Opening the text

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

Name: A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage: Together with the Sense of Antiquity on this Argument
Author: Collier, Jeremy

Collier, Jeremy

Theater -- England -- Early works to 1800; Theater -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Early works to 1800

I shall pass on to _King Arthur_ for a word or two.[368] Now here is a
strange jumble and Hotch potch of Matters, if you mind it. Here we have
_Genii_, and _Angels_, _Cupids_, _Syrens_, and _Devils_; _Venus_ and St.
_George_, _Pan_ and the _Parson_, the Hell of Heathenism, and the Hell of
_Revelation_; A fit of Smut, and then a Jest about Original Sin. And why
are Truth and Fiction, Heathenism and Christianity, the most Serious and
the most Trifling Things blended together, and thrown into one Form of
Diversion? Why is all this done unless it be to ridicule the whole, and
make one as incredible as the other? His _Airy_ and _Earthy Spirits_
discourse of the first state of Devils, of their _Chief_ of their Revolt,
their Punishment, and Impostures. This Mr. _Dryden_ very Religiously calls
a _Fairy way of Writing, which depends only on the Force of
Imagination_.[369] What then is the Fall of the Angels a Romance? Has it no
basis of Truth, nothing to support it, but strength of Fancy, and Poetick
Invention? After He had mention'd Hell, Devils, _&c_. and given us a sort
of _Bible_ description of these formidable Things; I say after he had
formed his Poem in this manner, I am surprized to hear him call it a _Fairy
kind of Writing_. Is the History of _Tophet_ no better prov'd than that of
_Styx_? Is the Lake of _Brimstone_ and that of _Phlegeton_ alike dreadful?
And have we as much Reason to believe the Torments of _Titius_ and
_Prometheus_, as those of the Devils and Damn'd? These are lamentable
Consequences! And yet I can't well see how the _Poet_ can avoid them. But
setting aside this miserable Gloss in the _Dedication_, the Representation
it self is scandalously irreligious. To droll upon the Vengeance of Heaven,
and the Miseries of the Damn'd, is a sad Instance of Christianity! Those
that bring Devils upon the _Stage_, can hardly believe them any where else.
Besides, the Effects of such an Entertainment must needs be admirable! To
see Hell thus play'd with is a mighty Refreshment to a lewd Conscience, and
a byass'd Understanding. It heartens the Young Libertine, and confirms the
well-wishers to Atheism, and makes Vice bold, and enterprising. Such
Diversions serve to dispel the Gloom, and guild the Horrors of the _Shades
below_, and are a sort of Ensurance against Damnation. One would think
these _Poets_ went upon absolute Certainty, and could demonstrate a Scheme
of Infidelity. If they could, They had much better keep the Secret. The
divulging it tends only to debauch Mankind, and shake the Securities of
Civil Life. However, if they have been in the other World and find it
empty, and uninhabited, and are acquainted with all the Powers, and Places,
in Being; If they can show the Impostures of Religion, and the
Contradictions of Common Belief, they have something to say for themselves.
Have they then infallible Proof and Mathematick Evidence for these
Discoveries? No Man had ever the Confidence to say This; And if He should,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

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

I shall pass on to _King Arthur_ for a word or two.[368] Now here is a
strange jumble and Hotch potch of Matters, if you mind it. Here we have
_Genii_, and _Angels_, _Cupids_, _Syrens_, and _Devils_; _Venus_ and St.
_George_, _Pan_ and the _Parson_, the Hell of Heathenism, and the Hell of
_Revelation_; A fit of Smut, and then a Jest about Original Sin. And why
are Truth and Fiction, Heathenism and Christianity, the most Serious and
the most Trifling Things blended together, and thrown into one Form of
Diversion? Why is all this done unless it be to ridicule the whole, and
make one as incredible as the other? His _Airy_ and _Earthy Spirits_
discourse of the first state of Devils, of their _Chief_ of their Revolt,
their Punishment, and Impostures. This Mr. _Dryden_ very Religiously calls
a _Fairy way of Writing, which depends only on the Force of
Imagination_.[369] What then is the Fall of the Angels a Romance? Has it no
basis of Truth, nothing to support it, but strength of Fancy, and Poetick
Invention? After He had mention'd Hell, Devils, _&c_. and given us a sort
of _Bible_ description of these formidable Things; I say after he had
formed his Poem in this manner, I am surprized to hear him call it a _Fairy
kind of Writing_. Is the History of _Tophet_ no better prov'd than that of
_Styx_? Is the Lake of _Brimstone_ and that of _Phlegeton_ alike dreadful?
And have we as much Reason to believe the Torments of _Titius_ and
_Prometheus_, as those of the Devils and Damn'd? These are lamentable
Consequences! And yet I can't well see how the _Poet_ can avoid them. But
setting aside this miserable Gloss in the _Dedication_, the Representation
it self is scandalously irreligious. To droll upon the Vengeance of Heaven,
and the Miseries of the Damn'd, is a sad Instance of Christianity! Those
that bring Devils upon the _Stage_, can hardly believe them any where else.
Besides, the Effects of such an Entertainment must needs be admirable! To
see Hell thus play'd with is a mighty Refreshment to a lewd Conscience, and
a byass'd Understanding. It heartens the Young Libertine, and confirms the
well-wishers to Atheism, and makes Vice bold, and enterprising. Such
Diversions serve to dispel the Gloom, and guild the Horrors of the _Shades
below_, and are a sort of Ensurance against Damnation. One would think
these _Poets_ went upon absolute Certainty, and could demonstrate a Scheme
of Infidelity. If they could, They had much better keep the Secret. The
divulging it tends only to debauch Mankind, and shake the Securities of
Civil Life. However, if they have been in the other World and find it
empty, and uninhabited, and are acquainted with all the Powers, and Places,
in Being; If they can show the Impostures of Religion, and the
Contradictions of Common Belief, they have something to say for themselves.
Have they then infallible Proof and Mathematick Evidence for these
Discoveries? No Man had ever the Confidence to say This; And if He should,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage: Together with the Sense of Antiquity on this Argument

A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage: Together with the Sense of Antiquity on this Argument

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