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write a book of chivalry in which all the points I have mentioned were
to be observed； and if I must own the truth I have more than a hundred
sheets written； and to try if it came up to my own opinion of it； I
showed them to persons who were fond of this kind of reading； to
learned and intelligent men as well as to ignorant people who cared
for nothing but the pleasure of listening to nonsense； and from all
I obtained flattering approval； nevertheless I proceeded no farther
with it； as well because it seemed to me an occupation inconsistent
with my profession； as because I perceived that the fools are more
numerous than the wise； and； though it is better to be praised by
the wise few than applauded by the foolish many； I have no mind to
submit myself to the stupid judgment of the silly public； to whom
the reading of such books falls for the most part。
〃But what most of all made me hold my hand and even abandon all idea
of finishing it was an argument I put to myself taken from the plays
that are acted now…a…days； which was in this wise： if those that are
now in vogue； as well those that are pure invention as those founded
on history； are； all or most of them； downright nonsense and things
that have neither head nor tail； and yet the public listens to them
with delight； and regards and cries them up as perfection when they
are so far from it； and if the authors who write them； and the players
who act them； say that this is what they must be； for the public wants
this and will have nothing else； and that those that go by rule and
work out a plot according to the laws of art will only find some
half…dozen intelligent people to understand them； while all the rest
remain blind to the merit of their composition； and that for
themselves it is better to get bread from the many than praise from
the few； then my book will fare the same way； after I have burnt off
my eyebrows in trying to observe the principles I have spoken of；
and I shall be 'the tailor of the corner。' And though I have sometimes
endeavoured to convince actors that they are mistaken in this notion
they have adopted； and that they would attract more people； and get
more credit； by producing plays in accordance with the rules of art；
than by absurd ones； they are so thoroughly wedded to their own
opinion that no argument or evidence can wean them from it。
〃I remember saying one day to one of these obstinate fellows；
'Tell me； do you not recollect that a few years ago； there were
three tragedies acted in Spain； written by a famous poet of these
kingdoms； which were such that they filled all who heard them with
admiration； delight； and interest； the ignorant as well as the wise；
the masses as well as the higher orders； and brought in more money
to the performers； these three alone； than thirty of the best that
have been since produced？'
〃'No doubt；' replied the actor in question； 'you mean the
〃Isabella；〃 the 〃Phyllis；〃 and the 〃Alexandra。〃'
〃'Those are the ones I mean；' said I； 'and see if they did not
observe the principles of art； and if； by observing them； they
failed to show their superiority and please all the world； so that the
fault does not lie with the public that insists upon nonsense； but
with those who don't know how to produce something else。 〃The
Ingratitude Revenged〃 was not nonsense； nor was there any in 〃The
Numantia；〃 nor any to be found in 〃The Merchant Lover；〃 nor yet in
〃The Friendly Fair Foe；〃 nor in some others that have been written
by certain gifted poets； to their own fame and renown； and to the
profit of those that brought them out；' some further remarks I added
to these； with which； I think； I left him rather dumbfoundered； but
not so satisfied or convinced that I could disabuse him of his error。〃
〃You have touched upon a subject； senor canon；〃 observed the
curate here； 〃that has awakened an old enmity I have against the plays
in vogue at the present day； quite as strong as that which I bear to
the books of chivalry； for while the drama； according to Tully； should
be the mirror of human life； the model of manners； and the image of
the truth； those which are presented now…a…days are mirrors of
nonsense； models of folly； and images of lewdness。 For what greater
nonsense can there be in connection with what we are now discussing
than for an infant to appear in swaddling clothes in the first scene
of the first act； and in the second a grown…up bearded man？ Or what
greater absurdity can there be than putting before us an old man as
a swashbuckler； a young man as a poltroon； a lackey using fine
language； a page giving sage advice； a king plying as a porter； a
princess who is a kitchen…maid？ And then what shall I say of their
attention to the time in which the action they represent may or can
take place； save that I have seen a play where the first act began
in Europe； the second in Asia； the third finished in Africa； and no
doubt； had it been in four acts； the fourth would have ended in
America； and so it would have been laid in all four quarters of the
globe？ And if truth to life is the main thing the drama should keep in
view； how is it possible for any average understanding to be satisfied
when the action is supposed to pass in the time of King Pepin or
Charlemagne； and the principal personage in it they represent to be
the Emperor Heraclius who entered Jerusalem with the cross and won the
Holy Sepulchre； like Godfrey of Bouillon； there being years
innumerable between the one and the other？ or； if the play is based on
fiction and historical facts are introduced； or bits of what
occurred to different people and at different times mixed up with
it； all； not only without any semblance of probability； but with
obvious errors that from every point of view are inexcusable？ And
the worst of it is； there are ignorant people who say that this is
perfection； and that anything beyond this is affected refinement。
And then if we turn to sacred dramas… what miracles they invent in
them！ What apocryphal； ill…devised incidents； attributing to one saint
the miracles of another！ And even in secular plays they venture to
introduce miracles without any reason or object except that they think
some such miracle； or transformation as they call it； will come in
well to astonish stupid people and draw them to the play。 All this
tends to the prejudice of the truth and the corruption of history； nay
more； to the reproach of the wits of Spain； for foreigners who
scrupulously observe the laws of the drama look upon us as barbarous
and ignorant； when they see the absurdity and nonsense of the plays we
produce。 Nor will it be a sufficient excuse to say that the chief
object well…ordered governments have in view when they permit plays to
be performed in public is to entertain the people with some harmless
amusement occasionally； and keep it from those evil humours which
idleness is apt to engender； and that； as this may be attained by
any sort of play； good or bad； there is no need to lay down laws； or
bind those who write or act them to make them as they ought to be
made； since； as I say； the object sought for may be secured by any
sort。 To this I would reply that the same end would be； beyond all
comparison； better attained by means of good plays than by those
that are not so； for after listening to an artistic and properly
constructed play； the hearer will come away enlivened by the jests；
instructed by the serious parts； full of admiration at the
incidents； his wits sharpened by the arguments； warned by the
tricks； all the wiser for the examples； inflamed against vice； and
in love with virtue； for in all these ways a good play will
stimulate the mind of the hearer be he ever so boorish or dull； and of
all impossibilities the greatest is that a play endowed with all these
qualities will not entertain； satisfy； and please much more than one
wanting in them； like the greater number of those which are commonly
acted now…a…days。 Nor are the poets who write them to be blamed for
this； for some there are among them who are perfectly well aware of
their faults； and know what they ought to do； but as plays have become
a salable commodity； they say； and with truth； that the actors will
not buy them unless they are after this fashion； and so the poet tries
to adapt himself to the requirements of the actor who is to pay him
for his work。 And that this is the truth may be seen by the
countless plays that a most fertile wit of these kingdoms has written；
with so much brilliancy； so much grace and gaiety； such polished
versification； such choice language； such profound reflections； and in
a word； so rich in eloquence and elevation of style； that he has
filled the world with his fame； and yet； in consequence of his
desire to suit the taste of the actors； they have not all； as some
of them have； come as near perfection as they ought。 Others write
plays with such heedlessness that； after they have been acted； the
actors have to fly and abscond； afraid of being punished； as they
often have been； for having acted something offensive to some king
or other； or insulting to some noble family。 All which evils； and many
more that I say nothing of； would be removed if