It is conjectured, that the first appearance of an actress on the English stage, to the scandal of the Puritans, and with many apologies for the "indecorum" of giving up the performances of female characters by boys, took place in the theatre in Vere Street, on Saturday, Dec. 8, 1660. The part first performed was certainly that of Desdemona; a very fit one to introduce the claims of the sex.[224]
Mr. Malone has given us the prologue written for this occasion by Thomas Jordan; which, as it shows the "sensation" that was made, sets us in a lively manner in the situation of the spectators, and gives a curious account of some of the male actors of gentle womanhood, we shall here repeat. It is entitled "A Prologue, to introduce the first Woman that came to act on the Stage, in the Tragedy called the Moor of Venice:"
"I came unknown to any of the rest, To tell the news; I saw the lady drest: The woman plays to-day; mistake me not, No man in gown, or page in petticoat: A woman to my knowledge, yet I can't, If I should die, make affidavit on't. Do you not twitter, gentlemen? I know You will be censuring: do it fairly, though; 'Tis possible a virtuous woman may Abhor all sorts of looseness, and yet play; Play on the stage--where all eyes are upon her: Shall we count that a crime France counts an honour? In other kingdoms husbands safely trust 'em; The difference lies only in the custom. And let it be our custom, I advise; I'm sure this custom's better than th' excise, And may procure _us_ custom: hearts of flint Will melt in passion, when a woman's in't. But, gentlemen, you that as judges sit In the Star-chamber of the house--the pit, Have modest thoughts of her; pray, do not run To give her visits when the play is done, With '_damn me, your most humble servant, lady_;' She knows these things as well as you, it may be; Not a bit there, dear gallants, she doth know Her own deserts,--and your temptations too. But to the point:--in this reforming age We have intents to civilize the stage. Our women are defective, and so sized, You'd think they were some of the guard disguised; For to speak truth, men act, that are between Forty and fifty, wenches of fifteen; With bone so large, and nerve so incompliant, When you call Desdemona, enter giant. We shall purge everything that is unclean, Lascivious, scurrilous, impious, or obscene; And when we've put all things in this fair way, Barebones himself may come to see a play."[225]