A Plea for Tutus, a Former Actor

My lord and brother has already asked Your Nobleness to see that Tutus is kept perfectly safe. Still, I have been allowed to commend the same man by letter as well, so that, with the request made twice over, he may be held all the safer. Let it be granted that a young man’s fault and the error of an age not yet settled have harmed him, so as to stain his early years. Still, one who did not yet know what right conduct required went wrong almost without incurring blame. For when he came to his right mind and to reflection, he understood, on better thought, that the life of the theater was to be condemned. Yet he could not be wholly cleared of his fault unless he washed its guilt away with the help of God; for through the remedy obtained in the catholic religion he has changed his views, denied himself the enjoyment of a less honorable position, and withdrawn himself from the eyes of the people. [a]

From the master, as above. [c]

Both divine and civil laws forbid a faithful body and sanctified minds to put on shameful though pleasing shows and to offer vulgar entertainments. This is all the more so because it seems to do some injury to a chaste dedication of oneself if anyone who has been renewed by holy baptism falls back into his old licentiousness. It is therefore fitting for Your Excellency to show favor to good intentions, so that one who by the goodness of God has entered on a pious duty should not be forced to sink into the pit of the theater. He does not, however, refuse to comply with the judgment of all of you, if you require other suitable services of him for the needs of our common country. [d]