Therewerefewbranchesofliteraturetowhichhehadnotpaidsomeattention。Butecclesiasticalantiquitywashisfavouritestudy。InreligiousopinionshebelongedtothatsectionoftheChurchofEnglandwhichliesfurthestfromGenevaandnearesttoRome。HisnotionstouchingEpiscopalgovernment，holyorders，theefficacyofthesacraments，theauthorityoftheFathers，theguiltofschism，theimportanceofvestments，ceremonies，andsolemndays，differedlittlefromthosewhicharenowheldbyDr。
PuseyandMr。Newman。Towardsthecloseofhislife，indeed，ColliertooksomestepswhichbroughthimstillnearertoPopery，mixedwaterwiththewineintheEucharist，madethesignofthecrossinconfirmation，employedoilinthevisitationofthesick，andofferedupprayersforthedead。Hispoliticswereofapiecewithhisdivinity。HewasaToryofthehighestsort，suchasinthecantofhisagewascalledaTantivy。Noteventhepersecutionofthebishopsandthespoliationoftheuniversitiescouldshakehissteadyloyalty。WhiletheConventionwassitting，hewrotewithvehemenceindefenceofthefugitiveking，andwasinconsequencearrested。Buthisdauntlessspiritwasnottobesotamed。Herefusedtotaketheoaths，renouncedallhispreferments，and，inasuccessionofpamphletswrittenwithmuchviolenceandwithsomeability，attemptedtoexcitethenationagainstitsnewmasters。In1692，hewasagainarrestedonsuspicionofhavingbeenconcernedinatreasonableplot。Sounbendingwerehisprinciplesthathisfriendscouldhardlypersuadehimtoletthembailhim;andheafterwardsexpressedhisremorseforhavingbeeninducedthustoacknowledge，byimplication，theauthorityofanusurpinggovernment。Hewassoonintroubleagain。SirJohnFriendandSirWilliamParkins，weretriedandconvictedofhightreasonforplanningthemurderofKingWilliam。Collieradministeredspiritualconsolationtothem，attendedthemtoTyburn，and，justbeforetheywereturnedoff，laidhishandsontheirheads，andbytheauthoritywhichhederivedfromChrist，solemnlyabsolvedthem。Thisscenegaveindescribablescandal。ToriesjoinedwithWhigsinblamingtheconductofthedaringpriest。Someacts，itwassaid，whichfallunderthedefinitionoftreasonaresuchthatagoodmanmay，introubledtimes，beledintothemevenbyhisvirtues。Itmaybenecessaryfortheprotectionofsocietytopunishsuchaman。Buteveninpunishinghimweconsiderhimaslegallyratherthanmorallyguilty，andhopethathishonesterror，thoughitcannotbepardonedhere，willnotbecountedtohimforsinhereafter。
ButsuchwasnotthecaseofCollier’spenitents。Theywereconcernedinaplotforwaylayingandbutchering，inanhourofsecurity，onewho，whetherhewereorwerenottheirking，wasatalleventstheirfellow—creature。WhethertheJacobitetheoryabouttherightsofgovernmentsandthedutiesofsubjectswereorwerenotwellfounded，assassinationmustalwaysbeconsideredasagreatcrime。Itiscondemnedevenbythemaximsofworldlyhonourandmorality。MuchmoremustitbeanobjectofabhorrencetothepureSpouseofChrist。TheChurchcannotsurely，withoutthesaddestandmostmournfulforebodings，seeoneofherchildrenwhohasbeenguiltyofthisgreatwickednesspassintoeternitywithoutanysignofrepentance。Thatthesetraitorshadgivenanysignofrepentancewasnotalleged。Itmightbethattheyhadprivatelydeclaredtheircontrition;and，ifso，theministerofreligionmightbejustifiedinprivatelyassuringthemoftheDivineforgiveness。Butapublicremissionoughttohavebeenprecededbyapublicatonement。Theregretofthesemen，ifexpressedatall，hadbeenexpressedinsecret。ThehandsofCollierhadbeenlaidontheminthepresenceofthousands。
TheinferencewhichhisenemiesdrewfromhisconductwasthathedidnotconsidertheconspiracyagainstthelifeofWilliamassinful。Butthisinferenceheveryvehemently，and，wedoubtnot，verysincerelydenied。
Thestormraged。ThebishopsputforthasolemncensureOftheabsolution。TheAttorney—GeneralbroughtthematterbeforetheCourtofKing’sBench。Collierhadnowmadeuphismindnottogivebailforhisappearancebeforeanycourtwhichderiveditsauthorityfromtheusurper。Heaccordinglyabscondedandwasoutlawed。Hesurvivedtheseeventsaboutthirtyyears。Theprosecutionwasnotpressed;andhewassoonsufferedtoresumehisliterarypursuitsinquiet。Atalaterperiod，manyattemptsweremadetoshakehisperverseintegritybyoffersofwealthanddignity，butinvain。WhenhediedtowardstheendofthereignofGeorgetheFirst，hestillunderthebanofthelaw。
WeshallnotbesuspectedofregardingeitherthepoliticsorthetheologyofCollierwithpartiality;butwebelievehimtohavebeenashonestandcourageousamanaseverlived。Wewillgofurther，andsaythat，thoughpassionateandoftenwrong—headed，hewasasingularlyfaircontroversialist，candid，generous，toohigh—spiritedtotakemeanadvantageseveninthemostexcitingdisputes，andpurefromalltaintofpersonalmalevolence。Itmustalsobeadmittedthathisopinionsonecclesiasticalandpoliticalaffairs，thoughinthemselvesabsurdandpernicious，eminentlyqualifiedhimtobethereformerofourlighterliterature。Thelibertinismofthepressandofthestagewas，aswehavesaid，theeffectofareactionagainstthePuritanstrictness。Profligacywas，liketheoak—leafofthetwenty—ninthofMay，thebadgeofacavalierandaHighChurchman。Decencywasassociatedwithconventiclesandcalves’heads。GraveprelatesweretoomuchdisposedtowinkattheexcessesofabodyofzealousandableallieswhocoveredRoundheadsandPresbyterianswithridicule。IfaWhigraisedhisvoiceagainsttheimpietyandlicentiousnessofthefashionablewriters，hismouthwasinstantlystoppedbytheretort:YouareoneofthosewhogroanatalightquotationfromScripture，andraiseestatesoutoftheplunderoftheChurch，whoshudderatadoubleentendre，andchopofftheheadsofkings。ABaxter，aBurnet，evenaTillotson，wouldhavedonelittletopurifyourliterature。Butwhenamanfanaticalinthecauseofepiscopacyandactuallyunderoutlawryforhisattachmenttohereditaryright，cameforwardasthechampionofdecency，thebattlewasalreadyhalfwon。
In1698，CollierpublishedhisShortViewoftheProfanenessandImmoralityoftheEnglishStage，abookwhichthrewthewholeliteraryworldintocommotion，butwhichisnowmuchlessreadthanitdeserves。Thefaultsofthework，indeed，areneitherfewnorsmall。ThedissertationsontheGreekandLatindramadonotatallhelptheargument，and，whatevermayhavebeenthoughtofthembythegenerationwhichfanciedthatChristChurchhadrefutedBentley，aresuchas，inthepresentday，ascholarofveryhumblepretensionsmayventuretopronounceboyish，orratherbabyish。Thecensuresarenotsufficientlydiscriminating。
TheauthorswhomCollieraccusedhadbeenguiltyofsuchgrosssinsagainstdecencythathewascertaintoweakeninsteadofstrengtheninghiscase，byintroducingintohischargeagainstthemanymatteraboutwhichtherecouldbethesmallestdispute。
Hewas，however，soinjudiciousastoplaceamongtheoutrageousoffenceswhichhejustlyarraigned，somethingswhicharereallyquiteinnocent，andsomeslightinstancesoflevitywhich，thoughnotperhapsstrictlycorrect，couldeasilybeparalleledfromtheworksofwriterswhohadrenderedgreatservicestomoralityandreligion。ThusheblamesCongreve，thenumberandgravityofwhoserealtransgressionsmadeitquiteunnecessarytotaxhimwithanythatwerenotreal，forusingthewords"martyr"and"inspiration"inalightsense;asifanarchbishopmightnotsaythataspeechwasinspiredbyclaretorthatanaldermanwasamartyrtothegout。Sometimes，again，Collierdoesnotsufficientlydistinguishbetweenthedramatistandthepersonsofthedrama。ThusheblamesVanbrughforputtingintoLordFoppington’smouthsomecontemptuousexpressionsrespectingtheChurchservice;thoughitisobviousthatVanbrughcouldnotbetterexpressreverencethanbymakingLordFoppingtonexpresscontempt。ThereisalsothroughouttheShortViewtoostrongadisplayofprofessionalfeeling。Collierisnotcontentwithclaimingforhisorderanimmunityfromindiscriminatescurrility;hewillnotallowthat，inanycase，anywordoractofadivinecanbeapropersubjectforridicule。NordoesheconfinethisbenefitofclergytotheministersoftheEstablishedChurch。HeextendstheprivilegetoCatholicpriests，and，whatinhimismoresurprising，toDissentingpreachers。
This，however，isameretrifle。Imaums，Brahmins，priestsofJupiter，priestsofBaal，arealltobeheldsacred。DrydenisblamedformakingtheMuftiinDonSebastiantalknonsense。LeeiscalledtoasevereaccountforhisincivilitytoTiresias。ButthemostcuriouspassageisthatinwhichCollierresentssomeuncivilreflectionsthrownbyCassandra，inDryden’sCleomenes，onthecalfApisandhishierophants。Thewords"grass—eating，fodderedgod，"wordswhichreallyaremuchinthestyleofseveralpassagesintheOldTestament，giveasmuchoffencetothisChristiandivineastheycouldhavegiventothepriestsofMemphis。
But，whenalldeductionshavebeenmade，greatmeritmustbeallowedtothiswork。Thereishardlyanybookofthattimefromwhichitwouldbepossibletoselectspecimensofwritingsoexcellentandsovarious。TocompareCollierwithPascalwouldindeedbeabsurd。Yetwehardlyknowwhere，exceptintheProvincialLetters，wecanfindmirthsoharmoniouslyandbecominglyblendedwithsolemnityasintheShortView，Intruth，allthemodesofridicule，frombroadfuntopolishedandantitheticalsarcasm，wereatCollier’scommand。Ontheotherhand，hewascompletemasteroftherhetoricofhonestindignation。
Wescarcelyknowanyvolumewhichcontainssomanyburstsofthatpeculiareloquencewhichcomesfromtheheartandgoestotheheart。Indeedthespiritofthebookistrulyheroic。
Inorderfairlytoappreciateit，wemustrememberthesituationinwhichthewriterstood。Hewasunderthefrownofpower。Hisnamewasalreadyamarkfortheinvectivesofonehalfofthewritersoftheage，when，inthecauseofgoodtaste，goodsense，andgoodmorals，hegavebattletotheotherhalf。Strongashispoliticalprejudiceswere，heseemsonthisoccasiontohaveentirelylaidthemaside。HehasforgottenthatheisaJacobite，andremembersonlythatheisacitizenandaChristian。SomeofhissharpestcensuresaredirectedagainstpoetrywhichhadbeenhailedwithdelightbytheToryparty，andhadinflictedadeepwoundontheWhigs。Itisinspiritingtoseehowgallantlythesolitaryoutlawadvancestoattackenemies，formidableseparately，and，itmighthavebeenthought，irresistiblewhencombined，distributeshisswashingblowsrightandleftamongWycherley，Congreve，andVanbrugh，treadsthewretchedD’Urfeydowninthedirtbeneathhisfeet，andstrikeswithallhisstrengthfullatthetoweringcrestofDryden。
TheeffectproducedbytheShortViewwasimmense。ThenationwasonthesideofCollier。Butitcouldnotbedoubtedthat，inthegreathostwhichhehaddefied，somechampionwouldbefoundtoliftthegauntlet。ThegeneralbeliefwasthatDrydenwouldtakethefield;andallthewitsanticipatedasharpcontestbetweentwowell—pairedcombatants。Thegreatpoethadbeensingledoutinthemostmarkedmanner。Itwaswellknownthathewasdeeplyhurt，thatmuchsmallerprovocationshadformerlyrousedhimtoviolentresentment，andthattherewasnoliteraryweapon，offensiveordefensive，ofwhichhewasnotmaster。Buthisconsciencesmotehim;hestoodabashed，likethefallenarchangelattherebukeofZephon，——
"Andfelthowawfulgoodnessis，andsawVirtueinhershapehowlovely;sawandpinedHisloss。"
AtalaterperiodhementionedtheShortViewintheprefacetohisFables。Hecomplained，withsomeasperity，oftheharshnesswithwhichhehadbeentreated，andurgedsomemattersinmitigation。But，onthewhole，hefranklyacknowledgedthathehadbeenjustlyreproved。"If，"saidhe，"Mr。Collierbemyenemy，lethimtriumph。Ifhebemyfriend，asIhavegivenhimnopersonaloccasiontobeotherwise，hewillbegladofmyrepentance。"
ItwouldhavebeenwiseinCongrevetofollowhismaster’sexample。Hewaspreciselyinthatsituationinwhichitismadnesstoattemptavindication;forhisguiltwassoclear，thatnoaddressoreloquencecouldobtainanacquittal。Ontheotherhand，therewereinhiscasemanyextenuatingcircumstanceswhich，ifhehadacknowledgedhiserrorandpromisedamendment，wouldhaveprocuredhispardon。Themostrigidcensorcouldnotbutmakegreatallowancesforthefaultsintowhichsoyoungamanhadbeenseducedbyevilexample，bytheluxurianceofavigorousfancy，andbytheinebriatingeffectofpopularapplause。Theesteem，aswellastheadmiration，ofthepublicwasstillwithinhisreach。Hemighteasilyhaveeffacedallmemoryofhistransgressions，andhavesharedwithAddisonthegloryofshowingthatthemostbrilliantwitmaybetheallyofvirtue。But，inanycase，prudenceshouldhaverestrainedhimfromencounteringCollier。Thenonjurorwasamanthoroughlyfittedbynature，education，andhabit，forpolemicaldispute。
Congreve’smind，thoughamindofnocommonfertilityandvigour，wasofadifferentclass。Nomanunderstoodsowelltheartofpolishingepigramsandreparteesintotheclearesteffulgence，andsettingthemneatlyineasyandfamiliardialogue。Inthissortofjewelleryheattainedtoamasteryunprecedentedandinimitable。Buthewasaltogetherrudeintheartofcontroversy;andhehadacausetodefendwhichscarcelyanyartcouldhaverenderedvictorious。
Theeventwassuchasmighthavebeenforeseen。Congreve’sanswerwasacompletefailure。Hewasangry，obscure，anddull。EventheGreenRoomandWill’sCoffee—Housewerecompelledtoacknowledgethatinwit，aswellasinargument，theparsonhadadecidedadvantageoverthepoet。NotonlywasCongreveunabletomakeanyshowofacasewherehewasinthewrong;buthesucceededinputtinghimselfcompletelyinthewrongwherehewasintheright。CollierhadtaxedhimwithprofanenessforcallingaclergymanMr。Prig，andforintroducingacoachmannamedJehu，inallusiontotheKingofIsrael，whowasknownatadistancebyhisfuriousdriving。HadtherebeennothingworseintheOldBachelorandDoubleDealer，CongrevemightpassforaspureawriterasCowperhimself，who，inpoemsrevisedbysoaustereacensorasJohnNewton，callsafox—huntingsquireNimrod，andgivestoachaplainthedisrespectfulnameofSmug。Congrevemightwithgoodeffecthaveappealedtothepublicwhetheritmightnotbefairlypresumedthat，whensuchfrivolouschargesweremade，therewerenoveryseriouschargestomake。Insteadofdoingthis，hepretendedthathemeantnoallusiontotheBiblebythenameofJehu，andnoreflectionbythenameofPrig。
Strange，thatamanofsuchpartsshould，inordertodefendhimselfagainstimputationswhichnobodycouldregardasimportant，telluntruthswhichitwascertainthatnobodywouldbelieve！
OneofthepleaswhichCongrevesetupforhimselfandhisbrethrenwasthat，thoughtheymightbeguiltyofalittlelevityhereandthere，theywerecarefultoinculcateamoral，packedcloseintotwoorthreelines，attheendofeveryplay。Hadthefactbeenashestatedit，thedefencewouldbeworthverylittle。Fornomanacquaintedwithhumannaturecouldthinkthatasententiouscoupletwouldundoallthemischiefthatfiveprofligateactshaddone。ButitwouldhavebeenwiseinCongrevetohavelookedagainathisowncomediesbeforeheusedthisargument。Collierdidso;andfoundthatthemoraloftheOldBachelor，thegraveapophthegmwhichistobeaset—offagainstallthelibertinismofthepieceiscontainedinthefollowingtriplet:
"Whatruggedwaysattendthenoonoflife！
Oursundeclines，andwithwhatanxiousstrife，Whatpain，wetugthatgallingload——awife。"...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：