladies
speech! Now comes _Sancho_. _Why look you forsooth, without any more
Flourishes, the Governour_ Panca _is here, and Don_ Quixotissimo _too;
therefore most afflictedissimous Matronissima, speak what you willissimus,
for we are all ready to be your Servitorissimus_.[396]
I dare not go on, for fear of overlaying the _Reader_. He may cloy himself
at his Leisure. The _Scene_ between the _Taylor_ and _Gardiner_, lies much
in the same Latitude of Understanding.[397]
The Third _Part_ presents a set of _Poppets_, which is a Thought good
enough; for this Play is only fit to move upon _Wires_. 'Tis pity these
little _Machines_ appear'd no sooner, for then the Sense, and the _Actors_
had been well adjusted. In explaining the _Persons_, He acquaints us that
_Carasco is a Witty Man_. I can't tell what the Gentleman might be in other
Places, but I'm Satisfied he is a Fool in his _Play_. But some _Poets_ are
as great Judges of Wit, as they are an instance; And have the Theory and
the Practise just alike.
Mr. _Durfeys Epistles Dedicatory_ are to the full as diverting as his
_Comedies_. A little of them may not be amiss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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