1.14. How vice was afterward reproued by two other maner of poems, better reformed then the Satyre, whereof the first was Comedy, the second Tragedie.
Bvt when these maner of solitary speaches and recitals of rebuke, vttered
by the rurall gods out of bushes and briers, seemed not to the finer heads
sufficiently perswasiue, nor so popular as if it were reduced into action of
many persons, or by many voyces liuely represented to the eare and eye, so
as a man might thinke it were euen now a doing. The Poets deuised to haue
many parts played at once by two or three or foure persons, that debated the
matters of the world, sometimes of their owne priuate affaires, sometimes
of their neighbours, but neuer medling with any Princes matters nor such
high personages, but commonly of marchants, souldiers, artificers, good
honest housholders, and also of vnthrifty youthes, yong damsels, old nurses,
bawds, brokers, ruffians and parasites, with such like, in whose behauiors,
lyeth in effect the whole course and trade of mans life, and therefore tended
altogether to the good amendment of man by discipline and example. It was
also much for the solace & recreation of the common people by reason
of the pageants and shewes. And this kind of poeme was called
Comedy, and followed next after the Satyre, & by that
occasion was somwhat sharpe and bitter after the nature of the
Satyre, openly & by expresse names taxing men more maliciously
and impudently then became, so as they were enforced for feare of quarell
& blame to disguise their players with strange apparell, and by
colouring their faces and carying hatts & capps of diuerse fashions to
make them selues lesse knowen. But as time & experience do reforme
euery thing that is amisse, so this bitter poeme called the old
Comedy, being disused and taken away, the
new
Comedy came in place, more ciuill and pleasant a great deale and
not touching any man by name, but in a certain generalitie glancing at euery
abuse, so as from thenceforth fearing none ill-will or enmitie at any bodies
hands, they left aside their disguisings & played bare face, till one
Roscius Gallus the most excellent player among the Romaines brought
vp these vizards, which we see at this day vsed, partly to supply the want of
players, when there were moe parts then there were persons, or that it was
not thought meet to trouble & pester princes chambers with too many
folkes. Now by the chaunge of a vizard one man might play the king and the
carter, the old nurse & the yong damsell, the marchant & the
souldier or any other part he lifted very conueniently. There be that say
Roscius did it for another purpose, for being him selfe the best
Histrien or buffon that was in his dayes to be found, insomuch as
Cicero said
Roscius contended with him by varietie of liuely
gestures to surmount the copy of his speach, yet because he was squint eyed
and had a very vnpleasant countenance, and lookes which made him
ridiculous or rather odious to the presence, he deuised these vizards to hide
his owne ilfauored face. And thus much touching the
Comedy.
