COGITATIONES POLITICÆ
D KH O D I E R N A
ARTIUM ELEGANTIUM
C O N S T I T U T I O N E ,
C U MP RI S CO I L L A R U M H A B I T U
C O M P A R A T A ,
' K j ? 'Quarum Partem P rim u m
,Suffrag. A m p l . Colleg. Phi lo fop h. Upfal.
Publicœ Cenfurœ Subm ittit
NICOLAUS GEORG. AGANDER,
P o l i t i c e s D o c e n s . . < R e s p o n d h n t e
Johanne Holmbergsfon,
A n g s r m a n n o , S t i p. St i e g l e r. D i e X X I I I . Junii M D C C L X X X I V . In A u d i t o r i o G u f t a v i a n o M a j o r i H o r i s A. M. Solitis.c5oc^:^o^o^o^oJtoc^'^oo{ooJoci5oo{oo{oe5oo5o^oo{oo5<i?5o jjoojcofcofocjo Jcc&ioJ c$*
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S:Æ R:Æ MANTIS
SUMMÆ FIDEI VIRO,
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S E N A T O R I ,
R E G I Æ
c a n c e l l a r i æ
P R Æ S ID I,
ACADEMIÆ UPSALENSIS
C A N C E L L A R I O ,
R E G IO R U M O R D IN U M E Q U IT I
a cCOMMENDATORI,
ILLUSTRISSIMO
a t q u eEXCELLENTISSIMO
COM ITI
a cDOMINO
GUSTAVO PHIL.
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conftituere,
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in T E , COM ES ILLUSTRISSIME, CUI nom
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COGITATIONES POLITICÆ
D EH O D I E R N A
A R T I U M E L E G A N T I U M
C O N S T I T U T I O N E
C U MP R I S C O I L L A R U M H A B I T U
C O M P A R A T A .
--- T h e m ental vor hl fu r v e yM a r k the f l o v rife o f intellectual day
V ie w reafons f u u r c e , i f m an the fo u r c e m a y f i n d , A n d trace each /Hence th a t exalts the m in d .
J . L a n g h o r n e .
E
xplicantes fe vires humanas pro gr ef ïî on e admirabili, in* credibilique curfu ad o m n e m excellentiam p r o v e £ t a s d o c t r i n a r u m difciplinas, in Tola, q u a m ad u n u m o m n i b u s gentibus in aliis, c arius c o n t em pl ar i licet G r æ c i a , cujus dici v i x poteft quanta fuerit vis in t o t u m t e r r a r u m o r b e m fapien- tiæ luce c o l l u f t r a n d u m , ac cujus in b ene mor atis & b e n e c ondituris civitatibus,felici q u o d a m caufarum r e c i p r o c a n t i u m circulo, gloria v i r t u t e m p e p e r i t , conciliavit g l o r i a m v i r tus. Phidiaca m a n u fcuipta m a r m o r a gloriofos l o c u t u r a l a b o r e s , laudisque praedicatores tot nancifcente quovis h e r o e , q u o t fuere cives,fuoe cujusque felicitatis ftudium c u m u n i v e r f æ c o m m o d o reipublicæ coalefcebat. A d d e v i n c i e n
6
d a m h o m i n u m i n t e r ho m i n e s focietatem , arque a d efffo- d ie n d a & in a f t u m p r o d u c e n d a re£ti honefïique f e m i m a , i n g e n i o f a Hellas artes e le g a n te s, c o g n a t æ m e n t i b u s hm« manis pulcritudinis fenfum excitantes v i v i d i o r e m , cemfu-
it efficaciiïimas. Qiias q u u m liberalis educationis o m n i i s , o m n i s q u e h u m a n it a ti s , u nd e etiam n o m e n i n v e n e r e , fcon- t e m efle u b e r r i m u m c r e d e r e t , nullamque fineret vitæ p>ar- t e m vacare adminiculis i l l a r u m , præclara e vafe re publiicæ felicitatis inllrumenta. Quibus f a pienter adhibitis,. r e : m - pu bli cam juvaturi fpiritus in animos te n ero s atque moilles i n f an tu m mature influebant, q u o r u m balbuti en tem exeivce- bat l i n g v a m dulce ante, o m n i a patriæ n o m e n , adulthcori- bus a n n i s , admirabiles fui a m o r e s excitaturae. Praeter llau- d e m nullius rei avaris juve num m e n t i b u s , pulcerrimnum u nd i qu e oc cu rr e b at f p e & ac ul u m , egregii cujusque exeem- pli d o c u m e n t o r u m in illuftri p o l i t o r u m m o n i m e n t o . I n ditos a natura hominibus honelfaris igniculos a c c e n f u r a a & m a g n i t u d i n e m animi fpirantia m o n u m e n t a , defixis l o r n g a a dt e n ti o n e oculis, contemplantis ju v e n tu ti s p e é t o r a geune- rofi ad præclara impetus p er ten tarunt. M i i .t i a d e i s in ne^m-
publicarn meritis ftaruta t r o p æ a gloriae cupidinis c o n t a g i o n e c o r r e p t i T h e m i s t o c l i s d i u r n a m n o £ t u r n a m q u e i n a te r-
pel lar un t quietem. U l t r a , q uam mo rtalibus d a t u m cell:, p r o v e £ f o r u m facinorum p r o v e n t u efflorelcens vete rum i ae tas propofitis publica au&oritate ampliflimis d e b e b a t u i r la b o r u m ac periculorum in c ita m entis , & e x ard efce n ti pa
triæ a r n o r i , cujus facra voce f e m p e r r e f o n a b a n t t h e a i t t r a , o r a t o r u m calebant p e d t o r a , cujusque ad e m o lu m e m t tu m h a u d minus quam o r n a m e n t u m , elegantes artes amitc;ilft- m o c oncentu confpirabant. Muficen, poelin , rh e t o ri c e .e n , hifforiæ q uoque pr o f am o r a t i o n e m , plafticasque arteiss o- m n e s in c o m m u n e m publicumque ufum confe rens ffTapi- entilîima G r æ c o r u m na ti o , in lingulis, ad eam mettaim ,
quæ fit a d omn is polleritatis m e m o r i a m g l o r i o f a , c : o n -t e m i -t o
4 " & 4 * 7 t e n t o ftudio curfuque pervenit. V i d e r e fuit illic con- ctirfantes in O l y m p i a m vallem cives fvavem in c ly to ru m a u d i t u r os g e f t o r u m e n a r r a t i o n e m , p ræ e unte H e r o d o t i
j u c u n d a v o c e , quam p r o n i s accipientes auribus fortiftimi v e t e r a n i victricibus innixi a r m i s , fublato identidem c la m o r e , patriae praeconem gloriae falutarunt. Q u a q uidem r a t i o n e , fortitudini aliisque reipublicae profuturis aufis fua c o n f t a b at æternitas ; accendentibus gloriae c o n te n tio n e m c o r o n i s , t r i u m p h i s , ftatuis, p r o republica o ccum bentium c i v iu m elogiis c o r a m m a g n a populi corona p r o c l a m a n d is , a m p l i f t imamque artium magiftris fuppeditantibus faculta t e m i n g e n i i e x p r o m e n d i , atque oftendendi d iv in a m ani- m o s q u e m o v e r e va lent em vim artium in genuarum. Cu- jusmodi fruCtuoforum g ener i hum ano in d itu ro ru m nul- i u m , nili pa r en t a n d i munus hodierni aevi c o n f v e tu d o u- furpar. Q u i d ? quo d innume rabile m lle m m a ru m feriem o f t e n d a t , ampliftimave fuis cervicibus munia fultineat ne- celfe e l t , qui qualemcunque virtutum m e n tio n e m fuarum, vel p o ll f a t a , audeat expeCtare. Itaque m o rt a liu m q u e m vis fuse unice commoditatis ftudio t e n e r i , o m n i poftha* bito publicæ rei e m o l u m e n t o , cce pif te ,a c praeclarae q u o n d a m aemulationi laudis fucceftifle q u e n d a m inertiae t o r p o r e m , mirabitur n e m o , nifi quem omnis fugit r e r u m h u m a n a r u m t e m p o r u m q u e n o ftro ru m conditio.
I d o n e a r u m vitae artium in v e n to res, atque illuftri ac p e r v a g a t a m u l t o r u m & m a g n o r u m in o m n e g e n u s h o m i n u m l a ma m e r i t o r u m fruentes inter h e r o ë s , Virgiliano in E l y f i o , nivea cinCtos t e m p o r a vitta, e m i n e n t vates, j u r e g l o r i a n t e s , perduCIis ad rationis ufum mortalibus p r i m a s fe leges fanxifte ( i ) , focietatisque vinculo beatos
A 2 e o r u m
C i ) Quinque librorum clafticorum magna pollentium auftoritate apud Sinenfes, fecundus odis folummodo carminibusque continetur,
L o n f u c i o tefte, leges morumque tradentibus praecepta. Hi ft. de
8 t y t y t y
e o r u m animos inflammafle ad belli artes fludiisque paccis illos adremperafle. Q u u m tor t a n t a r u m q u e ut il itatum coon- ful tri x fit harmoniae filia Poclis, nullum humanae i n v e e n - t u m follertiae p e r v a g a t a m seque habuit a d m i r a t i o n e m , ac c a r m i n a poetarum c i v i n o r u m animi q u o d a m i mp e ru & vi naturae atque ingenii c o n c i t a t o r u m , vaftiffimasque u n i v e e r - fi regiones phantafiae c i r c u m v e c t o r u m alis. Cujus nequua- q u a m mortalibus fruftra concefiae facultatis ope ut a tenne- ris infantes ungviculis ad v i v e n d i rationes p e r d u c e r e e n - t u r , non t emere quaevis ac citra delectum illis o b t r u u d i pafla eft antiquitas, fed h o n e f t u m aliquod m o n e n t e s aau- c tor es junioribus in Hellade m e m o r i t e r addifcendi rracide- b a n t u r ( i ) ; ad o m n e s civilis foderatis o r d i n e s adconm- modatis carminibus urentibus Graecis ( 2 ). C l a r o r u m \ v i - r o r u m laudes atque virtutes ad imitandas j u v e n t u t e m akla- c ri ora redditura c a r m i n a , in epulis, v e t e r u m K o m a n o r u u m m o s fuit decantandi ( 3 ). V i r t u t i & fapientiæ amica \ v e - t e r um aetate, genuini vates n o n vana q u a d a m i ngenii cos- tentandi gloriola c o m m o t i ad p a n g e n d a c a r m i n a accidn- gebantur, verum m e l i o r e m ad frugem fuos r e v o c a t u r i ci v e s , inque ardua virtutis via facem i n g e n i i p r a e f e r e n d d o , excitandaque in animis e o r u m verae vitae c o g i t a t i o n e , ( o f ficia hominum illis grata reddituri. C o m m e n d a t r i c i s que on- d a m virtutum civilium poëfeos adeo c o n v e r f a h o d i e i r a tio eft, ut pl e ru mque non nifi ad do£tam q u a n d a m hho- m i n u m animis v o l u p t a t e m a d f e r e n d a m , t a m q u a m prrae- cipuam metam t e n d a t p o e ta nt i um induftria. Q u o t u s enbim quisque invenitur r e c e n t i o r u m p o e t a r u m qui ejusmodi e- mineat fpiriru, quali t u m u e r e Ap ol li ne pedfora H o m e r r i ,
S o p h o c l i s , A e s c h y l i, E u r i f i d i s , atque H o r a t i i ad p o j p u -
lum Romanum fublimes feribentis odas ( 4 ) . Q u o d
1
ftepifloo/œ
*
f i ) X e n o p h . Conviv. Cap. ITT. §. 5.
( 2 ) Hift.de 1’ Acad. des Infer. & B. L. Tom. IX. p. 347.
( 3 ) V a e e r . M a x . Lib. II. Cap. I. 10.
epißokc aâ Uraniam, puellœ Orkanen fis al i o r u m que e jus dem c o m m a t i s o p e r u m au£tor Htiusmodi p h a n t a f i æ fetus fu ffo- c a v i l f e t , facræ Virtut is aræ eos i m m o l a n d o , t u m v e r o plus me n t i s q u a m lin gvæ h a b i t u r u m f o r e t d i f t u m q u o d de fe praedicare fustinuit :
i
A chanter la vertu j ' ai confacré ma vie.
Sa n c t u m poë tæ olim n o m e n a veteri g l o r i a ad c o n - t e m t u m & h u mi li ta te m effe abjc£tum, vel ex ævi noftri
p a t e t c o n f v e t u d i n e , tinnula q ua dam l ingvæ volubilitate prae
ditis n o mi ni s hujus h o n o r e m dare haud d u b i t a n t i s , n ihi l lic et , in quo q u i d q u a m fani coloris i n f i t , o f t e n d e n t i b u s , n e d u m q u o d alat ani mam m e l i o r e m q u e te r e d d a t valen« tibus ad ferre.
A n t i qu iï îî ma c ar mi ni s fpecies l y r ic a c o n t i n e b a t u r p o ë - fi: f p i r a n t e m q u e in v e t e r u m odis audaciam d i t h y r a m b i cam i n q u e H e l i c o n e bacchanris i n f t i r £ t u m , cujus v e r a m v i m r e c e n t i o r e s L y r i c i r a ro affequuntur, mufices peperic c o n c e n t u s ( i ). Qua vivid illima affe£tuum i n t e r p r e t e , uni- v e i l a m e x p r i m e n t e n a t u r a m , flammasque Jovis fonitusque i m i t a n t e O l y m p i , potentius nullum exftat o r g a n u m t u m ad r e m i t t e n d o s animos tum c o n tr a h e nd os .
1
antam v i m Mu fi cæ t r i b u e r e G i æ c i , ut cantibus i m m u t a t i s , m u t a r i c i v i t a t u m ftatus e x i h i m a r i n t ( 2 ) , hocce v e r t i c o r d i æ e l o quentiae genus in praecipua p o n e n t e s parte b o n æ e d u c a tionis ( 3 ) , praeclaros virtutibus f u b d i t u r u m alacritatis fti-mulos. In legionibus R o m a n i s c o r n u um ac t u b a r u m c o n centus q u a n t o fuit v e h e n entior, t a n t o R o m a n a m in bel lis g l o r i a m ceteris p r a f l i t i l l e , ait Q v i n t i l i a n u s ( 4 ) * Ci-t e r i o r i t e m p o r e , fatali d i v o r t i o , a g e m i n a f o r o r e poëfi
fe-A 3 jun£ta
( 1 ) Cfr. Difcours fur P i n d a r e par M. De Chabanon: Hilt. d e
l’ Acad. des Infer. & B. L. Tom. X X X II. p. 455*
( 2 ) P l a t o Lib. IV. de Republ.
( 3 ) W i n i c e LM. Gefch. der Kunlt des Altertb. I. T h . p. 27*
8-jun£ta mufice priftina ad fingendos animos forniandosqque vi d e f t i t u i t u r , adeoque veteri de faftigio eft deje£ta, ut a fide p e n i t u s a b h o r r e a n t effe£lus ejus a d m i r a n d i , quaos i do ne i u tiq ue ausiores p e r h i b e n t ( i ).
N u m e r o s mufice duplices h a b e t , in vocibus & : in c o r p o r e ( 2 ) ; q u o r u m cum poëfi illis, hifce v e r o cum faal- tatione p r o x i m a adfinitate coniungitur. Qiiæ ingenioofa ars f e r m o n e ta citurno & eloquentia mura figna affe£luujm o f f e n d e re apta eft: in quo lingulis utitur m e m b r i s , ur tcot- i dem lingvis loquentibus. H a u d v u l g a r e m v e r o ejus ffo- r e v i m in animos h o m i n u m m o v e n d o s , omnibus erit conm- p e r t u m , q u i , q u a m ftupenda corpus h u m a n u m venultaate e m i n e a t , cogitare v e l i n t , quidque cum geftuum moruunm- que conjun£ta varietate efficere htecce valeat venuftaas. Pedbora p e r m i f c e r e ii mufice f o l e t , longe altius faltatio in a n i m o s erit defcenfura, mufices, qua carere n e q u i t , utecns c o n f o r tione. Lacedaemonios (altationem q u a n d a m , tanm- q u a m ad bella q u o q u e u t i l e m , habuiffe inter exercitariao- n e s , fcimus. Chara£teriflicis v eteres u tebantu r choreeis vel p r o p r i o s g e n t i cuidam mores a d u m b r a n tib u s , vel f f a cta imitantibus fingularia. In hac vanitate fæculi & mcol- litie h o m i n u m , turpis m u l t o r u m mentibus in fidet e r r o o r , q u o fibi p c r f v a d e n t , faltationis nullum alium e f fe fin e n m , q u a m ut dele£tationem m e r a m vanaque pariat gaudia. I- taque negligenri huic arti quod in animos h a b e re pofffet
i m p o e
-( 1 ) fV e are to confidet- that the M u fick w ith the ancients was o f f <i
larger exten t than w h a t we call M u fic h now a days: fo r P o etry ,r n d Datan. ring ( o r comely m o t i o n ) were then accounted parts o f M u f i c k , when M uficick t a r r iv 'd to fome perfection - . - f p bat we now call M ufich is hut what t the called H a r m o n ic h , w hich was hut one p a rt o f their M u fick ( confifling o f w o r d s , vcrfe , voice, tune , inftrumeut and a cting) , and we are not to e'xpveçt the fa m e effect o f one piece , as o f the whole k fc . T h e ft range effeftts r re
ported o f Mufick in former tim es, examined by Dr. W allis, Philofopph. Tranfaft. abridg’d by John Lowthorp. Vol. I. *p. 618. 619.
8-i m p e r 8-i u m , ocul8-is f o l u m m o d o p l a c 8-i t u r æ , hod8-ie exerc8-it8-i8-i locus publicus fupereft n u l l u s , nifi in fcena : hic autem nullius fere eft m o m e n t i , quum n o m i n e tenus vix nota amplius h t , cui olim fubnixa f u i t , ratio p a n t o m i m o r u m # ad q u a m e u n d e m in m o d u m fe habet falratio, ac poëfis ad p r o f a m o r a t i o n e m . Cujus quidem o p e , ad D r a m a r u m v i m f o v e n d a m a u g e n d a m q u e o m n e s olim perfonas diver- fosque vitæ o r d i n e s , r e g e s , h e r o e s , t y r a n n o s , d iv ite s , p a u p e r e s , u r b a n o s ho m in e s rufticosciue e x n re fT ir ant-i-
q u i t a s , e conditione cujusque & i t i o n e , qtfod m o v e r e a nimos foret a p r u m , eligens. D e p e r d i t a s inter res du- d u m n u m erata hæcce facultas, actioni theatrali quam fit n e c e l i a n a i n d e i n t e l l i g t t u r , quod incidant t e m p o r a q Ui . b u s , multo magis c o n v e n i t indoli p e r f o n æ m e m b r a alia q ua m l i n gva m m o v e r e , ac ftupentibus f o l u m m o d o trefti- bus nullo autem fermonis uti adparatu. Q u a e loquentia c o r p o r i s deft,tuti h o d t e a r t m c e s fcenici, ejus l o c o , i n e p t u m fæpe a d h i b e n t v e r b o r u m ftrepitum, f t r o p h a s a d p e l l a n t ,
(
tirades
), qui bus durantibus fufpenditur aflio theatralis ,ac g r a v i (limorum d r a m ar u m feries interpellatur ( i )
O b ji c i en d is phanrafiæ nobilium r e r u m im agin ib us, ad t r a n s f o r m a n d o s gentis cujuscunque m ore s , fabulæ D r a - m a t i c æ , utihflimo înftituro , f pe ftandæ p r æ b e r i po Hu nt in t h e a t r o , quod i n d a r tribunalis e ft, ubi vitia caftigentur. A d i e l i g io n e m adn in i f h a n d a m & triumphales vivflorias illultrandas fcenici olim adhib eba ntur l u d i , follemnique illorum a d p a r a t u , clariffime exfplenduit artium majeftas , cujus vix levem c o n f e q u im u r u m b r a m . Paucis h o m i n u m ce n tui iis in o b l c u i o q uo d a m theatri a n g u l o , hodie (e o b lectantibus , ad off og int a usque millia civium capacia rhe-
atra A t h e n a i u m incolae Romeeque olim concurfabant. A d m o d u m anguftæ hodiernae fcenae n o n nifi unicam e x h i
b e n t
( i ) Cfr. Oeuvres de M. D i d e r o t Tom. IV. de la Poëfie Dra*
b e n t a d i o n e m , q u u m t am en n u n q u a m n o n p l u r e s f i n m u l exiftere in r e r u m d e p r e h e n d a n t u r n at ur a , unitis v i r i h b u s fortius a n i m o s f e r i e n t e s ; qua r a t i o n e E u m e n i d u m f c e a a a m inftruxit A e s c h y l u s . A d haec i n g e n s f p e d a n t i u m n u n m e -
rus q u a n t u m cen fe nd us eft valuifle ad p r o p a g a n d a m vi q u a d a m c o n t a g i o n i s a f f e d u u m v e h e m e n t i a m , & a u d o r u u m D r a m a t i c o r u m a d o r u m q u e in praecordiis æ m u l a t i o n o e m laudis fufcitandam. Viluiffe h o n o r e m theatri p r i f t i n u n m , c o r r u p t u s a r g ui t c h a r a d e r f c e n i c o r u m artificum , foli \ v o luptati alienæ f e r v i e n t e m diffolutamque efficientium g g r e -
g e m ; c h o r a g o r u m olim æ d i l i u m q u e diligenti & a u d o o r i - bus & a d o r i b u s f u b j e d i s i n f p e d i o n i ac c e n f u r æ ( i i ). H o d i e r n a fcena avaris relicta inftitoribus ab otio ac ( cu- riolitate p a u c o r u m civium l u c ru m c a p t a n t i b u s , publilica nulla amplius exiftunr f p e d a c u l a ; neque d e p r e h e n d e r i s t h o d i e r n o s D r a m a t u m p a t r o n o s , ex p r e ti o e o r u m ac digniiita- te l i n c e r o v i v i d o q u e fenfu c o n c e p t a , q u i d q u a m ad ea i j u v a n d a contulifle. Cui rei indicio eft G e r m a n i a e P r i n n c i - p u m c o n f u e t u d o in aulis fuis v u l g o h o m i n u m praeclulifis, I t a l o r u m & F r a n c i c o r u m alentium m i m o r u m g r e g e m ,
1
hi- ftrionalibus facetiis quaeftum in t h e a t r o f a c i e n t e m , ne 1 h i l u m q u i d e m ad a ni mo s civium f o r m a n d o s , vitam difjfpo- n e n d a m a d i o n e s q u e r e g e nd a s p e r t i n e n t e , v e r u m ad diciem aliqua o b l e d a t i o n e c o n f u m e n d a m .Re nafcenr ibus artibus fingulis cunas praebens Iraalia T r a g i c a m M u f a m f ove re valde fore apta debuifie v i de r ir ur , q u o d d u æ , quibus i nni ti tur T r a g c e d i a , c ar dines , c o m n m i - ferationis n i m i r u m t e r r o r i s q u e a f f e d u s , calamitatibus c o r - t u m debeant. T e m p o r i b u s v e r o illis fervirutis e t o r p o r e ; e- l u d a t a s Italiae civitates licet d i f t r a h e r e n t c r u e n t o diffiddio f a d i o n u m c e r t a m i n a ; iftius t a m e n aevi T r a g i c a in pooëfi t e n t a m i n a r u d e m ultra d e b i l e m q u e G r a e c o r u m
Latinno-r u m q q u e
♦
4
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* *3n u m q u e p oërarum haud p r o g r e d ieb a m u r im itationem ( i ). G i l o r i æ ac fo rtitu d in is affectus fpe&anrium in a n im is ci- cins ( 2 ) , atque ad r e m p u b licam & vitam c o n f o r m a t a Græ- ccorum T r a g c c d i a optimatum calamitates vividis coloribus d c e p i n x ir , e o c on fiiio , ut plebeji & inferioris co n d ition is h c o m i n e s fu a c o n t e n t i forte t r a n q u illio r i, aequitatem le gitim juftitiam que tanto pluris d ifceren t æftimare ( 3 ). F u it liæ c q u o n d a m virtutis f c h o l a , multum juvans o m n e m d i i f c i p lin a m c i v i l e m , m o ru m q u e e m e n d a tio n em . T r a g o e . diiæ A lctftis f c o p u s fuit o f f e n d e n d i , fidem conjugalem at-
qiue h o f p i t a l i t a t e m fuis n um quam praemiis fraudari. Pr- LMDF.M inter O r e ste m q jje d ia lo g u s arguit o m n iu m vivi- d i i f l i m u m a f f e f t u u m amicitiam veteribus fuiffe h a b itam 3 utt f r i g i d a m v e r o hanc refpuerunr r e c e n n o r e s V en eris c e - ftium M e l p o m e n i adaptantes : e x quo ab illa vera Tragoe- diiae i m a g i n e receffere. I n d u £ lu m fibi m ollitiei c o l o r e m feervantibus m o r ib u s a noftris o m n i n o abhorrent antiquae faibulæ T r a g i c a e , quæ h o d ie agitantur ( 4 ) . E x Afia p o- tiius & A m e r i c a Tragoediarum argum enta conquirunt Franci q iuam m e d ia e civitate fuorum h eroum res geftas e. g. H e n r i c h I V , cui t a m e n im m ortali p rincipi n on nihil referunt aceceptum. H i n c q u a m v is f e r v e n s T r a g i c o r u m poërarum im d u ftria o m n i dellituta fuit vi & efficacia ad publicos
g e n
-( r ) Cfr. Chefs - d’ œuvres Dramatiques Tom. I. Difcours Pre-
lin ri. p a r IVl. M a r m o n t e l . p. 3 0 .
( 2 ) E * e rc itu i Athenienfium p ra fu it S o p h o c l e s , cujus diciio ma.
gm ifica & fu h h m is animum redolet beUkofutn. J. G r o n o v . T h e f a u r . G ræ c .
Avntiqu. VoJ. X . p. 775.
( 3 ) S h a f t e s b u r y , C a r a & e riftic s V o l. I . p . 1 4 8 .
( 4 ) Oh* on reprefinte à B e r n e , à Z u r i c h , à la Haye P ancienne
tjyvrnnnie de la maifon d ’ A u t r i c h e , /’ amour de la patrie & de la liberté noons rendra ces pieces interejfantes ; niais q u ' on me dife de quel u/age fo n t
ic n les tragedies de Corneille, isf se qu' importe au peuple de Paris Pom- péét ou Sertorius. J . J. R o u s s e a u , J u l i e I I . P a r t . p. 137.
* 4 <
4
*t y
t y
g e n t i s hujus m o r e s c o n f t i t u e n d o s ( i ). R e p r e h e n f i o n e ' d i g n u s eft C r e b i l l o n f c n i o r iftiusm odi c o l o r i b u s C a t i l i nae a d u m b r a n s f c e l u s , ut nec c o n t e m n e n d u m , n e q u e e- m e n d a t i o n e m m e r e r i videatur. V o l t a i r e Orofmane Cuo &
Tnncrede, arque S a u r i n in Beverley a u t o c h i r i a m f v a d e n t . A d m o r t e m libi c o n f c i f c e n d a m A n g l i s n o n nullis a u c t o r e m ifuifle A d d i s o n i s Catonem a c c e p i m u s ( 2 ).
G r æ c æ T r a g c c d i æ q u a n d a m e x h i b e n t i m a g i n e m , l i c e t ei d e ftru en d æ i n f e r v i a n t , Dramata m i r a c u l o f a , Operas
a d p e l l a n t j in quibus h o m i n e s fonis m a g i s q uam r e b u s f e n lib u s q u e captandis a d f v e f c u n t ( 3 ) . H o c ad D r a m a a d o r n a n d u m o m n e s fere artes e l e g a n t e s c o n f p i r a n t m a n u s-
q u e jungunt : quarum lingulae q u u m naturae c o n t i n e a n t u r i m i t a t i o n e , ad v i m m a g i c a m illarum u n i t a m o f t e n d e n d a m , fabulam e l i g u n t , i n e p t o o m n i n o co n lilio . Fabulofae e n i m materiae i n g e n t i adeo m a c h in a r u m i n d i g e n t n u m e r o , p o e t a m c o e r c e n t i u m ut v i n c i r e a & i o n e m v e l e x p l i c a r e , per-
f o n a r u m v e e ffin g e r e c h a r a & e r e s , & affectus c i e r e aeger r i m e
( / ) J1 paroit d ’ abord fingulier que ce g ra n d homme ( Pierre Corneille) n' ait pas eu plus d' influence f u r le cara&ere de la N a tio n . I l fe m b lc qu' il etoit f a i t pour lui donner plus à ’ energie iC de gi nudeur ; mais le getlie du C a rd in a l de Richelieu p ieva lu t J u r celui de Corneille. L e M i n i f l r e ayant a fferm i /’ a u to r ité de maniéré qu' elle « ’ eut plus rien à redouter des feccus- f e s d' une liberté expirante , le Poète f u t fu b lim e &T R o m a in en p u te perte. Racine , par fon ftyle e n c h a n te u r, & par la route q u ’ il c h o iftt, entièrement oppofée à celle de f o n predecejfeur, acheva d ’ amollir la N a tio n . Corneille plus j a l o u x d ’ etonner que d' é m o u v o ir, avoit fa i t de I’ admiration le principal tes- f o r t de fes Tragedies. Racine y fu b fti tu a I' interet. L ' a m b itio n , la politi, que , /' amour de la liberté difparurent inferfihlement du T b e a t t e , pour fa i. f e place à une pajflon plus to u c h a n te, & le cœur donna des lo ix au gettie»
Mémoires pour fervir à 1’ hifloire de Littérature depuis François I. jus-
q u ’ à nos jours, par M. P a l i s s o t de M o x t e n o y .
( a ) G. W . . A l r e r t i , Briefe über den allerneueften Zuftande der
Religion u. Wiflenfch. in Groll'-Britannien I. Th. p. 80. V3 ) V o l t a i r e , Poétique Uv. VIII. Chap. 8*
A' y ry JSfeM
r i m e polfit ( i ) . N u l l a m fere a d h i b e n t c u r a m , ut D r a mati huic ne ce fl ariæ pi£turæ r e b u s , faltatiove ( 2 ) actioni c o n g r u at. Praeparandi a n i m o s ad accipiendam v i m c a r m i n u m , afte£tusque po ët æ cogitatis c o n v e n i e n te s excitandi ufus ac coniilium inulices eile debe ret. Haec v e r o ex pedilTequa q u o n d a m p o ë l e o s , d o m in a ejus facta hodie eft; in eamque effœminatam quamVis & i m p u d icis m o d is f r a f t a m , m e n t e m q u e langvidis liquefa c i e n t e m v o l u p t a t i b u s , p h i l o f o p h i c o fcilicet h oc faeculo, i m p e n d u n t u r fumtus ( 3 ) n o n exigui.
A d j u v a n t e rifu i p f o , in virtutis amorem fleftendi a- n i m o s h u m a n o s feftivæ T h a l i æ i ng en iofa eft facultas. C o m -
cediam illam l e g e m v i t æ , civilis confvetudinis magi- ftram , majori c u m fru£tu n e m o e x e r o u i r , quam gravis reipublicae q u o n d a m Athenienlis cenfor A r i s t o u h a n f s ,
cujus comoedia Pefpis^ judiciales magiftratus e m e n d a t u r a
conti-( i ) A l g a r o t t t , Eflay fur 1’ Opera.
( 2 ) J t voudrois bien q u ' on me dit ce que fignifieiit toutes ces d a n jes,
telles que le m e n u e t , le pa/fe p i e d , le rig a u d o n , /’ allem ande, lu f a r a h a n d e , ou I' on f v i t un chemin tracé? Cet homme f e déploie avec une grace infinie. I l ne f a i t aucun mouvement où j e n' appercoive de la fa c ilite , de la douceur de la noblejfe ; mais q n 1 efi - ce q u ’ il imite ? Oeuvres de
AI. D i d e r o t , T o m . IV .
( ? ) L e gout de la mufiqne efl devenu general; les princes ont j - gé q u ’
i l etoit de leur grandeur d ’ avoir dans leur cour des hommes , qui tantôt fla tte n t leurs oreilles , ta n tô t les étourdifient par les Jotts de leurs inftt umens. L e f e u roi de Pologne payoit cent mille ecus la reprefentation de chaque o- pera nouveau ; le roi de Portugal a donné un million d ’ écus à / on 6 kam»
mes mutilés dont la fo n ctio n etoit de lui chanter quelques ariettes ; la R u f- f i e , qui ne connoi/foit pas une note au commencement de ce ftecle, a pris tant de gout pour les memes a r ie tte s , q u ’ elle paie mieux un chanteur qu' un gen era l: les A n g la is , plus mode f e s , ont f i x é à 30,000 liv. tournois les ho noraires d ’ un muficien q u i leur en chante j o datis I' année; I' opera de Pa r i s , établi p our d iv e rtir les gens o i/tfs , coûte annuellement à l’ état 7 00,009 liv. , qui f o r m e n t j u f t e la fo m m e q u ’ il fa u drait pour nourrir 21100 citoyens qui meurent de f a i m . L ’ Efprit des Jo u rn au x , Juin, 1781.
c o n t i n e t u r difciplina. Q u a m in imitationis Ubi propofuic e x e m p l a r J. R a c i n e , o pus c o m i c u m
(les Plaideurs)
elab o r a n s , in q u o ab o m n i b u s t a me n m o r u m praeceptis abs t i n e t judicibus & advocatis fuæ nationis inculcandis. P e r v a g at o h o d i e r n i C o m i c i l a b o r a n t v i t i o , quod ridicula quo-
r u n d a m dignitatis g r a d u u m v e n e r a t i o n e praepediri n o n ni li iis adhaerentes naevos o b f e r v e n r arque infectentur
j
qua r e utilitas fcenæ Comicae i m m i n u i t u r , ad inferioris fortis h o m i n e s contagio- q u o d a m p r a v a s traducentis o p t i m a t u m c o n f v e r u d i n e s ( i ). C i r c a produCta in f cenam vitia C o micis antiquis nil o m i t t e n t i b u s , quo a g g r a v a r e t u r ita h o r r o r t u r p i t u d i n i s , ut obrutae iis p e r f o n æ n e q u e laudis ulli us nec. gratiae fpeciem i ndue re poffent;; fæpe v i r t u t e m r i d e t , vitiis adplaudit h o d i e r n a Comoedia. G r e f f e t i a n æ C o m œ d i æ (Méchant
) p a l m ar i a p e r f o n a p r o b i s h o m i n i b u s vel c o r r u p t i s a fe vel proculcatis infultans e g r e d i t u r , n o v a m m i n a b u n d a illis ignominiae notam. Nequitiae g r a t a m , amcenamque vitiis fpeciem affingit M q l i e r e in pe-riculofiffimo bonis moribus- D r a m a t e
(George D andin
) , i n q u e(A v a ro )
filium e x h i b e t p2tris fui o b j u r g a t i o n e sf ubfân nantem..
Ignorantiae ac fuperftitionis caligine oppreffiam in E u r o p a m Arabes- O r i e n t a l e m t r a d u x e r e f i & i o n e m , m o r i bus in O c c i d e n t e ’ tunc v ige nt ibus a d p r i m e c o n g r u e n t e m ; e qua cruciatarum e x p e d i t i o n u m figmentis amplificata, hi- floriae fpecies fabulofa emerfit diCta
(R om ance)
, i n c a n t a m e n t i s ac prodigiis referta. Q u a m p r o x i m e fecutaeft d e b i t a r u m H i f p a n i sNovellarum
na£la n o m e n fiCfititia n a r r a t i o , h u m a n i t a t e m magis q u i d e m t a n g e n s , fed m e t h o d o a n a t u r a a b h o r r e n t e : nam q u e m a d m o d u m n e c r o m a n t i æ in- t e r v e n i e n t e o p e r a in illa g e r e b a n t u r res o m n e s , ita in h a c p e r technas & fabularum, t o r m e n t a praecipitabatur
e-
nar-( T) J- J. R o u s r e a u , Julie II. P. p ; 140. D i d e r o t , Tom. V..
399-n a r r a t o r i s fpiritus. Cujusmodi defe£his o r i u n d a s e F r a n cia p e p e r i t Heroicas Fabulas Romanenjes ad a m o r e m ac c e n d e n d u m h o n o r e m q u e c o mp ara tas, fabulasque recentiores c u m m y t h i f lo r ia confundentes, Quibus f u ccedentes par*
vœ Novell# A m atori# fubtiliorem affe&us hujus p a r t e m m i
n i m e t a n g u n t , fed diflblutam l i b i d i n e m , & inconftantes i n c u l c a n t amores. F r i v o l a haec confverudo p e r t o t a m vi- tæ a g e n d æ r a t i o n e m fe diffundens officiis graviffimis fu- u m i n d u c i t colorem. Iftiusmodi amoris affe£lus e am e x e r c e n s aetatem , qua m a x i m e flexiles ac fequaces h u m a ni f u n t a n i m i , defultoria e m i n e n t e m levitate efficit chara- £1e r e m , mollitie eos ffangente n e r v o s quibus a r m a ti m o r
tales fublimes res fequerentur. H e i c , n o n v i l i o r i b u s , ut in comoedia fleri a m a t , h o m i n i b u s d a n t partes animos c o r r u m p e n d i , fed pofltis in alto dignitatis g r a d u perfo- n i s , q u a r u m nobilitate p r a v a nobilitetur libido. Confti- t u e n d i a n im i habitus caufa legi folitæ fabulæ R o m a n e n fes a d u l t e r i a , leviflimas ut offenfiunculas, t r a £ îa n r , fart- t u m n o n p r o virtutibus ea habentes. Quales q u i d e m p e c c a r e d ocentes hiftorias diurna n o & u r n a q u e v e r fa n t m a nu e l e g a n te s & politiori c o nf verudine fvetoe feminae, q u a r u m , delicatiorem ob t e n eritu dine m t e m p e r a m e n t i m o l l i t u d i n e m q u e , p h a n t a f i a p r a v o r u m afFe£tuum v e h e m e n tiae v a l d e eft obnoxia. T u l i t ta ndem aeras c iterio r F a b u las vitae h o m i n u m ac confverudinis im a g in em e x p r i m e n t e s , q u a r u m dialogi totidem funt fcenae, ideoque pari c u m comoediis paflu a m b u la n t ( i ). Q u o d D r a m a t i c a m
a d
( i ) Quelle fiiurce d'' inftruclions (le s romans qui contiennent des
peintures des m œ u rs ), f i une philo fnphie vertueufe en etoit I’ finie, få r a s *
fe m b lo it f o u s les y e u x to u te r les combinaifons pojfbles de la vie pour en com- pofer un to u t moral. L a verite eft bornée, la fiction tie /’ eft peint —
/ ’ une ne oouvoit attaquer les vices que par des reflexions abftraites, ou des
f a t y r e s perfonnelles ; I' a u t ' e peut fe u le les d em a fq u tr avre innocence f å avec agrément ; il ne manque à cette fo r te d ’ ouvrages que d' ttr e plus dirigés à
t> u tilité qu' h I’ am ufement. Difcours fur la fiftion, par M . B o r d e ,
ad ratiionem accedens f c ri be n di genus u b e r r i m a m prae bet a n f a m , inculcandarum ad vitam p e r t i n e n t i u m aClio- nesque h u m an as l e n t e n d a r u m , F r a n c i v o c a n t
{reflexions),
quas fine frigidae vitio affectationis, b i o g r a p h u s n e q u i v e rit u f u r p a r e . Eminuere hoc in g e n e r e , affeclus rationis in g y r u m c o g en s R i c h a r d s o n , F i e l d i n gSt
aiiClor F r a n -cus De M a r i v a u x , cujus autem fabula
{Le Légataire)
p e r n i c i e m m o r i b u s i n t e n t a t , pariter ac altera
( Le Pay fan
parvenu)
a b o m i n a n d a f vad en s feeiera.Experientiae inftar efle p o t e r u n t , variis in m e m o r iam recurfantes occafionibus a po logi ; q u o r u m auctores virtutis & honeftatis p r æc ep r a ad ufum c o m m u n i s vitae d e b e n t transferre. Q u a m legem m i g r a t h o d i e r n o r u m p r i n c ep s fabulatorum, L a F o n t a i n e , v a f r i c i e m i n c u l c a n
do ( i ). P r o d e u n t i u m hodie l i b r o r u m i nf er ipt ioni bu s fi c r e d e r e fas f o r e t , bene mo ra ti s fabulis n o l t r u m æ v u m m i n i m e e d e t cariturum. Sic quo c o n l i h o , (
Contes M oraux)
luas infcripferit fabulas Dn. M a r m o n t e l , difficile ell i n
t er pr et at u , duabus t a n t u m aut tribus infimique illis o r d i n i s , illi q u o d a m m o d o titulo r e f p o n d e n t i b u s .
I n t e r r o g a t u s , quam p r o fit e r e tu r a r t e m , L u c i a n u s ( 2 ) ,
a r r o g a n t i æ , impofturæ , m e n d a c i i
St
fallus fe elfe o l o r e m r e f p o n d i t , a m a to rem autem v e r i , h o n e f ti atque finceri. Q u o q u i d e m d i d o g e n u i n i f a ty r ic i p o ë tæ charaCterem exprelfit in f e f l a n t i s vitia n o n h o m i n e s , n eque tantum rifu r iclum d i d u c e n t i s , fed in m a l o s acerrrim um fe praebentis, uni v e r o aequum virtuti. B o i l e a v i i f u y r a V I , i m p r u d e n -t i o r e m brutis elfe a nim an tib us h o m i n e m o l l e n d e n s , L u tetiam Parifiorum non g e n u s t a n g it h u m a n u m , resque n o n rejeCtaneas f e d habentes e x c u f a t i o n e m irrifu ludit ( 3 ).
E. M a r
-{ 1 ) L e fage d i t , Jeloti les gens: Vive le R o i , vive la L igue,
Fables Choifies Liv. IT. Fab. 5. ( 2 ) Pifcat. Tranfl. Tom. I. p. 400.
( 3 ) P e r s i u s pojpjfes f ^e i-'nPBy art ° f throwing vice into a deep
fhade
E M a r t i a l i f c r ip t o r ib u sq u e aliis e p i g r a m m a t u m prae cipuis e l u c e t , d e b e r e illa verîàri in l e v i o r i s m o m e n t i m o ribus ( les p e tits mœurs) c o m p o n e n d i s , f r i g i d a q u e affe c t a t i o n e & o b v i i s quavis in re offenfiunculis caflig andis. Itaque nullus , nili cujus cu lp am præftare p o f f u n t h o m i n e s , naevus erit p e r l t r i n g e n d u s . Sa ncitam a Pope ( i ) l e
g e m o b f e r v a n t raro h o d i e r n i p o e t a n te s , qui t e m p e r a r e n t libi ab i m p i i s c o n d e n d i s e p i g r a m m a t i b u s li v e l l e n t c o g i
tare q u a n t a m m o r u m honelfarisque p e r n i c i e m a d f e r a n t h æ c c a r m i n a , q u i p p e quæ ten a c ilîîm e in m e m o r i a in fiden- tia adteCtibus h o m i n u m i n f u n d i q u o d a m m o d o foleanr & a d m if c e r i.
I n f i g n i s p a ro d iæ u t il i t a s , in v e llica n d a jejuna verfifi- c a t o r u m g r e g e , n i m i u m quantum m in u it u r a t u r p i , cui hæc c a r m i n i s fp ecies fæpe p a t e t , abufu. N u l l o s f u b l i m e s fen fus fuo d e peCtore d e p r o m e r e v a l e n t e s p o e t a n t i u m n o n n u l l i , faris t a m e n hab en t feftivitatis ad d i v i n o r u m p o e t a rum c a r m i n a dicacibus fuis argu tiolis c a r p e n d a . Q u a r e m i n i m e p r o b a n d u m Scarronis co n liliu m in ir r id e n d o V i r -
g i l i o ; u n d e e ti a m p a t e t , q u o judicio d i g n a fit in c e l e -
bratiffimam H y p e r b o r e u m per o r b e m E l e g i a m ( 2 ) p r o p a lata p arodia. A d d e lu d ific a n d o s v e r o f u m m o s v a tes o l i m m i n i m e a d h ib e b a tu r h u j u s c e m o d i p o ë m a ( 3 ) ad i m i t a n d a s
f h a à e by the amiable emanations o f his own good heart. /Itnoug the m o d e r n s , B o ilea tt, mho in litera ry matters was f p h e n and pt epojjeffian i t f e l f , mas ig
norant o f this a r t y an d M r . Pope fometimes affects it too much ; fo r he cants and InJI es at the fam e time. He knows not h e w to / mile like H o r a c e , or to inflrucl like P e r f t u s — Crit. R e v . Septem ber, 1 7 6 4 .
( 1 ) C u r s ’d he the v e r f e , h o w veil f i e ’cr it f l o w ,
T h a t tends to make one w o r t h y man m y f o e ; G iv e v ir tu e f c a n d a l , innocence a fe a r ,
O r fro m th e f o f t - e y ’ d v it'iin (teal a tear.
( 2 ) Vitterhets Arbeten, Jl. Tom . p. 200.
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e x p r i m e n d a s v e t e r u m elegantias P o ë t a r u m unice adcom-m o d a t n m .
E p i g r a m m a t u m olim n o m i n e v e n e r e publicis infcnl- p t æ m o n u m e n t i s infcriptiones. A t h e n i s Pdiitrati filium H i p p a r c h u m publicis in locis viisque H e r m a s ftatuendas curaffe, fcita oft endentes praecepta ethica ( i ) , acc epimus,
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t a m m a r i t i m a r u m q u a m terreftrium m o n u m e n t a v i a t o r i a r u m8
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tropaea p ulc err imis e p i g r a m m a t i s fui (Pe inftgni- ta. S i q u a n d o a d p a r e a n t h o d i e v i r t u t u m atque h u m a n i t a tis illuftria e x e m p l a pofteritati c o m m e n d a tu r a e infcriptio- n e s , p l e r u m q u e i n coemeteria
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a n e m i n e t e m e r e f r e q u e n tata r e l e g a n t u r l o c a , fcilicet, ne nimis uberes fpectatu- ris a d f e r a n t fru£lus. Pauca a d m o d u m i n v e n i u n t u r h o c g e n u s o p e r a , q u æ nobili e m i n e a n t fimplicitate ( 2 ) , p l u r i mi s n o n nifi fatuitatis dantibus d o c u m e n t a ( 3 ) . Ufusltili i n f c ri pt io nu m feu lapidarius ine pte f r e q u e n t a t u r h o d i e i n e p i t h a l a m i i s , dedicatoriis e p i lt o l is a c gratulatoriis.
( 1 ) P l a t o i n ’E s o c i s p . 234. Ed. Baf.
( 2 ) Cfr. Den N ye Granfkaren N:o 9. 10. 1 7 8 4 . Maji. p. 40.
W e g e n der edlen E in f a lt verdienet d ie A u f f c h r i f t an dem Inw nli der haus bey B e r l i n a n g e fü h rt z u werden'. L æ s o e t i n v i c t o m i l i t i. Hingegen iß a u f
einem der g r ä ffle n öffentlichen gebdude diefer S ta d t eine deutfche A u f f c h r i f t , die einem H and w erksm anne z u fch a n d e gereichen w u r d e , S u l z k r A l l g e m .
T heorie der Schon. K u n ä e , voc. Auffchrift.
( 3 ) N o s to m b e a u x f o n t couverts d ’ eloges\ J u r ceux des ancieus on
lijoit des f a i t s — N o t r e ß y J e lapidaire n' efl bon qiC a fouffler des nains.