The Use and Abuse of Dancing, Text
❧ A briefe Tracte concerning Dauncing collected out of Maiſter Doctour Peter Martyr, by Maiſter Maſſonius.
DAuncing, as Plato ſaieth, is ſayde to be of reioycing: for that it is a certain teſtimonie of ioy and gladneſſe. And Seruius interpreting that verſe of Virgill. Omnis quā chorus et ſocij cōmitantur ouātes.
Whom all the companye of dauncers and fellowes followed reioycinge: ſaieth the ſame to be a ſinginge and leapinge of them that are of one age. But from whence this ſhoulde take it beginninge, there are diuerſe opinions.
Some ſuppoſe, that men beholdinge the motions of the fixed and wanderinge Starres, inuented this, therby to repreſent that variety of the motion. Others thinke that it rather ſprange fyrſte of Religion, becauſe amonge the auncient Ethnickes, no ſacred thinges were wel nie donne without dauncinge.
For they leade theyr daunces from the leafte to the right ſide of the Aulter, to ſhewe the turninge of Heauen from duplicate page duplicate page the Eaſte to the Weaſt, then returned they from the right ſide to the leafte, to ſignify the courſe of the moueable and vnmoueable ſtarres: which thinge peraduenture Virgill meant, when be ſayde: Inſtaurant que choros mixti que altaria circū. They begine to daunce afreſh one with another round about the aulters.salij vvere prieſtes of Mars in Rome, vvhichwhich daunced about the citie vvith targatts called Ancilia. Alſo Salij the prieſtes of Mars among the Romaines were had in great eſtimation. And there be that referre the originall hereof to Hiero Siculus the tyraunt: who, as they reporte, to eſtabliſh his tyranny, forbad the people mutuall communication. By meanes wherof it came to paſſe, that the men of Sicilia beganne to exprſſe theyr mindes and thoughtes by beckes & geſtures of the bodie: which afterwards grew to an vſe and cuſtom. But whether this be ſo or noe, daunces in the olde time were not enſtraunged from religion: albeit afterwardes they were applyed to publique and common reioyſing: Beſides theſe, there was another kinde exerciſed by younge men in Martiall affayres.
For aſmuch as they were commaunded to leappe and make muche geſture and ſignes of mirth in theyr Harnes, to thend they might be readier and apter for battell, when the cauſe of ye common welath ſo required.Pyrricha a certain form of dauncing vſed of ſoldiors, and iuented by Pyrehus. This manner of daunſinge was called Pyrrhicha, and becauſe it was vſed in armour, armed, hereof mentiō is made in the ciuill lawes, (that is to ſaye) in the digeſt of puniſhmentes, F. de poenis: L. ad damnum.
And ſometyme younge men, whē they treſpaſſed, were not foorthwith adiudged to dye, but either to hunte in the theater, or to daunce in theyr armour: and they were called Pyrrhicharij. Another kinde alſo there was, which was appointed for pleaſure, onelyonly and laſciuiouſnes, called of the Gretians foreign or foreign.foreign a rude ruſticall and rydiculouſe kinde of dauncing in comaedies.
Moreouer of them that expreſſed by the geſtures of theyr bodies the meaning of theyr mindes: wryteth Lucianus in his Treaty of dauncing, & likwiſe Athenaeus: Which came to that paſſe at length, that Demetrius Cynicus in deriſion called thys counterfeit dauncing a vaine thing and nothing worth. Whereupon a worthy dauncer, whoe then was had in honour at Rome, deſyred him that he would but one onelye tyme beholde him, and then that hee woulde iudge and reporte whatſoeuer pleaſed him. He came to the Theater, the counterfeite beganne by his geſtures to expreſſe the common fable of Mars and Venus, taken in adulterye. Wherein in ſuche ſorte, he ſhewed the Sonne diſcloſinge, Vulcan knittinge nettes, Venus all aſhamed, and Mars humbly intreating, in ſo much as Demetrius aſtonied cryed out. I not onelyonly ſée, O man, the thinges thou doeſt, but alſo here them. For by thy handes thou ſéemeſt to ſpeake vntounto me. At the ſame tyme, as it happened, there repayred to Rome, the kinge of Pontus: Who when he had ſéene this dauncer play his geſturs in the Theater, afterwardes willed to demaund of Nero, the thinge he chieflye wiſhed to be beſtowed vpō him, he aſked ye geſturer: wherat Nero maruelyng, ſéeing he might hauehave requeſted other things of much more valew, inquired the cauſe of his requeſt. He made anſwere, becauſe I hauehave many nations vnderunder my ſubiection, whom without an interpreter, I cā not vnderſtande, and eftſoomes it falleth out, that interproters declare not faithfully enough my wordes vntounto them, nor agayne theyrs vntounto me: But this fellow by hys geſtures wyll declare all thynges moſte faythfullye. Plato in his thyrde booke of lawes, maketh two manners of daunces, the one warlike, whiche aboue we named Pyrrhicha, the other peaceable, wkich he termeth placable.
The vncleane and filthy kinde I omit to ſpeake of, becauſe it is manefeſtſlye condemned by the lawes. The exerciſe in harnes and that which was ſhewed by ſignes, maye ſerue to ſome vſe in the common wealth: but to our purpoſe they perteine not. Wherefore of the peceable and placable ſorte, ſhall ſomewhat be ſayde in thys place, howe farre foorth it maye be lawefull, when for reioycinge ſake it is vſed.
This kinde of exerciſe ſéemeth to me of it owne nature neither vitiouſe nor to be prohibited, for aſmuche as agillitye and nimbleneſſe of the boddye, is the gifte of God: and if there be added ſome arte, that the boddye be mooued with decencye, iuſt pace, & comlines, I ſee not why it ought to be reprehended, ſo it be done in due ſeaſon, moderatly and without offence. For as it is lawfull to ſinge, & vſe ſinginge to giuegive thanks to god, & celebrat his praiſes: So likewiſe moderate dauncing to teſtify our ioy and gladneſſe.2. Sā. 6.14 Dauid doubtleſſe daunced openly before the Arke.
1. Sā. 18.6The maidens renowmed his victorye ouer Goliah with dauncing and ſinging. Miriam Moſes ſiſter,Exo. 15.20 when Pharo was layde a longe and ſlaine, daunced with other women, and ſange a ſonge of tryumph and victorie. Wherefore ſith holy men and chaſt womē hauehave vſed daunces, we can not ſaye they are faultye of theyr owne nature: but as they are nowe a dayes donne, that men ſhould daunce togeyther with women, they be vntollerable: For that they are the nutrimentes and prouocations of laſciuiouſneſſe and voluptuous pleaſures. Mirriam Moſes ſiſter traced not with younge mē, but apparte with women: neither Dauid with women, nor the maidens who honoured his conqueſt, with yonge men but by thē ſelues. Now they yt with all theyr mind and might louelove God, it is not enough for them to obſerue his commaundements, vnleſſe they cutte of alſo all occaſiones, whereby theyr obſeruations maye be impayred. But our daunces are moſt euident occaſions of tranſgreſſing the diuine lawe: ſnares they are and ſtumblinge blockes, not to the doers alone but to the beholders alſo: For they ſtirre and inflame the hart of men, wicked enoughe otherwiſe from it verye beginning: and what with much a doe and induſtry, is to be repreſſed, that the flickeringe inticementes of theſe light leapinges rayſe & ſtyrre vp. Verely if a man would take counſell either of him ſelfe, or of experyence, or of reaſon, he ſhall finde the luſter of the minde not a litle to be kindled, and ſet on fyre by theſe ſightes: and he ſhall perceiue mē with waue of theyr goodnes, and women with eclyppes of theyr chaſtitie returne home. Furthermore, perilles are rather to be taken héede of then nouriſhed: For as Salamon ſaith, VVho loueth perill shall fall thereinto.
But ſome man will obiecte, that dauncinges ſo muche indammage manners, and kindle luſte, commethe to paſſe by raſhneſſe and by accedentarye meanes: and iudgement ought not of eueryevery thing to be geuen, accordinge to thoſe thinges whiche come by chaunce, but according to theſe thinges that are here in themſelues. Some are founde ſo chaſte and pure, that they can with a chaſte and pure minde ſée theſe ſightes. I graunt it may ſometyme ſo fall out, but take thys with you, all accedentes not to be of the ſame condition.
Some there are which verie ſeldome happen, ſome eyther way, which of their nature maye be aſwell preſent at anye thinge, as abſent: and ſoome whiche for the moſt parte are wont to fall out: theſe laſt in each thinge ought to be moſt diligently conſidered and regarded: neither muſt we reſpecte what maye, but what was wont to be done. Ariſtippus daunced in purple, and therof accuſed, excuſed himſelfe that therby he waxed neuer the worſe, and that he could euen in that nicenes and delicacye retaine a Philoſophers minde. But ſuch ſayinges are not to be herkened vntounto: becauſe as Demoſthenes ſaieth, and is cited of the Laweiers, we muſt not concider what any man doth now and then, but what is accoſtomed to be done for the moſt parte. Imagine a man to be ſo chaſte, that he maye not be moued with theſe allurementes, yet in the meane whyle howe are the people prouided for, and the multitude ſéene vntounto? For the integrety & vprightneſſe of ſome one or other, ſhall we ſuffer all the reſt to remaine in danger? But ſo, wil ſome man mutter, take a waye Sermons and Sacraments, for many heare ſomtime the word of God to their own cō demnation, and to their owne condemnaetion many eat & drink the holy Miſteries.
Here is it neceſſary to be knowne that ſome thinges make for mens ſaluation, and are cōmaunded by the word of God, which by no meanes ought to be taken away. Some thinges againe are indifferent, which if we ſée them tende to hurte, are not tollerable. Cōcerning Sermons & Sacraments, we hauehave the lawe of God that we ſhoulde heare and receiue them: touching dauncing there is nothing commaunded: Wherefore theſe are not to be compared togither. But by this meanes (ſaye diuerſe) are manye honeſt mariages made. It maye be ſo otherwhile, notwithſtāding for my parte, it could neuer ſinke into mine heade, that I would wiſh Matrimonies to be by theſe means contracted, wherin the nimbeneſſe onelyonly & bewtie of the body are reſpected. Ther are other meanes far honeſter, let vsus vſe them, and as for theſe ſcarce honeſt and chaſt, let vsus leaue them. Weigh we with our ſelues, that although ſomtime honeſt mariages be gotten by dauncinge: yet a great deale oftener adultrye and whoredome are wonnte to enſue of theſe ſights.
We ſhould followe the footings of our godly Fatherrs, who now and then vſed dauncinge, yet chaſte and moderate, the men by them ſelues, and the women by theyr ſelues: By theſe daunces teſtified they the myrthe of their mindes, ſangs they prayſes to God, gaue they thankes vntounto him for ſome ſingular benefite receaued at his handes. And as for the confuſed daunces of men and women togyther, we reade them not in the holy ſcripture. But our men wil ſaye, who would daunce after this ſorte? Theſe thinges while they vtter, they bewray thēſelues what they ſéeke for in this paſtime.
Hyther flocke the effects of dauncinge recorded in Mathew, how the daughter of Herodias ſkipped in the kinges feaſt, the king toke pleaſur in her, whome without ſhame he could not opēly gaze vppon: for it was a moſt euident token of ye forbidē marriage & whoredome: for Herod had taken vntounto him the wyfe of his brother, and mother of this damſell: of that daunce it followed that Iohn was bee headded. Many are miſgréeued with vsus, that wée cye out vppon daunces, as vppon things: euill of their nature and prohibited. We again make aunſwere, that things ought not alwayes to be meaſured, by their nature, but by the diſpoſition and abuſe of our fleſhe: wine, we cannot, denye, of it ſelfe is good: yet is it not adminiſtred to the ſick of the Feuer: not in that it is euil, but in that it agreeth not with the bodye ſo affected. In Exodus when the people made to themſelues a golden calfe, which they might worſhippe, they ſate downe, they eate, they drancke, and they roſe vp to play: In which place to play ſéemeth to be nothing elſe then to daunce. But that I may not ſéeme ſingular and alone man in theſe my ſayinges and cenſure, I wyll annexe certaine teſtimonies of the forefathers. Auguſtine in the ſixt Chapter of his booke againſt Petilian, ſayth: Byſhops were euermore wont to puniſh vaine and laſcinious daunces: but now a daies, there be many Biſhops not only preſent at the daunces, but dauncers themſelues with women: ſo farre are they from correcting this vice. The ſame Auguſtine whyle he expoundeth thoſe words of the .32. Pſalme Vppon an inſtrument of tenne ſtringes will I ſinge vntounto thee: thoſe ten ſtringes he maketh the tenne commaundements, and when he had ſayde ſome what vppon eueryevery one of them, at the laſt he commeth to the Saboth: of which it is written, remember that thou kéepe holy the Saboth day: I ſay not (ſayth he) that thou ſhouldeſt be ſo drowned in delicacie, as the Iewes are accuſtomed: for better it is all day to dig, then to daunce on the Saboth, Chriſoſtome in .56. Homely vppon Genneſes, intreating of Iacobs Mariage, Mariage (quoth he) hauehave ye hearde, but no dauncing, which there he calleth Diabolicall: and many more matters hath hée in the ſame place, which make for vsus. And amonge all the reſt be wryteth howe by dauncing, the Bride and Bridegrume are corrupted, and the whole family defiled. Againe in his .48. Hom. Thou ſéeſt, ſayth he, Mariages but daunces thou ſéeſt not. For at that time they were nothing ſo wanton as they are in theſe dayes. Diuerſe other thinges hath he in the .14. of Matthew, wher reciting Herodius dauncing to the people, among the reſt, he ſaith now a daies Chriſtians deliuer not halfe their kingdome nor another mans head, but their own ſoule into diſtruction. And he addeth, where this laſciuious dauncing is ſet vp, there daunceth the Deuill together with them. In the counſell of Laodicia we finde written, that it is not conuenient for Chriſtian men to daunce at Mariages. Let thē dine and ſuppe diſcréetly and moderatelye, geuing God thankes for the benefit of Matrimony. In the ſelfe ſame councell it is alſo written. Let not Clarkes approche the Theatre, or matiages to gape after Pageaunts: they maye be at Mariages, but after the ſingers and Harpers be come in, who ſerue for daunces, aryſe they and depart, leaſt by theyr preſence they maye ſeeme to allowe and approue that wantonneſſe. In the Councell of Illerden, holden vnderunder Simmachus and Hormiſda Popes, and king Theodoricke, the ſame is decréed: that Chriſtians ſhould not daunce at weddinges. In the Councell of Arriſidoren, which was vnderunder Pope Deus dedit, this ſéemeth to bée reſtrayned to Clarkes: for there is, there a Prouiſo, that no Clarkes myght in the feaſte eyther ſinge or daunce, as if to others it were after a forte lawefull.
Of the ſame opinion are the ſcholemen of the Diuins in the 3. Senten. Diſtinct. 37. Who referre theſe reſtraintes vntounto the hollye dayes.
Rycharde of the middle Village, accounteth it a moſte grieuous ſinne, to daunce on the hollye dayes as though on other dayes it might be permitted; But farre waightere is the iudgement of the Fathers and ſounde Councelles, then theſe mennes; Whoe hurtfullye ſet at large thoſe things, which are to be kéept in, ſeing they hauehave with them the hazard of ſoules, and not the hazard onelyonly, but the ſlydings and falles moſt grieuouſly to be lamented▪ And yet theſe men ſéeme to borrowe this theyr Sentence, wherby they denye dauncinge on the hollie daies of the ciuill lawes, in the Code forſoothe, in the title of holly dayes, and lawe holly dayes .C. tit. deferijs L. dies feſtos. We let at liberty vacation on the holly daies, but we will that men be reſtreined from inordinate delectations. And therefore it ſhall not be lawfull on the hollye dayes to vſe dauncinges, whether they be ſenſuall or prepared for ſenſuallitye.
Aemilius Probus in the life of Epaminondas, ſaieth, that ſinging and dauncing amonge the Romans were ſmalie regarded, when among the Gretians they were had in great eſtimation. Saluſt in his Catilinaria weighteth that Sempronia, a certeine lewde and laſcinious woman, was trymlier trained vp in ſinging and dauncing, thē be ſéemed a honeſt Matron. And in the ſame place, he callteh theſe twoo inſtrumentes of exceſſe in carnall pleaſure. Cicere in the third booke of his offeces, is of this minde, that an honeſt & vertuous man, will not daunce in the comon concours of people, though he might therby become ye greteſt heire in ye world. And in his oration, which he made after his returne to the Senate, hee termed in remoche Aulus Gabinus his aduerſarye O trickſye dauncer. It was layde in Lutius Murena his diſhe as a faulte, that he daunced in Aſia: with the ſame alſo was kinge Deiotarus hit in the téeth. Cicero for Murena aunſweres, that no ſober perſon daunceth, eyther in ſolitarines, either in an honeſt and moderat banquet, except he be out of his wittes. The ſame Cicero in his Philip. among other vices vpbraided Antonius with dauncinge. It appeareth furthermore, that ye men of the Eaſt and Weſt were not of like diſpoſition: they being of a merye minde and nimble bodies, ſo much the more delight in dauncing. For to let others paſſe, Dauid daunced in open ſight.
And they which now trauell to vsus out of Syria, teſtifye ye the Chriſtians which inhabite thoſe Regions, vponupon the daye of the Lordes reſurrection, and likewiſe vponupon other famous Feſtiualles, come to the Church with harpes and Harmonie, ſinging pſalmes and dauncing togyther. For thoſe ſpyrites of thoſe people are quicke and quiuer, where the ſprrites of our Countrye men are heauy and lumpiſhe, yet for al that, they reporte that they daunce diſcretlye and modeſtly, the men and women one from another. (⸫)
FJNIS.
End of the text · Peter Martyr Vermigli, The Use and Abuse of Dancing (1580)