Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	life_n	see_v	write_v	5,407	5	5.3704	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36959	The campaigners, or, The pleasant adventures at Brussels a comedy : with a familiar preface upon a late reformer of the stage : ending with a satyrical fable of the dog and the ottor / written by Mr. D'Urfey.	D'Urfey, Thomas, 1653-1723.; Collier, Jeremy, 1650-1726. Short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage.	1698 (1698)	Wing D2705; ESTC R2651	97,422	106

to prove the Pulpiteer may be tainted a little as well as the Poetaster let us see whether we can find him guilty of the first Charge against us which is Immodesty and upon this subject indeed if our Learn'd Reformer did not impose upon us with a Fallacy I should to shew my good Nature walk hand in hand with my resentment once more admire him for his Character of Modesty in the 11th page of his Book which is to do him Justice very fine but then he only tells us of one kind of Modesty when he knows there are two and therein he is Falacious in not exposing the other which is decency of Speech and Behaviour and truly meerly I believe through a conscious reflection of his own frequent miscarriages in that case If therefore these Papers differ a little from that Civi●ity which is proper I beg the Readers pardon and assure him 't is only in imitation of his Stile to me as all those that read his Book may find For in the first place he does not shew his own nor indeed any part of decent modesty in exposing any Gentlemans Name in print when the subject matter is Sa●yr Reflection Scandal c. and in which case I believe the Law might do Justice if apply'd to but if not I am sure good Manners and civil Education ought to tie the Cassock as close as the ●ash or Sursingle but this our Divine helper most Bully-like disallows for he pust'd with his Priestly Authority calls us boldly to the Bar of his Injustice by our own Names the same minute that he is roaringly accusing us of Blasphemy Smuttery Foolery and a thousand Monstrosities besides as he 'd make you believe unless for variety he picks our one amongst the rest now and then to abuse a little more civilly and then rubbing up his old College Wit he Nicknames 'em as you may find elegantly made out at the latter end of his Book for he shall see that I have read it quite through and can hop over pages as fast as he for the life of him where he can find no other Name or Character for two Gentlemen of Honour and Merit viz. Mr. Congreve and Captain Vanbrooke who have written several excellent Plays and who are only scandalous to our Critick by being good Poets yet these he can give no other Names or Characters Collier p. 7●● but what are Abusive and Ridiculous The first for only making Ieremy in Love for Love call the Natural inclinations to eating and drinking Whorson Appetites he tells That the Manicheans who made Creation the Work of the Devil scarcely spoke any thing so course And then very modestly proceeding onwards says The Poet was Jeremy● s Tutor The t'other Gentleman he dignifies by a new Coin'd name of his own viz. The Relapser and much like an humble Son of the Church a Man of Morals and Manners tells us Collie● p. 230. This Poet is fit to Ride a Match with Witches And that Juliana Cox a Non-juring Hag ' I suppose of his Acquaintance never switch'd a Broom-stick with more expedition Faith such sentences as these may be taking enough amongst his Party but if this be his way of Reproving the Stage and Teaching the Town Modesty he will have fewer Pupils I believe than he imagines But to do that Gentleman Broom-stick Rider some Justice and because we shall want a Name hereafter to Christen the t other as he has given the Name of Relapser so I think that of the Absolver will be a very proper one to distinguish our Switcher by which the Reader may observe that we are civiller to him than he to us however And first then I desire all Persons to observe that in other places of the same Chapter of his Book our Absolver for all his detestation of the Stage and of Poetry in general yet takes a huge dea● of pains in taking to pieces and mending the Comedy of the Rela●●● nay and to shew how transcendent his own Skill in these things is he has help'd the Author to a better Name for his Play Collie● p. 210. and says The Younger Brother or The Fortunate Cheat had been much properer This shews some good will he has to the Comick Trade however and I doubt not but if ●is Closet were Ransack'd we might find a divertive Scene or two e●●ects of his idle Non-preaching hours where Modesty Wit and good Behaviour would be shewn in perfection And yet as to his own humour we find it to be by his Book more sickle than even the Wind or Feminine frailty in its highest Inconstancy One while he 's for Instructing our Stage Modelling our Plays Correcting the Drama the Unity Time and Place and acts as very a Poet as ever writ an ill Play or slept at an ill Sermon and then presently after wheiw in the twinkling of an Ejaculution as Parsen Say-grace has it he 's summoning together a Convocation of old Fathers to prove the Stage in past Ages exploded and all Plays horrible abominable Debauchers of Youth and not to be encourag'd in a Civil Government VVhat can we think of this especially when I find him in this Paragraph of his Book * Collier p. 261. raving on at this rate and quoting to us That St. Cyprian or the Author de Spectaculis argues thus against those who thought the Play-House no unlawful diversion 't is too tedious to recite all but enough of St. Cyprian for my purpose runs thus What business has a Christian at such Places as those A Christian who has not the liberty so much as to think of an ill thing why does he entertain himself with lewd Representations Has he a mind to discharge his Modesty and be flush'd for the Practice Yes this is the consequence by using to see these things he 'll learn to do them what need I mention the Levities and Impertinencies in Comedies or the Ranting distractions of Tragedy were these things unconcern'd with Idolatry Christians ought not to be at them for were they not highly Criminal the fo●lery of them is Egregious and unbecoming the gravity of Believers And then again before he is out of breath A Christian has much better Sights than these to look at he has solid Satisfactions in his power which will please and improve him at the same time Would a Christian be agreeably refresh'd let him read the Scriptures here the Entertainment will suit his Character and be big enough for his quality Ah Beloved how noble how moving how profitable a thing is it to be thus employ'd to have our expectations always in prospect and be intent on the glories of Heaven Very good and who is he so reprobated that will not allow this to be devout and admirable good Counsel But now let us see how the Absolver for all Pious quotation has follow'd St. Cyprian's Advice that holy Father charges him not to entertain himself with such lewd things as Plays and he

Wit and Morals are not so Infallible but they lye also open to the censure of any Poetical Critick who has Courage and Sense enough to attack em I once more therefore address my self to the Reverend of the Gown from highest to the lowest and humbly desire that they will not appear Interested against me because I defend myself against one that has abus'd me and has the honour to wear one to what purpose the Judgment and Clemency of our Government knows best I assure 'em my design is only to turn like the Worm that is trod upon complain being hurt vindicate my self from abusive malice and at the same time am heartily sorry that ever I had the occasion 'T is a pleasure to me however to know that I have for many years as well as now the honour of the Conversation of several eminent men of the Church and I dare say upon occasion I could easily gain their good words to prove my good behaviour I do declare I never abus'd the sacred order in my life but have always had and still have all the veneration for 'em that 's possible nor have any of my printed Writings contradicted this unless when spoken in the person of Atheists Libertines and Ignorants where t is natural in Comedy nay in my Book of Poems you will find a Satyr against Atheists and in another Book call'd Colin's walk thro London and Westminster a Moral through the whole and design'd in the honour of the Church of England to shew the stubbornness of Romanists Grumblers and other dissenting Sects but this my partial Antagonist never read nor heard of nay tho by his Book we may suppose he has read a thousand yet amongst twenty of my Comedies Acted and Printed he never heard of the Royalist the Boarding School the Marriage Hater Match'd the Richmond Heiress the Virtuous Wife and others all whose whole Plots and designs I dare affirm tend to that principall instance which he proposes and which we allow viz. the depression of Vice and encouragement of Virtue Not he he has not had leisure since his last holding forth in the late Reign Collier p. to do me this Justice 't is enough for him that he has encounter'd Don Quixot And truly I must own was a most proper Combatant for him for if he had not been mad with the Wind-mill that was in his pate or had ever perus'd that Giant of an Author upon whom I am the Pigmy as he wittily observes he would have found the Bockheaded Chaplain had been greazing his old Gassock there long before I new rigg'd him But that 's all one I poor I must be denounc'd as Criminal I brought him upon the Stage I wash'd his Face put on a new Crape Vest and a clean Band which eh fatal accident made him look so like somebody that I in his opinion and condemn'd by his infallibility have been no body ever since vox praeterce nihil Well however this is determin'd let me beg of my impartial Readers to give me leave to try what I can be I have had good fortune I am told by others in Lyrical Verse which I am sure is one principal part of Poetry I 'll see now if I can match my Antagonist in Rallying Prose Several ingenious Authors have already I think so well confuted his Assertions against the Stage by proofs from the Antient Poets the Primitive Fathers and their Authorities that they have far excell'd what I can pretend to do there only I could have wish'd one who is best able and whose admirable Genius and Skill in Poetry would have been remarkably serviceable had drawn his Pen to defend the Rights of the Stage tho he had own'd the loosenesses of it and had ventured the being presented for it but since we the forlorn are not so happy to have that Aid let my Antagonist the Reformer who for all the gravity in some part of his Book and the solid Piety he would insinuate in his Arguments I perceive to be a Joker and as full of Puns Conundrums Quibbles Longinquipetites and Tipiti-witchets as the rest of us mortals be pleas'd to take the length of my Weapon at that sport for now I cannot help telling my Audience which is the Town that he has laid his reforming Cudgel upon me so severely and it smarts so damnably that I can't forbear smiting again if I were to be hang'd desiring only as the usu●d method is a clear Stage and from him no favour To begin then I shall illustrate my first Scene with a comical hint upon some part of his Character and that the Jest may be worthy of making you laugh you are to know that the first view I ever had of this extraordinary Person was neither better nor worse than under the Gallows Well but think you I warrant 't was about some Chari●a●le Duty that his sacred Function and Piety oblig'd him to such as Exhorting the poor Souls to confess their Crimes in order to be sav'd or the like no faith but quite contrary for he was rather hardning them and infusing a strong Portion of his own obstinacy to fortifie 'em for their dubious Journey and in few minutes after possess'd with a stronger Spirit of Priesthood than e●er for some past Ages there has been Example for pronounc●d the Absolution the extremest and most mysterious Grace the Church can possibly give to the most repentant Sinner to wretches Justly condemn'd by Law to die for the most horrible Crimes in nature viz. the intended Murder of the King and Subversion of the Protestant Religion and Government Now that such a Person should set up for a Protestant Example and a Teacher of Morality is somewhat new for upon my veracity this Gentleman may insinuate as he pleases that our Church and its Doctrines govern his heart but as to that matter what may be in his heart I can't tell but if a Pope is not crept into his belly very near it I am very much mistaken Pliny indeed in his Natural History Lib. 28. Cap. 10. tells ye He that is bitten by a Scorpion may have relief if immediately he go and whisper his grief into the Ear of an Ass. This Historian perhaps had so great credit with these Malefactors that they thought the remedy by Auricular Confession might serve too in their Concerns But we are confirm'd they were enough mistaken in the rest of their Opinions and so 't is very likely were in this If this Parallel be found a little gross I hope the Reader will excuse it when he examines the bold Critick●s Stile relating to the Poets Besides how wise soever he may be in other things I 'm sure all those that are so and true Sons of the Church when they reflect on that Action of his will own that he deserves that or a worse Title And so to proceed But before we inspect further or touch upon the Moralist's Immorality for I dare ingage it is not altogether impossible

Modesty and good Manners I think it may be made out he having a civil regard to the Poets defended their Cause and excus'd some failings for the sake of some other Merits when this treats 'em all like fools tho he has only rak'd up a few of their errors which he has made a huge heap of Rubbish by peering through his own Magnifying Glass without any allowance to their qualifications or any modest care to do 'em justice which ought to have been one way as well as another So much then for his Modesty in one of its kinds which is decency of behaviour and expression as for the other he has plaid such a Game at Hide and Seek with us that we have been long in a Mist not knowing how to discover it But the Air clears and t is time for us now to take the right end of the perspective tho he would give us the Wrong and then try if we cannot discern in the midst of his Garden of Divinity a near friend of his call'd Immorality tho he would subtly insinuate him into the world as a stranger leading his darling daughter dear Hypocrisie into an Arbor where after they had been some time alone our Critick knowing how to be civil to his own creature and to give 'em time enough to beget a right understanding he is very glad at last to be a third in the company I should not have put him upon this warm Office if I had not found him too hot and bold with our Famous Antient Truth-telling Poet Iuvenal when in his Book he tells us Collier p. 70 71. he teaches those vices he would correct and writes more like a Pimp than a Poet But upon just consideration I believe if the Absolver taught the Art of Rebellion no more than Iuvenal the Art of Pimping the one would be respected in after Ages as much as we know the other has in the former But every one is Fool or Knave that is not of this Gentlemans kidney A little while after at the usual rate of his own accustom'd civility he falls upon the Renown'd Shakespear and says Collier p. 50. he is so guilty that he is not fit to make an Evidence Why now if'twere possible for his Complexion to blush there 's ne're a Robe of any Friend Cardinal the Absolver has at Rome that can be redder than his would be for such a Position Nor does it end here but is mixt with some more foolish and insolent Remarks in another place upon the admirable Tragedy of Hamlet And here he has no other way to shew his malice but by ridiculously quibbling upon the prettiest Character in it Collier p. 10. the innocent young Virgin Ophelia who because the Poet makes her run mad for the death of her Father and loss of her Lover and consequently makes her sing and speak some idle extravagant things as on such an occasion is natural and at last drown her self he very masterly tells us the Poet since he was resolv'd to drown her like a Kitten should have set her a swimming a little sooner to keep her alive only to sully her Reputation is very cruel Yes but I would fain ask Doctor Absolution in what she has sullied her Reputation I am sure five hundred Audiences that have view'd her could never find it out tho he has but the Absolver can't help being positive and partial to his own humour tho he were to be hang●d as the Lady was drown'd for he is very angry in another place with the aforesaid Author for making Sir Hugh Evens in the Merry Wives of Windsor Collier p. 125. a silly eating chattering Welch Priest but vindicates and speaks well of Sir John Parson of Wrotham in the History of Sir John Oldcastle tho he swears games wenches pads tilts and drinks and does things which our Reformers Guts are ready to come up at another time only forsooth because he is stout but 't is indeed only because he is a Parson and sullen which he thinks wise for he cannot endure that Copyhold should be touch'd as you may see more plainly a little further where he says in Loves Labour Lost the Curate plays the fool egregiously and so does the Poet too there he clenches the Nail there he gives Shakespear a bold stroke there obstinacy and malice appear in true colours And yet if a parcel of the ones Plays were set up by way of Auction against ● others Sermons and Essays nay tho the Loyal and Politick Desertion discuss'd was thrown in to boot I know not what the Grave would do but I am sure the Wise would quickly find dif●erence And yet to Remark him nicely this humour of railing is only where the Poets do not suit with his design for in another place you 'll find this same Shakespear that was before too guilty to make an Evidence a very civil person new for the Reformer is troubl'd with Fits you must know disturbances i th' brain which makes him forget one hour 〈◊〉 he rails at another Coll. p. 154 for here now Shakespear's Falstaff is call'd the ad●●●d because he is to serve his turn And that the Poet was not so partial as to let his humour compound for his l●●●dness but punishes him at last the he makes him all hi● life time a da●nab●e s●●●ty fellow And now I think having said enough of his modest behaviour twon't be amiss to have a touch or two at his Hypocrisy And first concerning the word Smu●● Smutt Smutt Why does this tarmagant Correcter of our Lives and Manners pretend to make us believe that his Mouth or Conscience is so streight that the t other word can't get pa●sage or did his Mi●●ress honourable I mean sit knotting under his Nose when he was writing and so gave occasion for the changing it instead of Bawdy that that odious word might not offend her tho the Phrase was made No●sence by it hum No faith the case seems to me now to be quite otherwise and really the effect of downright Hypocrisy unless d●●e ●● I said for the last reason for those that have read his Book may find sprinkling up and down the other words extreamly plain upon occasion Ribaldry and Bawdy and Whores and Whoring and Strumpets and Cu●koldmakers with as fat a ●ignification as any of the last nam'd could with for their hearts Collier p 30 31. for example by way of Tract first he says Euripides in his Hipolitus calls Whoring stupidness and playing the fool and secondly does Ribaldry not Smut and Nonsence become the dignity of their station p. 74. Again Berinthia incourages Amanda to play the Whore and then sowse upon Don Quixot when there is not so much as one little tiny todpol of Smut p. 208. that I know of unless he creates it Yet I am Crambo'd with who with low nauseous Bawdry fills his Plays Again speaking of Iupiter and Aclmena but her Lover that is her Whoremaster