Jeremy Collier

“ In this celebrated Republick, if the Poets wrote any thing against Religion or Good Manners, They were tryed for their Misbehaviour, and lyable to the highest Forfeitures.
It may not be amiss to observe that there are no Instances of debauching Married Women, in Plautus, nor Terence, no nor yet in Aristophanes. But on our Stage how common is it to make a Lord, a Knight, or an Alderman a Cuckold? The Schemes of Success are beaten out with great Variety, and almost drawn up into a Science. ”

“ But the danger of such an Entertainment is but part of the Objection: 'Tis all Scandal and meanness into the bargain: it does in effect degrade Human Nature, sinks Reason into Appetite, and breaks down the Distinctions between Man and Beast. ”

“ To treat the Ladys with such stuff is no better than taking their Money to abuse them. It supposes their Imagination vitious, and their Memories ill furnish'd: That they are practised in the Language of the Stews, and pleas'd with the Scenes of Brutishness. When at the same time the Customs of Education, and the Laws of Decency, are so very cautious, and reserv'd in regard to Women: I say so very reserv'd, that 'tis almost a Fault for them to Understand they are ill Used. They can't discover their Disgust without disadvantage, nor Blush without disservice to their Modesty. ”

“ That Religion was no better than an Imposture supported by Art, and Ignorance: And that when Men's Understandings were awake, and their Eyes a little open,they would have more discretion than to be at any expence about the Gods. ”

“ In the progress of the Dispute, Æschylus taxes Euripides with being too uncautious in his Representations; And tells him that Poets ought to conceal that which is vicious in Story; And entertain with nothing but Virtue, and Sobriety: He goes on reprimanding Euripides for his Dramatick incests, Strumpets, and Amours: And as for himself, to his best remembrance, He never brought any Love-Intrigues upon the Stagep. ”

“ Smuttiness is a Fault in Behaviour as well as in Religion. 'Tis a very Coarse Diversion, the Entertainment of those who are generally least both in Sense, and Station. The looser part of the Mob, have no true relish of Decency and Honour, and want Education, and Thought, to furnish out a gentile Conversation. ”

“ To keep her alive only to sully her Reputation, and discover the Rankness of her Breath, was very Cruel. But it may be said the Freedoms of Distraction go for nothing, a Feavour has no Faults, and a Man non Compos, may kill without Murther. ”

“ One would think Mankind were not the same, that Reason was to be read Backward, and Vertue and Vice had changed PlaceProvok'd Wife. p. 41. .
What then? Must Life be huddled over, Nature left imperfect, and the Humour of the Town not shown? And pray where lies the Grievance of all This? Must we relate whatever is done, and is every Thing fit for Representation? is a Man that has the Plague proper to make a Sight of? And must he needs come Abroad when he breaths Infection, and leaves the Tokens upon the Company? What then must we know nothing? Look you! All Experiments are not worth the making. ”

“ Foul Things are best unsaid, I am for no Muse,
That loves to flourish on Debauchery.
Some Things are dangerous in report, as well as practise, and many times a Disease in the Description. This Euripides was aware of and manag'd accordingly, and was remarkably regular both in stile, and Manners. How wretchedly do we fall short of the Decencies of Heathenism! There's nothing more ridiculous than Modesty on our StagePlain Dealer. p. 21. . 'Tis counted an ill bred Quality, and almost sham'd out of Use. ”

“ A Great Compliment to Quality to tell them there is not above a quarter of them Honest! This was not the Roman Breeding, Terence and Plautus his Strumpets were Little people; but of this more hereafter.
3dly. They have oftentimes not so much as the poor refuge of a Double Meaning to fly to. So that you are under a necessity either of taking Ribaldry or Nonsence. And when the Sentence has two Handles, the worst is generally turn'd to the Audience. The Matter is so Contrived that the Smut and Scum of the Thought rises uppermost; And like a Picture drawn to Sight, looks always upon the Company. ”

“ It regales their Lewdness, graces their Character, and keeps up their Spirits for their Vocation: Now to bring Women under such Misbehaviour is Violence to their Native Modesty, and a Mispresentation of their Sex. ”

“ Our Poets I suppose would call this Preaching, and think it a dull Business. However I can't forbear saying an honest Heathen is none of the worst Men: A very indifferent Religion well Believed, will go a great way.
To proceed. Sophocles appear'd next upon the Stage, and was in earnest an Extraordinary Person. His Conduct is more Artificial, and his Stile more just, than that of Æschylus. His Characters are well drawn, and Uniform with themselves: His Incidents, are often surprising, and his Plots unprecipitated. There is nothing but what is Great, and Solemn Throughout. ”

“ Now do's this paultry Behaviour agree with the Heathen Theology, with the Common Opinion concerning Bacchus and Hercules? Do's a Blew-Cap and a Ladle, become the Sons of Jupiter and the Objects of Religious Worship? Those who at the lowest, were counted the Conquerors of the World, and more than Men both by Birth and Enterprize? Sophocles and Euripides make these two Persons manage at a quite different rate of Decency. 'Tis no defence to say Aristophanes wrot Comedy, and so was obliged to make his Scenes more diverting. ”

“ If a Man would study to outrage Quality and Vertue, he could not do it more Effectually. But
5thly. Smut is still more insufferable with respect to Religion. The Heathen Religion was in a great Measure a Mystery of Iniquity. Lewdness was Consecrated in the Temples, as well as practised in the Stews. Their Deitys were great Examples of Vice, and worship'd with their own Inclination. 'Tis no wonder therefore their Poetry should be tinctured with their Belief, and that the Stage should borrow some of the Liberties of their Theology. ”

“ It exceeds the Liberties of all Times and Countries: It has not so much as the poor plea of a Precedent, to which most other ill Things may claim a pretence. 'Tis mostly meer Discovery and Invention: A new World of Vice found out, and planted with all the Industry imaginable. Aristophanes himself, how bad soever in other respects, does not amplyfie, and flourish, and run through all the Topicks of Lewdness like these Men. The Miscellany Poems are likewise horribly Licentious. They are sometimes Collections from Antiquity, and often, the worst parts of the worst Poets. ”

“ But Force and Motion are Things indifferent, and the Use lies chiefly in the Application. These Advantages are now, in the Enemies Hand, and under a very dangerous Management. Like Cannon seized they are pointed the wrong way, and by the Strength of the Defence the Mischief is made the greater. That this Complaint is not unreasonable I shall endeavour to prove by shewing the Misbehaviour of the Stage with respect to Morality, and Religion. ”

“ He won't so much as spare the Gods but makes them act these little Parts of Clownishness and Infamy. Bacchus and Hercules in his Ranæ are forced to talk Smut and rally like Link-boys, and do almost all the Tricks of Bartholomew-Fair. To mention something that will bear the quoting. Bacchus enquires of Hercules the readiest way to Hades, or the other World. He bids him either Hang, or Poyson himself, and he can't miss the Road. This is Hercules's Humour to a Tittle! And represents him as much to the Life, as an Ape would do the Grand Signior at a publick Audience! ”

“ However Young people particularly, should not entertain themselves with a Lewd Picture; especially when 'tis drawn by a Masterly Hand. For such a Liberty may probably raise those Passions which can neither be discharged without Trouble, nor satisfyed without a Crime: 'Tis not safe for a Man to trust his Virtue too far, for fear it should give him the slip! ”

“ Barrenness of Fancy makes them often take up with those Scandalous Liberties. A Vitious Imagination may blot a great deal of Paper at this rate with ease enough: And 'tis possible Convenience may sometimes invite to the Expedient. The Modern Poets seem to use Smut as the Old Ones did Machines, to relieve a fainting Invention. When Pegasus is jaded, and would stand still, he is apt like other Tits to run into every Puddle.
Obscenity in any Company is a rustick uncreditable Talent; but among Women 'tis particularly rude. ”

“ For how Negligent soever People may be at Home, yet when they come before their Betters 'tis Manners to look wholsom.
Now tho' Plautus might have the richer Invention; Terence was always thought the more judicious Comedian. His Raillery is not only finer, and his stile better polish'd; but his Characters are more just, and he seems to have reach'd farther into Life than the other. To take Leave of this Author, even his Strumpets are better behaved than our honest Women, than our Women of Quality of the English Stage. Bacchis in Heautontimoroumenos and Bacchis in Hecyra, may serve for example. ”

“ And afterwards he gives Lesbonicus a great deal of sober advice, and declaims heartily against Luxury and Lewdness! Now by confining his Rudeness to little People, the Fault is much extenuated. For First, the representation is more Naturally this way; And which is still better, 'tis not so likely to pass into Imitation: Slaves and Clowns are not big enough to spread Infection; and set up an ill Fashion. 'Tis possible the Poet might contrive these Pesants Offensive to discountenance the Practise. ”

“ That Socrates was no Atheist is clear from Instances enough. To mention but one. The Confidence he had in his Dæmon, or Genius by which he governed his Affairs puts it beyond all disputePlat. Apol. Socrat. . However 'tis plain Aristophanes was not of his Religion. The Comedian was by no means for correcting the Common Perswasion. So that he must either be an Orthodox Heathen or nothing at all. Let us see then with what Respect he treats the Receiv'd Divinities. ”

“ There is Drum and Trumpet in his Verse. 'Tis apt to excite an Heroick Ardour, to awaken, warm, and push forward to Action. But his Mettal is not always under Management. His Inclination for the Sublime; carrys him too far: He is sometimes Embarrass'd with Epithites. His Metaphors are too stiff, and far fetch'd; and he rises rather in Sound, than in Sence. However generally speaking, his Materials are both shining and solid, and his Thoughts lofty, and uncommon. This Tragedian had always a nice regard to Good Manners. He knew corrupting the People was the greatest disservice to the Commonwealth ”

“ Why with those who Perjure themselves, with those who Kick their Fathers and Mothers? It seems in the Poets Justice a Man might as good be false to his Oath, as to his LewdnessRan. p. 188. . To disappoint the Stews, is every jot as great a Crime; as to fly in the Face of Nature, and outrage our Parents. ”

“ They Represent their single Ladys, and Persons of Condition, under these Disorders of Liberty, This makes the Irregularity still more Monstrous and a greater Contradiction to Nature, and Probability: But rather than not be Vitious, they will venture to spoil a Character. ”

“ And the Women they discourse with, are two of them Slaves, and the third a Wench. But with our Dramatists, the case is otherwise. With us Smuttiness is absolute and unconfin'd. 'Tis under no restraint, of Company, nor has any regard to Quality or Sex. Gentlemen talk it to Ladies, and Ladies to Gentlemen with all the Freedom, and Frequency imaginable. This is in earnest to be very hearty in the cause! To give Title and Figure to Ill Manners is the utmost that can be done. If Lewdness will not thrive under such encouragement it must e'en Miscarry! ”

“ Under Favour the old Discipline would be very serviceable upon the Stage. As matters go, the Mutes are much to few. For certainly 'tis better to say nothing, than talk out of Character, and to ill purpose. ”

“ As much as to say 'tis the Consequence of Sence, and right Thinking. Phædra when her Thoughts were embarrass'd with Hippolitus, endeavours to disentangle her self by ArgumentΜωρία τὸ Μῶρον Ed. Cant. 241. 250. 252. . She declaims with a great deal of Satyr against intemperate Women; she concluded rather to die then dishonour her Husband and Stain her Family. The Blemishes of Parents, as she goes on, often stuck upon their Children, and made them appear with Disadvantage. Upon this, the Chorus is transported with the Virtue of her Resolution and crys out ”

“ But then such People ought to be kept in dark Rooms and without Company. To shew them, or let them loose, is somewhat unreasonable. But after all, the Modern Stage seems to depend upon this Expedient. Women are sometimes represented Silly, and sometimes Mad, to enlarge their Liberty, and screen their Impudence from Censure: This Politick Contrivance we have in MarcellaDon Quixot. ”

“ Johnson is much more reserv'd in his Plays, and declares plainly for Modesty in his Discoveries, some of his Words are these.
A just Writer whom he calls a True Artificer, will avoid Obscene and Effeminate Phrase. Where Manners and Fashions are Corrupted, Language is so too Discov. ”