of Bulgaria, instituted religious plays at Constantinople, to wean the people from the pagan revels, but the objectionable manner in which he handled solemn subjects, appears to have excited much scandal among his more scrupulous brethren.

On the suppression of learning, the place of the classical drama was for a long time supplied by mysteries and moralities, which it was well known were written and acted by the clergy. Impious and absurd as these strange inventions appear to us, they were composed in solemn seriousness, and not intended to be either profane or ridiculous.

During the darkness of the middle ages, we are surprized to find the following tolerant opinions delivered by venerable authorities.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, called the Angelic Doctor, says, "Amusement is necessary for the carriage of human life; but amongst all things which are useful for the daily conduct of man, may be reckoned some lawful employments; and therefore the employment of an actor also, which is calculated to give solace to mankind, is not in itself, unlawful; nor are they (actors) in a state of sin, provided that they exercise their avocation moderately; that is, by not using any unlawful words or actions for the purpose of amusement, or by not applying it to improper matters or times. Whence, they who assist them in moderation, do not sin, but act justly in giving them the reward

L

of their services.-But if any persons superfluously waste their property on such people, or even support those actors who exhibit unlawful amusements, they sin, as encouraging them in sin."*

ST. ANTONINUS, Archbishop of Florence, in the fifteenth century, agrees with his reverend brother. "The art of acting," says he, "as it is subservient to human recreation, which, according to D. Thomas, is necessary to the life of man, is not of itself unlawful; whence also it is not prohibited to live by that art."+

* "Ludus est necessarius ad conversationem vitæ humanæ : ad omnia autem quæ sunt utilia conversationi humanæ, deputari possunt aliqua officia licita: et ideò etiam officium histrionum quod ordinatur ad solatium hominibus exhibendum, non est secundum se illicitum ; nec sunt (histriones) in statu peccati, dummodo moderatè ludo utuntur; id est, non utendo aliquibus illicitis verbis vel factis, ad ludum, et non adhibendo ludum negotiis et temporibus indebitis. Unde illi qui moderatè eis subveniunt, non peccant, sed justa faciunt mercedem ministerii eorum eis tribuendo.-Si qui autem superfluè sua in tales consumunt, vel etiam sustentant illos histriones qui illicitis ludis utuntur, peccant, quasi eos in peccato foventes.”—St. Thom. Aquin. Summæ Theolog. Q. clxviii. (Sec. Secund.) Artic. iii. et iv.

† "Histrionatus ars quia deservit humanæ recreationi quæ necessaria est vitæ hominis secundum D. Thomam, de se non est illicita. Unde et de illa arte vivere non est prohibitum."-St. Antonin. In tertia parte suæ summæ. Tit. viii. cap. iv. s. 12. When these eminent authorities recorded their

CARDINAL BONAVENTURA, Bishop of Alva, (circa 1250,) says, "Plays are good and lawful, if they are accompanied by the necessary circumstances and restrictions;" among the latter, he enumerates as the four principal ones, that they are to contain nothing immodest either in the conduct or catastrophe, and are not to be acted in times of sadness, or by members of the Church.* ALBERTUS MAGNUS, Bishop of Ratisbon, (circa 1320,) says, "As proof that the Bible does not condemn games, dances, and public spectacles, taken by themselves, and stript of the bad accessories, which make them reprehensible, we find in Exodus, that Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, danced to the sound of timbrels, and that the action was praiseworthy. The prophet King says, Benjamin was in the midst of the young girls, playing on the timbrel.'

Does

not God promise the Jews, by the mouth of

opinions, the legitimate drama had ceased to be acted, but their liberal indulgence especially included Harlequin and Punch. St. Antoninus adds the restriction, with which all reasonable minds will heartily concur, that it is is forbidden for a clergyman to act Harlequin, or for Punch to exhibit in church.-See Article Drama, Sup. Enclyc. Britt. by Sir Walter Scott.

His enim

* Similiter judicandum est de spectaculis. quatuor de causis possunt male fieri et fiunt; his exclusis, bene possunt fieri."-Bonavent. Lib. IV. Distinc. xvi. pars 1.

Dub. xiii.

Jeremiah, that after their return from Chaldea, they shall dance, and play on the timbrels.' Dances and pleasures are only wrong by the abuses joined to them, and I shall therefore not command a penitent to abstain from them, as God himself not only permits, but promises them."*

MARTIN LUTHER, the great founder and champion of the Reformation, on the subject of the drama has the following remarks. "The acting of comedies ought not to be debarred for the sake of the boys in schools: first, that they exercise themselves in the Latin tongue; second, in comedies, such persons are artificially feigned and presented, whereby people are instructed and admonished every way concerning their offices and vocations; likewise what belongeth to a master or a servant; a young fellow what well becometh him, and what he ought to do. Yea, therein is demonstrated all dignities, degrees, offices and duties; how every one ought to carry himself in outward conversation, as in a looking glass. Moreover, therein are also showed and described the crafty exploits and deceits of evil women. In like manner what the office of parents and young striplings is; how they ought to bring and train up their children and young people to the state of matrimony, when time and

*Alb. Magn. Quartam. Dist. xvi. Art. 43. Tit. "An ludi sint peccatum mortale."

opportunity serveth. How children ought to be obedient to their parents, and how they ought to

proceed in wooing. And indeed Christians ought not altogether to fly and abstain from comedies, because now and then gross tricks and dallying passages are acted therein; for then it will follow, that by reason thereof, we should also abstain from reading in the Bible. Therefore, it is of no value that some allege such and the like things, and for these causes would forbid Christians to read or act comedies."*

And, again, he says: "In ancient times the Dramatic Art has been honoured by being made subservient to religion and morality, and in the most enlightened country of antiquity, in Greece, the Theatre was supported by the State. The dramatic nature of the Dialogues of Plato has always been justly celebrated, and from this we may conceive the great charm of dramatic poetry. Action is the true enjoyment of life, nay, life itself. The great bulk of mankind are, either from their situation, or their incapacity for uncommon efforts,

* Doct. Mart. Lutheri Colloquia Mensalia. Translated by Captain Henrie Bell. Fol. Lond. 1652. pag. 507. Of studying.—I have preserved the quaint phraseology of Bell, altering only the spelling. The words "evil women" I have substituted, as his expression was too coarse for ears polite.