Excerpt from "Apology for Actors" (1612)

...What is, then, the subject of this harmless mirth? Either in the shape of a clown to show others their slovenly and unhandsome behaviour, that they may reform that simplicity in themselves which others make their sport; else it entreats of love, deriding foolish inamorates, who spend their ages, their spirits, nay, themselves, in the servile and ridiculous employments of their mistresses. And these are mingled with sportful accidents, to recreate such as of themselves are wholly devoted to melancholy, which corrupts the blood, or to refresh such weary spirits as are tired with labour or study, to moderate the cares and heaviness of the mind, that they may return to their trades and faculties with more zeal and earnestness after some small, soft and pleasant retirement.

Sometimes they discourse of pantaloons, usurers that have unthrifty sons, which both the fathers and sons may behold to their instructions: sometimes of courtezans, to divulge their subtleties and snares in which young men may be entangled, showing them the means to avoid them. If we present a pastoral; we show the harmless love of shepherds diversely moralised, distinguishing between the craft of the city and the innocency of the sheepcote.

Briefly, there is neither tragedy, history, comedy, moral or pastoral, from which an infinite use cannot be gathered. I speak not in the defence of any lascivious shows, scurrilous jests or scandalous invectives. If there be any such, I banish them quite from my patronage.


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