Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Tatler, No. 108

From Thursd. Dec. 15. to Saturd. Dec. 17. 1709

"For this Reason I frequently look in at the Playhouse, in order to enlarge my Thoughts, and warm my Mind with some new Idea's, that may be serviceable to me in my Lucubrations."

It is not to be imagined, how great an Effect well disposed Lights, with proper Forms and Orders in Assemblies, have upon some Tempers. I am sure I feel it in so extraordinary a Manner, that I cannot in a Day or Two get out of my Imagination any very beautiful or disagreeable Impression which I receive on such Occasions. For this Reason I frequently look in at the Playhouse, in order to enlarge my Thoughts, and warm my Mind with some new Idea's, that may be serviceable to me in my Lucubrations. In this Disposition I entered the Theatre the other Day, and placed my self in a Corner of it, very convenient for seeing, without being my self observed. I found the Audience hushed in a very deep Attention, and did not question but some noble Tragedy was just then in its Crisis, or that an Incident was to be unravelled which would determine the Fate of an Hero. While I was in this Suspence, expecting every Moment to see my old Friend Mr. Betterton appear in all the Majesty of Distress, to my unspeakable Amazement, there came up a Monster with a Face between his Feet; and as I was looking on, he raised himself on one Leg in such a perpendicular Posture, that the other grew in a Direct Line above his Head. It afterwards twisted it self into the Motions and Wreathings of several different Animals, and after great Variety of Shapes and Transformations, went off the Stage in the Figure of an humane Creature. The Admiration, the Applause, the Satisfaction, of the Audience, during this strange Entertainment, is not to be expressed. I was very much out of Countenance for my dear Countrymen, and looked about with some Apprehension for Fear any Foreigner should be present. Is it possible (thought I) that humane Nature can rejoice in its Disgrace, and take Pleasure in seeing its own Figure turned to Ridicule, and distorted into Forms that raise Horror and Aversion? There is something disingenuous and immoral in the being able to bear such a Sight. Men of elegant and noble Minds, are shocked at seeing the Characters of Persons who deserve Esteem for their Virtue, Knowledge, or Services to their Country, placed in wrong Lights, and by Misrepresentation made the Subject of Buffoonry. Such a nice Abhorrence is not indeed to be found among the Vulgar; but methinks it is wonderful, that these who have nothing but the outward Figure to distinguish them as Men, should delight in seeing it abused, vilified, and disgraced.
(II, pp. 351-3; cf. II, pp. 154-5 in Bond ed.)

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See The Tatler. By Isaac Bickerstaff Esq. Dates of Publication: No. 1 (Tuesday, April 12, 1709.) through No. 271 (From Saturday December 30, to Tuesday January 2, 1710 [i.e. 1711]). <Link to ESTC>

Collected in two volumes, and printed and sold by J. Morphew in 1710, 1711. Also collected and reprinted as The Lucubrations of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.

Consulting Donald Bond's edition of The Tatler, 3 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987). Searching and pasting text from The Lucubrations of Isaac Bickerstaff Esq: Revised and Corrected by the Author (London: Printed by John Nutt, and sold by John Morphew, 1712): <Link to Vol. 1><Vol. 2><Vol. 3><Vol. 4><Vol. 5>. Some text also from Project Gutenberg digitization of 1899 edition edited by George A. Aitken.

03/02/2014