Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n body_n good_a great_a 1,782 5 2.3872 3 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A26187 The whole art of the stage containing not only the rules of the drammatick art, but many curious observations about it, which may be of great use to the authors, actors, and spectators of plays : together with much critical learning about the stage and plays of the antients / written in French by the command of Cardinal Richelieu by Monsieur Hedelin, Abbot of Aubignac, and now made English.; Pratique du théâtre. English. 1684. Aubignac, François-Hédelin, abbé d', 1604-1676. 1684 (1684) Wing A4185; ESTC R16044 179,268 322

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to_o be_v give_v the_o actor_n who_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v represent_v different_a from_o what_o they_o be_v believe_v as_o it_o will_v be_v to_o make_v caesar_n a_o coward_n or_o messalina_n chaste_a and_o this_o vossius_fw-la have_v well_o observe_v in_o his_o poetic_a art_n and_o i_o wonder_v that_o people_n shall_v be_v abuse_v by_o citation_n apply_v quite_o contrary_a to_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o author_n and_o yet_o i_o be_o not_o of_o opinion_n that_o a_o know_a story_n yet_o fresh_a in_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o people_n can_v suffer_v to_o be_v considerable_o change_v without_o great_a caution_n but_o in_o such_o a_o case_n i_o shall_v advise_v the_o poet_n rather_o to_o abandon_v such_o a_o subject_n than_o to_o make_v a_o ill_a play_n of_o it_o out_o of_o a_o humour_n of_o follow_a truth_n or_o at_o least_o to_o manage_v it_o so_o as_o to_o check_v direct_o the_o receive_a opinion_n among_o the_o vulgar_a if_o we_o examine_v well_o the_o sense_n of_o aristotle_n i_o 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poet._n in_o a_o word_n the_o four_o tragic_a poet_n of_o the_o greek_n who_o work_n we_o have_v be_v all_o different_a in_o the_o disposition_n of_o the_o same_o story_n and_o i_o believe_v that_o they_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o that_o grand_a disorder_n and_o confusion_n there_o be_v in_o story_n and_o chronology_n in_o those_o old_a time_n because_o that_o they_o have_v change_v both_o the_o time_n and_o event_n for_o their_o own_o end_n they_o have_v influence_v some_o historian_n who_o think_v to_o pick_v out_o of_o they_o the_o truth_n of_o story_n and_o so_o make_v all_o thing_n uncertain_a any_o body_n that_o will_v read_v the_o electra_n of_o euripides_n that_o of_o sophocles_n and_o the_o caephore_n of_o aeschilus_n will_v easy_o see_v that_o they_o make_v no_o difficulty_n of_o contradict_v one_o another_o and_o themselves_o as_o for_o the_o different_a kind_n of_o subject_n let_v alone_o those_o ordinary_a division_n of_o aristotle_n and_o his_o commentator_n i_o here_o 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will_v have_v few_o spectator_n the_o second_o fault_n of_o narration_n be_v when_o they_o be_v tedious_a and_o they_o be_v always_o tedious_a when_o they_o do_v not_o contain_v thing_n necessary_a or_o agreeable_a as_o also_o when_o they_o be_v make_v with_o weak_a and_o faint_a expression_n such_o as_o do_v not_o captivate_v the_o spectator_n favour_n or_o attention_n which_o by_o consequent_a must_v pall_v and_o make_v he_o give_v over_o mind_v the_o play_n and_o this_o happen_v likewise_o when_o they_o be_v too_o long_o for_o variety_n be_v the_o life_n of_o the_o stage_n and_o that_o be_v want_v the_o best_a thing_n grow_v dull_a and_o weigh_v upon_o the_o spectator_n who_o take_v it_o ill_o to_o be_v fix_v to_o one_o subject_a without_o diversity_n for_o so_o long_a a_o time_n and_o though_o it_o may_v be_v the_o capacity_n of_o some_o will_v carry_v they_o through_o to_o comprehend_v it_o all_o yet_o be_v come_v for_o diversion_n they_o will_v not_o take_v the_o pain_n to_o do_v it_o which_o join_v with_o the_o incapacity_n of_o other_o to_o hearken_v to_o so_o long_a a_o story_n cause_n at_o last_o a_o general_a disgust_n in_o the_o whole_a audience_n we_o may_v moreover_o make_v this_o distinction_n upon_o the_o length_n of_o narration_n for_o they_o may_v be_v so_o either_o for_o the_o matter_n when_o they_o be_v fill_v with_o too_o great_a a_o number_n of_o incident_n and_o person_n of_o name_n and_o place_n or_o they_o may_v be_v so_o out_o of_o the_o form_n for_o the_o many_o word_n they_o contain_v as_o when_o the_o circumstance_n of_o a_o action_n be_v too_o much_o exaggerated_a and_o particularise_v in_o minute_n and_o insignificant_a thing_n and_o when_o the_o expression_n be_v too_o full_a of_o epithet_n adverb_n or_o other_o unnecessary_a term_n with_o repetition_n of_o the_o same_o thing_n though_o in_o a_o different_a way_n and_o indeed_o to_o examine_v the_o difference_n of_o these_o two_o sort_n of_o length_n in_o narration_n we_o may_v say_v that_o the_o first_o be_v vicious_a in_o any_o place_n of_o the_o play_n wheresoever_o it_o be_v place_v for_o first_o at_o the_o open_n of_o the_o stage_n the_o spectator_n who_o think_v all_o that_o recital_n necessary_a for_o the_o understanding_n of_o the_o play_n endeavour_n to_o retain_v it_o all_o in_o his_o memory_n but_o find_v his_o imagination_n confound_v and_o his_o memory_n distract_v with_o so_o many_o thing_n he_o be_v first_o vex_v with_o himself_o and_o then_o with_o the_o poet_n and_o at_o last_o give_v out_o without_o mind_v any_o more_o of_o the_o whole_a poem_n these_o long_a narration_n be_v not_o better_o place_v in_o the_o course_n of_o the_o action_n for_o those_o thing_n which_o come_v to_o pass_v after_o the_o open_n of_o the_o stage_n because_o it_o will_v never_o be_v think_v probable_a that_o so_o many_o thing_n shall_v have_v come_v to_o pass_v in_o so_o little_a a_o time_n as_o for_o example_n the_o interval_n of_o a_o act_n seem_v to_o be_v not_o but_o that_o it_o be_v ordinary_a to_o suppose_v in_o that_o time_n a_o battle_n a_o conspiracy_n or_o some_o such_o other_o event_n but_o to_o do_v it_o with_o probability_n the_o poet_n deceive_v the_o spectator_n and_o busy_v he_o with_o something_o else_o that_o be_v agreeable_a that_o so_o he_o may_v be_v insensible_o persuade_v that_o there_o have_v be_v time_n enough_o for_o all_o the_o rest_n but_o that_o which_o be_v particular_o to_o be_v heed_v in_o that_o place_n be_v that_o at_o that_o time_n the_o stage_n be_v in_o all_o the_o hurry_n of_o action_n and_o in_o the_o turn_v of_o incident_n which_o these_o long_a narration_n do_v cool_a and_o pall_v whereas_o a_o true_a narration_n ought_v to_o quicken_v the_o stage_n and_o lay_v the_o foundation_n of_o some_o new_a passion_n which_o to_o obtain_v it_o must_v be_v short_a pithy_a and_o full_a of_o life_n and_o warmth_n the_o contrary_a of_o this_o appear_v in_o that_o narration_n which_o the_o rich_a in_o imagination_n make_v in_o the_o play_n call_v the_o visionaire_n when_o these_o long_a narration_n happen_v towards_o the_o catastrophe_n they_o be_v then_o absolute_o insupportable_a for_o the_o spectator_n who_o be_v impatient_a to_o see_v which_o way_n the_o intrigue_n turn_v have_v all_o his_o pleasure_n spoil_v just_a in_o the_o time_n when_o he_o ought_v to_o receive_v the_o most_o which_o be_v so_o much_o the_o more_o dangerous_a for_o the_o success_n of_o the_o play_n because_o the_o audience_n be_v already_o tire_v and_o dispose_v to_o give_v out_o in_o a_o word_n i_o think_v it_o may_v be_v a_o kind_n of_o general_n rule_n that_o narration_n may_v be_v long_o at_o the_o open_n of_o the_o stage_n than_o any_o where_o else_o because_o the_o spectator_n be_v fresh_a and_o willing_a to_o give_v attention_n and_o his_o memory_n receive_v agreeable_o all_o those_o new_a idaa_n in_o hope_n they_o be_v to_o contribute_v to_o the_o pleasure_n which_o be_v prepare_v for_o he_o and_o also_o that_o they_o be_v as_o much_o to_o be_v avoid_v at_o the_o catastrophe_n where_o they_o do_v so_o chock_v the_o audience_n who_o be_v then_o impatient_a to_o know_v the_o event_n that_o no_o figure_n of_o rhetoric_n can_v make_v he_o amends_o see_v among_o other_o how_o dexterous_a plautus_n be_v in_o the_o narration_n of_o the_o know_v of_o planesia_n at_o the_o end_n of_o the_o curculio_n it_o be_v one_o of_o the_o most_o regular_a narration_n that_o he_o have_v beside_o these_o caution_n it_o will_v not_o be_v amiss_o to_o observe_v that_o these_o narration_n may_v be_v make_v in_o two_o manner_n either_o all_o of_o a_o piece_n where_o a_o story_n be_v tell_v that_o be_v to_o give_v a_o foundation_n to_o all_o the_o plot_n of_o the_o play_n though_o they_o that_o among_o the_o poet_n do_v it_o best_o have_v some_o pathetic_a or_o other_o ingenious_a interruption_n as_o the_o orestes_n of_o euripides_n and_o in_o the_o comical_a kind_n the_o hecyra_n of_o terence_n and_o the_o pseudolus_n of_o 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play_n but_o to_o interrupt_v that_o actor_n or_o last_o when_o those_o thing_n that_o be_v necessary_a to_o be_v know_v be_v not_o yet_o come_v to_o pass_v as_o corneille_n have_v most_o ingenious_o practise_v in_o his_o horatius_n for_o by_o open_v his_o stage_n after_o the_o truce_n conclude_v he_o have_v find_v a_o way_n to_o bring_v uriatius_a to_o rome_n and_o there_o have_v reserve_v to_o himself_o to_o make_v different_a narration_n of_o the_o combat_n of_o the_o three_o brother_n in_o such_o place_n of_o his_o play_n as_o he_o think_v the_o fit_a to_o change_v the_o state_n of_o affair_n upon_o his_o stage_n i_o may_v assure_v our_o poet_n that_o a_o narration_n thus_o ingenious_o divide_v require_v great_a art_n and_o meditatution_n to_o consider_v how_o far_o one_o may_v carry_v each_o part_n of_o it_o and_o to_o give_v all_o the_o necessary_a ground_n and_o colour_n to_o the_o audience_n for_o leave_v off_o in_o such_o a_o place_n and_o begin_v again_o in_o such_o another_o 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there_o must_v be_v care_v take_v that_o this_o do_v not_o happen_v in_o the_o midst_n of_o a_o violent_a passion_n for_o beside_o that_o in_o those_o case_n man_n do_v not_o natural_o speak_v sentence_n the_o actor_n can_v then_o appear_v with_o that_o moderation_n which_o those_o reflection_n require_v seneca_n be_v very_o guilty_a of_o this_o fault_n in_o all_o his_o tragedy_n where_o most_o common_o in_o the_o heat_n of_o passion_n all_o his_o fine_a common_a place_n be_v bestow_v upon_o the_o audience_n we_o have_v nevertheless_o some_o example_n of_o didactic_a proposition_n make_v in_o direct_a term_n and_o at_o length_n not_o without_o some_o success_n in_o corneille_n which_o to_o attain_v as_o well_o as_o he_o require_v the_o same_o ingenuity_n and_o art_n the_o expression_n must_v be_v strong_a and_o seem_v to_o have_v be_v say_v only_o for_o that_o particular_a subject_n to_o which_o they_o be_v apply_v and_o that_o require_v a_o particular_a genius_n and_o much_o study_n to_o accomplish_v i_o have_v observe_v beside_o that_o common_a truth_n though_o in_o a_o didactic_a stile_n yet_o do_v very_o well_o upon_o the_o stage_n in_o the_o mouth_n of_o a_o rogue_n or_o a_o cheat_n when_o his_o character_n be_v know_v for_o the_o spectator_n be_v delight_v to_o see_v he_o cunning_o use_v all_o the_o maxim_n and_o discourse_n of_o a_o good_a man_n to_o intent_n and_o purpose_n quite_o contrary_a so_o that_o by_o that_o mean_n it_o be_v all_o figurative_a and_o move_v the_o attention_n of_o the_o audience_n one_o may_v likewise_o successful_o enough_o burlesque_n all_o these_o common_a truth_n but_o that_o can_v be_v perform_v no_o where_o but_o in_o comedy_n where_o by_o that_o mean_v they_o forsake_v their_o natural_a state_n and_o be_v disguise_v under_o a_o new_a appearance_n which_o cause_v both_o variety_n and_o ornament_n but_o tragedy_n in_o its_o own_o nature_n be_v too_o grave_a to_o admit_v of_o any_o thing_n so_o low_a and_o buffoon_n as_o this_o 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have_v the_o passion_n take_v with_o the_o audience_n there_o must_v not_o be_v a_o long_a complaint_n mingle_v with_o sentiment_n of_o kindness_n and_o grief_n but_o the_o actor_n must_v be_v present_o transport_v into_o rage_n that_o the_o spectator_n may_v be_v touch_v by_o his_o violent_a despair_n and_o feel_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o compassion_n if_o in_o that_o error_n he_o happen_v to_o kill_v himself_o as_o we_o see_v it_o fall_v out_o in_o pyramus_n and_o thisbe_n in_o both_o kind_n for_o the_o long_a discourse_n he_o make_v upon_o the_o suspicion_n he_o be_v in_o that_o a_o lion_n have_v kill_v his_o mistress_n do_v not_o much_o affect_v the_o audience_n but_o when_o he_o draw_v his_o sword_n to_o sacrifice_v his_o life_n to_o the_o mane_n of_o his_o dead_a mistress_n and_o so_o expiate_v his_o negligence_n in_o his_o own_o blood_n there_o be_v hardly_o one_o of_o the_o audience_n that_o do_v not_o shake_v with_o horror_n and_o upon_o this_o occasion_n i_o remember_v i_o 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actor_n there_o be_v feign_v a_o passion_n of_o which_o the_o cause_n be_v false_a with_o a_o design_n to_o have_v it_o believe_v true_a by_o another_o and_o by_o that_o mean_n discover_v some_o secret_n it_o be_v good_a that_o the_o spectator_n shall_v be_v inform_v that_o he_o who_o feign_v the_o passion_n have_v no_o true_a subject_n for_o it_o because_o than_o they_o have_v the_o pleasure_n of_o the_o contrivance_n to_o see_v the_o disguise_n well_o act_v but_o he_o that_o be_v deceive_v ought_v not_o to_o make_v any_o long_a pathetic_a discourse_n because_o that_o will_v not_o move_v the_o spectator_n it_o will_v suffice_v that_o in_o few_o word_n he_o show_v the_o impression_n the_o fiction_n have_v make_v upon_o he_o and_o what_o event_n may_v be_v from_o thence_o expect_v in_o a_o word_n in_o all_o such_o case_n the_o poet_n be_v to_o examine_v which_o of_o the_o two_o will_v best_o please_v the_o audience_n to_o see_v a_o circumvent_a design_n well_o execute_v or_o to_o be_v 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probability_n that_o any_o other_o person_n shall_v have_v be_v assemble_v there_o at_o that_o time_n nay_o if_o the_o principal_a actor_n themselves_o be_v enough_o in_o number_n they_o make_v the_o chorus_n of_o they_o as_o in_o the_o suppliant_n of_o euripides_n where_o the_o seven_o prince_n of_o argos_n that_o implore_v theseus_n help_n to_o bury_v the_o dead_a body_n of_o their_o husband_n before_o thebes_n make_v the_o chorus_n themselves_o but_o if_o they_o be_v put_v to_o invent_v a_o chorus_n they_o always_o do_v it_o conformable_o to_o the_o nature_n of_o their_o subject_n and_o to_o the_o rule_n of_o probability_n this_o aristophanes_n have_v ingenious_o enough_o observe_v in_o comedy_n as_o where_o he_o make_v a_o chorus_n of_o frog_n to_o sing_v while_o bacchus_n pass_v the_o styx_n in_o charon_n bark_n and_o another_o of_o wasp_n in_o the_o house_n of_o philocleon_n who_o son_n will_v hinder_v he_o from_o go_v abroad_o for_o though_o those_o be_v very_o ridiculous_a imagination_n yet_o they_o be_v comical_a well_o enough_o invent_v in_o mirth_n and_o be_v not_o against_o the_o rule_n of_o his_o art_n from_o hence_o we_o may_v likewise_o judge_v why_o the_o chorus_n be_v at_o last_o leave_v out_o in_o new_a comedy_n and_o of_o this_o i_o think_v no_o body_n hitherto_o have_v give_v a_o true_a reason_n horace_n think_v that_o the_o malignity_n and_o satirical_a humour_n of_o the_o poet_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o it_o for_o they_o make_v the_o chorus's_n abuse_n people_n so_o severe_o that_o the_o magistrate_n forbid_v they_o at_o last_o to_o use_v any_o at_o all_o but_o i_o think_v that_o if_o the_o rule_n of_o probability_n have_v not_o likewise_o second_v this_o prohibition_n the_o poet_n will_v have_v preserve_v their_o chorus_n still_o with_o conformity_n to_o their_o subject_n and_o that_o without_o too_o much_o satyr_n therefore_o i_o imagine_v the_o thing_n come_v to_o pass_v thus_o comedy_n take_v its_o model_n and_o constitution_n from_o tragedy_n and_o when_o the_o downright_a abuse_n of_o live_a person_n be_v prohibit_v they_o general_o invent_v feign_v subject_n which_o they_o govern_v according_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o tragedy_n but_o as_o they_o be_v necessitate_v to_o draw_v picture_n of_o the_o life_n of_o the_o vulgar_a and_o be_v confine_v by_o consequent_a to_o mean_v event_n they_o general_o choose_v the_o place_n of_o their_o scene_n in_o some_o street_n before_o the_o house_n of_o those_o who_o they_o suppose_v concern_v in_o the_o story_n and_o it_o be_v not_o very_o probable_a that_o there_o shall_v be_v a_o troup_n of_o people_n in_o such_o a_o place_n manage_v a_o intrigue_n of_o inconsiderable_a person_n from_o morning_n to_o night_n comedy_n lose_v of_o its_o self_n insensible_o the_o chorus_n which_o it_o can_v not_o preserve_v with_o any_o probability_n comedy_n therefore_o have_v lose_v its_o chorus_n long_o before_o tragedy_n that_o which_o be_v call_v new_a comedy_n receive_v dance_n music_n 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that_o minerva_n alone_o can_v know_v and_o then_o he_o make_v tecmessa_n tell_v the_o remainder_n of_o what_o he_o have_v do_v when_o he_o be_v in_o his_o tent._n this_o division_n produce_v two_o different_a effect_n upon_o the_o stage_n the_o first_o a_o sentiment_n of_o admiration_n for_o the_o care_n that_o minerva_n take_v of_o ulysses_n but_o with_o surprise_v for_o so_o great_a a_o misfortune_n in_o the_o person_n of_o ajax_n the_o other_o be_v a_o sentiment_n of_o pity_n when_o the_o spectator_n see_v a_o lady_n beautiful_a and_o well_o belove_v sit_v near_o a_o madman_n her_o husband_n we_o must_v not_o neither_o let_v slip_v the_o narration_n which_o tecmessa_n make_v summary_o of_o the_o ruin_n of_o her_o family_n and_o the_o death_n of_o her_o parent_n her_o captivity_n and_o then_o happy_a marriage_n with_o ajax_n nor_o that_o of_o teucer_n about_o the_o exchange_n that_o ajax_n make_v of_o a_o belt_n with_o hector_n for_o a_o sword_n which_o he_o receive_v from_o he_o 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christian_a religion_n just_o condemn_v and_o which_o all_o good_a man_n abhor_v and_o till_o that_o be_v take_v away_o and_o the_o public_a theatre_n as_o pure_a as_o it_o be_v in_o cardinal_n richelieu_n presence_n play_n will_v be_v look_v upon_o to_o be_v against_o good_a manner_n and_o the_o strictness_n of_o the_o gospel_n as_o to_o the_o infamy_n of_o those_o who_o take_v up_o the_o profession_n of_o player_n it_o be_v just_o inflict_v upon_o they_o former_o but_o now_o be_v no_o long_o so_o to_o understand_v this_o point_n we_o must_v know_v that_o there_o be_v two_o sort_n of_o actor_n among_o the_o ancient_n the_o mimes_n and_o dancer_n and_o the_o comedian_n or_o player_n who_o be_v those_o that_o now_o act_v among_o we_o and_o as_o these_o two_o sort_n of_o people_n be_v very_o different_a in_o the_o thing_n that_o they_o represent_v as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o manner_n place_n and_o habit_n of_o represent_v so_o be_v they_o very_o different_o esteem_v the_o first_o in_o 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