Introduction
In Ben Jonson’s day, many theatre critics demanded strict adherence to the principles laid down by classical theorists. Modernisers scoffed, and allowed the ancients no place at all. The Truth, said Jonson, cannot be jealously fenced off like this, either for the critics of the past or for the critics of today. It belongs to everyone, like the village green. The critic’s job is to keep it all looking attractive.
A man should so deliver himself to the nature of the subject, whereof he speaks, that his hearer may take knowledge of his discipline with some delight: and so apparel fair, and good matter, that the studious of elegancy be not defrauded;* redeem Arts from their rough, and braky seats,* where they lay hid, and over-grown with thorns, to a pure, open, and flow’ry light: where they may take the eye, and be taken by the hand.
I cannot think Nature is so spent, and decay’d, that she can bring forth nothing worth her former years. She is always the same, like her self: And when she collects her strength, is abler still. Men are decay’d, and studies. She is not.
I know Nothing can conduce more to letters, than to examine the writings of the Ancients, and not to rest in their sole Authority, or take all upon trust from them; provided the plagues of Judging, and Pronouncing against them, be away; such as are envy, bitterness, precipitation, impudence, and scurrile scoffing.*
* ‘The studious of elegancy’ means ‘those intelligent readers who expect elegance’ in drama, or perhaps in a critic’s reasoning. Elegancy implies not only grace and beauty, but restraint and simplicity. Like his close contemporary Sir Philip Sidney, Jonson had a poor opinion of those who used literary criticism or the drama as a weapon. See Sidney on Laughter in the House.
* Braky is an adjective formed from ‘brake’, from the Old English bracu, meaning a thicket, so ‘braky’ means ‘thicketty, covered over with thickets’. The idea is that in the Arts, Nature’s truth is buried beneath tangled growth and needs to be brought to light by the sympathetic critic. ‘Brake’ in this sense is now rare.
* Today, we say scurrilous rather than scurrile, though scurrile sounds much better here. The words indicate writing that is coarse, abusive, gossipy and even defamatory. On the dangers to society posed by celebrity critics, see Question More by NL Clay, and on the kind of criticism that relies on clever-sounding insults and put-downs, William Paley on Who Can Refute a Sneer?.
Précis
Playwright Ben Jonson declared it was quite proper to analyse and even question the principles of drama set out by ancient writers, so long as the critic brought Nature’s truth to light in a pleasant and constructive fashion. If he descended to the sneering and self-regarding tone of some critics, he would contribute nothing of value. (56 / 60 words)
Playwright Ben Jonson declared it was quite proper to analyse and even question the principles of drama set out by ancient writers, so long as the critic brought Nature’s truth to light in a pleasant and constructive fashion. If he descended to the sneering and self-regarding tone of some critics, he would contribute nothing of value.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, despite, just, may, must, otherwise, who.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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