Chapter III: Part 3

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.

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[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.

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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.

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* * * * *

[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