Excerpt from "Epistle to the Reader" from The Dutch Lover (1673)
...I would not yet be understood to lessen the dignity of Plays, for surely they deserve a place among the middle, if not the better sort of Books, for I have heard the most of that which bears the name of Learning, and which has abused such quantities of Ink and Paper, and continually employs so many ignorant, unhappy souls for ten, twelve, twenty years in the University (who yet poor wretches think they are doing something all the while) as Logick, &c. and several other things (that should be nameless, lest I should mispel them) are much more absolutely nothing than the errantest Play that e're was writ....
...I think the Tragedy's not worth a farthing: for Plays were certainly intended for the exercising of men's passions, not their understandings, and he is infinitely far from wise, that will bestow one moment's private meditation on such things. And as for Comedie, the finest folks you meet with there are still unfitter for your imitation, for though within a leaf or two of the Prologue you are told that they are people of Wit, good Humour, good Manners, and all that; yet if the Authors did not kindly add their proper names, you'd never know them by their characters; for whatsoe-er's the matter, it hath happened so spightfully in several Plays, which have been pretty well received of late, that even those persons that were meant to be the ingenious Censors of the play, have either prov'd the most debauch'd, or most unwittie people in the Companie: nor is this error very lamentable, since as I take it Comedie was never meant, either for a converting or confirming Ordinance. In short, I think a play the best divertisement that wise men have; but i do also think them nothing so, who discourse as formallie about the rules of it, as if 'twere the grand affair of human life. This being my opinion of Plays, I studied only to make this as entertaining as I could, which whether I have been successful in, my gentle reader, you may for your shilling judge...
Content ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
