Page:Lives of Poets-Laureate.djvu/202

188 play, as I have been told, the Spaniards having a tradition (which they believe) of such a vicious Spaniard as is represented in this play. From them the Italian comedians took it, and from them, the French; and four several French plays were made upon the story.

"I hope the readers will excuse the irregularities of the play, when they consider the extravagance of the subject forced me to it. I have been told by a worthy gentleman, when first a play was made upon this story in Italy, he had seen it acted there by the name of 'Ateista Fulminato,' in churches on Sundays, as a part of devotion; and some, not of the least judgment and piety here, have thought it rather a useful moral than an encouragement of vice."

What must be our idea of the purity of that religion or the morality of that system which can countenance the performance of "Don Juan" in church on Sunday as a part of devotion? We present the reader with a few of the dramatis personæ of this portion of the Papal Church Service:

. The Libertine, a rash, fearless man, guilty of all vice.

. Don John's mistress, abused by him, and yet follows him for love.

. Abused by Don John, and following him for revenge.

Six women, all wives to Don John, &c.

Later in the preface we are told that the town was not unkind to it, and then follows a flourish about the rapidity with which it was written. "There being no act in it," says Shadwell, "which cost me above five days' writing, and the last two, the playhouse having great occasion for a play, were both written in four days, as several can testify." There is no more merit in quick writing than in quick digestion, and this parade of facility only sinks the author in our esteem, as it is either an affectation or a falsehood. Labour is the necessary condition of excellence,