Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2016 10:24:39 GMT
CHAP. XX.
Of Stage-Dancing.
STage-dancing was design'd for Imitation and De∣monstration, whereby to explain things conceiv'd in the minde, by the gestures of the body; so cleerly and perspicuously representing manners and affections, that the Spectator shall understand the Player by the motion of his body, though he say not a word. So
Page 64
far the excellency of this Art appears, that without the help of an Interpreter, while the Actors by motion represent an Old Man, a Young Man, a Woman, a Servant, a Drunkard, an angry Person, or of any other condition or affection whatsoever, the Spectator at a di∣stance hearing nothing of the story, shall be able to un∣derstand the subject of the Play. This brought Stage∣players into great request, as Macrobius witnesseth, so that Cicero was wont to contend with Roscius, who was also very intimate with Sylla the Dictator, who should plainest and soonest, and with most variety, ex∣press the same Sentence; whether the one by Gesticu∣lation, or the other in set Language: which encourag'd Roscius to write a Treatise wherein he compares Stage∣motion or Action with Eloquence. But the Massilienses, great preservers of serious Gravity, would not endure a Stage-player among them, for that most of their Arguments consisting in the repetition of Rapes and Adulteries, they thought the often seeing thereof would accustom men to the practise of such things. In fine, it is not onely a dishonest and wicked Calling to exercise Stage-playing, but also a matter of great dishonour to behold them: for the pleasure of lascivious minds of∣ten degenerates into wickedness. So that of old there was no name so ignominious as that of a Stage-player, who by the Laws was made incapable of all Honour and honourable Society.
Of Stage-Dancing.
STage-dancing was design'd for Imitation and De∣monstration, whereby to explain things conceiv'd in the minde, by the gestures of the body; so cleerly and perspicuously representing manners and affections, that the Spectator shall understand the Player by the motion of his body, though he say not a word. So
Page 64
far the excellency of this Art appears, that without the help of an Interpreter, while the Actors by motion represent an Old Man, a Young Man, a Woman, a Servant, a Drunkard, an angry Person, or of any other condition or affection whatsoever, the Spectator at a di∣stance hearing nothing of the story, shall be able to un∣derstand the subject of the Play. This brought Stage∣players into great request, as Macrobius witnesseth, so that Cicero was wont to contend with Roscius, who was also very intimate with Sylla the Dictator, who should plainest and soonest, and with most variety, ex∣press the same Sentence; whether the one by Gesticu∣lation, or the other in set Language: which encourag'd Roscius to write a Treatise wherein he compares Stage∣motion or Action with Eloquence. But the Massilienses, great preservers of serious Gravity, would not endure a Stage-player among them, for that most of their Arguments consisting in the repetition of Rapes and Adulteries, they thought the often seeing thereof would accustom men to the practise of such things. In fine, it is not onely a dishonest and wicked Calling to exercise Stage-playing, but also a matter of great dishonour to behold them: for the pleasure of lascivious minds of∣ten degenerates into wickedness. So that of old there was no name so ignominious as that of a Stage-player, who by the Laws was made incapable of all Honour and honourable Society.