Essays on the Stage - Preface to the Campaigners (1689) and Preface to the Translation of Bossuet's Maxims and Reflections on Plays (1699) by Thomas D'Urfey
page 51 of 76 (67%)
page 51 of 76 (67%)
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Great Nature break thy Chain that links together The Fabrick of this Globe, and make a Chaos, Like that within my Soul-- [Footnote: Collier, p. 68.] _Now_, says the Doctor, keen as a Razor, _if she had call'd for a Chair, instead of a Chaos, tripp'd off, and kept her folly to herself, the woman had been wiser._ Calling for a Chair instead of a Chaos is an extreme pretty Quibble truly--but if the Critick had let the Chair-men have tripp'd off with her, instead of doing it herself as she sat in a Chair, I'm sure the blunder had been sav'd, and I think he had exprest himself a little wiser than he has--And come, now my hand's in, let's parallel Mr _Dryden_ with our Reformer a little longer--_Church-men_ (says _Benducar_ in _Don Sebastian_, Tho they Itch to govern all, Are silly, woful awkward Politicians, They make lame mischiefs, tho they meant it well. [Footnote: Collier, p.104.] So much the better_, says he, _for tis a sign they are not beaten to the trade_--Oh, that's a mistake, Doctor, they may be beaten to the Trade, and yet be bunglers--And proceeding: _Their Interest is not finely drawn, and hid,_ _But Seams are coursely bungled up, and seen. |
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