The Theater (1720) | Page 5

of Antiquity is so plain to this inhuman Kind of Proceeding, that when Eteocles and Polynices had kill'd each other upon the important Quarrel of disputed Empire, the Government order'd the Challenger's Body to be thrown out as a Prey to the Dogs and Birds, and made it Death for any one to sprinkle Dust over it, or give it the least honorary Marks of Interment.
The Duelling so much in Fashion for a few late Centuries is so scandalous to Christianity and common Understanding, and grounded upon none of those specious Occasions which at first made it warrantable, that it is high Time the Wisdom of Commonwealths should interpose to discountenance and abrogate a pernicious Liberty, whose Source springs alone from Folly and Intemperance. Sir Walter Raleigh has very wisely observ'd in his History of the World, that _the acting of a private Combat, for a private Respect, and most commonly a frivolous One, is not an Action of Virtue, because it is contrary to the Law of God, and of all Christian Kings: neither is it difficult, because even and equal in Persons and Arms: neither for a publick Good, but tending to the contrary, because the Loss or Mutilation of an able Man, is also a Loss to the Commonweal_.
Yet vile and immoral as this Custom is, it has so far prevail'd as to make way for a Science, and is pretended, like Dancing, to be taught By Rule and Book. The Advertisements, which are of great Instruction to curious Readers, inform us, that a late Baronet had employ'd his Pen in laying down the solid Art of Fighting both on Foot and _Horseback_: by reading of which Treatise any Person might in a short time attain to the Practice of it, either for the Defence of Life upon a just Occasion, or Preservation of Honour, in any accidental Scuffle or Quarrel. That is, if I may have Permission, without being challeng'd, to divest the Title of its Pomp, this solid Art would soon put one in a Capacity of killing one's Man, and standing a fair Chance of bequeathing one's Cloaths and Neck to the Hangman. It is observable, that Mr. Bysshe, in his Collection of agreeable and sublime Thoughts, for the Imitation of future Poets, when he comes to the Topick of Honour, ingeniously refers his Readers to the Word _Butcher_; tacitly implying that the Thoughts upon both Heads have a Coherence, as the Terms themselves are synonomous. In short, your Practitioners in Duelling are so barbarous in their Nature; that their whole Study is picking up Occasions to be engaged in a Quarrel. They are a sort of Quixots, whose heads are so full of mischievous Chivalry, that they will mistake the Sails of a _Wind-mill_ for the Arms of a _Gyant_; and it is fifty to one, if the most innocent Motions, Looks, or Smiles, are not, by their Prepossessions, construed Airs of Defiance, Offence, or Ridicule. There is a Passage in Hamlet, which never fails of raising Laughter in the Audience; 'tis where the Clowns are preparing a Grave for Ophelia, and descanting on the Unreasonableness of her being buried in Christian Burial, _who willfully sought her own Salvation. Will you ha' the Truth or on't?_ says one of them wisely, _if this had not been a Gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of_ Christian Burial. _Why there though say'st it_; replies his Fellow, _and the more is the Pity that great Folk should have Countenance in this World to drown, or hang themselves more than us poor Folk_. The Application is so easy, that I shall leave it for everyone to make it for himself.
Next to my first Wish, that Duelling were totally restrain'd, methinks, I could be glad that our young hot _Bravo's_ would not be altogether brutal, but quarrel mathematically, and with some Discretion. I would recommend the Caution, which Shakespear has prescrib'd by an Example, of offering and accepting a Challenge. In one of his Plays, there is an hereditary Quarrel betwixt two Families, and the Servants on each Side are so zealous in their Masters Cause, that they never meet without a Desire of fighting, yet are shy of giving the Occasion of Combat. The transcribing a short Passage will give the best Idea of their Conduct.
Samp. _I will bite my Thumb at them, which is a Disgrace to them if they bear it._
Abra. _Do you bite your Thumb at Us, Sir?_
Samp. _I do bite my Thumb, Sir._
Abra. _Do you bite your Thumb at Us, Sir?_
Samp. _Is the Law on our Side, if I say, Ay?_
Greg. _No._
Samp. _No, Sir; I do not bite my Thumb at you, Sir; but I bite my Thumb, Sir._
The most beneficial Things to a Commonwealth will have some of its Members who