A
SHORT
DISCOURSE
OF
THE
English
Stage
.
To
his
Excellency
,
the
Lord
Marquess
of
NEW
CASTLE
.
My
Noble
Lord
,
I
Send
your
Excellency
here
a
short
Discourse
of
the
English
Stage
,
(
which
if
you
pleas'd
you
could
far
better
treat
of
then
my self
)
but
before
I
begin
it
,
I
will
speak
a
word
or
two
of
thôse
of
other
Countreys
.
About
the
midst
of
the
last
Century
,
Playes
,
after
a
long
discontinuance
,
and
civil
death
in
a
manner
,
began
to
be
reviv'd
again
,
first
in
Italy
by
Guarino
,
Tasso
,
de
Porta
,
and
others
;
and
afterwards
in
Spain
by
Lopes
de
Vega
;
the
French
beginning
later
by
reason
of
their
Civil
Wars
,
Cardinal
Richlieu
being
the
first
that
brought
them
into
that
Vouge
and
Esteem
as
now
they
are
;
well
knowing
how
much
the
Acting
noble
and
heroick
Playes
,
conferr'd
to
the
instilling
a
noble
and
heroick
Spirit
into
the
Nation
.
For
ûs
,
we
began
before
them
,
and
if
since
they
seem
to
have
out-stript
us
,
't
is
because
our
Stage
ha's
stood
at
a
stand
this
many
years
;
nor
may
we
doubt
,
but
now
we
shall
soon
out-strip
them
again
,
if
we
hold
on
but
as
we
begin
.
Of
the
Dutch
I
speak
nothing
,
because
they
are
but
slow
,
and
follow
other
Nations
onely
afar
off
:
But
to
return
unto
our
present
subject
.
Playes
(
which
so
flourisht
amongst
the
Greeks
,
and
afterwards
amongst
the
Romans
)
were
almost
wholly
abolished
when
their
Empire
was
first
converted
to
Christianity
,
and
their
Theaters
,
together
with
their
Temples
,
for
the
most
part
,
demolished
as
Reliques
of
Paganisme
,
some
few
onely
reserved
and
dedicate
to
the
service
of
the
True
God
,
as
they
had
been
to
their
false
gods
before
;
from
which
time
to
the
last
Age
,
they
Acted
nothing
here
,
but
Playes
of
the
holy
Scripture
,
or
Saints
Lives
;
and
that
without
any
certain
Theaters
or
set
Companies
,
till
about
the
beginning
of
Queen
Elizabeths
Reign
,
they
began
here
to
assemble
into
Companies
,
and
set
up
Theaters
,
first
in
the
City
,
(
as
in
the
Innyards
of
the
Cross-Keyes
,
and
Bull
in
Grace
and
Bishops-Gate
Street
at
this
day
is
to
be
seen
)
till
that
Fanatick
Spirit
which
then
began
with
the
Stage
,
and
after
ended
with
the
Throne
,
banisht
them
thence
into
the
Suburbs
,
as
after
they
did
the
Kingdom
,
in
the
beginning
of
our
Civil
Wars
.
In
which
time
,
Playes
were
so
little
incompatible
with
Religion
,
and
the
Theater
with
the
Church
,
as
on
Week-dayes
after
Vespers
,
both
the
Children
of
the
Chappel
and
St.
Pauls
,
Acted
Playes
,
the
one
in
White-Friers
,
the
other
behinde
the
Convocation-house
in
Pauls
,
till
people
growing
more
precise
,
and
Playes
more
licentious
,
the
Theatre
of
Pauls
was
quite
supprest
,
and
that
of
the
Children
of
the
Chappel
,
converted
to
the
use
of
the
Children
of
the
Revels
.
In
this
time
were
Poets
and
Actors
in
their
greatest
flourish
,
Iohnson
,
Shakespear
,
with
Beaumont
and
Fletcher
their
Poets
,
and
Field
and
Burbidge
their
Actors
.
For
Playes
,
Shakespear
was
one
of
the
first
,
who
inverted
the
Dramatick
Stile
,
from
dull
History
to
quick
Comedy
,
upon
whom
Iohnson
refin'd
;
as
Beaumont
and
Fletcher
first
writ
in
the
Heroick
way
,
upon
whom
Suckling
and
others
endeavoured
to
refine
agen
�
one
saying
wittily
of
his
Aglaura
,
that
't
was
full
of
fine
flowers
,
but
they
seem'd
rather
stuck
,
then
growing
there
;
as
another
of
Shakespear's
writings
,
that
't
was
a
fine
Garden
,
but
it
wanted
weeding
.
There
are
few
of
our
English
Playes
(
excepting
onely
some
few
of
Iohnsons
)
without
some
faults
or
other
;
and
if
the
French
have
fewer
then
our
English
,
't
is
because
they
confine
themselves
to
narrower
limits
,
and
consequently
have
less
liberty
to
erre
.
The
chief
faults
of
ours
,
are
our
huddling
too
much
matter
together
,
and
making
them
too
long
and
intricate
;
we
imagining
we
never
have
intrigue
enough
,
till
we
lose
our selves
and
Auditors
,
who
shu'd
be
led
in
a
Maze
,
but
not
a
Mist
;
and
through
turning
and
winding
wayes
,
but
sô
still
,
as
they
may
finde
their
way
at
last
.
A
good
Play
shu'd
be
like
a
good
stuff
,
closely
and
evenly
wrought
,
without
any
breakes
,
thrums
,
or
loose
ends
in
'um
,
or
like
a
good
Picture
well
painted
and
designed
;
the
Plot
or
Contrivement
,
the
Design
,
the
Writing
,
the
Coloris
,
and
Counterplot
,
the
Shaddowings
,
with
other
Embellishments
:
or
finally
,
it
shu'd
be
like
a
well
contriv'd
Garden
,
cast
into
its
Walks
and
Counterwalks
,
betwixt
an
Alley
and
a
Wilderness
,
neither
too
plain
,
nor
too
confus'd
.
Of
all
Arts
,
that
of
the
Dramatick
Poet
is
the
most
difficult
and
most
subject
to
censure
;
for
in
all
others
,
they
write
onely
of
some
particular
subject
,
as
the
Mathematician
of
Mathematicks
,
or
Philosopher
of
Philosophy
;
but
in
that
,
the
Poet
must
write
of
every
thing
,
and
every
one
undertakes
to
judge
of
it
.
A
Dramatick
Poet
is
to
the
Stage
as
a
Pilot
to
the
Ship
;
and
to
the
Actors
,
as
an
Architect
to
the
Builders
,
or
Master
to
his
Schollars
:
he
is
to
be
a
good
moral
Philosopher
,
but
yet
more
learned
in
Men
then
Books
.
He
is
to
be
a
wise
,
as
well
as
a
witty
Man
,
and
a
good
man
,
as
well
as
a
good
Poet
;
and
I
'de
allow
him
to
be
so
far
a
good
fellow
too
,
to
take
a
chearful
cup
to
whet
his
wits
,
so
he
take
not
so
much
to
dull
'um
,
and
whet
'um
quite
away
.
To
compare
our
English
Dramatick
Poets
together
(
without
taxing
them
)
Shakespear
excelled
in
a
natural
Vein
,
Fletcher
in
Wit
,
and
Iohnson
in
Gravity
and
ponderousness
of
Style
;
whose
onely
fault
was
,
he
was
too
elaborate
;
and
had
he
mixt
less
erudition
with
his
Playes
,
they
had
been
more
pleasant
and
delightful
then
they
are
.
Comparing
him
with
Shakespear
,
you
shall
see
the
difference
betwixt
Nature
and
Art
;
and
with
Fletcher
,
the
difference
betwixt
Wit
and
Judgement
:
Wit
being
an
exuberant
thing
,
like
Nilus
,
never
more
commendable
then
when
it
overflowes
;
but
Judgement
a
stayed
and
reposed
thing
,
alwayes
containing
it self
within
its
bounds
and
limits
.
Beaumont
and
Fletcher
were
excellent
in
their
kinde
,
but
they
often
err'd
against
Decorum
,
seldom
representing
a
valiant
man
without
somewhat
of
the
Braggadoccio
,
nor
an
honourable
woman
without
somewhat
of
Dol
Common
in
her
:
to
say
nothing
of
their
irreverent
representing
Kings
persons
on
the
Stage
,
who
shu'd
never
be
represented
,
but
with
Revêrence
:
Besides
,
Fletcher
was
the
first
who
introduc't
that
witty
obscenity
in
his
Playes
,
which
like
poison
infused
in
pleasant
liquor
,
is
alwayes
the
more
dangerous
the
more
delightful
.
And
here
to
speak
a
word
or
two
of
Wit
,
it
is
the
spirit
and
quintessence
of
speech
,
extracted
out
of
the
substance
of
the
thing
we
speak
of
,
having
nothing
of
the
superfice
,
or
dross
of
words
(
as
clenches
,
quibbles
,
gingles
,
and
such
like
trifles
have
)
it
is
that
,
in
pleasant
and
facetious
discourse
,
as
Eloquence
is
in
grave
and
serious
;
not
learnt
by
Art
and
Precept
,
but
Nature
and
Company
.
'T
is
in
vain
to
say
any
more
of
it
;
for
if
I
could
tell
you
what
it
were
,
it
would
not
be
what
it
is
;
being
somewhat
above
expression
,
and
such
a
volatil
thing
,
as
't
is
altogether
as
volatil
to
describe
.
It
was
the
happiness
of
the
Actors
of
those
Times
to
have
such
Poets
as
these
to
instruct
them
,
and
write
for
them
;
and
no
less
of
those
Poets
to
have
such
docile
and
excellent
Actors
to
Act
their
Playes
,
as
a
Field
and
Burbidge
;
of
whom
we
may
say
,
that
he
was
a
delightful
Proteus
,
so
wholly
transforming
himself
into
his
Part
,
and
putting
off
himself
with
his
Cloathes
,
as
he
never
(
not
so
much
as
in
the
Tyring-house
)
assum'd
himself
again
until
the
Play
was
done
:
there
being
as
much
difference
betwixt
him
and
one
of
our
common
Actors
,
as
between
a
Ballad-singer
who
onely
mouths
it
,
and
an
excellent
singer
,
who
knows
all
his
Graces
,
and
can
artfully
vary
and
modulate
his
Voice
,
even
to
know
how
much
breath
he
is
to
give
to
every
syllable
.
He
had
all
the
parts
of
an
excellent
Orator
,
(
animating
his
words
with
speaking
,
and
Speech
with
Action
)
his
Auditors
being
never
more
delighted
then
when
he
spake
,
nor
more
sorry
then
when
he
held
his
peace
;
yet
even
thên
,
he
was
an
excellent
Actor
still
,
never
falling
in
his
Part
when
he
had
done
speaking
;
but
with
his
looks
and
gesture
,
maintaining
it
still
unto
the
heighth
,
he
imagining
Age
quod
agis
,
onely
spoke
to
him
:
so
as
those
who
call
him
a
Player
do
him
wrong
,
no
man
being
less
idle
then
he
,
whose
whole
life
is
nothing
else
but
action
;
with
only
this
difference
from
other
mens
,
that
as
what
is
but
a
Play
to
them
,
is
his
Business
;
so
their
business
is
but
a
play
to
him
.
Now
,
for
the
difference
betwixt
our
Theaters
and
those
of
former
times
,
they
were
but
plain
and
simple
,
with
no
other
Scenes
,
nor
Decorations
of
the
Stage
,
but
onely
old
Tapestry
,
and
the
Stage
strew'd
with
Rushes
,
(
with
their
Habits
accordingly
)
whereas
ours
now
for
cost
and
ornament
are
arriv'd
to
the
heighth
of
Magnificence
;
but
that
which
makes
our
Stage
the
better
,
makes
our
Playes
the
worse
perhaps
,
they
striving
now
to
make
them
more
for
sight
,
then
hearing
;
whence
that
solid
joy
of
the
interior
is
lost
,
and
that
benefit
which
men
formerly
receiv'd
from
Playes
,
from
which
they
seldom
or
never
went
away
,
but
far
better
and
wiser
then
they
came
.
The
Stage
being
a
harmless
and
innocent
Recreation
;
where
the
minde
is
recreated
and
delighted
,
and
that
Ludus
Literarum
,
or
School
of
good
Language
and
Behaviour
,
that
makes
Youth
soonest
Man
,
and
man
soonest
good
and
vertuous
,
by
joyning
example
to
precept
,
and
the
pleasure
of
seeing
to
that
of
hearing
.
It
s
chiefest
end
is
,
to
render
Folly
ridiculous
,
Vice
odious
,
and
Vertue
and
Noblenesse
so
amiable
and
lovely
,
as
,
every
one
shu'd
be
delighted
and
enamoured
with
it
;
from
which
when
it
deflects
;
as
,
corruptio
optimi
pessima
:
of
the
best
it
becomes
the
worst
of
Recreations
.
And
this
his
Majesty
well
understood
,
when
after
his
happy
Restauration
,
he
took
such
care
to
purge
it
from
all
vice
and
obscenity
;
and
would
to
God
he
had
found
all
bodies
and
humours
as
apt
and
easie
to
be
purg'd
and
reform'd
as
thât
.
For
Scenes
and
Machines
they
are
no
new
invention
,
our
Masks
and
some
of
our
Playes
in
former
times
(
though
not
so
ordinary
)
having
had
as
good
or
rather
better
then
any
we
have
now
.
They
are
excellent
helps
of
imagination
,
most
grateful
deceptions
of
the
sight
,
and
graceful
and
becoming
Ornaments
of
the
Stage
,
transporting
you
easily
without
lassitude
from
one
place
to
another
;
or
rather
by
a
kinde
of
delightful
Magick
,
whilst
you
sit
still
,
does
bring
the
place
to
you
.
Of
this
curious
Art
the
Italians
(
this
latter
age
)
are
the
greatest
masters
,
the
French
good
proficients
,
and
we
in
England
onely
Schollars
and
Learners
yet
,
having
proceeded
no
further
then
to
bare
painting
,
and
not
arriv'd
to
the
stupendious
wonders
of
your
great
Ingeniers
,
especially
not
knowing
yet
how
to
place
our
Lights
,
for
the
more
advantage
and
illuminating
of
the
Scenes
.
And
thus
much
suffices
it
briefly
to
have
said
of
all
that
concerns
our
Modern
Stage
,
onely
to
give
others
occasion
to
say
more
.
FINIS
.