speech is the most powerful of all the means by which one human being can display itself to another, the objects of the eye must so far yield preference to those of the ear. With respect to inanimate objects of fight, sounds may be fo contrived as to raise both terror and mirth beyond what can be done by any such object. Mufic has a commanding influence over the mind, especially in conjunction with words. Objects of fight may indeed contribute to the same end, but more faintly; as where a love poem is rehearsed in a shady grove, or on the bank of a purling stream. But sounds, which are vastly more ductile and various, readily accompany all the social affections expressed in a poem, especially emotions of love and pity. Music having at command a great variety of emotions, may, like many objects of fight, be made to promote luxury and effeminacy; of which we have instances without number, especially in vocal music. But, with respect to its pure and refined pleasures, music goes hand in hand with gardening and architecture, her fifterarts, in humanizing and polishing the mind * ; of which none can doubt who have felt the charms of music. But, if authority be required, the following passage from a grave historian, eminent for folidity of judgment, must have the greatest weight. Polybius, speaking of the people of Cynætha, an Arcadian tribe, has the D 3 * See Chapter 24. "As the the following train of reflections. " Arcadians have always been celebrated for " their piety, humanity, and hofpitality, we are naturally led to inquire, how it has happened "that the Cynætheans are distinguished from the "other Arcadians, by savage manners, wicked"ness, and cruelty. I can attribute this difference to no other cause, but a total neglect among the people of Cynætha, of an institution " established among the ancient Arcadians with a "nice regard to their manners and their climate: " I mean the discipline and exercise of that ge"nuine and perfect music, which is useful in every state, but necessary to the Arcadians; "whose manners, originally rigid and auftere, " made it of the greatest importance to incorpo" rate this art into the very effence of their go"vernment. All men know that, in Arcadia, "the children are early taught to perform hymns " and fongs composed in honour of their gods " and heroes; and that, when they have learned "the music of Timotheus and Philoxenus, they "assemble yearly in the public theatres, dancing " with emulation to the found of flutes, and act"ing in games adapted to their tender years. "The Arcadians, even in their private feafts, " never employ hirelings, but each man sings in "his turn. They are also taught all the military steps and motions to the found of instruments, "which they perform yearly in the theatres, at "the public charge. To me it is evident, that " these " these solemnities were introduced, not for idle " pleasure, but to soften the rough and stubborn " temper of the Arcadians, occafioned by the " coldness of a high country. But the Cynæ"theans, neglecting these arts, have become so " fierce and savage, that there is not another city " in Greece so remarkable for frequent and " great enormities. This confideration ought " to engage the Arcadians never to relax in any degree, their musical difcipline; and it " ought to open the eyes of the Cynætheans, " and make them sensible of what importance it "would be to restore music to their city, and every discipline that may soften their manners; for otherwise they can never hope to " fubdue their brutal ferocity *." No one will be surprised to hear such influence attributed to music, when, with respect to another of the fine arts, he finds a living instance of an influence no less powerful. It is unhappily indeed the reverse of the former; for it has done more mischief by corrupting British manners, than music ever did good by purifying those of Arcadia. The licentious court of Charles II. among its many disorders, engendered a pest, the virulence of which subsists to this day. The English comedy, copying the manners of the court, became abominably licentious; and continues so with veD4 * Polybius, Lib. 4. cap. 3. ry ry little softening. It is there an established rule, to deck out the chief characters with every vice in fashion, however gross. But, as such characters viewed in a true light would be disgustful, care is taken to disguise their deformity under the embellishments of wit, sprightliness, and good humour, which in mixed company makes a capital figure. It requires not much thought to discover the poisonous influence of such plays. A young man of figure, emancipated at last from the severity and restraint of a college education, repairs to the capital disposed to every fort of excess. The playhouse becomes his favourite amusement; and he is enchanted with the gaiety and splendour of the chief personages. The disgust which vice gives him at first, foon wears off, to make way for new notions, more liberal in his opinion; by which a sovereign contempt of religion, and a declared war upon the chastity of wives, maids, and widows, are converted from being infamous vices to be fashionable virtues. The infection spreads gradually through all ranks, and becomes universal. How gladly would I listen to any one who should undertake to prove, that what I have been defcribing is chimerical! but the diffoluteness of our young men of birth will not fuffer me to doubt of its reality. Sir Harry Wildair has completed many a rake; and in the Suspicious Husband, Ranger, the humble imitator of Sir Harry, has had no flight influence in spreading that character. What What woman, tinctured with the playhouse-morals, would not be the sprightly, the witty, though diffolute Lady Townly, rather than the cold, the sober, though virtuous Lady Grace? How odious ought writers to be who thus employ the talents they have from their Maker most traitorously against himself, by endeavouring to corrupt and disfigure his creatures! If the comedies of Congreve did not rack him with remorse in his last moments, he must have been loft to all sense of virtue. Nor will it afford any excuse to such writers, that their comedies are entertaining; unless it could be maintained, that wit and sprightliness are better fuited to a vicious than a virtuous character. It would grieve me to think fo; and the direct contrary is exemplified in the Merry Wives of Windfor, where we are highly entertained with the conduct of two ladies, not more remarkable for mirth and spirit than for the strictest purity of manners. |