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
And now He has serv'd his Friends, he comes in the last place like a modest
Man, to commend Himself. He tells us there were a great many _Beauties_ in
the Original Draught of this _Play_. But it seems Time has since tarnish'd
their Complexion. And He gives _Heroick_ Reasons for their not appearing.
To speak Truth, (all Politicks apart,) there are strange Flights of Honour,
and Consistencies of Pretention in this Dedication! But I shall forbear the
Blazon of the _Atcheivment_, for fear I should commend as unluckily as
Himself.
SECT. II.
_Remarks upon Don Quixot, &c._
Mr. _Durfey_ being somewhat particular in his Genius and Civilities, I
shall consider him in a word or two by himself. This Poet writes from the
_Romance_ of an ingenious Author: By this means his Sense, and _Characters_
are cut out to his Hand. He has wisely planted himself upon the shoulders
of a _Giant_; but whether his Discoveries answer the advantage of his
standing, the Reader must judge.
What I have to object against Mr. _Durfey_ shall most of it be ranged under
these three Heads.
I. _His Profaness with respect to Religion and the_ Holy Scriptures.
II. _His Abuse of the Clergy._
III. _His want of Modesty and Regard to the Audience._
I. _His Profaness, &c._
And here my first Instance shall be in a bold _Song_ against Providence.
_Providence that formed the Fair
In such a charming Skin,
Their Outside made his only care,
And never look'd within._[375]
Here the _Poet_ tells you 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 Satir upon God Almighty. His next advance
is to droll upon the Resurrection.
_Sleep and indulge thy self with Rest,
Nor dream thou e're shalt rise again._[376]
His Third Song makes a jest of the _Fall_, rails upon _Adam_ and _Eve_, and
burlesques the Conduct of _God Almighty_ for not making Mankind over again.
_When the World first knew Creation,[377]
A Rogue was a Top-Profession,
When there was no more in all Nature but Four,
There were two of them in Transgression.
He that first to mend the Matter,
Made Laws to bind our Nature,
Should have found a way,
To make Wills obey,
And have Modell'd new the Creature_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account