Having in the foregoing Chapters diſcover'd ſome part of the Diſorders of the Engliſh Stage; I ſhall in this Laſt, preſent the Reader with a ſhort View of the Senſe of Antiquity, To which I ſhall add ſome Modern Authorities; From all which it will appear that Plays have generally been look'd on as the Nurſeries of Vice, the Corrupters of Youth, and the Grievance of the Country where they are ſuffer'd.
This proof from Teſtimony ſhall be ranged under theſe three Heads.
Under the Firſt, I ſhall cite ſome of the moſt celebrated Heathen Philoſophers, Orators, and Hiſtorians; Men of the biggeſt Conſideration, for Senſe, Learning, and Figure. The
Second, Shall conſiſt of the Laws and Conſtitutions of Princes, &c. The
Third, Will be drawn from Church-Records, from Fathers, and Councils of unexceptionable Authority, both as to Perſons, and Time.
1ſt. I ſhall produce ſome of the moſt celebrated Heathen Philoſophers &c. To begin with Plato. 'This Philoſopher tells us that Plays raiſe the Paſſions, and pervert the uſe of them, and by conſequence are dangerous to Morality. For this Reaſon he baniſhes theſe Diverſions his Common-Wealth.'
Xenophon who was both a Man of Letters and a great General, commends the Perſians for the Diſcipline of their Education. 'They won't (ſays he) ſo much as ſuffer their Youth to hear any thing that's Amorous or Tawdry.' They were afraid want of Ballaſt might make them miſcarry, and that 'twas dangerous to add weight to the Byaſs of Nature.
Ariſtole lays it down for a Rule 'that the Law ought to forbid Young People the ſeeing of Comedies. Such permiſſions not being ſafe till Age and Diſcipline had confirm'd them in ſobriety, fortified their Virtue, and made them as it were proof againſt Debauchery.' This Philoſopher who had look'd as far into Humane Nature as any Man, obſerves farther. 'That the force of Muſick and Action is very affecting. It commands the Audience and changes the Paſſions to a Reſemblance of the Matter before them.' So that where the Repreſentation is foul, the Thoughts of the Company muſt ſuffer.
Tully crys out upon 'Licentious Plays and Poems, as the bane of Sobriety, and wiſe Thinking: That Comedy ſubſiſts upon Lewdneſs, and that Pleaſure is the Root, of all Evil.'
Livy, reports the Original of Plays among the Romans. 'He tells us they were brought in upon the ſcore of Religion, to pacifie the Gods, and remove a Mortality. But then He adds that the Motives are ſometimes good, when the Means are ſtark naught: That the Remedy in this caſe was worſe than the Diſeaſe, and the Atonement more Infectious then the Plague.'
Valerius Maximus, Contemporary with Livy, gives much the ſame Account of the riſe of Theatres at Rome. 'Twas Devotion which built them. And as for the Performances of thoſe Places, which Mr. Dryden calls the Ornaments, this Author cenſures as the Blemiſhes of Peace.' And which is more, He affirms 'They were the Occaſions of Civil Diſtractions; And that the State firſt Bluſh'd, and then Bled, for the Entertainment. He concludes the conſequences of Plays intolerable; And that the Maſſilienſes did well in clearing the Country of them. Seneca complains heartily of the Extravagance and Debauchery of the Age: And how forward People were to improve in that which was naught. That ſcarce any Body would apply themſelves to the Study of Nature and Morality, unleſs when the Play-Houſe was ſhut, or the Weather foul. That there was no body to teach Philoſophy, becauſe there was no body to Learn it: But that the Stage had Nurſeries, and Company enough. This Miſapplication of time and Fancy, made Knowledge in ſo ill a Condition. This was the Cauſe the Hints of Antiquity were no better purſued; that ſome Inventions were ſunk, and that Humane Reaſon grew Downwards rather than otherwiſe. And elſwhere he avers that there is nothing more deſtructive to Good Manners then to run Idling to ſee Sights. For there Vice makes an inſenſible Approach, and ſteals upon us in the Diſguiſe of pleaſure.
'Tacitus relating how Nero hired decay'd Gentlemen for the Stage, complains of the Miſmanagement; And lets us know 'twas the part of a Prince to releive their Neceſſity, and not to Tempt it. And that his Bounty ſhould rather 'have ſet them above an ill practiſe, than driven them upon't.'
And in another place, He informs us that 'the German Women were Guarded againſt danger, and kept their Honour out of Harms way, by having no Play-Houſes amongſt them.'
