The humorists a comedy ... / written by Tho. Shadwell ...

Preface.

THis Play (besides the Errors in the writing of it) came upon the Stage with all the disadvantages imaginable: First, I was forced, after I had finish'd it, to blot out the main design of it; finding, that, contrary to my intention, it had given offence. The second disadvantage was, that notwithstanding I had (to the great prejudice of the Play) given satisfaction to all the exceptions made against it, it met with the clamorous opposition of a nume∣rous party, bandied against it, and resolved, as much as they could to damn it right or wrong, before they had heard or seen a word on't. The last, and not the least, was, that the Actors (though since they have done me some right) at first were extreamly imper∣fect in the Action of it. The least of these had been enough to have spoil'd a very good Comedy, much more such a one as mine. The last (viz.) imperfect Action, had like to have destroy d She would if she could, which I think (and I have the Authority of some of the best Judges in England for't) is the best Comedy that has been written since the Restauration of the Stage: And even that, for the imperfect representation of it at first, received such prejudice, that, had it not been for the favour of the Court, in all probability it had never got up again; and it suffers for it, in a great measure, to this very day. This of mine, after all these blows, had fallen beyond redemption, had it not been revived, after the second day, by her kindness (which I can never enough acknowledge) who, for four days together, beautified it with the most excellent Dancings that ever has been seen upon the Stage. This drew my enemies, as well as friends, till it was something better acted, understood, and liked, than at first: By this means the poor Play's life was prolonged, and, I hope, will live in spight of Malice; if not upon the Stage, at least in Print.

Yet do not think I will defend all the faults of it: B•…•…fore it was alter'd, I could better have answer'd for it: yet, as it is, I hope it will not wholly displease you in the reading. I should not say so much for it, if I did not find so much undeserved malice against it.

My design was in it, to reprehend some of the Vices and Follies of the Age, which I take to be the most proper, and most useful way of writing Comedy. If I do not perform this well enough, let not my endeavors be blam'd.

Here I must take leave to dissent from those, who seem to insi▪ nuate that the ultimate end of a Poet is to delight, without cor∣rection or instruction: Methinks a Poet should never acknowledge this, for it makes him of as little use to Mankind as a Fidler, or Dancing Master, who delights the fancy onely, without improving the Judgement.

Horace, the best Judge of Poetry, found other business sor a Poet

Pectus praeceptis format amicis; Asperitatis & Invidiae, corrector, & Irae, Recte facta refert, orientia tempora notis Instru•…•…t Exemplis:

I Confess a Poet ought to do all that he can, decently to please, that so he may instruct. To adorn his Images of Vertue so de∣lightfully to affect people with a secret veneration of it in others, and an emulation to practice it in themselves: And to render their Figures of Vice and Folly so ugly and detestable, to make people hate and despise them, not onely in others, but (if it be possible) in their dear selves. And in this latter I think Comedy more use∣ful than Tragedy; because the Vices and Follies in Courts (as they are too tender to be touch'd) so they concern but a few; whereas the Cheats, Villanies, and troublesome Follies, in the common conversation of the World, are of concernment t•…•… all the Body of Mankind.

And a Poet can no more justly be censured for ill nature, in de∣testing such Knaveries, and troublesome impertinencies, as are an imposition on all good men, and a disturbance of Socie•…•…ies in ge∣neral,

than the most vigilant of our Judges can be thought so, for detesting Robbers and High-way▪men; who are hanged, not for the sake of the money they take (for of what value can that be to the life of a man) but for interrupting common communicati∣on, and disturbing Society in general. For the sake of good men ill should be punished; and 'tis ill nature to the first, not to punish the last. A man cannot truly love a good man, that does not hate a bad one; nor a Wiseman, that does not hate a Fool; this love and hatred are correlatives, and the one necessarily implies the other. I must confess it were ill nature, and below a man, to fall upon the natural imperfections of men, as of Lunaticks, Ideots, or men born monstrous▪ But these can never be made the proper subject of a Satyr, but the affected vanities, and arti∣ficial fopperies of men, which (sometimes even contrary to their natures) they take pains to acquire, are the proper subject of a Satyr.

And for the reformation of Fopps and Knaves, I think Come∣dy most useful, becau•…•…e to render Vices and Fopperies very ridicu∣lous, is much a greater punishment than Tragedy can 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon 'em. There we do but subject 'em to hatred, or at worst to death; here we make them live to be despised and laugh'd at, which cer∣tainly makes more impression upon men, than even death can do.

Again, I confess a Poet ought to endeavour to please, and by this way of writing may please, as well as by any way whatsoever, (if he writes it well) when he does

Simul & Iucunda & idonea dicere vitae.

Men of Wit and Honour, and the best Judges (and such as can∣not be touch'd by Satyr) are extreamly delighted with it; and for the rest

Odi profanum vulgus & Arceo.

The rabble of little people, are more pleas'd with Jack Pud∣dings being soundly kick'd, or having a Custard handsomely thrown in his face, than with all the wit in Plays: and th•…•…higher

sort of Rabble (as there may be a rabble of very fine people in this illiterate age) are more pleased with the extravagant and unnatural actions, the trifles, and fripperies of a Play, or the trappings and ornaments of Nonsense, than with all the wit in the world.

This is one reason why we put our Fopps into extravagant, and unnatural habits; it being a cheap way of conforming to the un∣derstanding of those brisk, gay Sparks, that judge of Wit or Folly by the Habit; that being indeed the onely measure they can take in judging of Mankind, who are Criticks in nothing but a Dress.

Extraordinary pleasure was taken of old, in the Habits of the Actors, without reference to sense, which Horace observes, and reprehends in his Epistle to Augustus

Garganum mugire putes nemus, aut Mare Tuscum, Tanto cum strepitu ludi spectantur, & Artes, Divitiaeque peregrinae, quibus oblitus actor, Cum stetit in scena, concurrit dextera Laevae, Dixit adhuc aliquid! nil sane, quid placet ergo?

But for a Poet to think (without wit or good humor, under such a Habit) to please men of sense, is a presumption inexcusa∣ble. If I be g•…•…ilty of this, it is an error of my understanding, not of my will. But I challenge the most clamorous and violent of my Enemies (who would have the Town believe that every thing I write, is too nea•…•…ly reflecting upon persons) to accuse me, with truth, of representing the real actions, or using the peculiar, affect∣ed phrases, or manner of speech of any one particular Man, or Woman living.

I cannot indeed create a new Lauguage, but the Phantastick Phrases, used in any Play of mine, are not appropriate to any one Fop, but applicable to many.

Good men, and men of sence, can never be represented but to their advantage, nor can the Characters of Fools Knaves, Whores, or Cowards (who are the people I deal most with in Comedies) concern any that are not eminently so: Nor will any apply to themselves what I write in this kind, that have but the wit, or ho∣nesty, to think tolerably well of themselves.

But it has been objected, that good men, and men of sence e∣nough, may have blind-sides, that are liable to reprehension, and that such men should be represented upon a Stage, is intol∣lerable.

'Tis true, excellent men may have errors, but they are not known by them, but by their excellencies: their prudence over∣comes all gross follies, or conceals the less vanities, that are una∣voidable Concomitants of humane nature; or if some little errors do escape 'em. and are known, they are the least part of those men, and they are not distinguished in the world by them, but by their perfections; so that (if such blind-sides, or errors be re∣resented) they do not reflect upon them, but upon such on whom these are p•…•…edominant; and that receive such a Biass from 'em, that it turns 'em wholly from the wayes of Wisdom or Mora∣lity.

And, even this representation, does not reflect upon any parti∣cular man, but upon very many of the same kind: For if a man should bring such a humor upon the Stage (if there be such a humor in the world) as onely belongs to one, or two persons, it would not be understood by the Audience, but would be thought (for the singularity of it) wholly unnatural, and would be no jest to them neither.

But I have had the fortune to have had a general humor (in a Play of mine) applied to three, or four men (whose persons I never saw, or humors ever heard of) till the Play was acted.

As long as men wrest the Writings of Poets to their own cor∣rupted sense, and with their Clamors prevail too, you must ne∣ver look for a good Comedy of Humor, for a humor (being the representation of some extravagance of Mankind) cannot but in some thing resemble some man, or other, or it is mons•…•…rous, and unnatural.

After this restraint upon Poets, there is little scope left, un∣less we retrieve the exploded Barbarismes of Fool, Devil, Giant, or Monster, or translate French Farces, which, with all the wit of the English, added to them, can scarce be made tollerable.

Mr. Johnson, I believe, was very unjustly taxed for personating particular men, but it will ever be the fate of them, that write

the humors of the Town, especially in a foolish, and vicious Age. Pardon me (Reader) that I name him in the same page with my self; who pretend to nothing more, than to joyn with all men of sense and learning in admiration of him; which, I think, I do not out of a true understanding of him; and for this I cannot but value my self. Yet, by extolling his way of writing, I would not insi∣nuate to you that I can practise it; though I would if I could, a thousand times sooner than any mans.

And here I must make a little digression, and take liberty to dissent from my particular friend, for whom I have a very great respect, and whose Writings I extreamly admire; and though I will not say his is the best way of writing, yet, I am sure, his man∣ner of writing it is much the best that ever was. And I may say of him, as was said of a Celebrated Poet, Cui unquam Poetarum magis proprium fuit •…•…ubito aestro incalescere? Quis, ubi incaluit, for∣tius, & falicius debacchatur. His Verse is smoother and deeper, his thoughts more quick and surprising, his raptures more mettled and higher; and he has more of that in his writing, which Plato calls 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, than any other Heroick Poet. And those who shall go about to imitate him, will be found to flutter, and make a noise, but never rise. Yet (after all this) I can∣not think it impudence in him, or any man to endeavour to imitate Mr. Johnson, whom he confesses to have fewer failings than all the English Poets, which impli•…•…s he was the most per∣fect, and best Poet; and why should not we endeavour to imi∣tate him? because we cannot arrive to h•…•…s excellence? 'Tis true we cannot, but this is no more an argument, than for a Soldier (who considers with himself he cannot be so great a one as Julius C•…•…sar) to run from his Colours, and be none; or to speak of a less thing, why should any man study Mathematicks after Archi∣medes, &c. This Principle would be an obstruction to the pro∣gress of all learning and knowledge in the world. Men of all Professions ought certainly to follow the best in theirs, and let not their endeavours be blamed, if they go as far as they can in the right way, though they be unsuccessful, and attain not their ends. If Mr. Johnson be the most raultless Poet, I am so far from thinking it impudence to endeavour to imitate him, that it

would rather (in my opinion) seem impudence in me not to do it.

I cannot be of their opinion who think he wanted wit, I am sure, if he did, he was so far from being the most faultless, that he was the most faulty Poet of his time, but, it may be answered, that his Writings were correct, though he wanted fire; but I think flat and dull things are as incorrect, and shew as little Judg∣ment in the Author, nay less than sprightly and mettled Non∣sense does. But I think he had more true wit than any of his Con∣temporaries; that other men had sometimes things that seemed more fiery than his, w•…•…s because they were placed with so many •…•…ordid and mean things about them, that they made a greater show.

Inter quae varbum 〈◊〉〈◊〉, si forté, decorum, Si versus paulo concinnor, unus, & alter, Injuste totum ducit, venditque Poema.

Nor can I think, to the writing of his humors (which were not onely the follies, but vices and subtleties of men) that wi•…•… was not required, but judgment; where, by the way, they speak as if judgment were a less thing than wit. But certainly it was meant otherwise by nature, who subjected wit to the govern∣ment of judgment, which is the noblest faculty of the mind. Fancy rough-draws, but judgement smooths and finishes; nay judgment does in deed comprehend wit, for no man can have that who has not wit. In fancy mad men equal, if not excel all others, and one may as well say that one of those mad men is as good a man as a temperate wiseman, as that one of the very fancyful Plays (admired most by Women) can be so good a Play as one of Johnson's correct, and well-govern'd Comedies.

The reason given by some, why Johnson needed not wit in writing humor, is, because humor is the effect of observation, and observation the effect of judgment; but observation is as much ne∣cessary in all other Plays, as in Comedies of humor: For first, even in the highest Tragedies, where the Scene lies in Courts, the Poet must have observed the Customs of Courts, and the

manner of conversing there, or he will commit many inde∣cencies, and make his Persons too rough and ill-bred for a Court.

Besides Characters in Plays being representations of the Ver∣tues or Vices, Passions or Affections of Mankind, since there are no more new Vertues, or Vices; Passions, or Affections, the Idea's of these can no other way be received into the imagination of a Poet, but either from the Conversation or Writings of Men. After a Poet has formed a Character, (as fuppose of an Ambitious Man) his design is certainly to write it naturally, and he has no o∣ther •…•…ule to guid him in this, but to compare him with other men of that kind, that either he has heard of, or conversed with in the world, or read of in Books (and even this reading of Books is conversing with men) nay more, (besides judging of his Chara∣cter) the Poet can fancy nothing of it, but what must spring from the Observation he has made of Men, or Books.

If this argument (that the enemies of humor use) be meant in this sense, that a Poet, in the writing of a Fools Character, needs but have a man sit to him, and have his words and actions taken; in this case there is no need of wit. But 'tis most certain, that if we should do so, no one fool (though the best about the Town) could appear pleasantly upon the Stage, he would be there too dull a Fool, and must be helped out with a great deal of wit in the Author. I scruple not to call it so, first, because •…•…is not your down-right Fool that is a fit Character for a Play, but like Sir John Dawe and Sir Amorous la Foole, your witty, brisk, aie∣•…•…y Fopps, that are Entreprennants. Besides, wit in the Writer, (I think, without any Authority for it) may be said to be the in∣vention of remote and pleasant thoughts of what kind soever; and there is as much occasion for such imaginations in the writing of a Curious Coxcomb's part, as in writing the greatest Hero's; and that which may be folly in the Speaker, may be so remote and pleasant, to require a great deal of wit in the Writer. The most Excellent Johnson put wit into the mouths of the meanest of his people, and which, is infinitely difficult, made it proper for 'em.

And I once heard a Person, of the greatest Wit and Judgement of the Age, say, that Bartholomew Fair (which consists most of lo•…•… persons) is one of the Wittiest Plays in the World. If there be no wit required in the rendering Folly ridiculous, or Vice odi∣ous, we must accuse Juvenal the best Satyrist, and wittiest Man of all the Latine Writers, for want of it.

I should not say so much of Mr. Johnson (whose Merit suffici∣ently justifies him to all Men of Sense) but that I think my self a little obliged to vindicate the Opinion I publickly declared, in my Epilogue to this Play; which I did upon mature consideration, and with a full satisfaction in my Judgement, and not out of a bare affected vanity of being thought his Admirer.

I have onely one word more, to trouble you with, concerning this Trifle of my own, which is, that, as it is at present, it is wholly my own, without borrowing a tittle from any man; which I confess is too bold an attempt for so young a Writer; for (let it seem what it will) a Comedy of humor (that is not borrow∣ed) is the hardest thing to write well; and a way of writing, of which a man can never be certain.

Creditur, ex medi•…•… quia res accessit, habere Sudoris minimum, sed habet comoedia tanto Plus oneris, quanto veniae minus.

That which (besides judging truly of Mankind) makes Co∣medy more difficult, is that the faults are naked and bare to most people, but the wit of it understood, or valued, but by few. Wonder not then if a man of ten times my parts, miscarries in the Attempt.

I shall say no more of this of mine, but that the Humors are new (how well chosen I leave to you to judge) and all the words and actions of the Persons in the Play, are alwayes sutable to the Characters I have given of them; and, in all the Play, I have

gone according to that definition of humor, which I have given you in my Epilogue, in these words:

A Humor is the Biasse of the Mind, By which, with violence, 'tis one way inclin'd. It makes our actions lean on one side still, And, in all Changes, that way b•…•…nds the Will.

Vale.