[From First Fruites (1578), A_{1}, an Anglo-Italian phrase book.]
Where shal we goe?
To a playe at the Bull, or els to some other place.
Doo Comedies like you wel?
Yea sir, on holy dayes.
They please me also wel, but the preachers wyll not allowe them.
Wherefore, knowe you it:
They say, they are not good.
And wherfore are they vsed?
Because euery man delites in them.
I beleeue there is much knauerie vsed at those Comedies: what thinke you?
So beleeue I also.
xix. 1578. George Whetstone.
[From Epistle to William Fleetwood, dated 29 July 1578, prefixed to
Promos and Cassandra; cf. ch. xxiii.]
. . . I devided the whole history into two Commedies: for that,
Decorum used, it would not be convayde in one. The effects of both,
are good and bad: vertue intermyxt with vice, unlawful desyres (yf
it were possible) queancht with chaste denyals: al needefull action
(I thinke) for publike vewe. For by the rewarde of the good, the
good are encowraged in wel doinge: and with the scowrge of the
lewde, the lewde are feared from evil attempts: mainetayning this
my oppinion with Platoes auctority. 'Nawghtinesse commes of the
corruption of nature, and not by readinge or hearinge the lives of
the good or lewde (for such publication is necessarye), but goodnesse
(sayth he) is beawtifyed by either action.' And to these ends Menander
Plautus and Terence, themselves many yeares since intombed, (by
their Commedies) in honour live at this daye. The auncient Romanes
heald these showes of suche prise, that they not onely allowde the
publike exercise of them, but the grave Senators themselves countenaunced
the Actors with their presence: who from these trifles wonne
morallyte, as the Bee suckes the honny from weedes. But the advised
devises of auncient Poets, discredited with the tryfels of yonge,
unadvised, and rashe witted wryters, hath brought this commendable
exercise in mislike. For at this daye, the Italian is so lascivious in
his commedies, that honest hearers are greeved at his actions: the
Frenchman and Spaniarde folowes the Italians humor: the Germaine
is too holye: for he presentes on everye common Stage, what Preachers
should pronounce in Pulpets. The Englishman in this quallitie, is
most vaine, indiscreete, and out of order: he fyrst groundes his
worke, on impossibilities: then in three howers ronnes he throwe the
worlde: marryes, gets Children, makes Children men, men to conquer
kingdomes, murder monsters, and bringeth Gods from Heaven, and
fetcheth Divels from Hel. And (that which is worst) their ground is
