"This part of Scythia, in its whole Northern extent, I take to have been the vast Hive out of which issued so many mighty swarms of barbarous nations," &c. And again, "Each of these countries was like a mighty hive, which, by the vigour of propagation and health of climate, growing too full of people, threw out some new swarm at certain periods of time, that took wing and sought out some new abode, expelling or subduing the old inhabitants, and seating themselves in their rooms, if they liked the conditions of place and commodities of life they met with; if not, going on till they found some other more agreeable to their present humours and dispositions." He attributes their successes and their rapid propagation to the greater vigour of life in the northern climates; and the only reason he gives for the absence of like effects during the continued presence of like causes is, that Christianity abated their enthusiasm and allayed "the restless humour of perpetual wars and actions."]
No. 22. Monday, March 26, 1711. Steele.
"Quodcunque ostendis mihi sic incredulus odi."
Hor.
The word _Spectator_ being most usually understood as one of the Audience at Publick Representations in our Theatres, I seldom fail of many Letters relating to Plays and Operas. But, indeed, there are such monstrous things done in both, that if one had not been an Eye-witness of them, one could not believe that such Matters had really been exhibited. There is very little which concerns human Life, or is a Picture of Nature, that is regarded by the greater Part of the Company.
The Understanding is dismissed from our Entertainments. Our Mirth is the Laughter of Fools, and our Admiration the Wonder of Idiots; else such improbable, monstrous, and incoherent Dreams could not go off as they do, not only without the utmost Scorn and Contempt, but even with the loudest Applause and Approbation. But the Letters of my Correspondents will represent this Affair in a more lively Manner than any Discourse of my own; I [shall therefore [1] ] give them to my Reader with only this Preparation, that they all come from Players, [and that the business of Playing is now so managed that you are not to be surprised when I say]
one or two of [them [2]] are rational, others sensitive and vegetative Actors, and others wholly inanimate. I shall not place these as I have named them, but as they have Precedence in the Opinion of their Audiences.
"Mr. SPECTATOR,
Your having been so humble as to take Notice of the Epistles of other Animals, emboldens me, who am the wild Boar that was killed by Mrs.
_Tofts_, [3] to represent to you, That I think I was hardly used in not having the Part of the Lion in "Hydaspes" given to me. It would have been but a natural Step for me to have personated that n.o.ble Creature, after having behaved my self to Satisfaction in the Part above-mention"d: But that of a Lion, is too great a Character for one that never trod the Stage before but upon two Legs. As for the little Resistance which I made, I hope it may be excused, when it is considered that the Dart was thrown at me by so fair an Hand. I must confess I had but just put on my Brutality; and _Camilla"s_ charms were such, that b-holding her erect Mien, hearing her charming Voice, and astonished with her graceful Motion, I could not keep up to my a.s.sumed Fierceness, but died like a Man.
I am Sir,
Your most humble Servan.,
Thomas p.r.o.ne."
"Mr. SPECTATOR,
This is to let you understand, that the Play-House is a Representation of the World in nothing so much as in this Particular, That no one rises in it according to his Merit. I have acted several Parts of Household-stuff with great Applause for many Years: I am one of the Men in the Hangings in the _Emperour of the Moon_; [4] I have twice performed the third Chair in an English Opera; and have rehea.r.s.ed the Pump in the _Fortune-Hunters_. [5] I am now grown old, and hope you will recommend me so effectually, as that I may say something before I go off the Stage: In which you will do a great Act of Charity to
Your most humble servant,
William Serene."
"Mr. SPECTATOR,
Understanding that Mr. _Serene_ has writ to you, and desired to be raised from dumb and still Parts; I desire, if you give him Motion or Speech, that you would advance me in my Way, and let me keep on in what I humbly presume I am a Master, to wit, in representing human and still Life together. I have several times acted one of the finest Flower-pots in the same Opera wherein Mr. _Serene_ is a Chair; therefore, upon his promotion, request that I may succeed him in the Hangings, with my Hand in the Orange-Trees.
Your humble servant,
Ralph Simple."
"Drury Lane, March 24, 1710-11.
SIR,
I saw your Friend the Templar this Evening in the Pit, and thought he looked very little pleased with the Representation of the mad Scene of the _Pilgrim_. I wish, Sir, you would do us the Favour to animadvert frequently upon the false Taste the Town is in, with Relation to Plays as well as Operas. It certainly requires a Degree of Understanding to play justly; but such is our Condition, that we are to suspend our Reason to perform our Parts. As to Scenes of Madness, you know, Sir, there are n.o.ble Instances of this Kind in _Shakespear_; but then it is the Disturbance of a n.o.ble Mind, from generous and humane Resentments: It is like that Grief which we have for the decease of our Friends: It is no Diminution, but a Recommendation of humane Nature, that in such Incidents Pa.s.sion gets the better of Reason; and all we can think to comfort ourselves, is impotent against half what we feel. I will not mention that we had an Idiot in the Scene, and all the Sense it is represented to have, is that of l.u.s.t. As for my self, who have long taken Pains in personating the Pa.s.sions, I have to Night acted only an Appet.i.te: The part I play"d is Thirst, but it is represented as written rather by a Drayman than a Poet. I come in with a Tub about me, that Tub hung with Quart-pots; with a full Gallon at my Mouth. [6]
I am ashamed to tell you that I pleased very much, and this was introduced as a Madness; but sure it was not humane Madness, for a Mule or an [a.s.s [7]] may have been as dry as ever I was in my Life.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient And humble servant."
"From the Savoy in the Strand.
Mr. SPECTATOR,
If you can read it with dry Eyes, I give you this trouble to acquaint you, that I am the unfortunate King _Latinus_, and believe I am the first Prince that dated from this Palace since _John_ of _Gaunt_. Such is the Uncertainty of all human Greatness, that I who lately never moved without a Guard, am now pressed as a common Soldier, and am to sail with the first fair Wind against my Brother _Lewis_ of _France_.
It is a very hard thing to put off a Character which one has appeared in with Applause: This I experienced since the Loss of my Diadem; for, upon quarrelling with another Recruit, I spoke my Indignation out of my Part in _recitativo:_
... Most audacious Slave, Dar"st thou an angry Monarch"s Fury brave? [8]
The Words were no sooner out of my Mouth, when a Serjeant knock"d me down, and ask"d me if I had a Mind to Mutiny, in talking things no Body understood. You see, Sir, my unhappy Circ.u.mstances; and if by your Mediation you can procure a Subsidy for a Prince (who never failed to make all that beheld him merry at his Appearance) you will merit the Thanks of
Your friend,
The King of _Latium_."
[Footnote 1: therefore shall]
[Footnote 2: whom]
[Footnote 3: In the opera of "Camilla":
Camilla: That Dorindas my Name.
Linco: Well, I knowt, Ill take care.