muſic. In the preface he quotes a paſſage from Boileau, in which that ſatiriſt expreſſes himſelf with much ſeverity againſt emaſculating diverſions; and the Italian muſic in particular.
He obſerves, ‘That the modern Italians have the very ſame ſun and ſoil with the antient Romans, and yet are their manners directly oppoſite. Their men are neither virtuous, wiſe, or valiant, and they who have reaſon to know their women, never truſt them out of their ſight. ’Tis impoſſible to give any reaſon for ſo great a difference between the antient Romans, and the modern Italians, but only luxury; and the reigning luxury of modern Italy, is that ſoft and effeminate muſic, which abounds in the Opera.’
In this Eſſay Mr. Dennis remarks, that entertainments entirely made up of muſic can never inſtruct the mind, nor promote one excellent purpoſe in human nature. ‘Perhaps, ſays he, the pride and vanity that is in mankind, may determine the generality to give into muſic, at the expence of poetry. Men love to enjoy their pleaſures entirely, and not to have them reſtrained by awe, or curbed by mortification. Now there are but few judicious ſpectators at our dramatic repreſentations, ſince none can be ſo, but who with great endowments of nature have had a very generous education; and the reſt are frequently mortified, by paſſing fooliſh judgments: But in muſic the caſe is vaſtly different; to judge of that requires only uſe, and a fine ear, which the footman oft has a great deal finer than his maſter. In ſhort, a man without common ſenſe may very well judge of what a man writes without common-ſenſe, and without common-ſenſe compoſes.’ He then inquires what the conſequence will be if we baniſh poetry, which is, that taſte, politeneſs, erudition and public ſpirit will fall with it, and all for a Song.
