| Citation |
NYJ-N.773.115
24 Jun 1773:323 (1590)
[Letter responding to previous letter from Philo Theatricus]
. . . and cheer him with this extract from a periodical
paper of the present year,--"We love the Theatre; we respect
its interest; and when they receive a wound, we curse the
hand that gave it; our indignation rises, and we detest the
assassin as the foe of learning and of his country." Let him
likewise reflect in what an amiable light the theatre is
held up by the first writers of the present century.--One
very remarkable passage from Sir Richard Steele's works now
lies before me, which must at once shew the force, a
theatrical representation of humanity has, upon the minds of
men, and remove the low thoughted objections made against
them. It is an account of the reception, the speech of a
miser in one of their plays, met with from an Athenian
audience. The speech was as follows:--"Let me be call'd a
base man, so I am called a rich one. If a man is rich, who
asks if he be good? The question is, how much we have; not
from whence, or by what means we have it. Every one has so
much merit as he has wealth. For my own part, let me be
rich, oh ye Gods! or let me die. The man dies happily, --[
] he dies --sing his treasure. There is more pleasure in
the possession of wealth, than in that of parents, children,
wife or friends." Sir Richard relates, that the audience
were very much provoked by the first words of the speech;
but when the actor came to the close of it, they could bear
no longer. In short, the whole assembly rose up at once in
the greatest fury, with a design to pluck him off the stage,
and brand the work itself with infamy. In the midst of the
tumult the author came out from behind the scenes, begging
the audience to be composed for a little while, and they
should see the tragical --[ ] which this wretch should
come to immediately. The promise of punishment appeased the
people, who sat with great attention and pleasure to see an
example made of so odious a criminal. I could comment
largely on this passage; but will not at present take up so
much of your time. I am, Sir, &c. Candidus.
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