cynical seducerto gain dishonourable possession
of the daughter of the woman he had betrayed
in the prologue. If any play of the Elizabethan
or any other era deals with matters much more
repellent than these, I have yet to become
acquainted with it. As for the dialogue, I need
only give one specimen. A young lady, im-
mediately on her introduction to a young
gentleman, looks him straight in the face and
inquires, "Are your intentions honourable or
dishonourable?" upon which he answers, "Am
I to understand, madam, that I am allowed the
choice ? " Scarcely had this play been licensed
and produced when a malignant spirit prompted
some one to suggest the formation of a Shelley
Society, and then induced the Shelley Society
to organize a performance of " The Cenci." At
once the Censor intimated that such an enormity
could not be endured. Now, I shall not attempt
to determine with precision the extent of sexual
misdoing admissible or inadmissible on the
stage. The infallibility conferred by Act of
Parliament (lo George II. c. ig) upon the
Censor has doubtless enabled him to draw the
line to a hair's breadth ; but to my fallible judg-
ment it seems a strange discrimination which
leaves "Nadjezda" on the right side of the
line and "The Cenci" on the wrong. So far



V Google



THE CENSORSHIP OF THE STAGE.
