| Citation |
BNL.706.002
18-25 Feb 1706:32 (97)
Bristol, August 4. On Thursday last our players acted near
this city: a comedy called the Metamorphoses, in which
there's a song in praise of the divil, page 14, the first
four lines are thus,
Hail powers beneath! whose influence imparts
The knowledge of infernal arts,
By whose unerring gifts we move
To alter the decrees above.
Near the end of the play the seats gave a great crack, and
afterwards fell, so that the auditors were all rumbled
together, and frighten'd, as if there had been conjuration.
The candles fell among the wood, and were like to have set
all on fire. The crowd of the people stopt up the doors and
made the passage very slow; some lost their swords, others
their hats and wigs, and women their head-dresses and
scarves; several persons were bruis'd, but none killed; and
the upper part of the gallery falling, several women tumbled
down upon their heads, and were expos'd in the throng, to
great indecencies. The players run out at a back-door, and
there was a report that something more than ordinary
appear'd, but that is false, the devil was too sensible of
his own interest to disturb those who invok'd him, and paid
him such adoration. However several who were there look
upon it as a judgment, and resolve never to go thither any
more; but the players are so hardened, that they intend to
act it again this evening.
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