The usefulness of the stage, to the happiness of mankind, to government, and to religion occasioned by a late book written by Jeremy Collier, M.A. / by Mr. Dennis.
         Dennis, John, 1657-1734.
      
       
         
           1698
        
      
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             The usefulness of the stage, to the happiness of mankind, to government, and to religion occasioned by a late book written by Jeremy Collier, M.A. / by Mr. Dennis.
             Dennis, John, 1657-1734.
             Collier, Jeremy, 1650-1726. Short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage.
          
           [8], 143, [1] p.
           
             Printed for Rich. Parker ...,
             London :
             1698.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Theater -- England.
           Theater -- Moral and ethical aspects.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           USEFULNESS
           OF
           THE
           STAGE
           ,
           
             To
             the
             Happiness
             of
             Mankind
             .
             To
             Government
             ,
             and
             To
             Religion
             .
          
           Occasioned
           by
           a
           late
           Book
           ,
           written
           by
           
             Ieremy
             Collier
          
           ,
           M.
           A.
           
        
         
           By
           Mr.
           DENNIS
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Rich.
             Parker
          
           at
           the
           Unicorn
           under
           the
           Piazza
           of
           the
           
             Royal
             Exchange
          
           .
           1698.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           INTRODUCTION
           .
        
         
           THe
           best
           things
           here
           below
           are
           liable
           to
           be
           corrupted
           ,
           and
           the
           better
           things
           are
           in
           their
           own
           natures
           ,
           the
           more
           mischievous
           are
           they
           if
           corrupted
           .
           For
           that
           which
           is
           super
           latively
           good
           in
           it self
           can
           be
           corrupted
           by
           nothing
           but
           extraordinary
           malice
           .
           Since
           then
           the
           Stage
           is
           acknowledg'd
           by
           its
           greatest
           adversaries
           to
           be
           in
           itself
           good
           ,
           and
           instrumental
           to
           the
           instruction
           of
           mankind
           ,
           nothing
           can
           be
           more
           unreasonable
           than
           to
           exhort
           people
           to
           ruin
           it
           instead
           of
           reforming
           it
           ,
           since
           at
           that
           rate
           we
           must
           think
           of
           abolishing
           much
           more
           important
           establishments
           .
           Yet
           that
           is
           apparently
           the
           design
           of
           Mr
           
           Collier's
           Book
           ,
           tho
           his
           malice
           infinitely
           surpassing
           his
           ability
           ,
           as
           it
           certainly
           does
           ,
           whatever
           some
           people
           may
           think
           of
           him
           ,
           his
           performance
           is
           some
           what
           awkward
           .
           For
           in
           the
           Introduction
           
           to
           his
           Book
           he
           gives
           you
           reasons
           why
           the
           Stage
           in
           general
           ought
           to
           be
           commended
           ;
           in
           the
           first
           Chapters
           of
           his
           Book
           he
           pretends
           to
           shew
           cause
           why
           the
           English
           Stage
           ought
           to
           be
           reform'd
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           sixth
           and
           last
           Chapter
           he
           pretends
           to
           prove
           by
           Authority
           that
           no
           Stage
           ought
           to
           be
           allow'd
           .
           In
           the
           beginning
           of
           his
           Book
           he
           produces
           his
           own
           reasons
           why
           the
           Stage
           reform'd
           ought
           to
           be
           encourag'd
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           end
           of
           the
           same
           Book
           he
           brings
           other
           mens
           opinions
           to
           ●●ew
           that
           every
           Stage
           ought
           to
           be
           abolish'd
           ;
           and
           so
           endeavours
           to
           ruine
           his
           own
           Reasons
           by
           a
           long
           scroll
           of
           other
           peoples
           Authorities
           ,
           which
           is
           c●rtainly
           a
           pleasant
           condescension
           ;
           but
           such
           is
           the
           fantastick
           humility
           of
           pedantick
           pride
           .
           And
           yet
           Mr
           Collier
           is
           very
           right
           and
           very
           sincere
           in
           his
           Reasons
           ,
           and
           very
           wrong
           and
           very
           corrupt
           in
           his
           Authorities
           .
           As
           if
           he
           were
           so
           great
           an
           enemy
           to
           the
           truth
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           suborn
           the
           very
           dead
           to
           destroy
           the
           f●rce
           of
           what
           he
           himself
           had
           asserted
           .
        
         
           If
           Mr
           Collier
           had
           only
           attack'd
           the
           Corruptions
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           for
           my
           own
           part
           I
           should
           have
           been
           so
           far
           from
           
           blaming
           him
           ,
           that
           I
           should
           have
           publickly
           return'd
           him
           my
           thanks
           :
           For
           the
           ●ouses
           are
           so
           great
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           necessity
           for
           the
           reforming
           them
           ;
           not
           that
           I
           think
           that
           with
           all
           its
           corruptions
           the
           Stage
           has
           debauch'd
           the
           people
           :
           I
           am
           fully
           convinc'd
           it
           has
           not
           ,
           and
           I
           believe
           I
           have
           said
           enough
           in
           the
           following
           treatise
           to
           convince
           the
           Reader
           of
           it
           .
           But
           this
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           the
           corruptions
           of
           the
           Stage
           hinder
           its
           efficacy
           in
           the
           reformation
           of
           manners
           .
           For
           ,
           besides
           that
           Vice
           is
           contrary
           to
           Virtue
           ,
           it
           renders
           the
           Stage
           little
           and
           contemptible
           ;
           for
           nothing
           but
           Virtue
           can
           make
           any
           thing
           awful
           and
           truly
           great
           ,
           and
           nothing
           but
           what
           is
           awful
           and
           truly
           great
           can
           be
           universally
           respected
           ,
           and
           by
           that
           means
           in
           a
           condition
           to
           influence
           the
           minds
           of
           the
           people
           .
           For
           this
           reason
           ,
           as
           I
           said
           above
           ,
           if
           Mr
           Collier
           had
           only
           attack'd
           the
           licentiousness
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           in
           so
           fair
           a
           manner
           as
           he
           ought
           to
           have
           done
           it
           ,
           I
           had
           return'd
           him
           my
           thanks
           ,
           but
           when
           I
           found
           by
           his
           last
           Chapter
           ,
           that
           his
           design
           was
           against
           the
           Stage
           itself
           I
           thought
           I
           could
           not
           spend
           a
           month
           more
           usefully
           ;
           than
           in
           the
           vindication
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           My
           business
           therefore
           is
           a
           vindication
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           the
           Corruptions
           or
           the
           abuses
           of
           it
           .
           And
           therefore
           I
           have
           no
           further
           meddled
           with
           M●
           
           Collier's
           Book
           ,
           than
           as
           I
           have
           had
           occasion
           to
           shew
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           endeavour'd
           to
           make
           some
           things
           pass
           for
           abuses
           ,
           either
           of
           the
           Stage
           in
           general
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           English
           Stage
           particularly
           ,
           which
           are
           so
           far
           from
           being
           abuses
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           be
           accounted
           excellences
           .
        
         
           This
           little
           Treatise
           was
           conceiv'd
           ,
           dispos'd
           ,
           transcrib'd
           and
           printed
           in
           a
           month
           ;
           a●d
           tho
           on
           that
           very
           account
           it
           may
           not
           be
           wholly
           free
           from
           error
           ,
           yet
           this
           I
           can
           assure
           the
           Reader
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           industriously
           endeavour'd
           not
           to
           err
           ,
           tho
           I
           verily
           believe
           that
           Mr
           Collier
           industriously
           endeavour'd
           to
           err
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           he
           thought
           it
           might
           be
           consistent
           with
           the
           deceiving
           of
           others
           .
        
         
           The
           method
           that
           I
           have
           u●ed
           has
           been
           this
           :
           I
           have
           endeavoured
           to
           shew
           that
           the
           Stage
           in
           general
           is
           useful
           to
           the
           happiness
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           to
           the
           welfare
           of
           Government
           ,
           and
           the
           advancement
           of
           Religion
           :
           And
           under
           the
           head
           of
           Government
           I
           have
           endeavour'd
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           the
           Stage
           does
           not
           encourage
           Revenge
           ,
           
           as
           Mr
           Collier
           asserts
           in
           his
           last
           Chapter
           ;
           and
           that
           by
           encouraging
           Pride
           ,
           which
           is
           another
           thing
           that
           he
           charges
           upon
           it
           ,
           it
           provides
           for
           the
           happiness
           of
           particular
           men
           ,
           and
           the
           publick
           .
           I
           have
           endeavour'd
           to
           shew
           too
           ,
           in
           defence
           of
           the
           English
           Stage
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           to
           be
           commended
           for
           its
           impartiality
           ,
           and
           in
           exempting
           no
           degree
           or
           order
           of
           men
           from
           censure
           .
        
         
           I
           saw
           very
           well
           that
           there
           was
           no
           proceeding
           any
           farther
           in
           the
           vindication
           of
           it
           :
           For
           no
           man
           can
           make
           any
           reasonable
           defence
           ,
           either
           for
           the
           immorality
           or
           the
           immodesty
           ,
           or
           the
           unnecessary
           wanton
           prophaneness
           ,
           which
           are
           too
           justly
           charg'd
           upon
           it
           .
           But
           for
           the
           particular
           Gentlemen
           which
           Mr
           Collier
           has
           attack'd
           in
           some
           particular
           passages
           ,
           which
           he
           has
           industriously
           cull'd
           from
           their
           writings
           ,
           I
           could
           make
           a
           very
           good
           defence
           for
           several
           of
           em
           ,
           if
           I
           were
           not
           satisfied
           that
           they
           were
           abler
           to
           defend
           themselves
           .
        
         
           He
           has
           treated
           them
           indeed
           with
           the
           last
           disdain
           ,
           and
           the
           last
           contempt
           ,
           not
           considering
           ,
           that
           by
           doing
           it
           ,
           he
           has
           treated
           all
           at
           the
           same
           rate
           ,
           who
           profess
           an
           esteem
           for
           them
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           all
           
           the
           Town
           .
           He
           has
           given
           them
           some
           language
           which
           must
           be
           resented
           by
           all
           who
           profess
           Humanity
           .
        
         
           For
           ,
           Mr
           Collier
           is
           so
           far
           from
           having
           shown
           in
           his
           Book
           ,
           either
           the
           meekness
           of
           a
           true
           Christian
           ,
           or
           the
           humility
           of
           an
           exemplary
           Pastor
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           neither
           the
           reasoning
           of
           a
           man
           of
           sense
           in
           it
           ,
           nor
           the
           style
           of
           a
           polite
           man
           ,
           nor
           the
           sincerity
           of
           an
           honest
           man
           ,
           nor
           the
           humanity
           of
           a
           Gentleman
           ,
           or
           a
           man
           of
           Letters
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           THE
           USEFULNESS
           OF
           THE
           STAGE
           .
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             I.
             
          
           
             That
             the
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             Happiness
             of
             Mankind
             .
          
           
             NOthing
             can
             more
             strongly
             recommend
             any
             thing
             to
             us
             ,
             than
             the
             assuring
             us
             ,
             that
             it
             will
             improve
             our
             happiness
             .
             For
             the
             chief
             end
             
             and
             design
             of
             man
             is
             to
             make
             himself
             happy
             .
             T
             is
             what
             he
             constantly
             has
             in
             his
             eye
             ,
             and
             in
             order
             to
             which
             ,
             he
             takes
             every
             step
             that
             he
             makes
             :
             In
             whatever
             he
             does
             or
             he
             does
             not
             ,
             he
             designs
             to
             improve
             or
             maintain
             his
             happiness
             .
             And
             't
             is
             by
             this
             universal
             principle
             ,
             that
             God
             maintains
             the
             harmony
             ,
             and
             order
             ,
             and
             quiet
             of
             the
             reasonable
             World.
             It
             had
             indeed
             been
             an
             inconsistency
             in
             providence
             ,
             to
             have
             made
             a
             thinking
             and
             reasoning
             Creature
             ,
             that
             had
             been
             indifferent
             as
             to
             misery
             and
             happiness
             ;
             for
             God
             had
             made
             such
             a
             one
             only
             to
             disturb
             the
             rest
             ,
             and
             consequently
             had
             acted
             against
             his
             own
             design
             .
          
           
             If
             then
             I
             can
             say
             enough
             to
             convince
             the
             Reader
             ,
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             and
             to
             his
             own
             by
             consequence
             ,
             it
             is
             evident
             that
             I
             need
             say
             no
             more
             to
             make
             him
             espouse
             its
             interest
             .
          
           
             I
             shall
             proceed
             then
             to
             the
             proving
             these
             two
             things
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             That
             the
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             Mankind
             in
             general
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             it
             is
             more
             particularly
             instrumental
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             English●men
             .
          
           
           
             The
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             Mankind
             in
             general
             .
             And
             here
             it
             will
             be
             necessary
             to
             declare
             what
             is
             meant
             by
             happiness
             ,
             and
             to
             proceed
             upon
             that
             .
          
           
             By
             happiness
             then
             ,
             I
             never
             could
             understand
             any
             thing
             else
             but
             pleasure
             ;
             for
             I
             never
             could
             have
             any
             notion
             of
             happiness
             ,
             that
             did
             not
             agree
             with
             pleasure
             ,
             or
             any
             notion
             of
             pleasure
             ,
             that
             did
             not
             agree
             with
             happiness
             .
             I
             could
             never
             possibly
             conceive
             how
             any
             one
             can
             be
             happy
             without
             being
             pleas'd
             ,
             or
             pleas'd
             without
             being
             happy
             .
             'T
             is
             universally
             acknowledg'd
             by
             Mankind
             ,
             that
             happiness
             consists
             in
             pleasure
             ,
             which
             is
             evident
             from
             this
             ,
             that
             whatever
             a
             man
             does
             ,
             whether
             in
             spiritual
             or
             temporal
             affairs
             ,
             whether
             in
             matters
             of
             profit
             or
             diversion
             ,
             pleasure
             is
             at
             least
             the
             chief
             and
             the
             final
             motive
             to
             it
             ,
             if
             it
             is
             not
             the
             immediate
             one
             .
             And
             providence
             seems
             to
             have
             sufficiently
             declar'd
             ,
             that
             pleasure
             was
             intended
             for
             our
             Spring
             and
             Fountain
             of
             Action
             ,
             when
             it
             made
             it
             the
             incentive
             to
             those
             very
             acts
             ,
             by
             which
             we
             propagate
             our
             kind
             and
             preserve
             our selves
             .
             As
             if
             Self-love
             without
             pleasure
             were
             insufficient
             for
             
             either
             ;
             for
             as
             I
             my self
             have
             know
             several
             ,
             who
             have
             chosen
             rather
             to
             dye
             ,
             than
             to
             go
             through
             tedious
             courses
             of
             Physick
             ;
             so
             I
             make
             no
             doubt
             ,
             but
             several
             would
             have
             taken
             the
             same
             resolution
             ,
             rather
             than
             have
             supported
             life
             by
             a
             perpetual
             course
             of
             eating
             ,
             which
             had
             differ'd
             in
             nothing
             from
             a
             course
             of
             Physick
             ,
             if
             eating
             and
             pleasure
             had
             not
             been
             things
             inseparable
             .
             Now
             as
             't
             is
             pleasure
             that
             obliges
             man
             to
             perserve
             himself
             ,
             it
             is
             the
             very
             same
             that
             has
             sometimes
             the
             force
             to
             prevail
             upon
             him
             to
             his
             own
             destruction
             .
             For
             as
             Monsieur
             Pascal
             observes
             ,
             the
             very
             men
             who
             hang
             ,
             and
             who
             drown
             themselves
             are
             instigated
             by
             the
             secret
             pleasure
             ,
             which
             they
             have
             from
             the
             thought
             that
             they
             shall
             be
             freed
             from
             pain
             .
          
           
             Since
             therefore
             man
             ,
             in
             every
             thing
             that
             he
             does
             proposes
             pleasure
             to
             himself
             ,
             it
             follows
             ,
             that
             in
             pleasure
             consists
             his
             happiness
             .
             But
             tho
             he
             always
             proposes
             it
             ,
             he
             very
             often
             falls
             short
             of
             it
             ,
             For
             pleasure
             is
             not
             in
             his
             own
             power
             ,
             since
             if
             it
             were
             ,
             it
             would
             follow
             from
             thence
             ,
             that
             happiness
             were
             in
             his
             power
             .
             The
             want
             of
             which
             has
             been
             always
             the
             complaint
             of
             men
             ,
             both
             sacred
             
             and
             secular
             ,
             in
             all
             Ages
             in
             all
             Countries
             ,
             and
             in
             all
             Conditions
             .
             
               Man
               that
               is
               born
               of
               woman
               is
               but
               of
               few
               days
               ,
               and
               full
               of
               trouble
               ,
            
             says
             Iob
             Chap.
             14.
             
             Verse
             1.
             
             Of
             the
             same
             nature
             are
             the
             two
             complaints
             of
             Horace
             ,
             which
             are
             so
             fine
             ,
             and
             so
             poetical
             ,
             and
             so
             becoming
             of
             the
             best
             antiquity
             .
             
               
                 Scandit
                 aeratas
                 vitiosa
                 waves
              
               
                 Curae
                 ,
                 
                 nec
                 turmas
                 equitum
                 &
                 relinquit
              
               
                 Ocior
                 Cervis
                 ,
                 &
                 agente
                 Nimbos
              
               
                 Ocyor
                 Euro
                 .
              
            
             And
             that
             other
             ,
             in
             the
             first
             Ode
             of
             the
             third
             Book
             .
             
               
                 Timor
                 &
                 minae
              
               
                 Scandunt
                 eodem
                 quo
                 Dominus
                 ,
                 neque
                 .
              
               
                 Decedit
                 aerata
                 triremi
                 ,
                 &
              
               
                 Post
                 equitem
                 sedit
                 atra
                 cura
                 .
              
            
          
           
             In
             short
             ,
             they
             who
             have
             made
             the
             most
             reflections
             on
             it
             ,
             have
             been
             the
             most
             satisfy'd
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             above
             all
             Philosophers
             ;
             who
             ,
             by
             the
             voluminous
             instructions
             ,
             by
             the
             laborious
             directions
             which
             they
             have
             left
             to
             posterity
             ,
             have
             declar'd
             themselves
             sensible
             ,
             
             that
             to
             be
             happy
             is
             a
             very
             difficult
             thing
             .
          
           
             And
             the
             reason
             why
             they
             of
             all
             men
             have
             always
             found
             it
             so
             difficult
             is
             ,
             because
             they
             always
             propounded
             to
             owe
             their
             happiness
             to
             reason
             ,
             tho
             one
             would
             think
             ,
             that
             experience
             might
             have
             convinc'd
             them
             of
             the
             folly
             of
             such
             a
             design
             ,
             because
             they
             had
             seen
             that
             the
             most
             thinking
             and
             the
             most
             reasonable
             ,
             had
             always
             most
             complain'd
             .
          
           
             For
             reason
             may
             often
             afflict
             us
             ,
             and
             make
             us
             miserable
             ,
             by
             setting
             our
             impotence
             or
             our
             guilt
             before
             us
             ;
             but
             that
             which
             it
             generally
             does
             ,
             is
             the
             maintaining
             us
             in
             a
             languishing
             state
             of
             indifference
             ,
             which
             perhaps
             is
             more
             remov'd
             from
             pleasure
             ,
             than
             that
             is
             from
             affliction
             ,
             and
             which
             may
             be
             said
             to
             be
             the
             ordinary
             state
             of
             men
             .
          
           
             It
             is
             plain
             then
             ,
             that
             reason
             by
             maintaining
             us
             in
             that
             state
             ,
             is
             an
             impediment
             to
             our
             pleasure
             ,
             which
             is
             our
             happiness
             .
             For
             to
             be
             pleas'd
             a
             man
             must
             come
             out
             of
             his
             ordinary
             state
             ;
             now
             nothing
             in
             this
             life
             can
             bring
             him
             out
             of
             it
             but
             passion
             alone
             ,
             which
             Reason
             pretends
             to
             combat
             .
          
           
           
             Nothing
             but
             passion
             in
             effect
             can
             please
             us
             ,
             which
             every
             one
             may
             know
             by
             experience
             :
             For
             when
             any
             man
             is
             pleas'd
             ,
             he
             may
             find
             by
             reflection
             that
             at
             the
             same
             time
             he
             is
             mov'd
             .
             The
             pleasure
             that
             any
             man
             meets
             with
             oftenest
             is
             the
             pleasure
             of
             Sence
             .
             Let
             any
             one
             examine
             himself
             in
             that
             ,
             and
             he
             will
             find
             that
             the
             pleasure
             is
             owing
             to
             passion
             ;
             for
             the
             pleasure
             vanishes
             with
             the
             desire
             ,
             and
             is
             succeeded
             by
             loathing
             ,
             which
             is
             a
             sort
             of
             grief
             .
          
           
             Since
             nothing
             but
             pleasure
             can
             make
             us
             happy
             ,
             it
             follows
             that
             to
             be
             very
             happy
             ,
             we
             must
             be
             much
             pleas'd
             ;
             and
             since
             nothing
             but
             passion
             can
             please
             us
             ,
             it
             follows
             that
             to
             be
             very
             much
             pleas'd
             we
             must
             be
             very
             much
             mov'd
             ;
             this
             needs
             no
             proof
             ,
             or
             if
             it
             did
             ,
             experience
             would
             be
             a
             very
             convincing
             one
             ;
             since
             any
             one
             may
             find
             when
             he
             has
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             pleasure
             that
             he
             is
             extremely
             mov'd
             .
          
           
             And
             that
             very
             height
             and
             fulness
             of
             pleasure
             which
             we
             are
             promis'd
             in
             another
             life
             ,
             must
             ,
             we
             are
             told
             ,
             proceed
             from
             passion
             ,
             or
             something
             which
             resembles
             passion
             .
             At
             least
             no
             man
             has
             so
             much
             as
             pretended
             that
             it
             will
             be
             
             the
             result
             of
             Reason
             .
             For
             we
             shall
             then
             be
             deliver'd
             from
             these
             mortal
             Organs
             ,
             and
             Reason
             shall
             then
             be
             no
             more
             .
             We
             shall
             then
             no
             more
             have
             occasion
             from
             premisses
             to
             draw
             conclusions
             ,
             and
             a
             long
             train
             of
             consequences
             ;
             for
             ,
             becoming
             all
             spirit
             and
             all
             knowledge
             ,
             we
             shall
             see
             things
             as
             they
             are
             :
             We
             shall
             lead
             the
             glorious
             life
             of
             Angels
             ,
             a
             life
             exalted
             above
             all
             Reason
             ,
             a
             life
             consisting
             of
             Extasie
             and
             Intelligence
             .
          
           
             Thus
             is
             it
             plain
             that
             the
             happiness
             both
             of
             this
             life
             and
             the
             other
             is
             owing
             to
             passion
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             reason
             .
             But
             tho
             we
             can
             never
             be
             happy
             by
             the
             force
             of
             Reason
             ,
             yet
             while
             we
             are
             in
             this
             life
             we
             cannot
             possibly
             be
             happy
             without
             it
             ,
             or
             against
             it
             .
             For
             since
             man
             is
             by
             his
             nature
             a
             reasonable
             creature
             ,
             to
             suppose
             man
             happy
             against
             Reason
             ,
             is
             to
             suppose
             him
             happy
             against
             Nature
             ,
             which
             is
             absurd
             and
             monstrous
             .
             We
             have
             shewn
             ,
             that
             a
             man
             must
             be
             pleas'd
             to
             be
             happy
             ,
             and
             must
             be
             mov'd
             to
             be
             pleas'd
             ;
             and
             that
             to
             please
             him
             to
             a
             height
             ,
             you
             must
             move
             him
             in
             proportion
             :
             But
             then
             the
             passions
             must
             be
             rais'd
             after
             such
             a
             manner
             as
             to
             take
             reason
             along
             with
             them
             .
             If
             reason
             is
             
             quite
             overcome
             ,
             the
             pleasure
             is
             neither
             long
             ,
             nor
             sincere
             ,
             nor
             safe
             .
             For
             how
             many
             that
             have
             been
             transported
             beyound
             their
             reason
             ,
             have
             never
             more
             recover'd
             it
             .
             If
             reason
             resists
             ,
             a
             mans
             breast
             becomes
             the
             seat
             of
             Civil
             War
             ,
             and
             the
             Combat
             makes
             him
             miserable
             .
             For
             these
             passions
             ,
             which
             are
             in
             their
             natures
             so
             very
             troublesome
             ,
             are
             only
             so
             because
             their
             motions
             are
             always
             contrary
             to
             the
             motion
             of
             the
             will
             ;
             as
             grief
             ,
             sorrow
             ,
             shame
             and
             jealousie
             .
             And
             that
             which
             makes
             som●
             passions
             in
             their
             natures
             pleasant
             ,
             is
             because
             they
             move
             with
             the
             will
             ,
             as
             love
             ,
             joy
             ,
             pity
             ,
             hope
             ,
             terror
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             anger
             .
             But
             this
             is
             certain
             ,
             that
             no
             passion
             can
             move
             in
             those
             a
             full
             consent
             with
             the
             will
             ,
             unless
             at
             the
             same
             time
             ●t
             be
             approv'd
             of
             by
             the
             understanding
             .
             And
             no
             passion
             can
             be
             allow'd
             of
             b●
             the
             understanding
             ,
             that
             is
             not
             rais'd
             by
             its
             true
             springs
             ,
             and
             augmented
             by
             its
             just
             degrees
             .
             Now
             in
             the
             world
             it
             is
             so
             very
             rare
             to
             have
             our
             passions
             thus
             rais'd
             ,
             and
             so
             improv'd
             ,
             that
             that
             is
             the
             reason
             why
             we
             are
             so
             seldom
             throughly
             and
             sincerely
             pleas'd
             .
             But
             in
             the
             Drama
             the
             passions
             are
             false
             and
             abominable
             ,
             
             unless
             they
             are
             mov'd
             by
             their
             true
             springs
             ,
             and
             rais'd
             by
             their
             just
             degrees
             .
             Thus
             are
             they
             mov'd
             ,
             thus
             are
             they
             rais'd
             in
             every
             well
             writ
             Tragedy
             ,
             till
             they
             come
             to
             as
             great
             a
             height
             as
             reason
             can
             very
             well
             bear
             .
             Besides
             ,
             the
             very
             motion
             has
             a
             tendency
             to
             the
             subjecting
             them
             to
             reason
             ,
             and
             the
             very
             raising
             purges
             and
             moderates
             them
             .
             So
             that
             the
             passions
             are
             seldom
             any
             where
             so
             pleasing
             ,
             and
             no
             where
             so
             safe
             as
             they
             are
             in
             Tragedy
             .
             Thus
             have
             I
             shown
             ,
             that
             to
             be
             happy
             is
             to
             be
             pleas'd
             ,
             and
             that
             to
             be
             pleas'd
             is
             to
             be
             mov'd
             in
             such
             a
             manner
             as
             is
             allow'd
             of
             by
             Reason
             ;
             I
             have
             shown
             too
             that
             Tragedy
             moves
             us
             thus
             ,
             and
             consequently
             pleases
             us
             ,
             and
             conseqeuntly
             makes
             us
             happy
             .
             Which
             was
             the
             thing
             to
             he
             prov'd
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             II.
             
          
           
             That
             the
             Stage
             is
             more
             particularly
             instrumental
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             English
             men
             .
          
           
             WE
             have
             shown
             in
             the
             former
             Chapter
             ,
             that
             all
             happiness
             consists
             in
             pleasure
             ,
             and
             that
             all
             pleasure
             proceeds
             from
             passion
             ;
             but
             that
             passion
             to
             produce
             pleasure
             ,
             must
             be
             rais'd
             after
             such
             a
             manner
             ,
             as
             to
             move
             in
             consent
             with
             the
             will
             ,
             and
             consequently
             to
             be
             allowd
             of
             by
             the
             understanding
             ,
             upon
             which
             we
             took
             an
             occasion
             to
             shew
             ,
             that
             thinking
             and
             reasoning
             people
             as
             Philosophers
             ,
             and
             the
             like
             ,
             have
             made
             most
             complaints
             of
             the
             misery
             of
             humane
             life
             ,
             because
             they
             have
             endeavour'd
             to
             deduce
             their
             happiness
             from
             reason
             ,
             and
             not
             from
             passion
             .
             But
             another
             reason
             may
             be
             given
             ,
             and
             that
             is
             ,
             that
             such
             people
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             
             the
             exactness
             or
             moroseness
             of
             their
             judgments
             ,
             are
             too
             scrupulous
             in
             the
             allowance
             of
             the
             passions
             ,
             from
             wh●nce
             it
             proceeds
             ,
             that
             things
             very
             rarely
             happen
             in
             life
             ,
             to
             raise
             their
             passions
             in
             such
             a
             manner
             ,
             as
             to
             approve
             them
             to
             their
             understandings
             ,
             and
             consequently
             to
             make
             them
             move
             in
             consent
             with
             their
             wills
             .
             From
             whence
             it
             proceeds
             ,
             that
             splenatick
             persons
             are
             so
             very
             unhappy
             ,
             and
             so
             much
             harder
             to
             be
             pleas'd
             than
             others
             ,
             which
             is
             every
             day
             confirm'd
             by
             experience
             .
             Indeed
             't
             is
             observ'd
             every
             day
             in
             splenatick
             people
             ,
             that
             their
             passions
             move
             for
             the
             most
             part
             ,
             with
             a
             contrary
             motion
             to
             that
             of
             their
             wills
             ,
             and
             so
             afflict
             them
             them
             instead
             of
             delighting
             them
             ,
             Now
             there
             is
             no
             Nation
             in
             Europe
             ,
             as
             has
             been
             observ'd
             above
             a
             thousand
             times
             ,
             that
             is
             so
             generally
             addicted
             to
             the
             Spleen
             as
             the
             English.
             And
             which
             is
             apparent
             to
             any
             observer
             ,
             from
             the
             reigning
             distemper
             of
             the
             Clime
             ,
             which
             is
             inseparable
             from
             the
             Spleen
             ;
             from
             that
             gloomy
             and
             sullen
             temper
             ,
             which
             is
             generally
             spread
             through
             the
             Nation
             :
             from
             that
             natural
             discontentedness
             which
             makes
             us
             fo
             uneasie
             to
             one
             another
             ,
             
             because
             we
             are
             so
             uneasie
             to
             our selves
             ;
             and
             lastly
             ,
             from
             our
             jealousies
             and
             suspicions
             ,
             which
             makes
             us
             so
             uneasie
             to
             our selves
             ,
             and
             to
             one
             another
             ,
             and
             have
             so
             often
             made
             us
             dangerous
             to
             the
             Government
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             to
             our selves
             .
             Now
             the
             English
             being
             more
             splenatick
             than
             other
             people
             ,
             and
             consequently
             more
             thoughtful
             and
             more
             reflecting
             ,
             and
             therefore
             more
             scrupulous
             in
             allowing
             their
             passions
             ,
             and
             consequently
             things
             ●eldom
             hapning
             in
             life
             to
             move
             their
             passions
             so
             agreeably
             to
             their
             reasons
             ,
             as
             to
             entertain
             and
             please
             them
             ;
             and
             there
             being
             no
             true
             and
             sincere
             pleasure
             unless
             these
             passions
             are
             thus
             mov'd
             ,
             nor
             any
             happiness
             without
             pleasure
             ,
             it
             follows
             ;
             that
             the
             English
             to
             be
             happy
             ,
             have
             more
             need
             than
             other
             people
             of
             something
             that
             will
             raise
             their
             passions
             in
             such
             a
             manner
             ,
             as
             shall
             be
             agreeable
             to
             their
             reasons
             ,
             and
             that
             by
             consequence
             they
             have
             more
             need
             of
             the
             D●ama
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             III.
             
          
           
             The
             Objections
             from
             Reason
             answer'd
             .
          
           
             BUt
             now
             we
             proceed
             to
             answer
             Objections
             ,
             and
             to
             shew
             that
             we
             design
             to
             use
             Mr
             Collier
             with
             all
             the
             fairness
             imaginable
             ;
             I
             shall
             not
             only
             endeavour
             to
             answer
             all
             that
             may
             be
             objected
             from
             Mr.
             
             Collier's
             Book
             ;
             against
             what
             I
             have
             said
             in
             the
             foregoing
             Chapters
             in
             the
             behalf
             of
             the
             Stage
             ;
             I
             say
             ,
             I
             shall
             not
             only
             endeavour
             to
             answer
             this
             ,
             after
             I
             have
             propounded
             it
             in
             the
             most
             foreible
             manner
             in
             which
             it
             can
             be
             urg'd
             ,
             but
             I
             shall
             make
             it
             my
             business
             to
             reply
             to
             all
             that
             has
             been
             objected
             by
             other
             adversaries
             ,
             or
             that
             I
             can
             foresee
             may
             be
             hereafter
             objected
             .
          
           
             The
             objections
             then
             against
             what
             I
             have
             said
             in
             Defence
             of
             the
             Stage
             in
             the
             foregoing
             Chapters
             ,
             are
             or
             may
             be
             of
             three
             sorts
             .
          
           
           
             First
             ,
             Objections
             from
             Reason
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             From
             Authority
             ,
             and
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             From
             Religion
             .
          
           
             First
             then
             ,
             I
             shall
             endeavour
             to
             answer
             what
             may
             be
             objected
             from
             Reason
             ,
             viz.
             That
             tho
             it
             should
             be
             granted
             that
             the
             Theatre
             makes
             people
             happy
             for
             the
             present
             ,
             yet
             it
             afterwards
             infallibly
             makes
             them
             miserable
             :
             First
             ,
             by
             nourishing
             and
             fomenting
             their
             passions
             ;
             and
             secondly
             ,
             by
             indulging
             their
             vices
             ,
             and
             making
             them
             Libertines
             :
             And
             that
             't
             is
             neither
             the
             part
             of
             a
             prudent
             man
             ,
             nor
             a
             good
             Christian
             ,
             to
             make
             choice
             of
             such
             a
             momentary
             delight
             ,
             as
             will
             be
             follow'd
             by
             so
             much
             affliction
             .
          
           
             And
             first
             ,
             say
             the
             Adver●aries
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             the
             Drama
             tends
             to
             the
             making
             of
             people
             unhappy
             ,
             because
             it
             nourishes
             and
             foments
             those
             passions
             ,
             that
             occa●●on
             the
             follies
             and
             imprudencies
             from
             whence
             come
             all
             their
             misfortunes
             :
             ●nd
          
           
             First
             ,
             It
             indulges
             Terror
             and
             Pity
             ,
             ●nd
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             passions
             .
          
           
           
             Secondly
             ,
             It
             not
             only
             indulges
             Love
             where
             it
             is
             ,
             but
             creates
             it
             where
             it
             is
             not
             .
          
           
             First
             then
             ,
             say
             they
             ,
             it
             indulges
             Terror
             ,
             Pity
             ,
             and
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             passions
             .
             For
             ,
             says
             a
             certain
             French
             Gentleman
             ,
             who
             is
             famous
             for
             Criticism
             ,
             that
             purgation
             which
             Aristo●le
             mentions
             is
             meerly
             chimerical
             ;
             the
             more
             the
             passions
             in
             any
             one
             are
             mov'd
             ,
             the
             more
             obnoxious
             they
             are
             to
             be
             mov'd
             ,
             and
             the
             more
             unruly
             they
             grow
             .
          
           
             But
             ,
             by
             Monsieur
             
               De
               St.
            
             Evremont's
             favour
             ,
             this
             is
             not
             only
             to
             contradict
             Aristotle
             ,
             but
             every
             mans
             daily
             experience
             .
             For
             every
             man
             finds
             ,
             and
             every
             man
             of
             sense
             particularly
             ,
             that
             the
             longer
             he
             frequents
             Plays
             the
             harder
             he
             is
             to
             be
             pleas'd
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             the
             harder
             he
             is
             to
             be
             mov'd
             ;
             and
             when
             any
             man
             of
             judgment
             ,
             who
             has
             a
             long
             time
             frequented
             Plays
             ,
             happens
             to
             be
             very
             much
             touch'd
             by
             a
             Scene
             ,
             we
             may
             conclude
             that
             that
             Scene
             is
             very
             well
             writ
             ,
             both
             for
             nature
             and
             art
             .
          
           
             And
             indeed
             ,
             if
             people
             who
             have
             a
             long
             time
             frequented
             Plays
             are
             so
             hard
             to
             be
             mov'd
             ,
             to
             compassion
             ,
             that
             a
             Poet
             is
             oblig'd
             so
             to
             contrive
             his
             incidents
             
             and
             his
             Characters
             ,
             that
             the
             last
             shall
             be
             most
             deplorable
             ,
             and
             the
             first
             most
             proper
             to
             move
             compassion
             ;
             may
             it
             not
             be
             very
             well
             suppos'd
             ,
             that
             such
             a
             one
             will
             not
             be
             over
             obnoxious
             to
             feel
             too
             much
             compassion
             upon
             the
             view
             of
             calamities
             ,
             which
             happen
             every
             day
             in
             the
             world
             ,
             when
             they
             and
             the
             persons
             to
             whom
             they
             happen
             ,
             may
             not
             so
             much
             as
             once
             in
             an
             Age
             ,
             have
             all
             the
             qualifications
             that
             are
             requir'd
             extreamly
             to
             touch
             him
             .
          
           
             But
             ,
             Secondly
             ,
             whereas
             it
             is
             urg'd
             ,
             that
             the
             Drama
             and
             particularly
             Tragedy
             ,
             manifestly
             indulges
             Love
             where
             it
             is
             ,
             and
             creates
             it
             where
             it
             is
             not
             .
             To
             this
             I
             answer
             .
             That
             the
             Love
             which
             is
             shewn
             in
             a
             Tragedy
             is
             lawful
             and
             regular
             ,
             or
             it
             is
             not
             .
             If
             it
             is
             not
             ,
             why
             then
             in
             a
             Play
             ,
             which
             is
             writ
             as
             it
             should
             be
             (
             for
             I
             pretend
             not
             to
             defend
             the
             errours
             or
             corruptions
             of
             the
             Stage
             )
             it
             is
             shewn
             unfortunate
             in
             the
             Catastrophe
             ,
             which
             is
             sufficient
             to
             make
             an
             Audience
             averse
             from
             engaging
             in
             the
             excesses
             of
             that
             passion
             .
             But
             if
             the
             Love
             that
             is
             shewn
             is
             lawful
             and
             regular
             ,
             nothing
             makes
             a
             man
             happier
             than
             that
             passion
             .
             I
             speak
             ev'n
             of
             that
             i●mediate
             
             pleasure
             which
             attends
             the
             passion
             itself
             .
             And
             as
             it
             certainly
             makes
             him
             happy
             for
             the
             present
             ,
             so
             there
             is
             no
             passion
             which
             puts
             a
             man
             upon
             things
             that
             make
             him
             happier
             for
             the
             future
             .
             For
             as
             people
             have
             for
             the
             most
             part
             a
             very
             high
             opinion
             of
             the
             belov'd
             object
             ,
             it
             makes
             them
             endeavour
             to
             become
             worthy
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             to
             encrease
             in
             knowledge
             and
             virtue
             ;
             and
             not
             only
             frequently
             reclaims
             them
             from
             some
             grosser
             pleasures
             ,
             of
             which
             they
             were
             fond
             before
             ,
             but
             breeds
             in
             them
             an
             utter
             detestation
             of
             some
             unnatural
             vices
             ,
             which
             have
             been
             so
             much
             in
             use
             in
             Eng●and
             ,
             for
             these
             last
             thirty
             years
             .
          
           
             But
             now
             we
             come
             to
             the
             second
             pretended
             Reason
             ,
             why
             the
             Drama
             tends
             to
             the
             making
             of
             men
             unhappy
             ,
             and
             that
             is
             ,
             say
             the
             Adversaries
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             because
             it
             encourages
             and
             indulges
             their
             vices
             .
             To
             which
             we
             answer
             ;
             that
             the
             Drama
             ;
             and
             particulary
             Tragedy
             ,
             in
             its
             purity
             ,
             is
             so
             far
             from
             having
             that
             effect
             ,
             that
             it
             must
             of
             necessity
             make
             men
             virtuous
             ;
             First
             ,
             because
             it
             moderates
             the
             passions
             ,
             whose
             excesses
             cause
             their
             vices
             ;
             Secondly
             ,
             because
             it
             instructs
             them
             in
             their
             duties
             ,
             both
             by
             its
             fable
             
             and
             by
             its
             sentences
             .
             But
             here
             they
             start
             an
             objection
             ,
             which
             some
             imagin
             a
             strong
             one
             ,
             which
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             Nation
             has
             been
             more
             corrupted
             since
             the
             establishment
             of
             the
             Drama
             ,
             upon
             the
             restoration
             ,
             than
             ever
             it
             was
             before
             .
             To
             which
             I
             answer
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             That
             that
             corruption
             of
             manners
             ,
             tho
             it
             should
             be
             granted
             to
             proceed
             from
             the
             Stage
             ,
             can
             yet
             only
             proceed
             from
             the
             licentious
             abuses
             of
             it
             ,
             which
             no
             man
             pretends
             to
             defend
             .
             But
             ,
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             We
             affirm
             that
             this
             corruption
             of
             manners
             ,
             cannot
             be
             reasonably
             said
             to
             proceed
             ,
             no
             not
             even
             from
             those
             pa●pable
             abuses
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             which
             we
             will
             not
             pretend
             to
             vindicate
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             For
             if
             the
             corruption
             of
             manners
             proceeded
             from
             the
             abuses
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             how
             comes
             it
             to
             pass
             that
             we
             never
             heard
             any
             complaint
             of
             the
             like
             corruption
             of
             manners
             before
             the
             restoration
             of
             Charles
             the
             Second
             ,
             since
             it
             is
             plain
             from
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             Book
             ,
             that
             the
             Drama
             flourish'd
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             King
             Iames
             I.
             and
             flourish'd
             with
             the
             like
             licentiousness
             .
             But
             ,
          
           
           
             Secondly
             ,
             if
             this
             general
             corruption
             of
             manners
             is
             to
             be
             attributed
             to
             the
             abuses
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             from
             hence
             it
             will
             follow
             ,
             that
             there
             should
             be
             the
             greatest
             corruption
             of
             manners
             where
             the
             Theatres
             are
             most
             frequented
             ,
             or
             most
             licentious
             ,
             which
             is
             not
             true
             :
             for
             in
             France
             the
             Theatres
             are
             less
             licentious
             than
             ours
             ,
             and
             yet
             the
             corruption
             of
             manners
             is
             there
             as
             great
             ,
             if
             you
             only
             except
             our
             drinking
             ,
             which
             ,
             as
             I
             shall
             prove
             anon
             ,
             can
             never
             proceed
             from
             any
             encouragement
             of
             the
             Stage
             .
             In
             Germany
             and
             in
             Italy
             the
             Theatres
             are
             less
             frequented
             :
             for
             in
             Italy
             they
             seldom
             have
             Plays
             unless
             in
             the
             Carnival
             ,
             and
             in
             most
             of
             the
             little
             German
             Soveraignties
             ,
             they
             have
             not
             constant
             Theatres
             .
             And
             yet
             in
             Germany
             they
             drink
             more
             ,
             and
             in
             Italy
             they
             are
             more
             intemperate
             in
             the
             use
             of
             women
             and
             unnatural
             vices
             .
          
           
             But
             Thirdly
             ,
             The
             corruption
             of
             manners
             upon
             the
             restoration
             ,
             appear'd
             with
             all
             the
             fury
             of
             Libertinism
             ,
             even
             before
             the
             Play
             House
             was
             re-establisht
             and
             long
             ●efore
             it
             could
             have
             any
             influence
             on
             manners
             ,
             so
             that
             another
             cause
             of
             that
             corruption
             is
             to
             be
             enquir'd
             after
             ,
             
             than
             the
             re-establishment
             of
             the
             Drama
             ,
             and
             that
             can
             be
             nothing
             but
             that
             beastly
             reformation
             ,
             which
             in
             the
             time
             of
             the
             late
             Civil
             Wars
             ,
             was
             begun
             at
             the
             Tail
             instead
             of
             the
             Head
             and
             the
             Heart
             ;
             and
             which
             opprest
             and
             persecuted
             mens
             inclinations
             ,
             instead
             of
             correcting
             and
             converting
             them
             ,
             which
             afterwards
             broke
             out
             with
             the
             same
             violence
             ,
             that
             a
             raging
             fire
             does
             upon
             its
             first
             getting
             vent
             .
             And
             that
             which
             gave
             it
             so
             licentious
             a
             vent
             was
             ,
             not
             only
             the
             permission
             ,
             but
             the
             example
             of
             the
             Court
             ,
             which
             for
             the
             most
             part
             was
             just
             arriv'd
             from
             abroad
             with
             the
             King
             ,
             where
             it
             had
             endeavour'd
             by
             foreign
             corruption
             to
             sweeten
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             to
             soften
             adversity
             ,
             and
             having
             sojourn'd
             for
             a
             considerable
             time
             ,
             both
             at
             Paris
             and
             in
             the
             
               Low
               Countries
            
             ,
             united
             the
             spirit
             of
             the
             French
             W●oring
             ,
             to
             the
             fury
             of
             the
             Dutch
             Drinking
             .
             So
             that
             the
             Poets
             who
             writ
             immediately
             after
             the
             restoration
             ,
             were
             obliged
             to
             humour
             the
             deprav'd
             tastes
             of
             their
             Audience
             .
             For
             as
             an
             impenitent
             Sinner
             that
             should
             be
             immediately
             transported
             to
             Heaven
             ,
             would
             be
             incapable
             of
             partaking
             of
             the
             happiness
             of
             the
             place
             ,
             because
             his
             inclinations
             
             and
             affections
             would
             not
             be
             prepar'd
             for
             it
             ,
             so
             if
             the
             Poets
             of
             these
             times
             had
             writ
             in
             a
             manner
             purely
             instructive
             ,
             without
             any
             mixture
             of
             lewdness
             ,
             the
             Appetites
             of
             the
             Audience
             were
             so
             far
             debauch'd
             ,
             that
             they
             would
             have
             judg'd
             the
             entertainment
             insipid
             ,
             so
             that
             the
             spirit
             of
             Libertinism
             which
             came
             in
             with
             the
             Court
             ,
             and
             for
             which
             the
             people
             were
             so
             well
             prepar'd
             by
             the
             sham-reformation
             of
             manners
             ,
             caus'd
             the
             lewdness
             of
             their
             Plays
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             lewdness
             of
             Plays
             the
             spirit
             of
             Libertinism
             .
             For
             t
             is
             ridiculous
             to
             assign
             a
             cause
             of
             so
             long
             a
             standing
             to
             so
             new
             ,
             so
             sudden
             ,
             and
             so
             extraordinary
             an
             effect
             ,
             when
             we
             may
             assign
             a
             cause
             so
             new
             ,
             so
             probable
             ,
             and
             unheard
             of
             before
             ,
             as
             the
             inclinations
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             returning
             with
             violence
             to
             their
             natural
             bent
             ,
             upon
             the
             encouragement
             and
             example
             of
             a
             Court
             ,
             that
             was
             come
             home
             with
             all
             the
             corruptions
             of
             a
             foreign
             Luxury
             ;
             so
             that
             the
             sham-reformation
             being
             in
             a
             great
             measure
             the
             cause
             of
             that
             spirit
             of
             Libertinism
             ,
             which
             with
             so
             much
             fury
             came
             in
             with
             King
             Charles
             the
             Second
             ,
             and
             the
             putting
             down
             the
             Play
             House
             being
             part
             
             of
             that
             reformation
             ,
             't
             is
             evident
             that
             the
             Corruption
             of
             the
             Nation
             is
             so
             far
             from
             proceeding
             from
             the
             Play-house
             ,
             that
             it
             partly
             proceeds
             from
             having
             no
             Plays
             at
             all
             .
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             That
             the
             Corruption
             of
             Manners
             is
             not
             to
             be
             attributed
             to
             the
             licentiousness
             of
             the
             Drama
             ,
             may
             appear
             from
             the
             consideration
             of
             the
             reigning
             vices
             ,
             I
             mean
             those
             moral
             vices
             which
             have
             more
             immediate
             influence
             upon
             mens
             conduct
             ,
             and
             consequently
             upon
             their
             happiness
             .
             And
             those
             are
             chiefly
             four
             .
          
           
             
               1.
               
               The
               love
               of
               Women
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               Drinking
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               Gaming
               .
            
             
               4.
               
               Unnatural
               sins
               .
            
          
           
             For
             drinking
             and
             gaming
             ,
             their
             excesses
             cannot
             be
             reasonably
             charg'd
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             for
             the
             following
             Reasons
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             Because
             it
             cannot
             possibly
             be
             conceiv'd
             ,
             that
             so
             reasonable
             a
             diversion
             as
             the
             Drama
             ,
             can
             encourage
             or
             incline
             men
             to
             so
             unreasonable
             a
             
             one
             as
             gaming
             ,
             or
             so
             brutal
             a
             one
             as
             drunkenness
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             Because
             these
             two
             vices
             have
             been
             made
             odious
             and
             ridiculous
             by
             our
             Plays
             ,
             instead
             of
             being
             shewn
             agreeable
             .
             As
             for
             Dunkenness
             ,
             to
             shew
             the
             sinner
             is
             sufficient
             to
             discredit
             the
             vice
             ;
             for
             a
             Drunkard
             of
             necessity
             always
             appears
             either
             odious
             or
             ridiculous
             .
             And
             for
             a
             Gamester
             ,
             I
             never
             knew
             any
             one
             shewn
             in
             a
             Play
             ,
             but
             either
             as
             a
             F●ol
             or
             a
             Rascal
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             Because
             those
             two
             vices
             flourish
             in
             places
             that
             are
             too
             remote
             ,
             and
             in
             persons
             that
             are
             too
             abject
             to
             be
             encourag'd
             or
             influenc'd
             by
             the
             Stage
             .
             There
             is
             drinking
             and
             gaming
             in
             the
             furthest
             North
             and
             the
             furthest
             West
             ,
             among
             Peasants
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             among
             Dukes
             and
             Peers
             .
             But
             here
             perhaps
             some
             visionary
             Zealot
             will
             urge
             ,
             that
             these
             two
             vices
             ,
             even
             these
             remote
             places
             ,
             and
             these
             abject
             persons
             proceed
             from
             the
             influence
             of
             that
             irreligion
             ,
             which
             is
             caus'd
             by
             the
             corruptions
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             and
             will
             with
             as
             much
             reason
             and
             as
             much
             modesty
             deduce
             the
             lewdness
             which
             is
             transacted
             in
             the
             Tin
             mines
             ,
             in
             Cornwal
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Coal-pits
             of
             Newcastle
             ,
             from
             the
             daily
             abominations
             
             of
             the
             Pits
             of
             the
             two
             Play-houses
             ,
             as
             he
             would
             derive
             the
             brutality
             of
             the
             high
             Dutch
             Drinking
             ,
             from
             the
             prophaneness
             of
             our
             English
             Drama
             .
          
           
             But
             what
             will
             he
             say
             then
             to
             those
             Gentlemen
             ,
             who
             neither
             are
             suppos'd
             to
             go
             to
             our
             Theatres
             ,
             nor
             to
             converse
             much
             with
             those
             who
             do
             ,
             nor
             to
             be
             liable
             to
             be
             corrupted
             by
             them
             ;
             what
             will
             they
             say
             to
             these
             Gentlemen
             ,
             if
             they
             can
             be
             prov'd
             to
             have
             a
             considerable
             share
             of
             the
             two
             fore-mention'd
             vices
             ?
             What
             can
             they
             answer
             ?
             For
             it
             would
             be
             ridiculously
             absurd
             to
             reply
             ,
             that
             the
             Clergy
             are
             corrupted
             by
             the
             Laity
             ,
             whom
             it
             is
             their
             business
             to
             convert
             .
             But
             here
             I
             think
             my self
             oblig'd
             to
             declare
             ,
             that
             I
             by
             no
             means
             design
             this
             as
             a
             reflection
             upon
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             who
             I
             am
             satisfy'd
             may
             morejustly
             boast
             of
             its
             Clergy
             ,
             than
             any
             other
             Church
             whatsoever
             ;
             a
             Clergy
             that
             are
             equally
             illustrious
             for
             their
             Piety
             and
             for
             their
             Learning
             ,
             yet
             may
             I
             venture
             to
             affirm
             ,
             that
             there
             are
             some
             among
             them
             ,
             who
             can
             never
             be
             suppos'd
             to
             have
             been
             corrupted
             by
             Play-houses
             ,
             who
             yet
             turn
             up
             a
             Bottle
             oftner
             than
             they
             do
             an
             Hour-glass
             ,
             who
             box
             about
             a
             pair
             of
             Tables
             with
             more
             servour
             than
             they
             
             do
             their
             Cushions
             ,
             contemplate
             a
             pair
             of
             Dice
             more
             frequently
             than
             the
             Fathers
             or
             Councels
             ,
             and
             meditate
             and
             depend
             upon
             Hazard
             ,
             more
             than
             they
             do
             upon
             Providence
             .
          
           
             And
             as
             for
             that
             unnatural
             sin
             ,
             which
             is
             another
             growing
             vice
             of
             the
             Age
             ,
             it
             would
             be
             monstrous
             to
             urge
             that
             it
             is
             in
             the
             least
             encourag'd
             by
             the
             Stage
             ,
             for
             it
             is
             either
             never
             mention'd
             there
             ,
             or
             mention'd
             with
             the
             last
             detestation
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             lastly
             ,
             for
             the
             Love
             of
             Women
             ,
             fomented
             by
             the
             Corruption
             ,
             and
             not
             by
             the
             genuine
             Art
             of
             the
             Stage
             ;
             tho
             the
             augmenting
             and
             nourishing
             it
             cannot
             be
             defended
             ,
             yet
             it
             may
             be
             in
             some
             measure
             excus'd
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             Because
             it
             has
             more
             of
             Nature
             ,
             and
             consequently
             more
             Temptation
             ,
             and
             consequently
             less
             Malice
             ,
             than
             the
             preceding
             three
             ,
             which
             the
             Drama
             does
             not
             encourage
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Because
             it
             has
             a
             check
             upòn
             the
             other
             Vices
             ,
             and
             peculiarly
             upon
             that
             unnatural
             sin
             ,
             in
             the
             restraining
             of
             which
             the
             happiness
             of
             mankind
             is
             in
             so
             evident
             a
             manner
             concern'd
             .
          
           
           
             So
             that
             of
             the
             four
             moral
             reigning
             vices
             ,
             the
             Stage
             encourages
             but
             one
             ,
             which
             ,
             as
             it
             has
             been
             prov'd
             to
             be
             the
             least
             of
             them
             all
             ,
             so
             is
             it
             the
             least
             contageous
             ,
             and
             the
             least
             universal
             .
             For
             in
             the
             Country
             ,
             Fornication
             and
             Adultery
             are
             seldom
             heard
             of
             ,
             whereas
             Drunkenness
             rages
             in
             almost
             every
             house
             there
             :
             From
             all
             which
             it
             appears
             ,
             how
             very
             unreasonable
             it
             is
             ,
             to
             charge
             the
             lewdness
             of
             the
             times
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             when
             it
             is
             evident
             ,
             that
             of
             the
             four
             reigning
             moral
             vices
             ,
             the
             Stage
             encourages
             but
             one
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             least
             of
             the
             ●our
             ,
             and
             the
             least
             universal
             ,
             and
             a
             vice
             which
             has
             a
             check
             upon
             the
             other
             three
             ,
             and
             particularl●
             upon
             that
             amongst
             them
             ,
             which
             is
             most
             opposite
             and
             most
             destructive
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             mankind
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             IV.
             
          
           
             The
             Objections
             from
             Authority
             answer'd
             .
          
           
             IN
             the
             next
             place
             we
             come
             to
             answer
             the
             objections
             which
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             brought
             from
             Authority
             .
             The
             Authorities
             which
             he
             has
             produc'd
             are
             indeed
             very
             numerous
             ,
             yet
             only
             four
             of
             them
             can
             be
             reduc'd
             under
             this
             head
             ,
             without
             running
             into
             confusion
             ,
             two
             Poets
             and
             two
             Philosophers
             .
          
           
             The
             Poets
             are
             Ovid
             and
             Mr.
             Wycherley
             ;
             the
             Philosophers
             ,
             Plutarch
             and
             Seneca
             .
          
           
             The
             first
             of
             them
             is
             Ovid
             ,
             in
             his
             Book
             
               De
               Arte
               Amandi
            
             ,
             and
             in
             his
             Book
             
               De
               Remedio
               Amoris
            
             .
             We
             have
             already
             answer'd
             the
             last
             in
             the
             preceding
             Chapter
             ,
             and
             shall
             now
             say
             something
             to
             the
             first
             .
             The
             passage
             is
             this
             :
             
               
               
                 Sed
                 Tu
                 praecipue
                 Curvis
                 Venare
                 Theatris
              
               
                 Haec
                 loca
                 sunt
                 votis
                 Fertiliora
                 tuis
                 .
              
               
                 Illic
                 invenies
                 quod
                 ames
                 ,
                 quod
                 Ludere
                 possis
              
               
                 Quodque
                 semel
                 Tangas
                 quodque
                 Tenere
                 velis
                 .
              
            
             From
             whence
             Mr
             Collier
             makes
             this
             shrewd
             Remark
             ,
             that
             the
             Theatre
             is
             the
             properest
             place
             in
             the
             world
             to
             meet
             ,
             or
             to
             find
             a
             Mistress
             ,
             and
             that
             several
             people
             go
             thither
             on
             purpose
             .
             In
             answer
             to
             this
             ,
             I
             desire
             the
             Reader
             to
             peruse
             the
             Verses
             which
             precede
             .
             
               
                 Nec
                 Fuge
                 niliginae
                 Memphitica
                 Templa
                 Iuvenc●
              
               
                 Multas
                 illa
                 facit
                 quod
                 fuit
                 illa
                 Iovi
                 .
              
            
             And
             have
             we
             not
             here
             a
             merry
             person
             ?
             who
             brings
             an
             Authority
             against
             going
             to
             Theatres
             ,
             which
             is
             as
             direct
             against
             going
             to
             Church
             ?
             Nay
             ,
             and
             upon
             the
             very
             same
             account
             too
             .
             But
             the
             Poet
             speaks
             here
             of
             a
             Heathen
             Temple
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             .
             Well
             ,
             and
             so
             he
             does
             of
             a
             Heathen
             Theatre
             .
             But
             what
             he
             says
             of
             the
             Roman
             Theatre
             is
             exactly
             applicable
             to
             ours
             .
             And
             what
             Reply
             can
             be
             made
             to
             that
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             ?
             What
             ?
             
             Why
             I
             wish
             to
             God
             that
             no
             Reply
             could
             be
             made
             to
             it
             .
             But
             besides
             ,
             if
             several
             people
             go
             to
             our
             Theatres
             purposely
             to
             meet
             ,
             or
             to
             find
             out
             a
             Mistress
             ,
             I
             think
             it
             is
             plain
             that
             if
             there
             were
             no
             Theatres
             ,
             they
             wou'd
             go
             to
             other
             places
             :
             Especially
             since
             ,
             as
             we
             hinted
             above
             ,
             when
             the
             Theatres
             are
             shut
             ,
             they
             frequent
             other
             Assemblies
             upon
             the
             same
             designs
             .
             But
             tho
             some
             people
             go
             to
             the
             Theatre
             to
             meet
             their
             Mistresses
             ,
             yet
             it
             is
             evident
             that
             most
             go
             to
             see
             the
             Play
             ,
             who
             ,
             if
             they
             could
             not
             have
             that
             diversion
             ,
             would
             not
             improbably
             go
             to
             other
             places
             with
             far
             worse
             intentions
             .
          
           
             The
             next
             who
             i●
             produc●d
             against
             the
             Stage
             is
             Mr
             Wycherley
             ,
             much
             ,
             I
             dare
             say
             ,
             against
             the
             assent
             either
             of
             his
             will
             or
             his
             understanding
             .
             But
             only
             for
             a
             jest
             in
             that
             admirable
             Epistle
             ,
             which
             is
             prefix'd
             to
             the
             
               Plain
               Dealer
            
             .
             However
             ;
             even
             that
             jest
             ,
             let
             it
             be
             never
             so
             much
             o●re-strain'd
             ,
             can
             never
             be
             brought
             to
             convince
             us
             of
             any
             thing
             but
             the
             abuses
             of
             the
             Theatre
             ,
             which
             I
             do
             not
             pretend
             to
             defend
             ;
             and
             I
             thought
             Mr
             Wycherley
             had
             more
             than
             made
             amends
             for
             it
             ,
             by
             exposing
             Adu●tery
             ,
             and
             making
             
             it
             the
             immediate
             cause
             of
             
             Olivia's
             misfortune
             ,
             in
             that
             excellent
             Play
             ,
             which
             is
             a
             most
             instructive
             and
             a
             most
             noble
             Satyr
             ,
             upon
             the
             hyprocrisie
             and
             villany
             of
             Mankind
             .
          
           
             Mr
             Wycherley
             being
             indeed
             almost
             the
             only
             man
             alive
             ,
             who
             has
             made
             Comedy
             instructive
             in
             its
             Fable
             ;
             almost
             all
             the
             rest
             being
             contented
             to
             instruct
             by
             their
             characters
             .
             But
             what
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             said
             of
             Mr
             Wycherley
             is
             sufficient
             to
             shew
             us
             what
             Candour
             ,
             nay
             ,
             and
             what
             Justice
             we
             are
             to
             expect
             from
             this
             censurer
             of
             the
             Stage
             .
             For
             in
             giving
             Mr.
             
             Wycherley's
             Character
             ,
             he
             has
             shewn
             himself
             invidious
             and
             detracting
             even
             in
             his
             commendation
             .
             For
             the
             best
             thing
             that
             he
             can
             afford
             to
             say
             of
             the
             greatest
             of
             our
             Comick
             Wits
             ,
             is
             ,
             that
             he
             is
             a
             man
             of
             good
             sense
             .
             Which
             puts
             me
             in
             mind
             of
             a
             Father
             in
             France
             over-hearing
             his
             Son
             saying
             of
             the
             Mareschal
             
               de
               Turenne
               Ma
               foy
               ,
               Ie
               trouve
               Monsieur
               de
               T●renne
               an
               Ioly
               Homme
               :
               Et
               vous
               mo●●its
               ,
            
             replys
             the
             Father
             ,
             
               je
               vous
               trouve
               un
               joly
               sot
               de
               parler
               ainsi
               ,
               Du
               plus
               grand
               Homme
               que
               la
               France
               a
               porte
               .
            
             How
             unworthy
             was
             it
             to
             commend
             Mr
             Wycherley
             for
             a
             thing
             ,
             which
             ,
             tho
             
             certainly
             he
             has
             in
             a
             very
             great
             degree
             ,
             yet
             is
             common
             to
             him
             with
             a
             thousand
             more
             ;
             and
             to
             take
             no
             notice
             of
             those
             extraordinary
             qualities
             which
             are
             peculiar
             to
             him
             alone
             ,
             his
             Wit
             ,
             his
             Penetration
             ,
             his
             Satyr
             ,
             his
             Art
             ,
             his
             Characters
             ,
             and
             above
             all
             ,
             that
             incomparable
             Vivacity
             ,
             by
             which
             he
             has
             happily
             equall'd
             the
             Ancients
             ,
             and
             surpass'd
             the
             Moderns
             ?
          
           
             But
             now
             let
             us
             pass
             to
             the
             Philosophers
             ,
             I
             mean
             the
             Philosophers
             who
             were
             not
             Poets
             ;
             for
             no
             man
             can
             be
             a
             good
             Poet
             who
             is
             not
             a
             Philosopher
             .
             He
             has
             cited
             Plutarch
             in
             four
             several
             places
             in
             his
             Symposiaecum
             ;
             his
             Book
             
               De
               Audiendis
               Poetis
            
             ;
             his
             Treatise
             
               De
               glori●
               Atheniensium
            
             ;
             and
             his
             
               Laconick
               Institutions
            
             :
             For
             the
             two
             last
             we
             shall
             say
             nothing
             to
             them
             ,
             till
             we
             come
             to
             speak
             of
             government
             .
             In
             the
             two
             first
             Mr
             Collier
             makes
             Plutarch
             say
             ,
             that
             Plays
             are
             dangerous
             to
             corrupt
             young
             peop●e
             ,
             and
             therefore
             stage-poetry
             ,
             when
             it
             grows
             too
             hardy
             ,
             and
             licentious
             ,
             ought
             to
             be
             check'd
             .
             But
             I
             make
             no
             doubt
             but
             to
             make
             it
             appear
             ,
             that
             Mr
             collier
             has
             been
             guilty
             of
             three
             things
             in
             this
             very
             action
             ,
             which
             are
             unworthy
             the
             Candour
             of
             a
             Gentleman
             ,
             or
             of
             a
             man
             of
             
             Letters
             .
             First
             ,
             he
             has
             brought
             an
             Authority
             ,
             which
             can
             only
             convince
             us
             that
             this
             Philosopher
             did
             not
             approve
             of
             the
             licentiousness
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             which
             licentiousness
             we
             by
             no
             means
             design
             to
             defend
             :
             such
             an
             Authority
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             he
             has
             brought
             in
             a
             Chapter
             ,
             design'd
             to
             shew
             that
             the
             Ancients
             disapprov'd
             of
             Plays
             ,
             and
             the
             Stage
             in
             general
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             he
             has
             made
             use
             of
             the
             Authority
             of
             Plutarch
             against
             the
             Stage
             ,
             whereas
             that
             Philosopher
             has
             said
             infinitely
             more
             in
             its
             behalf
             ,
             than
             he
             has
             against
             it
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             he
             has
             from
             two
             tracts
             of
             Plutarch
             slurr'd
             one
             citation
             upon
             us
             ,
             in
             the
             way
             of
             an
             argument
             ,
             which
             is
             very
             unlike
             the
             reasoning
             of
             that
             Philosopher
             .
             For
             in
             the
             first
             part
             of
             the
             Enthyme
             ,
             he
             makes
             Plutarch
             damn
             the
             Stage
             ,
             and
             the
             Drama
             in
             general
             ;
             and
             in
             the
             second
             conclude
             against
             them
             in
             particular
             .
             For
             Plays
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             all
             Plays
             ,
             are
             dangerous
             to
             corrupt
             young
             people
             ,
             and
             therefore
             some
             Plays
             ought
             to
             be
             check'd
             .
             And
             why
             does
             Mr
             Collier
             make
             the
             Philosopher
             argue
             after
             this
             Jesuitical
             manner
             ,
             when
             it
             is
             plain
             to
             any
             Reader
             ,
             that
             has
             but
             common
             apprehension
             ,
             that
             
             since
             in
             the
             second
             part
             of
             the
             
               Euthymene
               ,
               Plutarch
            
             condemn'd
             only
             some
             particular
             Plays
             ;
             he
             only
             said
             in
             the
             first
             part
             of
             it
             ,
             that
             some
             particular
             Play
             were
             dangerous
             .
             But
             let
             us
             proceed
             to
             Seneca
             .
             And
             since
             it
             highly
             concerns
             us
             to
             give
             a
             full
             and
             satisfactory
             account
             of
             what
             is
             objected
             from
             him
             ,
             let
             us
             cite
             him
             at
             length
             ,
             a●
             Mr
             Collier
             translates
             him
             .
             Seneca
             
               complains
               heartily
               of
               the
               extravagance
               and
               debauchery
               of
               the
               Age
               :
               And
               how
               forward
               people
               were
               to
               improve
               in
               that
               which
               was
               naught
               .
               That
               scarce
               any
               body
               would
               apply
               themselves
               to
               the
               study
               of
               Nature
               and
               Morality
               ,
               unless
               when
               the
               Play-house
               was
               shut
               ,
               or
               the
               weather
               foul
               .
               That
               there
               was
               no
               body
               to
               teach
               Philosophy
               ,
               because
               there
               was
               no
               body
               to
               learn
               it
               .
               But
               that
               the
               Stage
               had
               nurseries
               ,
               and
               company
               enough
               .
               This
               misapplication
               of
               Time
               and
               Fancy
               ,
               made
               knowledge
               in
               so
               ill
               a
               condition
               .
               This
               was
               the
               cause
               the
               Hints
               of
               Antiquity
               were
               no
               better
               pursued
               ;
               that
               some
               inventions
               were
               sunk
               ,
               and
               that
               some
               inventions
               grew
               downwards
               ,
               rather
               than
               otherwise
               .
            
             To
             which
             I
             answer
             ,
             First
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             not
             likely
             that
             Seneca
             should
             condemn
             the
             Drama
             and
             the
             Stage
             in
             general
             ,
             since
             
             it
             is
             so
             notoriously
             known
             that
             he
             writ
             Plays
             himself
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             that
             by
             what
             he
             says
             it
             is
             evident
             that
             he
             declaims
             only
             against
             the
             abuses
             of
             the
             Theatre
             ;
             and
             those
             such
             abuses
             as
             have
             no
             relation
             to
             ours
             ;
             as
             for
             example
             ,
             the
             passing
             whole
             days
             together
             in
             the
             Theatre
             ,
             which
             the
             Romans
             oftentimes
             did
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             that
             if
             Mr
             Collier
             would
             infer
             from
             hence
             ,
             that
             our
             Theatres
             are
             hindrances
             to
             the
             advancement
             of
             Learning
             ,
             we
             have
             nothing
             to
             do
             but
             affirm
             what
             all
             the
             world
             must
             consent
             to
             ,
             that
             Learning
             is
             now
             at
             a
             greater
             height
             than
             ever
             it
             was
             known
             in
             England
             .
          
           
             What
             we
             have
             said
             is
             sufficient
             to
             confound
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             but
             we
             will
             not
             be
             contented
             with
             that
             ;
             for
             here
             we
             triumph
             ,
             here
             we
             insult
             ,
             here
             we
             have
             a
             just
             occasion
             to
             shew
             the
             admirable
             advantage
             of
             the
             Stage
             to
             Letters
             ,
             and
             the
             incomparable
             excellency
             of
             the
             Drama
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             more
             peculiar
             manner
             of
             Tragedy
             ,
             which
             seems
             purposely
             form'd
             and
             design'd
             for
             raising
             the
             mind
             ,
             and
             firing
             it
             to
             that
             noble
             emulation
             ,
             which
             is
             so
             absolutely
             necessary
             for
             the
             improvement
             of
             Arts.
             This
             is
             
             a
             truth
             which
             is
             confirm'd
             by
             the
             experience
             of
             all
             Nations
             ,
             of
             all
             Ages
             .
             For
             whether
             we
             look
             upon
             the
             Ancients
             or
             Moderns
             ,
             whether
             we
             consider
             the
             Athenians
             or
             Romans
             ,
             or
             the
             French
             or
             our selves
             ,
             we
             shall
             find
             that
             Arts
             and
             Sciences
             have
             for
             the
             most
             part
             begun
             ,
             but
             all
             of
             them
             at
             least
             begun
             to
             prosper
             with
             the
             Stage
             ,
             and
             that
             as
             they
             have
             flourish'd
             ,
             they
             have
             at
             last
             declin'd
             with
             it
             .
             And
             this
             we
             may
             affirm
             ,
             not
             only
             of
             the
             the
             more
             human
             Arts
             ,
             Poetry
             ,
             History
             ,
             Eloquence
             ,
             of
             which
             the
             Theatre
             is
             certainly
             the
             best
             School
             in
             the
             world
             ;
             the
             School
             that
             form'd
             in
             a
             great
             measure
             those
             prodigious
             Disciples
             ,
             Cicero
             and
             Demosthenos
             ,
             but
             we
             may
             truly
             assert
             it
             of
             all
             other
             sorts
             of
             Learning
             .
          
           
             For
             before
             Thespis
             appear'd
             in
             Attica
             ,
             and
             reduc'd
             the
             Drama
             to
             some
             sort
             of
             form
             ,
             which
             had
             nothing
             but
             confusion
             before
             him
             ,
             they
             had
             neither
             Author
             nor
             Knowledge
             amongst
             them
             ,
             that
             could
             be
             esteem'd
             by
             posterity
             :
             That
             little
             knowledge
             which
             they
             had
             of
             Nature
             is
             to
             us
             ridiculous
             .
             For
             Moral
             Philosophy
             ,
             they
             had
             no
             such
             thing
             ,
             nor
             Orator
             nor
             Historian
             ▪
             But
             as
             soon
             as
             
             after
             Thespis
             their
             Theatre
             began
             to
             flourish
             ,
             all
             their
             extraordinary
             men
             ,
             in
             all
             these
             sorts
             ,
             appear'd
             almost
             together
             .
             Not
             only
             those
             who
             adorn'd
             the
             Stage
             ,
             as
             
               Aeschylus
               ,
               Euripides
            
             ,
             and
             the
             divine
             Sophocles
             ;
             but
             those
             Orators
             ,
             Philosophers
             and
             Historians
             ,
             who
             have
             since
             been
             the
             wonders
             of
             all
             posterity
             ,
             
               Socrates
               ,
               Plato
               ,
               Xenophon
               ,
               Aristotle
               ,
               Pericles
               ,
               Thucydides
               ,
               Demosthenes
               ,
               Aeschines
            
             ;
             and
             of
             all
             their
             famous
             Authors
             who
             have
             descended
             to
             us
             ,
             there
             was
             not
             one
             that
             I
             can
             think
             of
             ,
             but
             who
             was
             alive
             between
             the
             first
             appearing
             of
             Thespis
             ,
             and
             the
             death
             of
             Sophocles
             .
             And
             be
             it
             said
             in
             a
             more
             particular
             manner
             for
             the
             honour
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             that
             they
             had
             no
             such
             thing
             as
             Moral
             Philosophy
             before
             the
             Drama
             flourish'd
             .
             Socrates
             was
             the
             first
             ,
             who
             out
             of
             their
             Theatre
             began
             to
             form
             their
             manners
             .
             And
             be
             it
             said
             ,
             to
             the
             immortal
             honour
             of
             Tragedy
             ,
             that
             the
             first
             and
             greatest
             of
             all
             the
             Moral
             Philosophers
             ,
             not
             only
             frequented
             their
             Theatres
             ,
             but
             was
             employ'd
             in
             writing
             Tragedies
             .
          
           
             And
             as
             among
             the
             Athenians
             ,
             Eloquence
             ,
             History
             ,
             and
             Philosophy
             ,
             I
             
             speak
             of
             the
             moral
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             only
             solid
             certain
             Philosophy
             ,
             appear'd
             and
             flourish'd
             upon
             the
             flourishing
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             so
             with
             the
             Stage
             they
             at
             last
             declin'd
             ,
             for
             not
             one
             of
             their
             famous
             writers
             has
             descended
             to
             us
             ,
             who
             liv'd
             after
             the
             Drama
             was
             come
             to
             perfection
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             after
             the
             full
             establishment
             of
             the
             new
             Comedy
             .
          
           
             As
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             was
             the
             first
             kind
             of
             writing
             that
             appear'd
             among
             the
             Athenians
             ,
             so
             I
             defy
             the
             most
             skilful
             man
             in
             antiquity
             ,
             to
             name
             so
             much
             as
             one
             Author
             among
             the
             Romans
             till
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             appear'd
             at
             Rome
             ,
             introduc'd
             by
             
               Livius
               Andronicus
            
             ,
             above
             five
             hundred
             years
             after
             the
             building
             of
             the
             City
             .
             But
             when
             their
             Stage
             began
             to
             be
             cultivated
             ,
             immediately
             a
             hundred
             writers
             arose
             ,
             in
             Poetry
             ,
             Eloquence
             ,
             History
             ,
             and
             Philosophy
             ,
             whose
             Fame
             took
             an
             equal
             flight
             with
             that
             of
             the
             Roman
             Eagles
             ,
             and
             who
             ,
             transmitting
             their
             immortal
             works
             to
             posterity
             ,
             continue
             the
             living
             glories
             of
             that
             Republick
             ,
             and
             the
             only
             solid
             remains
             of
             the
             Roman
             greatness
             .
             As
             with
             the
             Roman
             Stage
             the
             rest
             of
             their
             Arts
             were
             cultivated
             ,
             and
             improv'd
             ▪
             proportionably
             ;
             
             as
             with
             that
             in
             the
             Age
             of
             
               Augustus
               Caesar
            
             ,
             about
             two
             hundred
             years
             from
             the
             time
             of
             
               Livius
               Andronicus
            
             ,
             they
             reach'd
             their
             utmost
             height
             ,
             so
             with
             that
             they
             declin'd
             in
             the
             Reigns
             of
             succeeding
             Emperors
             .
          
           
             For
             the
             French
             ,
             't
             is
             yet
             scarce
             a
             hundred
             years
             since
             Hardy
             first
             appear'd
             among
             them
             :
             And
             Hardy
             was
             the
             first
             who
             began
             to
             reform
             their
             Stage
             ,
             and
             to
             recover
             it
             from
             the
             confusion
             in
             which
             it
             lay
             before
             him
             .
             And
             tho
             I
             cannot
             say
             ,
             that
             before
             that
             time
             the
             French
             had
             no
             good
             writers
             ,
             yet
             I
             may
             safely
             affirm
             ,
             that
             they
             had
             but
             one
             ,
             who
             was
             generally
             esteem●d
             throughout
             the
             rest
             of
             Europe
             :
             But
             to
             re●kon
             all
             who
             have
             since
             been
             excellent
             in
             Poetry
             ,
             Eloquence
             ,
             History
             and
             Philosophy
             ,
             would
             certainly
             make
             a
             v●ry
             long
             and
             a
             very
             illustrious
             Roll.
             
          
           
             'T
             is
             time
             to
             come
             at
             last
             to
             our selves
             :
             It
             was
             first
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             King
             Henry
             the
             Eighth
             that
             the
             Drama
             grew
             into
             form
             with
             us
             :
             It
             was
             establish'd
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             Queen
             Elizabeth
             ,
             and
             flourish'd
             in
             that
             of
             King
             Iames
             the
             First
             .
             And
             tho
             I
             will
             not
             presume
             to
             affirm
             ,
             that
             before
             the
             Reign
             of
             King
             
             Henry
             the
             Eighth
             we
             had
             no
             good
             Writers
             ,
             yet
             I
             will
             confidently
             assert
             ,
             that
             ,
             excepting
             Chaucer
             ,
             no
             not
             in
             any
             sort
             of
             Writing
             whatever
             ,
             we
             had
             not
             a
             first
             rate
             Writer
             .
             But
             immediately
             upon
             the
             establishment
             of
             the
             Drama
             ,
             three
             prodigies
             of
             Wit
             appear'd
             all
             at
             once
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             so
             many
             Suns
             to
             amaze
             the
             learned
             world
             .
             The
             Reader
             will
             immediately
             comprehend
             that
             I
             speak
             of
             
               Spencer
               ,
               Bacon
            
             and
             Raleigh
             ;
             three
             mighty
             geniuses
             ,
             so
             extraordinary
             in
             their
             different
             ways
             ,
             that
             not
             only
             England
             had
             never
             seen
             the
             like
             before
             ,
             but
             they
             almost
             continue
             to
             this
             very
             day
             ,
             in
             spight
             of
             emulation
             ,
             in
             spight
             of
             time
             ,
             the
             greatest
             of
             our
             Poets
             ,
             Philosophers
             and
             Historians
             .
          
           
             From
             the
             time
             of
             King
             Iames
             the
             First
             the
             Drama
             flourish'd
             ,
             and
             the
             Arts
             were
             cultivated
             ,
             till
             the
             beginning
             of
             our
             intestine
             broil●
             ,
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             King
             Charles
             the
             ●irst
             ;
             when
             the
             Dramatick
             Muse
             was
             banish'd
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Arts
             degraded
             .
             For
             what
             other
             sort
             of
             Poets
             flourish'd
             in
             those
             days
             ?
             who
             were
             the
             inspir●d
             ,
             the
             celebrated
             men
             ?
             Why
             
               Withers
               ,
               Pryn
               ,
               Vickars
            
             ,
             Fellows
             whose
             verses
             were
             laborious
             
             Libels
             upon
             the
             Art
             and
             themselves
             .
             These
             were
             the
             first
             rate
             Poets
             ,
             and
             under
             them
             flourish'd
             a
             herd
             of
             Scribblers
             of
             obscurer
             infamy
             :
             Wretches
             ,
             who
             had
             not
             desert
             enough
             to
             merit
             even
             contempt
             ;
             whose
             works
             ,
             like
             abortions
             ,
             never
             beheld
             the
             light
             ,
             stifled
             in
             the
             dark
             by
             their
             own
             friends
             ,
             as
             so
             many
             scandals
             upon
             humane
             nature
             ,
             and
             lamentable
             effects
             of
             that
             universal
             conspiracy
             of
             Fools
             against
             Right
             Reason
             .
             And
             if
             any
             one
             pretends
             that
             Sir
             
               Iohn
               Denham
            
             ,
             Sir
             
               William
               Davenant
            
             ,
             Mr.
             Waller
             and
             Mr.
             Cowley
             writ
             many
             of
             their
             Verses
             in
             the
             time
             of
             the
             late
             Civil
             Wars
             ;
             to
             him
             I
             answer
             ,
             that
             what
             Mr.
             Waller
             writ
             was
             but
             very
             little
             ,
             and
             the
             other
             three
             are
             notoriously
             known
             to
             have
             writ
             in
             a
             Country
             ,
             where
             the
             Stage
             and
             Learning
             flourish'd
             .
             So
             that
             nothing
             among
             us
             that
             was
             considerable
             was
             produc'd
             in
             Poetry
             in
             the
             times
             of
             the
             late
             Civil
             Wars
             ,
             if
             you
             except
             but
             the
             first
             part
             of
             that
             admirable
             Satyr
             against
             the
             Muses
             mortal
             foe
             Hypocrisie
             ,
             which
             yet
             neither
             did
             nor
             durst
             appear
             till
             the
             restoration
             of
             the
             Drama
             .
          
           
           
             We
             have
             seen
             what
             the
             Poets
             were
             that
             flourish'd
             in
             those
             dismal
             times
             ,
             let
             us
             now
             see
             what
             were
             the
             Orators
             ?
             who
             were
             the
             cry'd
             up
             Preachers
             ?
             why
             
               Calamy
               ,
               Case
               ,
               Hugh
               Peters
               ,
               Manton
               ,
               Sibbs
               .
            
             But
             what
             was
             produc'd
             in
             the
             other
             Sciences
             ,
             that
             was
             worthy
             of
             Posterity
             ?
             what
             in
             Philosophy
             ?
             what
             in
             History
             ?
             what
             in
             Mathematicks
             ?
             what
             could
             be
             expected
             when
             only
             hypocritical
             fools
             were
             encourag'd
             ,
             whose
             abominable
             canting
             was
             christn'd
             Gift
             ,
             and
             their
             dulness
             Grace
             .
          
           
             But
             what
             sort
             of
             persons
             have
             flourish'd
             among
             us
             since
             the
             restoration
             of
             the
             Drama
             ?
             Who
             have
             been
             they
             who
             have
             signaliz'd
             themselves
             in
             the
             other
             kinds
             of
             Poetry
             ?
             So
             great
             is
             the
             number
             of
             those
             who
             have
             writ
             politely
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             comprehensive
             of
             all
             conditions
             of
             men
             .
             How
             many
             have
             been
             justly
             Renown'd
             for
             Eloquence
             .
             So
             many
             extraordinary
             men
             have
             distinguish'd
             themselves
             by
             preaching
             ,
             that
             to
             ennumerate
             them
             would
             be
             an
             endless
             thing
             .
             I
             shall
             content
             my self
             with
             mentioning
             the
             late
             Archbishop
             and
             the
             present
             Bishop
             of
             Rochester
             ,
             so
             illustrious
             for
             their
             different
             Talents
             ,
             the
             
             one
             for
             his
             extream
             politeness
             ,
             for
             his
             grace
             and
             his
             delicacy
             ,
             the
             other
             for
             his
             nervous
             force
             ,
             and
             both
             for
             their
             masculine
             purity
             .
             Who
             among
             us
             are
             fam'd
             for
             History
             ?
             not
             only
             the
             last
             of
             those
             great
             Prelates
             ,
             but
             the
             present
             Bishop
             of
             Salisbury
             ,
             whose
             History
             of
             the
             Reformation
             is
             so
             deservedly
             celebrated
             by
             the
             learned
             world
             ,
             where-ever
             English
             or
             French
             is
             known
             .
             What
             proficients
             have
             we
             in
             Philosophy
             ?
             what
             in
             Mathematicks
             ?
             Let
             all
             Europe
             reply
             ,
             who
             has
             read
             ,
             and
             reading
             admir'd
             them
             .
             I
             shall
             content
             my self
             with
             mentioning
             two
             of
             the
             living
             Glories
             of
             England
             ,
             Mr
             Newton
             and
             Mr
             Lock
             ,
             the
             one
             of
             which
             has
             not
             his
             equal
             in
             Europe
             ,
             and
             neither
             of
             them
             has
             his
             superiour
             .
          
           
             Thus
             have
             I
             shown
             you
             ,
             how
             Poetry
             ,
             Eloquence
             ,
             History
             ,
             and
             Philosophy
             ,
             have
             appear'd
             ,
             advanc'd
             ,
             declin'd
             ,
             and
             vanish'd
             with
             the
             Drama
             ,
             not
             only
             in
             Greece
             and
             ancient
             Italy
             ,
             but
             in
             modern
             France
             and
             England
             .
             So
             true
             it
             is
             ,
             what
             was
             formerly
             so
             well
             said
             ,
             that
             all
             those
             Arts
             which
             respect
             humanity
             ,
             have
             a
             certain
             alliance
             ,
             and
             a
             mutual
             dependance
             ,
             and
             are
             defended
             and
             
             supported
             by
             their
             common
             confederacy
             .
          
           
             Thus
             while
             I
             am
             pleading
             in
             defence
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             I
             am
             defending
             and
             supporting
             Poetry
             ,
             the
             best
             and
             the
             noblest
             kind
             of
             writing
             .
             For
             all
             other
             Writers
             are
             〈◊〉
             made
             by
             Precept
             ,
             and
             are
             form'd
             by
             Art
             ;
             but
             a
             Poet
             prevails
             by
             the
             force
             of
             Nature
             ,
             is
             excited
             by
             all
             that
             's
             powerful
             in
             Humanity
             ,
             and
             is
             sometimes
             by
             a
             Spirit
             not
             his
             own
             exalted
             to
             Divinity
             .
          
           
             For
             if
             Poetry
             in
             other
             Countries
             has
             flourish'd
             with
             the
             Stage
             ,
             and
             been
             with
             that
             neglected
             ,
             what
             must
             become
             of
             it
             here
             in
             England
             if
             the
             Stage
             is
             ruin'd
             ;
             for
             foreign
             Poets
             have
             found
             their
             publick
             and
             their
             private
             Patrons
             .
             They
             who
             excell'd
             in
             Greece
             were
             encourag'd
             by
             the
             Athenian
             Stage
             ,
             nay
             and
             ,
             by
             all
             Greece
             assembled
             at
             their
             
               Olympian
               ,
               Istmean
               ,
               Nemean
               ,
               Pythian
            
             Games
             .
             Rome
             had
             its
             Scipios
             ,
             its
             Caesars
             ,
             and
             its
             
               Mecenas
               ,
               France
            
             had
             its
             magnanimous
             Richlieu
             ,
             and
             its
             greater
             Lewis
             ,
             but
             the
             protection
             that
             Poetry
             has
             found
             in
             England
             ,
             has
             been
             from
             the
             Stage
             alone
             .
             Some
             few
             indeed
             of
             our
             private
             men
             have
             had
             Souls
             that
             have
             
             been
             large
             enough
             ,
             and
             wanted
             only
             power
             .
             But
             of
             our
             Princes
             ,
             how
             few
             have
             had
             any
             taste
             of
             Arts
             ;
             nay
             ,
             and
             of
             them
             who
             had
             some
             ,
             have
             had
             their
             Heads
             too
             full
             ,
             and
             some
             their
             Souls
             too
             narrow
             .
          
           
             As
             then
             in
             maintaining
             the
             cause
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             I
             am
             defending
             Poetry
             in
             general
             ;
             so
             in
             defending
             that
             I
             am
             pleading
             for
             Eloquence
             ,
             for
             History
             and
             Philosophy
             .
             I
             am
             pleading
             for
             the
             reasonable
             pleasures
             of
             mankind
             ,
             the
             only
             harmless
             ,
             the
             only
             cheap
             ,
             the
             only
             universal
             pleasures
             ;
             the
             nourishments
             of
             Youth
             ,
             and
             the
             delights
             of
             Age
             ,
             the
             ornaments
             of
             Prosperity
             ,
             and
             the
             surest
             Sanctuaries
             of
             Adversity
             ,
             now
             insolently
             attempted
             by
             furious
             zeal
             too
             wretchedly
             blind
             to
             see
             their
             beauties
             ,
             or
             discern
             their
             innocence
             .
             For
             unless
             the
             Stage
             be
             encouraged
             in
             England
             ,
             Poetry
             cannot
             subsist
             ;
             for
             never
             was
             any
             man
             a
             great
             Poet
             ,
             who
             did
             not
             make
             it
             his
             business
             as
             well
             as
             pleasure
             and
             solely
             abandon
             himself
             to
             that
             .
             And
             as
             Poetry
             wou●d
             be
             crush'd
             by
             the
             ruines
             of
             the
             Stage
             ;
             so
             Eloquence
             would
             be
             miserably
             maim'd
             by
             them
             ;
             for
             which
             ,
             if
             action
             be
             confess'd
             the
             life
             of
             it
             ,
             the
             
             Theatre
             is
             certainly
             the
             best
             of
             Schools
             ,
             and
             if
             action
             be
             not
             the
             life
             of
             it
             ,
             Demosthenes
             was
             much
             mistaken
             .
          
           
             In
             Eloquence
             I
             humbly
             conceive
             that
             the
             Pulpit
             is
             somthing
             concern'd
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             in
             the
             Stage
             ;
             and
             need
             not
             be
             asham'd
             to
             learn
             from
             that
             place
             which
             instructed
             Cicero
             ,
             and
             which
             form'd
             Demosthenes
             .
             For
             I
             cannot
             forbear
             declaring
             ,
             notwithstanding
             the
             extream
             veneration
             which
             I
             have
             for
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             that
             if
             in
             some
             of
             our
             Pulpits
             ,
             we
             had
             but
             persons
             that
             had
             half
             the
             excellence
             of
             Demosthenes
             ,
             that
             had
             but
             half
             the
             force
             of
             his
             words
             ,
             and
             the
             resistless
             strength
             of
             his
             Reasoning
             ,
             and
             but
             half
             his
             vehement
             action
             ,
             we
             should
             see
             quite
             another
             effect
             of
             their
             Sermons
             .
             Those
             divine
             Orators
             fulminating
             with
             their
             sacred
             Thunder
             ,
             would
             infix
             terrible
             plagues
             in
             the
             souls
             of
             sinners
             ,
             and
             rouze
             and
             awake
             to
             a
             new
             life
             even
             those
             who
             are
             dead
             in
             sin
             .
          
           
             I
             now
             come
             to
             answer
             what
             is
             objected
             from
             Religion
             ;
             and
             that
             is
             ,
             that
             tho
             it
             should
             be
             granted
             that
             some
             little
             happiness
             may
             be
             deriv'd
             from
             the
             Stage
             ,
             yet
             that
             there
             is
             a
             much
             better
             
             and
             surer
             way
             to
             be
             happy
             :
             For
             the
             only
             way
             to
             be
             solidly
             and
             lastingly
             happy
             even
             in
             this
             life
             ,
             is
             to
             be
             truly
             Religious
             ,
             the
             best
             Christian
             being
             always
             the
             happiest
             man.
             To
             which
             I
             answer
             ,
             That
             as
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             contains
             the
             best
             ,
             nay
             ,
             the
             only
             means
             to
             bring
             men
             to
             eternal
             happiness
             ,
             so
             for
             the
             making
             men
             happy
             ev'n
             in
             this
             life
             ,
             it
             surpasses
             all
             Philosophy
             ;
             but
             yet
             I
             confidently
             assert
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             Stage
             were
             arriv'd
             to
             that
             degree
             of
             purity
             ,
             to
             which
             in
             the
             space
             of
             some
             little
             time
             it
             may
             easily
             be
             brought
             ,
             the
             frequenting
             our
             Theatres
             would
             advance
             Religion
             ,
             and
             consequently
             the
             happiness
             of
             mankind
             ,
             and
             so
             become
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Christian
             duty
             ,
             which
             I
             shall
             demonstrate
             when
             I
             come
             to
             speak
             of
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           The
           end
           of
           the
           First
           Part.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           USEFULNESS
           OF
           THE
           STAGE
           .
        
         
           PART
           II.
           
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             I.
             
          
           
             That
             the
             Stage
             is
             useful
             to
             Government
             .
          
           
             SInce
             in
             the
             first
             part
             of
             this
             Treatise
             ,
             we
             have
             plainly
             demonstrated
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             
             happiness
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             and
             of
             Englishmen
             more
             particularly
             ;
             and
             since
             it
             is
             self-evident
             ,
             that
             the
             happiness
             of
             those
             who
             are
             govern'd
             ,
             is
             the
             very
             end
             and
             design
             of
             all
             regular
             Government
             ,
             it
             evidently
             follows
             ,
             that
             the
             Stage
             which
             contributes
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             particular
             men
             ,
             is
             conducive
             to
             the
             good
             of
             the
             State.
             However
             ,
             I
             shal
             descend
             to
             shew
             more
             particularly
             ,
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             welfare
             ,
          
           
             First
             ,
             Of
             Government
             in
             general
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             of
             the
             English
             Government
             more
             particularly
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             Especially
             of
             the
             present
             Government
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             The
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             welfare
             of
             Government
             in
             general
             ;
             which
             I
             shall
             prove
             ,
             
               
                 1.
                 
                 By
                 Reason
                 :
                 And
                 ,
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 By
                 Experience
                 .
              
            
          
           
             And
             first
             I
             shall
             prove
             by
             Reason
             ,
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             instrumental
             to
             the
             welfare
             of
             Government
             ,
             and
             that
             whether
             you
             consider
             those
             who
             govern
             ,
             
             or
             secondly
             ,
             those
             who
             are
             governed
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             If
             you
             consider
             those
             who
             govern
             .
          
           
             And
             here
             it
             is
             self-evident
             ,
             that
             no
             man
             who
             governs
             ,
             can
             govern
             amiss
             ,
             as
             long
             as
             he
             follows
             the
             dictates
             of
             common
             Reason
             .
             That
             requires
             that
             all
             who
             govern
             ,
             shou'd
             consult
             the
             interest
             of
             those
             who
             are
             govern'd
             ,
             which
             is
             inclusive
             of
             their
             own
             .
             And
             those
             Rulers
             have
             always
             been
             upon
             a
             wrong
             foundation
             ,
             who
             have
             had
             an
             interest
             distinct
             from
             that
             of
             their
             people
             .
             Male-administration
             has
             always
             its
             source
             from
             the
             passions
             or
             vices
             of
             those
             who
             govern
             .
          
           
             The
             passions
             which
             cause
             it
             ,
             are
             for
             the
             most
             part
             Ambition
             ,
             or
             the
             immoderate
             love
             of
             pleasure
             .
             Now
             as
             Tragedy
             checks
             the
             first
             ,
             by
             shewing
             the
             great
             ones
             or
             the
             Earth
             humbled
             ,
             so
             it
             corrects
             the
             last
             by
             firing
             the
             mind
             and
             raising
             it
             to
             something
             nobler
             .
          
           
             The
             vices
             which
             cause
             the
             Male-administration
             of
             Governours
             ,
             are
             either
             vices
             of
             weakness
             or
             of
             malice
             ,
             the
             first
             
             of
             which
             cause
             Governours
             to
             neglect
             ,
             and
             the
             last
             ,
             to
             oppress
             their
             people
             .
             The
             vices
             of
             weakness
             are
             inconsiderateness
             ,
             and
             effeminacy
             ,
             inconstancy
             ,
             and
             irresoluti●n
             .
          
           
             Now
             nothing
             can
             be
             a
             better
             Remedy
             than
             Tragedy
             for
             inconsiderateness
             ,
             which
             reminds
             men
             of
             their
             duty
             ,
             and
             perpetually
             instructs
             them
             ,
             either
             by
             its
             fable
             or
             by
             its
             sentences
             ,
             and
             shews
             them
             the
             ill
             and
             the
             fatal
             consequences
             of
             irregular
             administration
             ;
             and
             nothing
             is
             more
             capable
             of
             raising
             the
             Soul
             ,
             and
             giving
             it
             that
             greatness
             ,
             that
             courage
             ,
             that
             force
             ,
             and
             that
             constancy
             which
             are
             the
             qualifications
             that
             make
             men
             deserve
             to
             command
             others
             ;
             which
             is
             evident
             from
             experience
             .
             For
             they
             who
             in
             all
             Countries
             and
             in
             all
             Ages
             have
             appear'd
             most
             to
             feel
             the
             power
             of
             Tragedy
             ,
             have
             been
             the
             most
             deserving
             and
             the
             greatest
             of
             men
             Aeschylus
             among
             the
             Athenians
             was
             a
             great
             Captain
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             a
             Tragick
             Poet
             ;
             and
             Sophocles
             was
             both
             an
             able
             Statesman
             and
             a
             Victorious
             General
             .
             If
             we
             look
             among
             ●he
             Romans
             ,
             the
             very
             greatest
             among
             them
             ,
             were
             particularly
             they
             who
             appear'd
             so
             far
             touch'd
             by
             
             the
             Drama
             ,
             as
             either
             to
             write
             their
             Plays
             themselves
             ,
             or
             to
             build
             their
             Theatre
             .
             Witness
             Scipio
             ,
             and
             Lelius
             ,
             and
             Lucullus
             ,
             and
             the
             Great
             Pompey
             ,
             and
             Mecenas
             ,
             and
             Iulius
             and
             
               Augustus
               Caesar.
            
             
          
           
             No
             man
             among
             the
             French
             has
             shewn
             so
             much
             capacity
             or
             so
             much
             greatness
             of
             mind
             as
             Richlieu
             ;
             and
             no
             man
             among
             them
             has
             express'd
             so
             much
             passion
             for
             the
             Drama
             ,
             which
             was
             so
             great
             ,
             that
             he
             writ
             several
             Plays
             himself
             ,
             with
             that
             very
             hand
             ,
             which
             at
             the
             same
             time
             was
             laying
             the
             Plan
             of
             the
             French
             universal
             Monarchy
          
           
             Among
             us
             the
             Drama
             began
             to
             flourish
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             Queen
             Elizabeth
             ,
             and
             I
             have
             been
             told
             ,
             that
             that
             great
             Princess
             appear'd
             to
             be
             so
             far
             charm●d
             with
             it
             ,
             as
             to
             translate
             with
             her
             own
             hand
             a
             Tragedy
             from
             Euripide●
             .
          
           
             That
             vice
             of
             malice
             which
             for
             the
             most
             part
             causes
             the
             male-administration
             of
             Governours
             is
             cruelty
             ,
             which
             nothing
             is
             more
             capable
             of
             correcting
             than
             Tragedy
             ,
             which
             by
             diving
             into
             the
             hidden
             Springs
             of
             Nature
             ,
             and
             making
             use
             ▪
             of
             all
             that
             is
             powerful
             in
             her
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             the
             moving
             compassion
             ,
             〈◊〉
             
             been
             always
             found
             sufficient
             to
             soften
             the
             most
             obdurate
             heart
             .
          
           
             Numerous
             examples
             might
             be
             brought
             of
             this
             ,
             but
             I
             shall
             content
             my self
             with
             that
             of
             Alexander
             the
             Thessalian
             Tyrant
             ,
             as
             the
             story
             is
             related
             by
             Dacier
             ,
             in
             the
             Preface
             to
             his
             Admirable
             Comment
             on
             the
             Poetick
             of
             
               Aristotle
               .
               This
               barbarous
               man
               ,
               says
            
             Dacier
             ,
             
               cau●●ng
               the
            
             Hecuba
             of
             Euripides
             
               to
               be
               play'd
               before
               him
               ,
               found
               himself
               so
               touch'd
               that
               he
               went
               out
               before
               the
               end
               of
               the
               first
               Act
               ,
               seeing
               it
               would
               be
               a
               shame
               for
               him
               to
               be
               seen
               to
               shed
               tears
               for
               the
               miseries
               of
            
             Hecuba
             ,
             
               or
               the
               calamities
               of
            
             Polyxena
             ,
             
               for
               him
               who
               every
               day
               embrued
               this
               hands
               in
               the
               innocent
               blood
               of
               his
               Subjects
               .
               The
               truth
               of
               it
               was
               ,
               that
               he
               had
               some
               apprehension
               ,
               lest
               he
               should
               be
               so
               far
               melted
               ,
               that
               he-should
               be
               forsaken
               by
               that
               spirit
               of
               Tyranny
               ,
               which
               had
               so
               long
               possess'd
               him
               ,
               and
               should
               go
               a
               private
               person
               out
               of
               that
               Theatre
               ,
               into
               the
               which
               he
               had
               entered
               a
               Soveraign
               .
               Nay
               ,
               he
               had
               like
               to
               have
               caus'd
               the
               Actor
               who
               had
               mov'd
               him
               thus
               ,
               to
               be
               executed
               ;
               but
               the
               Criminal
               was
               secur'd
               by
               the
               very
               remains
               of
               that
               compassion
               ,
               which
               was
               his
               only
               crime
               .
            
          
           
           
             
               That
               which
               follows
               is
               remarkable
               ,
               and
               which
            
             Dacier
             
               ci●es
               from
               an
               ancient
               Historian
            
             .
             A
             very
             grave
             Writer
             ,
             says
             Dacier
             ,
             makes
             a
             reflection
             which
             is
             very
             much
             to
             my
             purpose
             ,
             and
             which
             seems
             of
             importance
             to
             Government
             .
             Speaking
             of
             the
             inhabitants
             of
             
               Arcadia
               ,
               he
               says
            
             ,
             that
             their
             humanity
             ,
             and
             the
             sweetness
             of
             their
             tempers
             ,
             and
             the
             respect
             which
             they
             had
             for
             the
             Gods
             ;
             and
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             the
             purity
             of
             their
             manners
             ,
             and
             all
             their
             virtues
             proceeded
             principally
             from
             the
             love
             which
             they
             had
             for
             Musick
             ,
             which
             by
             its
             sweetness
             corrected
             those
             ill
             impressions
             ,
             which
             a
             raw
             and
             unwholesom
             air
             ,
             together
             with
             the
             hardship
             which
             they
             endured
             by
             their
             laborious
             way
             of
             life
             ,
             made
             on
             their
             bodies
             and
             on
             their
             minds
             .
             
               And
               he
               says
               on
               the
               contrary
               ,
            
             that
             those
             of
             Cynethus
             were
             carried
             to
             all
             sorts
             of
             profligate
             crimes
             ,
             because
             that
             they
             ,
             renouncing
             the
             wise
             institutions
             of
             their
             ancestors
             ,
             ●ad
             neg●ected
             an
             art
             which
             was
             therefore
             the
             more
             necessary
             for
             them
             ,
             because
             they
             inhabited
             tha●
             part
             of
             Arcadia
             ,
             which
             was
             the
             coldest
             ,
             and
             where
             the
             Climate
             was
             most
             unequal
             .
             
               Indeed
               ,
               there
               was
               no
               Town
               in
               all
            
             Greece
             ,
             says
             Dacier
             ,
             
               that
               had
               given
               such
               frequent
               examples
               of
               enormous
               crimes
               .
               
               And
               if
            
             Polybius
             ,
             
               says
               he
               ,
               speaks
               this
               in
               the
               behalf
               of
               Musick
               ,
               and
               accuses
            
             Ephorus
             
               for
               having
               advanc'd
               a
               thing
               that
               was
               very
               unworthy
               of
               him
               ,
               in
               asserting
               that
               Musick
               was
               invented
               on
               purpose
               for
               the
               deceiving
               of
               Mankind
               ,
               what
               may
               we
               not
               justly
               affirm
               of
               Tragedy
               ,
               of
               which
               Musick
               is
               but
               a
               little
               ornament
               ;
               and
               which
               as
               far
               transcends
               it
               ,
               as
               the
               reasoning
               Speech
               of
               a
               man
               excels
               the
               Brutes
               inarticulate
               voice
               ,
               which
               never
               has
               any
               meaning
               .
            
          
           
             But
             now
             we
             come
             in
             the
             second
             place
             ,
             to
             shew
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             useful
             to
             Government
             ,
             with
             respect
             to
             those
             who
             are
             governed
             ,
             and
             that
             whether
             you
             consider
             them
             in
             relation
             to
             those
             who
             govern
             them
             ,
             or
             to
             one
             another
             ,
             or
             to
             the
             common
             Enemy
             .
          
           
             If
             you
             consider
             them
             in
             relation
             to
             those
             who
             govern
             them
             ,
             you
             will
             find
             that
             Tragedy
             is
             very
             proper
             to
             check
             the
             motions
             ,
             that
             they
             may
             at
             any
             time
             feel
             to
             rebellion
             or
             disobedience
             ,
             by
             stopping
             the
             very
             sources
             of
             them
             ;
             for
             Tragedy
             naturally
             checks
             their
             Ambition
             ,
             by
             shewing
             them
             the
             great
             ones
             of
             the
             Earth
             humbled
             ,
             by
             setting
             before
             their
             Eyes
             ,
             to
             make
             use
             of
             Mr
             Colliers
             
             words
             ,
             the
             uncertainty
             of
             human
             greatness
             ,
             the
             sudden
             turns
             of
             State
             ,
             and
             the
             unhappy
             conclusion
             of
             violence
             and
             injustice
             .
             Tragedy
             too
             ,
             diverts
             their
             apprehension
             of
             grievances
             ,
             by
             the
             delight
             which
             it
             gives
             them
             ,
             discovers
             the
             designs
             of
             their
             factious
             guides
             ,
             by
             opening
             their
             eyes
             ,
             and
             instructing
             them
             in
             their
             duty
             by
             the
             like
             examples
             ;
             and
             lastly
             ,
             it
             dispels
             their
             unreasonable
             jealousies
             ,
             for
             people
             who
             are
             melted
             or
             terrified
             with
             the
             sufferings
             of
             the
             great
             ,
             which
             are
             set
             before
             thei●
             eyes
             ,
             are
             rather
             apt
             to
             feel
             a
             secret
             pleasure
             ,
             from
             the
             sense
             that
             they
             have
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             free
             from
             the
             like
             calamities
             ,
             than
             to
             torment
             themselves
             with
             the
             vain
             and
             uncertain
             apprehensions
             of
             futurity
             .
             But
             the
             Stage
             is
             useful
             to
             Government
             in
             those
             who
             are
             govern'd
             ,
             if
             they
             are
             con●●der'd
             with
             relation
             to
             one
             another
             ▪
             For
             Tragedy
             diverts
             them
             from
             th●●●
             unjust
             designs
             ,
             by
             the
             pleasure
             which
             it
             gives
             them
             ;
             since
             no
             man
             as
             long
             〈◊〉
             he
             is
             easie
             himself
             ,
             is
             in
             a
             humour
             to
             disturb
             others
             ,
             and
             by
             purging
             th●se
             passions
             ,
             whose
             excesses
             cause
             their
             injustice
             ,
             by
             instructing
             them
             in
             their
             
             duty
             by
             its
             fable
             and
             by
             its
             sentences●
             by
             raising
             their
             minds
             ,
             and
             setting
             them
             above
             injustice
             ,
             by
             touching
             them
             with
             compassion
             ,
             and
             making
             them
             good
             upon
             a
             principle
             of
             self-love
             ;
             and
             lastly
             ,
             by
             terrifying
             them
             with
             setting
             before
             their
             eyes
             ,
             the
             unhappy
             conclusion
             ,
             to
             use
             Mt
             
             Collier's
             words
             ,
             of
             violence
             and
             injustice
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             The
             Stage
             is
             useful
             to
             Government
             ,
             by
             having
             an
             influence
             over
             those
             who
             are
             govern'd
             ,
             in
             relation
             to
             the
             common
             enemy
             .
             For
             nothing
             more
             raises
             and
             exalts
             their
             minds
             ,
             and
             fires
             them
             with
             a
             noble
             emulation
             ,
             who
             shall
             best
             perform
             their
             duty
             :
             which
             brings
             me
             to
             the
             second
             Head
             ,
             the
             shewing
             the
             usefulness
             of
             the
             Stage
             to
             Government
             in
             general
             ,
             from
          
           
             II.
             Experience
             ,
             and
             that
             of
             
               
                 1.
                 
                 The
                 Athenian
                 .
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 The
                 Roman
                 .
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 The
                 French
                 ,
                 and
              
               
                 4.
                 
                 The
                 English
                 Government
                 .
              
            
          
           
             1.
             
             For
             the
             Athenians
             ,
             their
             Drama
             first
             appear'd
             in
             form
             with
             Thespis
             ,
             was
             cultivated
             by
             Aeschylus
             ,
             and
             perfected
             by
             Sophocles
             .
             Now
             this
             is
             extreamly
             remarkable
             ,
             that
             that
             people
             ,
             
             which
             from
             Theseus
             to
             Thespis
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             for
             the
             space
             of
             about
             seven
             hundred
             years
             ,
             continued
             a
             poor
             and
             ignorant
             ,
             and
             comparatively
             a
             contemptible
             people
             ;
             in
             the
             space
             of
             a
             hundred
             years
             more
             ,
             in
             which
             time
             their
             Tragedy
             was
             form'd
             by
             Thespis
             ,
             cultivated
             by
             Aeschylus
             ,
             and
             perfected
             by
             Sophocles
             ;
             I
             say
             ,
             it
             is
             extreamly
             remarkable
             ,
             that
             in
             that
             space
             of
             time
             ,
             this
             people
             ,
             which
             before
             were
             so
             inconsiderable
             ,
             became
             illustrious
             for
             Arts
             and
             Arms
             ,
             renown'd
             for
             Eloquence
             ,
             for
             Philosophy
             famous
             ,
             and
             for
             Empire
             formidable
             ,
             the
             masters
             of
             Greece
             ,
             the
             scourges
             of
             Asia
             ,
             and
             the
             Terror
             of
             the
             great
             King.
             
          
           
             In
             that
             space
             of
             time
             flourish'd
             most
             of
             their
             mighty
             Conquerors
             ,
             
               Cimon
               ,
               Aristides
               ,
               Pericles
               ,
               Themistocles
            
             and
             Miltiades
             .
             Their
             Tragick
             Poets
             were
             the
             persons
             who
             animated
             their
             Armies
             ,
             and
             fir'd
             the
             souls
             of
             those
             brave
             men
             ,
             who
             conquer'd
             at
             once
             and
             dy'd
             for
             their
             Country
             ,
             in
             the
             Bay
             of
             Salamis
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Plains
             of
             Marathon
             ;
             at
             which
             place
             a
             handful
             of
             men
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             ,
             of
             the
             disciples
             of
             Thespis
             and
             the
             succeeding
             Poets
             ,
             vanquish'd
             the
             numberless
             
             forces
             of
             the
             East
             ,
             laid
             the
             foundation
             of
             the
             Grecian
             Empire
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             fortune
             of
             the
             great
             Alexander
             .
          
           
             The
             Athenians
             were
             highly
             sensible
             of
             the
             advantage
             which
             the
             State
             receiv'd
             from
             the
             Theatre
             ,
             which
             they
             maintain'd
             at
             a
             publick
             prodigious
             expence
             ,
             and
             a
             Revenue
             appropriated
             to
             that
             peculiar
             use
             ;
             and
             establish'd
             a
             Law
             ,
             which
             made
             the
             least
             attempt
             to
             alienate
             the
             Fund
             capital
             .
             So
             that
             when
             the
             common
             Exchequer
             was
             exhausted
             ,
             Demosthenes
             was
             oblig'd
             to
             use
             the
             utmost
             address
             to
             induce
             them
             to
             touch
             and
             divert
             this
             separate
             Fund
             .
          
           
             But
             't
             is
             time
             to
             come
             to
             the
             
               Romans
               .
               Livius
               Andronicus
            
             ,
             who
             was
             their
             first
             Dramatick
             Poet
             ,
             appear'd
             in
             the
             five
             hundred
             and
             fourteenth
             year
             after
             the
             building
             of
             the
             City
             .
             And
             till
             his
             time
             they
             had
             been
             struggling
             as
             it
             were
             for
             life
             with
             their
             neighbours
             ,
             and
             had
             been
             torn
             by
             perpetual
             convulsions
             within
             themselves
             ;
             whereas
             after
             the
             first
             representation
             of
             the
             Plays
             which
             were
             written
             by
             him
             ,
             they
             were
             not
             only
             quiet
             within
             themselves
             for
             above
             a
             hundred
             years
             af●er
             ,
             but
             in
             a
             hundred
             more
             beca●e
             the
             Masters
             of
             the
             Universe
             .
             
             And
             who
             were
             the
             persons
             among
             them
             that
             advanced
             their
             Conquests
             ,
             and
             extended
             their
             Empire
             ?
             Why
             the
             very
             men
             who
             buil●
             their
             Theatres
             and
             who
             writ
             their
             Plays
             .
             Scipio
             ,
             conquer'd
             Spain
             and
             
               Africa
               ,
               Pompey
            
             and
             
               Lucullus
               Asia
            
             ,
             and
             
               Caesar
               England
               ,
               Flanders
               ,
               France
               ,
            
             and
             Germany
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             not
             above
             a
             hundred
             years
             ago
             ,
             since
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             begun
             to
             flourish
             in
             France
             ,
             since
             which
             time
             the
             French
             have
             not
             only
             been
             remarkably
             united
             ,
             but
             have
             advanced
             their
             Conquests
             so
             fast
             ,
             that
             they
             have
             almost
             doubled
             their
             Empire
             .
          
           
             Cardinal
             Richelieu
             was
             the
             person
             who
             at
             the
             same
             time
             laid
             the
             foundation
             of
             the
             greatness
             of
             their
             Theatre
             and
             their
             Empire
             :
             And
             't
             is
             a
             surprizing
             thing
             to
             consider
             ,
             that
             the
             spirit
             of
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             leaving
             them
             just
             before
             the
             beginning
             of
             the
             last
             War
             ,
             by
             Moliere
             and
             
             Corneille's
             Death
             ,
             and
             by
             
             Racine's
             Age
             ,
             they
             have
             since
             that
             time
             lost
             almost
             half
             their
             Conquests
             .
          
           
             To
             come
             home
             to
             our selves
             ,
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             began
             to
             be
             brought
             into
             form
             with
             us
             ,
             in
             the
             time
             of
             Henry
             
             the
             Eighth
             ,
             and
             tho
             since
             that
             time
             we
             cannot
             boast
             of
             such
             glorious
             successes
             ,
             as
             we
             had
             in
             the
             times
             of
             our
             Fifth
             Henry
             and
             of
             our
             Third
             Edward
             ,
             when
             the
             Conquering
             Genius
             of
             England
             in
             triumph
             seem'd
             to
             bestride
             the
             Ocean
             ,
             and
             to
             fix
             an
             Imperial
             foot
             on
             the
             Continent
             ;
             yet
             this
             may
             be
             said
             to
             the
             advantage
             of
             the
             Drama
             ,
             that
             since
             it
             first
             began
             to
             be
             cultivated
             ,
             we
             have
             had
             our
             eyes
             more
             open
             ,
             have
             found
             that
             our
             constitution
             is
             but
             ill
             design'd
             for
             conquest
             ;
             that
             by
             being
             very
             fortunate
             we
             should
             run
             the
             risk
             of
             becoming
             very
             unhappy
             ,
             and
             endanger
             our
             Liberties
             ,
             by
             extending
             our
             Empire
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             II.
             
          
           
             That
             the
             Stage
             is
             particularly
             useful
             to
             the
             English
             ,
             and
             especially
             the
             present
             Government
             .
          
           
             WE
             have
             shewn
             in
             the
             foregoing
             Chapter
             ,
             that
             the
             Drama
             ,
             and
             particularly
             Tragedy
             ,
             is
             among
             other
             reasons
             useful
             to
             Government
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             proper
             to
             restrain
             a
             people
             from
             rebellion
             and
             disobedience
             ,
             and
             to
             keep
             them
             in
             good
             correspondence
             among
             themselves
             :
             For
             this
             reason
             the
             Drama
             may
             be
             said
             to
             be
             instrumental
             in
             a
             peculiar
             manner
             to
             the
             welfare
             of
             the
             English
             Government
             ;
             because
             there
             is
             no
             people
             on
             the
             face
             of
             the
             Earth
             so
             prone
             to
             rebellion
             as
             the
             English
             ,
             or
             so
             apt
             to
             quarrel
             among
             themselves
             .
             And
             this
             seems
             very
             remarkable
             ,
             that
             
             since
             the
             Drama
             began
             first
             to
             flourish
             among
             us
             ,
             we
             have
             been
             longer
             at
             quiet
             than
             ever
             we
             were
             before
             since
             the
             Conquest
             ;
             and
             the
             only
             Civil
             War
             which
             has
             been
             amongst
             us
             since
             that
             time
             ,
             is
             notoriously
             known
             to
             have
             been
             began
             and
             carry'd
             on
             by
             those
             who
             had
             an
             utter
             aversion
             to
             the
             Stage
             ;
             as
             on
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             he
             who
             now
             discovers
             so
             great
             an
             aversion
             to
             the
             Stage
             ,
             has
             notoriously
             done
             all
             that
             lay
             in
             his
             little
             power
             to
             plunge
             us
             in
             another
             Civil
             War.
             
          
           
             But
             the
             Stage
             is
             more
             particularly
             instrumental
             to
             the
             welfare
             of
             our
             present
             English
             Government
             ,
             as
             the
             Government
             is
             depending
             upon
             two
             things
             ,
             1.
             
             The
             Reformation
             ,
             and
             2.
             
             The
             Revolution
             .
             I
             shall
             speak
             of
             the
             Reformation
             when
             I
             come
             to
             treat
             of
             Religion
             .
             I
             shall
             shew
             at
             present
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             advantageous
             to
             the
             Government
             ,
             as
             it
             stands
             since
             the
             Revolution
             ;
             and
             that
             will
             appear
             ,
             if
             we
             consider
             what
             people
             they
             are
             who
             frequent
             our
             Theatres
             .
             And
             they
             are
             either
             friends
             to
             the
             Government
             ,
             or
             enemies
             ,
             or
             indifferent
             persons
             .
             They
             who
             are
             friends
             to
             it
             ▪
             are
             for
             the
             most
             part
             so
             ,
             because
             
             it
             defends
             and
             maintains
             the
             liberties
             of
             the
             people
             .
             But
             liberty
             is
             a
             jest
             i●
             you
             take
             away
             reasonable
             pleasure
             ;
             for
             what
             would
             signifie
             liberty
             ,
             if
             it
             did
             not
             make
             me
             happier
             than
             him
             who
             is
             not
             free
             ?
          
           
             Machiavel
             says
             ,
             in
             the
             19th
             Chapter
             of
             his
             Prince
             ,
             that
             nothing
             renders
             a
             Prince
             so
             odious
             ,
             as
             the
             ta●ing
             possession
             of
             the
             Wives
             and
             Estates
             of
             his
             people
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             nothing
             renders
             him
             so
             odious
             as
             the
             depriving
             his
             Subjects
             of
             their
             lawful
             and
             reasonable
             pleasures
             ;
             for
             no
             mans
             Wife
             or
             Estate
             is
             dear
             to
             him
             any
             further
             than
             as
             they
             contribute
             to
             his
             pleasure
             and
             to
             his
             happiness
             .
             Now
             that
             the
             Drama
             is
             of
             the
             number
             of
             lawful
             and
             reasonable
             pleasures
             ,
             has
             been
             ,
             and
             shall
             be
             prov'd
             ;
             and
             has
             been
             all
             along
             implied
             ,
             not
             by
             the
             connivance
             ,
             but
             by
             the
             authority
             and
             the
             command
             of
             so
             many
             of
             our
             Monarchs
             ,
             the
             protection
             of
             so
             many
             illustrious
             Princes
             ,
             and
             the
             support
             and
             encouragement
             of
             so
             many
             extraordinary
             men
             ,
             who
             have
             compos'd
             for
             so
             long
             together
             the
             great
             Council
             ▪
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
             whose
             united
             judgments
             ought●
             
             certainly
             to
             be
             preferr'd
             before
             the
             pretended
             opinions
             of
             two
             or
             three
             unknown
             Bigots
             ,
             who
             ,
             under
             the
             austerity
             of
             their
             affected
             grimaces
             ,
             are
             carrying
             forward
             their
             dark
             designs
             ,
             and
             could
             never
             do
             a
             thing
             upon
             which
             they
             would
             esteem
             themselves
             more
             ,
             than
             upon
             depriving
             the
             Government
             of
             any
             of
             its
             faithful
             Friends
             .
             And
             it
             is
             more
             than
             probable
             ,
             that
             some
             of
             its
             friends
             would
             prove
             averse
             to
             it
             ,
             if
             the
             Stage
             were
             either
             suppress'd
             or
             very
             much
             discourag'd
             .
             But
             in
             the
             next
             place
             ,
             the
             Stage
             is
             of
             use
             to
             the
             Government
             ,
             if
             you
             consider
             its
             Enemies
             ;
             for
             it
             gives
             the
             Enemies
             of
             the
             State
             a
             considerable
             diversion
             .
             People
             will
             not
             so
             furiously
             desire
             a
             change
             ,
             as
             long
             as
             they
             live
             agreeably
             .
             Men
             must
             be
             uneasie
             some
             way
             or
             other
             in
             their
             manner
             of
             living
             ,
             before
             they
             come
             to
             private
             cabals
             and
             plotting
             .
             They
             who
             are
             happy
             appear
             averse
             to
             them
             ,
             and
             to
             frequenting
             Jacobite
             Conventicles
             ,
             and
             to
             contributing
             to
             our
             non●swearing
             Parsons
             .
             
               Hinc
               illae
               Lachrymae
            
             ;
             from
             hence
             comes
             the
             impotent
             rage
             of
             our
             foes
             ,
             from
             hence
             their
             dissembled
             
             zeal
             ;
             for
             as
             long
             as
             the
             enemies
             of
             the
             State
             are
             diverted
             by
             publick
             spectacles
             ,
             their
             seditious
             Preachers
             must
             be
             in
             a
             wretched
             condition
             .
          
           
             But
             farther
             ,
             the
             Stage
             is
             beneficial
             to
             the
             present
             Government
             ,
             if
             you
             consider
             a
             third
             sort
             of
             people
             who
             daily
             frequent
             it
             ,
             and
             they
             are
             such
             who
             are
             always
             indifferent
             what
             Government
             they
             live
             under
             ,
             so
             they
             can
             live
             but
             agreeably
             .
             Now
             these
             are
             of
             all
             others
             the
             most
             addicted
             to
             their
             pleasures
             ,
             and
             would
             take
             it
             most
             heinously
             to
             be
             depriv'd
             of
             them
             .
          
           
             Thus
             is
             the
             Stage
             beneficial
             to
             the
             present
             Government
             ,
             if
             you
             consider
             those
             who
             are
             friends
             to
             it
             ,
             or
             enemies
             ,
             or
             indifferent
             .
             And
             the
             same
             may
             appear
             ,
             from
             considering
             them
             all
             together
             .
             For
             nothing
             tends
             to
             the
             uniting
             men
             more
             ,
             than
             the
             bringing
             them
             frequently
             together
             ,
             and
             the
             pleasing
             them
             when
             they
             are
             assembled
             .
          
           
             Thus
             have
             we
             shewn
             ,
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             beneficial
             to
             the
             English
             Government
             ,
             and
             more
             particularly
             to
             the
             present
             Government
             ;
             and
             that
             from
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             and
             the
             consideration
             
             of
             those
             who
             frequent
             our
             Theatres
             ;
             we
             come
             now
             to
             answer
             what
             has
             been
             ,
             or
             what
             may
             be
             objected
             from
             Reason
             ,
             from
             Authority
             ,
             and
             from
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             III.
             
          
           
             The
             Objections
             from
             Authority
             Answer'd
             .
          
           
             WE
             will
             begin
             with
             the
             objections
             which
             are
             brought
             from
             Authority
             ;
             the
             Authorities
             are
             numerous
             which
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             produced
             in
             the
             last
             Chapter
             of
             his
             Book
             ;
             which
             Chapter
             is
             levell'd
             against
             the
             Stage
             and
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             in
             general
             ,
             as
             any
             one
             may
             see
             by
             perusing
             the
             first
             Paragraph
             .
             Now
             I
             would
             fain
             ask
             Mr
             Collier
             one
             question
             ,
             whether
             the
             business
             of
             Plays
             is
             not
             to
             recommend
             Virtue
             and
             discountenance
             Vice
             ,
             and
             to
             bring
             every
             thing
             that
             is
             ill
             under
             infamy
             and
             neg●●ct
             ;
             whether
             the
             Poets
             ,
             if
             they
             pleas●d
             ,
             might
             not
             be
             serviceable
             to
             this
             purpose
             ?
             And
             the
             Stage
             be
             very
             significant
             ?
             What
             will
             he
             say
             to
             this
             ?
             Will
             he
             deny
             it
             ?
             Why
             then
             did
             he
             affirm
             
             it
             in
             these
             very
             words
             in
             his
             Introduction
             to
             his
             Book
             ?
             Well
             ,
             will
             he
             confess
             it
             ?
             Then
             why
             this
             pedantick
             scrowl
             of
             Authorities
             ,
             to
             oppose
             the
             truth
             ?
             or
             of
             what
             significancy
             is
             Human
             Authority
             against
             Human
             Reason
             ?
             But
             yet
             ,
             to
             shew
             the
             ungenerous
             temper
             of
             this
             adversary
             to
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             ,
             and
             consequently
             to
             Human
             Learning
             ,
             I
             shall
             make
             it
             appear
             ,
             that
             of
             all
             the
             Authorities
             which
             he
             has
             produc'd
             ,
             several
             make
             in
             defence
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             and
             not
             one
             of
             them
             makes
             against
             it
             .
          
           
             The
             objections
             are
             of
             two
             sorts
             .
             Those
             opinions
             of
             particular
             Statesmen
             ,
             and
             the
             sentiments
             of
             States
             in
             general
             .
             We
             shall
             answer
             the
             Authorities
             which
             are
             brought
             from
             both
             ,
             in
             the
             same
             order
             as
             they
             are
             cited
             by
             Mr.
             Collier
             .
          
           
             The
             two
             first
             which
             he
             brings
             are
             Plato
             and
             Xenophon
             ,
             in
             the
             234th
             Page
             ,
             Plato
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             has
             banish'd
             Plays
             from
             his
             Commonwealth
             :
             But
             what
             can
             be
             concluded
             from
             thence
             ?
             That
             they
             ought
             to
             be
             expell'd
             from
             the
             English
             Government
             ?
             When
             every
             body
             knows
             that
             the
             Commonwealth
             of
             Plato
             is
             a
             meer
             Romantick
             notion
             ,
             with
             which
             human
             nature
             ,
             and
             human
             
             life
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             ,
             cannot
             possibly
             agree
             .
             Machiavil
             may
             give
             a
             solid
             answer
             to
             this
             in
             the
             fifteenth
             Chapter
             of
             his
             
               Prince
               .
               Some
               men
            
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             
               have
               form●d
               ●word
               and
               Soveraignties
               in
               their
               own
               fancies
               ,
               such
               as
               never
               were
               ,
               and
               as
               never
               will
               be
               .
               But
               the
               distance
               is
               so
               very
               great
               between
               what
               men
               are
               ,
               and
               between
               what
               they
               ought
               to
               be
               ,
               that
               the
               Statesman
               who
               leaves
               that
               which
               is
               ,
               to
               follow
               that
               which
               ought
               to
               be
               ,
               seeks
               his
               own
               destruction
               rather
               than
               his
               preservation
               .
               And
               by
               consequence
               ,
               he
               who
               makes
               profession
               of
               being
               perf●ctly
               good
               ,
               among
               too
               many
               others
               who
               are
               not
               perfectly
               so
               ,
               sooner
               or
               later
               must
               certainly
               perish
               .
            
          
           
             But
             what
             has
             thus
             exasperated
             Plato
             against
             the
             Drama
             ?
             Why
             it
             raises
             the
             passions
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             and
             is
             by
             consequence
             an
             Enemy
             to
             Morality
             .
             But
             Aristotle
             who
             ,
             as
             Mr
             Collier
             in
             this
             very
             page
             unhappily
             owns
             ,
             saw
             as
             far
             into
             human
             nature
             as
             any
             man
             ;
             Aristotle
             has
             declar'd
             ,
             that
             Tragedy
             ,
             by
             exciting
             the
             passions
             purges
             them
             ,
             and
             reduces
             them
             to
             a
             just
             mediocrity
             ,
             and
             is
             by
             consequence
             a
             promoter
             of
             virtue
             .
          
           
           
             As
             Plato
             has
             laid
             the
             Plan
             of
             a
             notional
             Commonwealth
             ,
             Xenophon
             has
             given
             an
             account
             in
             his
             Cyropedia
             of
             a
             Romantick
             Monarchy
             ;
             in
             which
             he
             says
             ,
             that
             the
             Persians
             would
             not
             suffer
             their
             youth
             to
             hear
             any
             thing
             that
             was
             Amorous
             or
             Tawdry
             .
             But
             what
             can
             this
             man
             mean
             by
             bringing
             this
             as
             an
             authority
             against
             the
             Stage
             ,
             and
             the
             Drama
             in
             general
             :
             For
             can
             any
             one
             be
             so
             absurd
             as
             to
             imagin
             ,
             that
             this
             was
             intended
             by
             Xenophon
             to
             condemn
             the
             gravity
             ,
             and
             seve●ity
             ,
             and
             majesty
             of
             
             Euripides's
             Plays
             ?
             Those
             Plays
             which
             are
             said
             to
             be
             in
             part
             the
             productions
             of
             the
             wisest
             and
             most
             virtuous
             of
             all
             the
             Philosophers
             ,
             of
             
             Xenophon's
             honourd
             incomparable
             Master
             ,
             Socrates
             .
          
           
             The
             next
             ,
             whose
             Authority
             is
             produc'd
             ,
             is
             Aristotle
             ;
             produc'd
             ?
             for
             what
             ?
             why
             to
             overthrow
             the
             Authority
             of
             that
             very
             sort
             of
             Writing
             ,
             which
             is
             establish'd
             upon
             his
             own
             rules
             .
             Well!
             And
             what
             says
             Aristotle
             !
             Why
             in
             his
             Politicks
             he
             lays
             it
             down
             for
             a
             rule
             ,
             that
             the
             Law
             ought
             to
             forbid
             young
             people
             the
             seeing
             of
             Comedies
             Such
             permissions
             not
             being
             safe
             ,
             till
             
             age
             and
             discipline
             had
             form'd
             them
             in
             sobriety
             ,
             fortify'd
             their
             virtue
             ,
             and
             made
             it
             as
             it
             were
             proof
             against
             Debauchery
             .
             And
             what
             are
             these
             words
             of
             Aristotle
             cited
             to
             shew
             ?
             Why
             that
             Plays
             in
             general
             are
             the
             nurseries
             of
             Vice
             ,
             the
             corruption
             of
             youth
             ,
             and
             the
             grievance
             of
             the
             Country
             ,
             where
             they
             are
             suffer'd
             ;
             for
             that
             was
             the
             thing
             which
             in
             the
             first
             Paragraph
             of
             this
             sixth
             Chapter
             ,
             Mr
             Collier
             propounded
             to
             shew
             .
             Now
             can
             any
             thing
             in
             nature
             be
             more
             unreasonable
             than
             this
             ?
          
           
             For
             in
             the
             first
             place
             it
             can
             never
             be
             ,
             no
             ,
             not
             so
             much
             as
             pretended
             ,
             that
             Aristotle
             in
             this
             place
             requires
             the
             forbidding
             any
             thing
             but
             only
             Comedy
             ,
             which
             is
             but
             one
             sort
             of
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             ;
             nor
             can
             it
             be
             so
             much
             as
             pretended
             ,
             that
             he
             requires
             ,
             that
             this
             should
             be
             forbidden
             to
             any
             but
             Boys
             ,
             Nor
             ,
             secondly
             ,
             is
             it
             probable
             that
             Aristotle
             meant
             this
             of
             any
             thing
             but
             only
             that
             sort
             of
             ancient
             Comedy
             ,
             which
             has
             no
             resemblance
             with
             ours
             .
             For
             I
             have
             two
             reasons
             to
             perswade
             me
             ,
             that
             Aristotle
             meant
             this
             of
             only
             the
             old
             
             and
             the
             middle
             Comedy
             .
             The
             first
             reason
             is
             ,
             that
             in
             all
             likelihood
             Aristotle
             writ
             his
             Politicks
             while
             he
             was
             Governour
             to
             Alexander
             ,
             which
             was
             before
             the
             establishment
             of
             the
             new
             Comedy
             .
             For
             Aristotle
             in
             his
             Morals
             commends
             the
             reservedness
             of
             the
             new
             Comedy
             ,
             which
             may
             appear
             from
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             citation
             in
             the
             160th
             page
             of
             this
             very
             Book
             .
             The
             second
             reason
             is
             ,
             That
             I
             can
             hardly
             believe
             that
             Aristotle
             would
             have
             left
             rules
             for
             the
             writing
             of
             Comedy
             ,
             if
             he
             had
             believ'd
             that
             Comedy
             in
             general
             is
             a
             Corrupter
             of
             Youth
             .
             What
             then
             Aristotle
             in
             all
             probability
             meant
             only
             of
             the
             horrible
             licence
             of
             the
             old
             and
             middle
             Comedy
             ,
             which
             yet
             he
             requires
             to
             be
             forbidden
             only
             ▪
             to
             Boys
             ,
             is
             here
             inplied
             to
             be
             levelled
             against
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             in
             general
             ;
             when
             this
             very
             Philosopher
             has
             declared
             ,
             that
             nothing
             is
             more
             proper
             than
             Tragedy
             for
             the
             entertainment
             even
             of
             youth
             ,
             pronouncing
             it
             more
             grave
             and
             more
             moral
             than
             History
             ,
             and
             more
             instructive
             than
             Philosophy
             .
          
           
           
             The
             next
             who
             enters
             the
             Lists
             is
             Cicero
             ,
             who
             ,
             as
             Mr
             Collier
             assures
             us
             ,
             crys
             out
             upon
             licentious
             Plays
             and
             Poems
             ,
             as
             the
             bane
             of
             sobriety
             and
             wise
             thinking
             ,
             and
             says
             ,
             that
             Comedy
             subsists
             upon
             Lewdness
             .
             To
             which
             I
             Answer
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             That
             Cicero
             in
             this
             place
             speaks
             only
             against
             the
             corruptions
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             which
             corruptions
             we
             do
             not
             pretend
             to
             defend
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             Cicero
             in
             his
             fourth
             Book
             of
             the
             Tusculan
             Questions
             ,
             speaks
             only
             against
             Comedy
             ,
             which
             is
             but
             one
             sort
             of
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             ,
             whereas
             in
             the
             very
             same
             place
             he
             implicitely
             commends
             Tragedy
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             That
             even
             in
             condemning
             of
             Comedy
             he
             is
             inconsistent
             with
             himself
             :
             And
             that
             if
             the
             opinion
             of
             Cicero
             is
             of
             any
             validity
             ,
             it
             is
             as
             valuable
             pro
             as
             
               con
               .
               Cicero
            
             in
             his
             Treatise
             
               De
               Amicitia
            
             and
             
               De
               Senectute
            
             ,
             implicitely
             commends
             Comedy
             .
             For
             Lelius
             ,
             whom
             Cicero
             by
             the
             mouth
             of
             Fan●ius
             ,
             extol●
             above
             all
             the
             celebrated
             Seven
             whom
             Greece
             renown'd
             for
             Wisdom
             ;
             
               Leliu●
               ▪
            
             who
             had
             the
             universal
             reputation
             of
             the
             greatest
             Statesman
             ,
             of
             the
             best
             man
             ,
             
             and
             the
             truest
             friend
             of
             his
             time
             ,
             :
             this
             Lelius
             in
             the
             Treatise
             which
             bears
             his
             name
             ,
             is
             not
             only
             found
             to
             cite
             a
             verse
             with
             approbation
             from
             Terence
             ,
             but
             to
             mention
             his
             acquaintance
             and
             intimacy
             with
             that
             Comick
             Poet.
             Now
             I
             leave
             it
             to
             any
             one
             to
             judge
             ,
             whether
             Cicero
             had
             not
             been
             very
             absurd
             ,
             if
             he
             had
             introduc'd
             a
             person
             whom
             he
             so
             much
             extols
             as
             Lelius
             ,
             a
             person
             of
             that
             Gravity
             ,
             and
             that
             Capacity
             ,
             and
             one
             who
             had
             so
             considerable
             a
             share
             in
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             Roman
             State
             :
             had
             not
             Cicero
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             been
             very
             absurd
             ,
             if
             he
             had
             introduc'd
             a
             person
             whom
             he
             so
             much
             extols
             as
             Lelius
             ,
             openly
             acknowledging
             a
             familiarity
             with
             a
             profest
             corrupter
             of
             the
             people
             ?
             But
             f●rther
             ,
             C●to
             in
             that
             Treatise
             of
             Cicero
             which
             bears
             his
             name
             ,
             that
             Cato
             whom
             Cicero
             by
             the
             mouth
             of
             this
             very
             Lelius
             ,
             prefers
             for
             wisdom
             to
             Socrates
             himself
             ,
             the
             awful
             ,
             the
             grave
             ,
             the
             severe
             Cato
             ,
             and
             the
             austerest
             of
             the
             Roman
             Censors
             ;
             this
             very
             Cato
             is
             introduced
             in
             the
             fore-mention●d
             Treatise
             ,
             making
             honourable
             mention
             of
             Pla●tus
             and
             
               Livi●s
               And●oni●us
            
             .
          
           
           
             Livy
             and
             Valerius
             Maximus
             follow
             .
             Livy
             ,
             
               he
               says
            
             ,
             reports
             the
             original
             of
             Plays
             .
             He
             tells
             us
             ,
             they
             were
             brought
             in
             upon
             the
             score
             of
             Religion
             ,
             to
             pacisie
             the
             Gods
             ,
             and
             remove
             a
             Mortality
             .
             But
             then
             he
             adds
             ,
             that
             the
             motives
             are
             good
             ,
             when
             the
             means
             are
             stark
             naught
             :
             That
             the
             Remedy
             is
             worse
             than
             the
             Disease
             ,
             and
             the
             Atonement
             more
             infectious
             than
             the
             Plague
             .
             
               In
               answer
               to
               which
               ,
               I
               desire
               leave
               to
               observe
               :
            
          
           
             First
             ,
             that
             Livy
             in
             this
             place
             of
             the
             original
             of
             Plays
             ,
             speaks
             neither
             of
             Tragedy
             nor
             of
             Comedy
             ,
             nor
             of
             the
             Satyri
             ;
             which
             were
             the
             third
             species
             of
             the
             Roman
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             ;
             but
             only
             of
             the
             rudeness
             of
             the
             
               Ludi
               Fescennini
            
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             Livy
             commends
             the
             innocence
             of
             Plays
             ,
             in
             the
             purity
             of
             their
             first
             institution
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             That
             he
             attributes
             by
             manifest
             inference
             the
             guilt
             and
             corruptions
             of
             the
             Roman
             Stage
             ,
             to
             things
             which
             can
             have
             no
             relation
             to
             our
             English
             Theatres
             .
             Which
             is
             apparent
             from
             his
             own
             words
             .
             
               Inter
               aliarum
               parva
               principia
               verum
               ,
               ludorum
               quoque
               prima
               origo
               ponenda
               est
               ,
               ut
               appareret
               quam
               ab
               
               sano
               initio
               res
               in
               hanc
               vix
               opulent
               is
               Regnis
               tolerabilem
               insani●m
               venerit
               .
               Among
               the
               small
               beginnings
               of
               other
               things
               ,
               we
               are
               obliged
               to
               give
               some
               account
               of
               the
               original
               of
               Theatrical
               representations
               ,
               that
               it
               may
               appear
               how
               a
               thing
               that
               was
               innocent
               in
               its
               institution
               ,
               grew
               up
               to
               so
               much
               licentious
               fury
               ,
               as
               to
               render
               them
               intolerable
               even
               to
               the
               most
               flourishing
               States
               .
            
             From
             whence
             it
             is
             evident
             ,
             that
             Livy
             in
             this
             place
             condemns
             the
             corruption
             neither
             of
             Comedy
             nor
             Tragedy
             ,
             but
             either
             the
             licentiousness
             of
             Liberius
             his
             Farces
             ,
             or
             the
             barbarity
             of
             the
             fights
             of
             the
             Gladiators
             ,
             or
             the
             lewdness
             of
             the
             Pantomimes
             motions
             ,
             or
             all
             of
             them
             put
             together
             .
             For
             it
             is
             manifest
             to
             any
             one
             ,
             who
             has
             the
             least
             tincture
             of
             the
             Roman
             Learning
             ,
             that
             of
             the
             Comedies
             and
             Tragedies
             which
             were
             extant
             in
             
             Livy's
             time
             ,
             those
             were
             the
             purest
             ▪
             which
             had
             been
             writ
             latest
             .
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             I
             desire
             leave
             to
             observe
             here
             ,
             that
             the
             latter
             half
             of
             wha●
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             father'd
             upon
             Livy
             ,
             viz.
             
               that
               the
               motives
               were
               sometimes
               good
               ,
               when
               the
               means
               were
               stark
               naught
               .
               That
               the
               Remedy
               in
               this
               case
               was
               worse
               than
               
               the
               Disease
               ;
               and
               the
               Atonement
               more
               infectious
               than
               the
               Plague
            
             ;
             has
             no
             manner
             of
             foundation
             in
             that
             Historian
             .
             From
             all
             which
             the
             Reader
             may
             discover
             the
             uncommon
             Sincerity
             and
             Intergrity
             of
             this
             Censurer
             of
             the
             Stage
             .
             Indeed
             ,
             without
             giving
             my self
             all
             this
             trouble
             for
             the
             clearing
             of
             the
             business
             ,
             I
             might
             have
             left
             it
             to
             any
             one
             to
             judge
             ,
             whether
             one
             of
             
             Livy's
             extraordinary
             sense
             ,
             who
             courted
             Reputation
             and
             the
             favour
             of
             the
             publick
             ,
             could
             have
             so
             little
             prudence
             ,
             or
             so
             little
             good
             manners
             ,
             as
             to
             use
             those
             expressions
             which
             Mr
             Collier
             puts
             in
             his
             mouth
             of
             the
             Drama
             itself
             ,
             at
             the
             time
             that
             it
             was
             cherish'd
             by
             the
             people
             ,
             supported
             by
             the
             Magistrates
             ,
             and
             esteem'd
             a
             considerable
             part
             of
             their
             Religious
             worship
             .
          
           
             Now
             it
             is
             impossible
             that
             any
             thing
             could
             shew
             less
             judgment
             than
             the
             following
             citation
             from
             Tacitus
             ,
             who
             blames
             Nero
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             for
             hiring
             decay'd
             Gentlemen
             for
             the
             Stage
             ;
             for
             what
             does
             Mr
             Collier
             conclude
             from
             hence
             ?
             That
             Tacitus
             condemn'd
             the
             diversions
             of
             the
             Stage
             ?
             All
             that
             can
             be
             reasonably
             concluded
             from
             it
             is
             this
             ,
             that
             Tacitus
             was
             of
             opinion
             that
             
             Nero
             debas'd
             the
             dignity
             of
             the
             Roman
             Nobility
             ,
             by
             enrolling
             some
             of
             their
             Rank
             among
             an
             order
             of
             men
             ,
             which
             among
             the
             Romans
             was
             reputed
             infamous
             .
             Tacitus
             was
             too
             much
             a
             Statesman
             to
             say
             any
             thing
             against
             the
             Stage
             ,
             especially
             in
             the
             condition
             in
             which
             we
             are
             at
             present
             .
             He
             approves
             the
             conduct
             of
             Augustus
             in
             the
             first
             of
             his
             Annals
             ,
             who
             after
             he
             had
             got
             possession
             of
             the
             Government
             ,
             honour'd
             the
             Roman
             Theatre
             with
             his
             presence
             ,
             not
             only
             out
             of
             his
             own
             inclination
             and
             complaisance
             to
             Mecenas
             ;
             but
             because
             he
             believ'd
             that
             reason
             of
             State
             requir'd
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             sometimes
             partake
             of
             the
             pleasures
             of
             the
             people
             .
             Tiberius
             ,
             says
             Tacitus
             ,
             was
             quite
             of
             another
             humour
             .
             However
             ,
             he
             had
             too
             much
             policy
             ,
             and
             too
             much
             good
             sense
             ,
             to
             use
             his
             new
             Subjects
             severaly
             at
             first
             ,
             after
             they
             had
             for
             so
             long
             together
             liv'd
             a
             gentle
             ,
             voluptuous
             life
             .
             Thus
             far
             goes
             Tacitus
             in
             the
             first
             of
             his
             Annals
             ,
             and
             Monsieur
             Amelot
             has
             made
             this
             Remark
             upon
             the
             place
             :
             A
             Prince
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             his
             Reign
             ought
             not
             to
             alter
             any
             of
             the
             establish'd
             Customs
             ,
             because
             the
             people
             are
             very
             unwilling
             to
             part
             with
             them
             .
          
           
           
             To
             what
             Tacitus
             says
             of
             the
             German
             Women
             ,
             that
             they
             ow'd
             their
             Chastity
             to
             their
             ignorance
             of
             these
             diversions
             ,
             this
             may
             be
             answer'd
             ,
             That
             first
             ,
             supposing
             Tacitus
             in
             the
             right
             ,
             that
             can
             have
             no
             reflection
             on
             our
             modern
             Theatres
             .
             For
             the
             Roman
             Ladies
             may
             very
             well
             have
             been
             corrupted
             by
             the
             intolerable
             lewdness
             of
             the
             Pantomimes
             ,
             which
             lewdness
             has
             no
             relation
             to
             us
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             It
             has
             been
             observd
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             that
             he
             is
             for
             referring
             all
             things
             to
             Politicks
             ,
             even
             things
             that
             ought
             to
             be
             referr'd
             to
             Nature
             ,
             and
             is
             for
             that
             reason
             sometimes
             out
             ;
             as
             it
             is
             manifest
             from
             experience
             he
             is
             in
             this
             case
             .
             For
             the
             Germans
             are
             now
             as
             much
             us'd
             to
             Plays
             as
             the
             Spaniards
             or
             the
             Italians
             .
             And
             yet
             their
             women
             are
             much
             chaster
             than
             the
             women
             of
             those
             two
             Nations
             .
             From
             whence
             it
             is
             evident
             ,
             that
             the
             German
             women
             owe
             their
             Chastity
             to
             the
             rudeness
             of
             their
             manners
             ,
             and
             to
             their
             want
             of
             attraction
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             coldness
             of
             their
             constitution
             .
          
           
             In
             the
             hurry
             of
             my
             dispatch
             ,
             I
             had
             almost
             forgot
             to
             return
             to
             
               Valerius
               Maximus
               ;
               Who
            
             ,
             says
             Mr
             
               Collier
               ,
               being
               contemporary
               with
            
             Livy
             ,
             
               gives
               much
               the
               
               same
               account
               of
               the
               rise
               of
               Theatres
               at
            
             Rome
             .
             
               'T
               was
               Devotion
               which
               built
               them
               .
               And
               as
               for
               the
               performances
               of
               those
               places
               which
               Mr
            
             Dryden
             
               calls
               the
               ornaments
               ,
               this
               Author
               censures
               as
               the
               blemishes
               of
               ●eace
               .
               And
               which
               is
               more
               ,
               he
               affirms
               ,
               that
               they
               were
               the
               occasions
               of
               civil
               distractions
               ,
               and
               that
               the
               State
               first
               blush'd
               ,
               and
               then
               bled
               for
               the
               entertainment
               .
               He
               concludes
               ,
               the
               consequences
               of
               Plays
               intollerable
               ,
               and
               that
               the
            
             Massilienses
             
               did
               well
               in
               clearing
               the
               Country
               of
               them
               .
            
             Now
             here
             in
             one
             citation
             ,
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             made
             no
             less
             than
             four
             or
             five
             mistakes
             ,
             whether
             through
             malice
             or
             ignorance
             ,
             I
             must
             leave
             the
             Reader
             to
             judge
             .
             For
             in
             the
             first
             place
             ,
             
               Valerius
               Maximus
            
             censures
             neither
             Comedies
             nor
             .
             Tragedies
             as
             the
             blemishes
             of
             Peace
             ,
             and
             if
             Mr
             Collier
             by
             Theatre
             does
             not
             mean
             them
             ,
             he
             means
             nothing
             that
             concerns
             us
             .
             In
             the
             next
             place
             he
             does
             not
             affirm
             ,
             that
             either
             they
             or
             any
             of
             the
             publick
             Spectacles
             were
             the
             occasions
             of
             civil
             distractions
             .
             In
             the
             third
             place
             ,
             He
             does
             not
             affirm
             that
             the
             State
             either
             blush'd
             or
             bled
             for
             the
             representation
             of
             Plays
             .
             In
             the
             fourth
             place
             ,
             The
             refusal
             of
             the
             
             Massilienses
             to
             admit
             of
             Dramatical
             representations
             can
             never
             argue
             any
             thing
             ,
             not
             only
             because
             the
             consent
             of
             Nations
             is
             against
             that
             little
             State
             ,
             but
             because
             we
             cannot
             conclude
             from
             their
             refusal
             ,
             that
             they
             did
             not
             approve
             of
             them
             .
          
           
             
               That
               all
               this
               may
               appear
               ,
               I
               am
               oblig'd
               to
               transcribe
               what
               he
               says
               .
            
             Proximus
             militaribus
             institutis
             ad
             urbana
             castra
             ,
             id
             est
             Theatra
             gradus
             faciendus
             est
             ,
             quoniam
             haec
             quoque
             sepenumero
             animosas
             acies
             instruxerunt
             ,
             excogitataque
             cultus
             Deorum
             &
             hominum
             delectationis
             causa
             ,
             non
             sine
             aliquo
             pacis
             rubore
             voluptatem
             &
             religionem
             civili
             sanguine
             senicorum
             protentorum
             gratiae
             ,
             macularunt
             From
             military
             institutions
             let
             us
             proceed
             to
             our
             City
             Camps
             ,
             that
             is
             to
             Theatres
             .
             For
             these
             too
             have
             often
             shewn
             mighty
             Armies
             drawn
             up
             ,
             and
             being
             first
             design'd
             for
             the
             worship
             of
             the
             Gods
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             delights
             of
             men
             ,
             defil'd
             our
             Pleasure
             and
             our
             Religion
             with
             the
             blood
             of
             the
             people
             .
          
           
             Where
             we
             may
             take
             notice
             of
             three
             things
             .
             1.
             
             That
             
               Valerius
               Maximus
            
             implicitely
             commends
             the
             original
             institution
             of
             Theatres
             .
             2.
             
             That
             he
             charges
             that
             which
             was
             blameable
             in
             them
             upon
             the
             combats
             of
             the
             Gladiators
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             The
             representation
             of
             Plays
             was
             so
             far
             
             from
             causing
             civil
             distractions
             ,
             that
             upon
             the
             first
             representation
             of
             the
             
               Ludi
               Pescennini
            
             ,
             390
             years
             after
             the
             building
             of
             the
             City
             ,
             the
             Patr●cians
             and
             Plebians
             were
             quiet
             for
             above
             eight
             years
             ,
             which
             was
             more
             than
             they
             had
             been
             for
             above
             a
             hundred
             years
             before
             .
             And
             after
             the
             first
             representation
             of
             Comedies
             and
             Tragedies
             ,
             which
             was
             in
             the
             five
             hundred
             and
             fourteenth
             year
             of
             the
             City
             ,
             there
             was
             never
             any
             civil
             dissention
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             never
             but
             once
             ,
             till
             the
             sedition
             of
             
               Tiberius
               Gra●chus
            
             ,
             which
             was
             above
             an
             hundred
             years
             after
             .
             Mr
             Collier
             translates
             
               civili
               sanguine
               macularunt
               ,
               caus'd
               civil
               distractions
               ,
            
             as
             if
             Plays
             were
             the
             principal
             cause
             of
             the
             dissentions
             between
             the
             Commons
             and
             the
             Patricians
             ;
             whereas
             those
             dissentions
             were
             natural
             to
             the
             constitution
             of
             the
             Roman
             State
             ,
             meer
             necessary
             consequences
             of
             enlarging
             their
             Empire
             ,
             and
             by
             that
             means
             encreasing
             the
             number
             and
             force
             of
             the
             Commons
             ,
             as
             Machiavel
             has
             declared
             in
             the
             sixth
             Chapter
             of
             the
             first
             Book
             of
             his
             discourses
             .
          
           
             As
             for
             the
             Massilians
             ,
             they
             will
             be
             better
             included
             under
             the
             Authorities
             which
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             brought
             
             in
             the
             second
             place
             from
             States
             .
          
           
             In
             examining
             the
             Authorities
             which
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             brought
             from
             States
             ,
             it
             will
             be
             convenient
             to
             say
             a
             word
             to
             the
             proceeding
             of
             the
             Massilians
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             cited
             from
             
               Valerius
               Maximus
            
             ;
             who
             commends
             them
             for
             refusing
             to
             admit
             of
             Plays
             among
             them
             .
             But
             first
             ,
             the
             refusal
             of
             this
             petty
             state
             can
             be
             of
             very
             small
             significancy
             against
             the
             consent
             of
             nations
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             This
             refusal
             is
             no
             sign
             of
             their
             disesteem
             of
             the
             Drama
             ,
             but
             only
             of
             the
             prudence
             of
             their
             conduct
             .
             For
             expence
             ,
             and
             any
             thing
             which
             looks
             like
             magnificence
             ,
             are
             destructive
             to
             little
             States
             ,
             which
             can
             never
             subsist
             without
             extream
             frugality
          
           
             
               But
               the
            
             Athenians
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             for
             which
             he
             ci●es
             
               Plutarch
               ,
               thought
               Comedy
               so
               unreputable
               a
               performance
               ,
               that
               they
               made
               a
               Law
               that
               no
               Iudge
               of
               the
            
             Areopagus
             
               should
               make
               one
            
             .
             To
             which
             we
             reply
             ,
             that
             this
             citation
             of
             Plutarch
             is
             absolutely
             false
             ;
             and
             that
             if
             it
             were
             true
             ,
             it
             could
             not
             be
             so
             much
             as
             pretended
             that
             it
             concluded
             against
             any
             thing
             but
             Comedy
             ,
             which
             is
             but
             one
             species
             of
             Dramatick
             Poetry
             ;
             and
             
             that
             in
             reality
             it
             would
             be
             of
             no
             force
             against
             that
             .
          
           
             What
             Plutarch
             says
             ,
             is
             not
             that
             the
             Athenians
             made
             a
             Law
             ,
             that
             none
             of
             the
             Areopagi
             should
             make
             a
             Comedy
             ;
             for
             one
             might
             as
             well
             suppose
             that
             it
             should
             be
             enacted
             by
             an
             English
             Parliament
             ,
             that
             none
             of
             the
             twelve
             Judges
             should
             write
             a
             Farce
             .
             That
             which
             Plutarch
             says
             is
             this
             ,
             that
             the
             Council
             of
             A●eopagus
             establish'd
             a
             Law
             ,
             that
             no
             man
             whatever
             should
             make
             any
             Comedies
             .
             From
             whence
             it
             is
             manifest
             ,
             that
             this
             law
             was
             made
             in
             the
             time
             of
             the
             old
             Comedy
             ,
             and
             long
             before
             that
             came
             to
             any
             perfection
             ,
             For
             Comedy
             ,
             as
             is
             apparent
             from
             
             Aristotle's
             treatise
             of
             Poetry
             ,
             was
             very
             much
             discourag'd
             at
             first
             :
             Indeed
             at
             first
             they
             were
             so
             intolerably
             scandalous
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             thought
             to
             be
             prejudicial
             to
             the
             State.
             And
             it
             was
             a
             long
             time
             before
             the
             Magistrates
             could
             be
             prevail'd
             upon
             to
             be
             at
             the
             expence
             of
             the
             Chorus
             .
             But
             after
             the
             Magistrates
             were
             at
             the
             expence
             of
             the
             Chorus
             ,
             't
             is
             absurd
             to
             imagine
             that
             a
             Law
             should
             be
             preferr'd
             against
             the
             writing
             that
             sort
             of
             Poem
             which
             was
             represented
             at
             the
             publick
             expence
             .
          
           
           
             So
             that
             a
             Citation
             which
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             brought
             against
             the
             Stage
             in
             general
             ,
             is
             of
             no
             force
             we
             see
             against
             Tragedy
             ,
             nor
             against
             the
             new
             Comedy
             ,
             no
             ,
             nor
             so
             much
             as
             against
             the
             old
             one
             ,
             as
             it
             stood
             in
             the
             time
             of
             Eupolis
             and
             Aristophanes
             .
             Mr
             Collier
             brings
             the
             words
             of
             his
             Authors
             ,
             but
             leaves
             us
             to
             look
             for
             their
             Sense
             ,
             and
             yet
             he
             would
             take
             it
             very
             ill
             to
             have
             that
             return'd
             upon
             him
             ,
             which
             he
             has
             said
             of
             Mr
             Durfey
             ,
             that
             he
             is
             at
             least
             in
             his
             Citations
             ,
             
               vox
               &
               praeterea
               nihil
            
             .
          
           
             But
             he
             proceeds
             to
             the
             Lacedaemonians
             ,
             and
             says
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             were
             remarkable
             for
             the
             wisdom
             of
             their
             Laws
             ,
             the
             sobriety
             of
             their
             manners
             ,
             and
             their
             breeding
             of
             brave
             men
             ,
             would
             not
             endure
             the
             Stage
             in
             any
             form
             ,
             nor
             under
             any
             regulation
             .
             This
             citation
             too
             is
             from
             Plutarch
             ,
             and
             just
             of
             as
             much
             validity
             against
             the
             Stage
             as
             the
             other
             .
             For
             what
             can
             Mr
             Collier
             conclude
             from
             hence
             ,
             That
             the
             Spartans
             disapprovd
             of
             the
             Drama
             ?
             Why
             then
             did
             they
             frequent
             the
             Theatre
             while
             they
             so
             journ'd
             at
             Athens
             ?
             As
             it
             is
             plain
             that
             they
             did
             ,
             both
             from
             the
             
               Cato
               Major
            
             of
             Cicero
             ,
             and
             from
             
               Valerius
               Maximus
            
             ,
             
             Chap.
             5.
             
             Lib.
             4.
             
             All
             that
             can
             be
             concluded
             ,
             from
             what
             Plutarch
             says
             of
             the
             Lacedaemonians
             is
             ,
             that
             the
             Drama
             was
             not
             so
             agreeable
             to
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             Spartan
             Government
             ,
             it
             being
             incompatible
             with
             rigid
             poverty
             ,
             and
             with
             fewness
             of
             Subjects
             ,
             which
             as
             Machiavel
             observes
             ,
             in
             the
             Sixth
             Chapter
             of
             the
             first
             Book
             of
             his
             Discourses
             ,
             were
             the
             two
             fundamentals
             of
             their
             constitution
             .
             But
             then
             Mr
             Collier
             may
             be
             pleased
             to
             observe
             ,
             that
             no
             sort
             of
             Poetry
             flourish'd
             in
             that
             Government
             ,
             nor
             History
             ,
             nor
             Eloquence
             ,
             nor
             written
             Philosophy
             .
             For
             as
             we
             observed
             above
             ,
             the
             Arts
             never
             flourish'd
             in
             any
             Country
             where
             the
             Drama
             was
             decay'd
             or
             discouraged
             ,
             and
             in
             those
             places
             where
             they
             have
             flourish'd
             ,
             as
             they
             have
             risen
             they
             have
             sunk
             with
             the
             Stage
             .
          
           
             But
             tho
             the
             Drama
             was
             inconsistent
             with
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             Spartan
             Government
             ,
             it
             is
             so
             remarkably
             agreeable
             to
             ours
             ,
             that
             the
             Stage
             with
             us
             was
             never
             attempted
             till
             the
             late
             Civil
             Wars
             ,
             and
             then
             too
             by
             those
             who
             had
             first
             broke
             in
             upon
             our
             constitution
             and
             as
             it
             rose
             again
             with
             the
             Hierarchy
             and
             with
             the
             Monarchy
             ,
             we
             have
             seen
             it
             now
             attempted
             
             a
             second
             time
             ,
             by
             those
             ,
             who
             by
             their
             writings
             and
             by
             their
             examples
             ,
             have
             strenuously
             endeavour'd
             to
             ruin
             both
             Church
             and
             State.
             
          
           
             
               The
               next
               Authority
               is
               brought
               from
               the
            
             Romans
             .
             Tully
             informs
             us
             ,
             
               says
               Mr
            
             Collier
             ,
             that
             their
             predecessors
             counted
             all
             Stage-Plays
             uncreditable
             and
             scandalous
             .
             Insomuch
             that
             any
             Roman
             who
             turn'd
             Actor
             was
             not
             only
             to
             be
             degraded
             ,
             but
             likewise
             as
             it
             were
             disincorporated
             ,
             and
             unnatur
             aliz'd
             ,
             by
             the
             order
             of
             the
             Censors
             .
          
           
             This
             ,
             Mr
             Collier
             tells
             us
             ,
             that
             St.
             Austin
             cites
             from
             Tully
             in
             the
             fourth
             Book
             
               De
               Repub.
            
             ;
             to
             which
             I
             could
             easily
             answer
             ,
             that
             the
             same
             St
             Austin
             ,
             as
             he
             is
             cited
             by
             Mr
             Collier
             in
             the
             274th
             page
             of
             his
             Book
             ,
             having
             apparently
             done
             Tully
             wrong
             in
             his
             citation
             of
             one
             of
             his
             Orations
             which
             is
             extant
             ;
             the
             passage
             which
             he
             cites
             from
             the
             fourth
             Book
             
               De
               Republica
            
             ,
             which
             is
             not
             come
             down
             to
             us
             ,
             may
             be
             very
             justly
             suspected
             .
             This
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             I
             could
             easily
             answer
             ;
             and
             to
             convince
             the
             Reader
             that
             I
             have
             very
             good
             grounds
             for
             it
             ,
             I
             think
             my
             felf
             oblig'd
             to
             make
             it
             appear
             ,
             that
             St
             Austin
             ,
             as
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             cited
             him
             in
             the
             274th
             page
             of
             his
             Book
             has
             done
             
             Cicero
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             wrong
             .
             The
             passage
             is
             this
             .
             
               Their
               own
            
             Tully
             
               's
               commendation
               of
               the
               Actor
            
             Roscius
             
               is
               remarkable
               .
               He
               was
               so
               much
               a
               Master
               ,
            
             says
             he
             ,
             
               that
               none
               but
               himself
               was
               worthy
               to
               tread
               the
               Stage
               ;
               and
               on
               the
               other
               hand
               ,
               so
               good
               a
               man
               ,
               that
               he
               was
               the
               most
               unfit
               person
               of
               the
               gang
               to
               come
               there
               .
            
             Now
             what
             will
             the
             Reader
             say
             ,
             when
             I
             make
             it
             appear
             that
             Tully
             never
             said
             any
             such
             thing
             ?
             In
             order
             to
             which
             ,
             I
             am
             oblig'd
             to
             transcribe
             the
             passage
             .
             
               Roscius
               Socium
               fraudavit
               ?
               Potest
               hoc
               homini
               huic
               haerere
               peccatum
               ?
               Qui
               medius
               ●idius
               (
               audacter
               dico
               )
               plus
               Fidei
               quam
               artis
               :
               plus
               veritatis
               quam
               disciplinae
               possidet
               in
               se
               :
               quem
               Populus
               Romanus
               meliorem
               virum
               quam
               Histrionem
               esse
               arbitratur
               ,
               qui
               it
               a
               dignissimus
               est
               scena●
               propter
               artificium
               ut
               dignissimus
               sit
               curia
               propter
               abstinentiam
               .
               Has
            
             Roscius
             
               defrauded
               his
               friend
               ?
               Can
               he
               possibly
               be
               guilty
               of
               this
               ?
               Who
               ,
               by
               Heavens
               ,
               (
               I
               boldly
               speak
               it
               )
               has
               more
               sincerity
               ,
               than
               he
               has
               Art
               ,
               more
               integrity
               than
               he
               has
               discipline
               ,
               who
               ,
               by
               the
               judgment
               of
               the
            
             Roman
             
               people
               ,
               is
               a
               better
               Man
               than
               he
               is
               a
               Player
               ,
               the
               worthiest
               of
               all
               men
               to
               tread
               the
               Stage
               ,
               by
               reason
               of
               his
               excellent
               action
               ,
               and
               
               the
               worthiest
               to
               partake
               of
               the
               Magistracy
               by
               reason
               of
               his
               singular
               moderation
               .
            
          
           
             Now
             I
             appeal
             to
             the
             Reader
             ,
             if
             this
             has
             so
             much
             as
             the
             least
             affinity
             with
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             meaning
             ?
             I
             have
             all
             this
             while
             done
             my
             utmost
             to
             keep
             my
             Temper
             .
             But
             I
             cannot
             forbear
             informing
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             that
             Nature
             did
             not
             make
             the
             ferment
             and
             rising
             of
             the
             Blood
             for
             Atheism
             ,
             as
             he
             fondly
             imagins
             in
             the
             80th
             page
             of
             his
             Book
             .
             For
             an
             Atheist
             is
             a
             wretched
             unthinking
             Creature
             ,
             who
             deserves
             compassion
             .
             No
             ,
             Nature
             made
             the
             Ferment
             of
             the
             blood
             to
             rise
             against
             those
             ,
             who
             are
             base
             enough
             to
             defame
             the
             dead
             by
             suborning
             them
             to
             witness
             what
             they
             never
             knew
             nor
             thought
             .
          
           
             From
             all
             which
             it
             plainly
             appears
             ,
             that
             I
             may
             deny
             very
             justly
             to
             answer
             to
             what
             is
             cited
             here
             from
             Cicero
             ,
             since
             part
             of
             it
             carries
             in
             itself
             such
             a
             Manifestation
             of
             falsehood
             ;
             for
             how
             could
             Plays
             be
             accounted
             scandalous
             by
             the
             predecessors
             of
             Cicero
             ,
             when
             before
             the
             end
             of
             the
             first
             Punick
             War
             ,
             which
             was
             about
             two
             hundred
             years
             before
             
             Cicero's
             time
             ,
             the
             Romans
             knew
             nothing
             
             of
             the
             true
             Drama
             ;
             for
             the
             Plays
             which
             were
             represented
             in
             the
             391
             st
             year
             of
             the
             City
             ,
             were
             the
             
               Ludi
               Fescennini
            
             .
             Now
             it
             was
             not
             quite
             a
             hundred
             years
             after
             the
             appearance
             of
             
               Livius
               Andronicus
            
             ,
             who
             writ
             the
             first
             Plays
             ,
             that
             Scipio
             and
             Lelius
             ,
             the
             two
             greatest
             men
             of
             the
             State
             ,
             whether
             you
             consider
             their
             virtue
             ,
             their
             courage
             ,
             or
             their
             capacity
             ,
             encourag'd
             and
             assisted
             Terence
             in
             the
             writing
             of
             his
             Comedies
             ,
             and
             were
             his
             friends
             by
             publick
             profession
             ,
             which
             they
             would
             certainly
             never
             have
             been
             ,
             if
             at
             that
             time
             the
             Romans
             had
             lookt
             upon
             Plays
             as
             scandalous
             .
             'T
             is
             indeed
             very
             true
             ,
             that
             the
             profession
             of
             Actor
             was
             not
             very
             creditable
             at
             Rome
             ,
             but
             it
             does
             not
             follow
             from
             thence
             ,
             that
             Plays
             were
             at
             all
             scandalous
             .
             Your
             common
             Fidlers
             are
             scandalous
             here
             ,
             though
             Musick
             is
             very
             honourable
             .
             The
             ancient
             Romans
             could
             not
             esteem
             any
             thing
             that
             was
             Religious
             scandalous
             .
             Their
             Plays
             were
             a
             part
             of
             their
             Religious
             worship
             ,
             represented
             at
             the
             publick
             expence
             ,
             and
             by
             the
             care
             of
             the
             
               Aediles
               Curules
            
             ,
             the
             Magistrate
             ▪
             who
             had
             the
             care
             of
             the
             publick
             worship
             .
          
           
           
             I
             must
             confess
             I
             have
             a
             hundred
             times
             wondered
             ,
             why
             Players
             that
             were
             so
             much
             esteem'd
             at
             Athens
             ,
             should
             have
             so
             little
             credit
             at
             Rome
             ,
             when
             the
             Plays
             had
             so
             much
             ,
             when
             not
             only
             both
             Tragedies
             and
             Comedies
             were
             a
             part
             of
             their
             Religious
             worship
             ,
             represented
             at
             the
             expence
             of
             the
             publick
             ,
             and
             by
             the
             care
             of
             the
             publick
             Magistrates
             ,
             but
             when
             the
             very
             persons
             who
             writ'em
             were
             carest
             by
             their
             greatest
             Statesmen
             ,
             nay
             ,
             and
             when
             some
             of
             the
             Poems
             were
             written
             by
             their
             greatest
             Statesmen
             themselves
             .
          
           
             But
             Livy
             ,
             whom
             Mr
             Collier
             cites
             once
             again
             ,
             shall
             immediately
             clear
             my
             doubt
             ,
             for
             the
             young
             Romans
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             according
             to
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             citation
             ,
             kept
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             to
             themselves
             .
             They
             would
             not
             suffer
             this
             diversion
             to
             be
             blemish'd
             by
             the
             Stage
             .
             For
             this
             reason
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             as
             the
             Historian
             observes
             ,
             the
             Actors
             of
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             ,
             were
             neither
             expell'd
             their
             Tribe
             ,
             nor
             refus'd
             to
             serve
             in
             Arms.
             Both
             which
             penalties
             it
             appears
             the
             common
             Players
             lay
             under
             .
          
           
           
             Here
             Mr
             Collier
             seems
             to
             me
             ,
             to
             have
             made
             a
             very
             gross
             mistake
             .
             For
             he
             has
             interpreted
             
               ab
               Histrionibus
               Pollui
               to
               be
               blemish'd
               by
               the
               Stage
               ,
            
             according
             to
             the
             noble
             Latitude
             which
             he
             gives
             himself
             in
             translating
             .
             Whereas
             it
             is
             very
             plain
             from
             
             Horace's
             Art
             of
             Poetry
             ,
             that
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             were
             acted
             on
             the
             publick
             Theatre
             immediately
             after
             the
             Tragedies
             .
             
               
                 Verum
                 ita
                 Risores
                 ,
                 ita
                 Commendere
                 dicaces
              
               
                 Conveniet
                 Satyros
                 ,
                 ita
                 vertere
                 seria
                 ludo
                 ;
              
               
                 Ne
                 quicunque
                 Deus
                 ,
                 quicunque
                 adhibebitur
                 Heros
              
               
                 Regali
                 conspectus
                 in
                 Auro
                 nuper
                 &
                 ostro
                 ,
              
               
                 Migret
                 in
                 obscuras
                 humili
                 Sermone
                 Tabernas
                 .
              
            
             Dacier
             is
             of
             opinion
             too
             in
             his
             Comment
             on
             the
             227th
             verse
             of
             
             Horace's
             Art
             of
             Poetry
             ,
             that
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             were
             not
             only
             acted
             on
             the
             publick
             Stage
             ,
             but
             acted
             by
             the
             same
             Players
             that
             the
             Tragedies
             were
             ,
             in
             which
             he
             is
             apparently
             mistaken
             ;
             for
             in
             the
             first
             place
             this
             opinion
             makes
             
             him
             inconsistent
             with
             himself
             ;
             as
             any
             one
             may
             see
             ,
             who
             consults
             what
             he
             says
             ,
             upon
             the
             231st
             verse
             ,
             where
             he
             affirms
             ,
             that
             the
             Actors
             of
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             ,
             had
             priviledges
             beyond
             what
             the
             common
             Players
             had
             .
             In
             the
             second
             place
             ,
             the
             passage
             which
             he
             brings
             to
             prove
             his
             opinion
             ,
             proves
             nothing
             at
             all
             .
             The
             Passage
             is
             ,
          
           
             
               Regali
               conspectus
               in
               auro
               nuper
               &
               ostro
               ,
               &c.
            
             which
             Dacier
             takes
             to
             be
             spoken
             of
             the
             Players
             ,
             whereas
             it
             is
             manifestly
             spoken
             of
             the
             
               Persona
               Drammatis
            
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             of
             the
             God
             or
             the
             Heroe
             .
          
           
             From
             what
             I
             have
             said
             ,
             we
             may
             observe
             three
             things
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             That
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             were
             acted
             on
             the
             publick
             Theatre
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             they
             were
             not
             acted
             by
             the
             Tragedeans
             nor
             the
             Comedians
             ,
             tho
             they
             were
             writ
             by
             the
             Tragick
             and
             Comick
             Poets
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             That
             the
             Actors
             of
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             were
             not
             better
             treated
             than
             common
             Actors
             ,
             because
             they
             did
             not
             Act
             on
             the
             publick
             Theatre
             .
             
               Valerius
               Maximus
            
             gives
             us
             the
             reason
             why
             they
             were
             better
             treated
             in
             the
             Fourth
             Chapter
             of
             his
             Second
             
             Book
             .
             
               Atellani
               autem
               ab
               oscis
               acciti
               sunt
               :
               quod
               genus
               detectationis
               Italica
               severitate
               temperatum
               ideoque
               vacuum
               nota
               est
               ,
               nam
               neque
               tribu
               movetur
               ,
               neque
               a
               militaribus
               stipendis
               repellitur
               .
            
             From
             whence
             it
             is
             apparent
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             from
             the
             severity
             of
             that
             sort
             of
             Poem
             ,
             that
             the
             Actors
             of
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             were
             treated
             more
             kindly
             ,
             than
             the
             common
             Actors
             .
          
           
             But
             now
             how
             came
             the
             Actors
             of
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             to
             be
             treated
             with
             so
             much
             humanity
             ,
             on
             the
             account
             of
             the
             severity
             of
             those
             Poems
             ,
             when
             the
             Tragedians
             incurr'd
             the
             Censorian
             note
             ?
             For
             Tragedy
             has
             infinitely
             more
             severity
             than
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             could
             ever
             have
             .
             For
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             were
             partly
             satyrical
             ,
             and
             had
             as
             great
             a
             mixture
             of
             Raillery
             as
             have
             our
             Tragi
             Comedies
             ;
             whereas
             Tragedy
             as
             all
             the
             world
             knows
             is
             grave
             and
             severe
             throughout
             .
             That
             which
             follows
             seems
             to
             me
             to
             be
             the
             reason
             of
             this
             ,
             and
             to
             be
             the
             true
             cause
             why
             at
             Rome
             the
             common
             Actors
             were
             so
             hardly
             us'd
             ,
             when
             Plays
             were
             so
             much
             esteem'd
             by
             the
             Romans
             .
          
           
           
             The
             first
             Plays
             that
             were
             represented
             by
             the
             Romans
             were
             the
             
               Ludi
               Fescennini
            
             ,
             which
             were
             licencious
             and
             scurrilous
             even
             at
             first
             ,
             and
             full
             of
             particular
             scandalous
             reflections
             ,
             but
             in
             a
             little
             time
             they
             grew
             bloody
             and
             barbarous
             ;
             and
             that
             cruelty
             of
             Defamation
             to
             which
             they
             arriv'd
             ,
             was
             in
             all
             probability
             the
             cause
             why
             those
             who
             acted
             in
             them
             were
             so
             severely
             treated
             by
             the
             State.
             And
             what
             inclines
             me
             to
             this
             opinion
             the
             more
             ,
             is
             the
             following
             passage
             of
             Horace
             .
             
               
                 Fescennina
                 per
                 hunc
                 inventa
                 Licentia
                 morem
                 ,
              
               
                 Versibus
                 alternis
                 approbria
                 rustica
                 fudit
                 ,
              
               
                 Libertasque
                 recurrentes
                 accepta
                 per
                 annos
              
               
                 Lusit
                 Amabiliter
                 :
                 donec
                 jam
                 servus
                 apertam
              
               
                 In
                 Rabiem
                 verti
                 caepit
                 Iocus
                 ;
                 &
                 per
                 honestas
              
               
                 Ire
                 domos
                 impune
                 minax
                 :
                 Doluere
                 cruento
              
               
                 Dente
                 lacessiti
                 :
                 fuit
                 intactis
                 quoque
                 cura
              
               
                 Conditione
                 super
                 communi
                 :
                 Quis
                 etiam
                 Lex
              
               
                 Paenaque
                 lata
                 .
              
            
             
             Not
             long
             after
             these
             appear'd
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             ;
             and
             because
             their
             Satyr
             was
             free
             from
             particular
             reflection
             ,
             and
             their
             raillery
             innocent
             ,
             and
             because
             there
             was
             something
             which
             was
             severe
             and
             noble
             in
             them
             ;
             this
             might
             prevail
             upon
             the
             following
             censors
             to
             exempt
             the
             Actors
             of
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             from
             the
             censorian
             note
             ;
             and
             might
             occasion
             a
             Law
             to
             be
             made
             ,
             that
             these
             Actors
             should
             be
             capable
             of
             bearing
             Arms.
             
          
           
             It
             was
             a
             considerable
             time
             after
             this
             before
             Tragedies
             and
             Comedies
             were
             substituted
             in
             the
             room
             of
             the
             
               Ludi
               Fescennini
            
             .
             Comedy
             at
             first
             was
             cultivated
             most
             ,
             as
             Dacier
             somewhere
             observes
             ,
             and
             it
             was
             late
             before
             Tragedy
             arriv●d
             to
             its
             height
             ,
             tho
             at
             the
             last
             it
             fell
             infinitely
             short
             of
             the
             divine
             sublimity
             of
             the
             Sophoclean
             Tragedy
             .
             Now
             tho
             the
             Romans
             were
             charm'd
             with
             Tragedy
             when
             it
             was
             come
             to
             its
             height
             ,
             and
             consequently
             with
             those
             who
             writ
             it
             ,
             and
             tho
             they
             found
             it
             to
             be
             without
             comparison
             more
             grave
             ,
             more
             noble
             ,
             and
             more
             instructive
             than
             the
             
               Fabulae
               Atellanae
            
             were
             ,
             yet
             they
             might
             probably
             think
             it
             below
             the
             majesty
             of
             the
             Roman
             people
             to
             abolish
             an
             ancient
             custom
             ,
             
             and
             an
             establish'd
             Law
             of
             the
             State
             ,
             in
             favour
             of
             the
             common
             Players
             .
             Yet
             this
             can
             be
             of
             no
             prejudice
             to
             our
             modern
             Players
             ;
             because
             all
             States
             have
             had
             unreasonable
             customs
             ,
             and
             this
             of
             the
             Romans
             may
             be
             concluded
             to
             be
             such
             ;
             being
             directly
             opposite
             to
             that
             of
             the
             Grecians
             ,
             and
             the
             Athenians
             particularly
             ,
             from
             whom
             the
             Romans
             had
             their
             Laws
             of
             the
             twelve
             Tables
             ,
             which
             were
             the
             most
             venerable
             of
             all
             their
             Laws
             .
             What
             I
             have
             already
             said
             answers
             the
             Theodosian
             Code
             ,
             and
             so
             I
             come
             to
             that
             which
             he
             calls
             our
             own
             constitution
             ,
             from
             that
             which
             breaks
             our
             constitution
             .
          
           
             Neither
             of
             the
             two
             Statu●es
             ,
             which
             he
             mentions
             page
             242
             ,
             can
             reach
             the
             King
             and
             the
             Queens
             Servants
             ,
             they
             being
             by
             no
             means
             in
             the
             rank
             of
             common
             Players
             .
             The
             Theatre
             flourish'd
             under
             the
             Princes
             in
             whose
             Reigns
             those
             Statutes
             were
             made
             ,
             especially
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             the
             latter
             ,
             which
             may
             serve
             for
             a
             proof
             that
             the
             severity
             of
             that
             Statute
             extended
             only
             to
             Strowlers
             .
          
           
             All
             that
             can
             be
             concluded
             from
             the
             Petition
             to
             Queen
             Elizabeth
             ,
             which
             is
             mentioned
             in
             the
             same
             page
             ,
             is
             that
             
             the
             Queen
             thought
             fit
             to
             suppress
             the
             Play-houses
             that
             were
             set
             up
             in
             the
             City
             ,
             tho
             she
             allow'd
             them
             in
             other
             places
             .
             And
             this
             was
             not
             without
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             Reason
             :
             For
             since
             the
             Interest
             of
             England
             is
             supported
             by
             Trade
             ,
             and
             the
             chief
             Trade
             of
             England
             is
             carry'd
             on
             by
             the
             Citizens
             of
             London
             ,
             it
             was
             not
             convenient
             that
             the
             young
             Citizens
             should
             have
             a
             temptation
             so
             near
             them
             ,
             that
             might
             be
             an
             avocation
             to
             them
             from
             their
             affairs
             .
             And
             since
             it
             is
             apparent
             from
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             citation
             ,
             that
             the
             Queen
             ,
             upon
             the
             City's
             Remonstrance
             ,
             supprest
             the
             Play-houses
             which
             were
             set
             up
             in
             the
             City
             ,
             but
             suffer'd
             them
             in
             other
             places
             ;
             this
             very
             citation
             is
             a
             manifest
             proof
             of
             that
             Queens
             approbation
             of
             Theatres
             and
             Dramatick
             Poems
             .
          
           
             That
             Reader
             who
             can
             expect
             that
             I
             should
             make
             any
             serious
             answer
             to
             the
             following
             citations
             from
             the
             Bishop
             of
             
             Arras's
             decree
             and
             the
             Dutch
             Gazette
             ,
             deserves
             to
             be
             laught
             at
             rather
             than
             satisfy'd
             .
             And
             I
             cannot
             imagine
             why
             these
             Gazettes
             should
             be
             cited
             in
             the
             same
             row
             with
             so
             many
             Philosophers
             ,
             Councils
             
             and
             Fathers
             ,
             unless
             Mr
             Collier
             would
             slily
             insinuate
             that
             they
             are
             of
             equal
             Authority
             .
             But
             't
             is
             high
             time
             to
             proceed
             to
             the
             objections
             which
             may
             be
             brought
             from
             Reason
             and
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             CHAP.
             IV.
             
          
           
             The
             Objections
             from
             Reason
             and
             Religion
             Answer'd
             .
          
           
             I
             Now
             come
             to
             answer
             what
             may
             be
             objected
             from
             Reason
             and
             from
             Religion
             .
          
           
             The
             objections
             against
             the
             Stage
             ,
             from
             Reason
             are
             chiefly
             four
             .
             1.
             
             That
             it
             encourages
             Pride
             .
             2.
             
             That
             it
             encourages
             Revenge
             .
             3.
             
             That
             it
             exposes
             Quality
             ;
             and
             by
             doing
             so
             ,
             brings
             a
             considerable
             part
             of
             the
             Government
             into
             Contempt
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             That
             it
             exposes
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             and
             by
             endangering
             Religion
             endangers
             Government
             .
             The
             two
             first
             are
             general
             ,
             and
             the
             two
             last
             particular
             objections
             .
             I
             shall
             speak
             to
             them
             all
             succinctly
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             The
             Stage
             encourages
             Pride
             ;
             a
             quality
             that
             indisposes
             men
             for
             obedience
             ,
             
             and
             for
             the
             living
             peaceably
             .
             To
             which
             I
             answer
             ,
             that
             if
             Ambition
             is
             meant
             by
             Pride
             ,
             the
             Stage
             is
             so
             far
             from
             encouraging
             that
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             business
             of
             Tragedy
             to
             deter
             men
             from
             it
             ,
             by
             shewing
             the
             great
             ones
             of
             the
             Earth
             humbled
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             if
             Pride
             be
             made
             to
             signifie
             Vanity
             ,
             and
             Affectation
             ,
             the
             child
             of
             Vanity
             ,
             't
             is
             the
             business
             of
             Comedy
             to
             expose
             those
             ;
             which
             is
             sufficiently
             acknowledg'd
             by
             Mr
             Collier
             in
             the
             Introduction
             to
             his
             Book
             .
             But
             if
             by
             Pride
             is
             meant
             Pride
             well
             regulated
             ,
             which
             Philosophers
             call
             Greatness
             of
             mind
             ,
             and
             which
             men
             of
             the
             world
             call
             Honour
             ,
             then
             I
             must
             confess
             that
             the
             Stage
             above
             all
             things
             encourages
             that
             ,
             and
             by
             encouraging
             it
             provides
             for
             the
             happiness
             of
             particular
             men
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             publick
             prosperity
             .
          
           
             I
             must
             confess
             ,
             if
             all
             men
             were
             perfect
             Christ●ans
             ,
             there
             would
             be
             no
             occasion
             for
             this
             Philosophical
             Virtue
             .
             But
             since
             that
             neither
             is
             ,
             nor
             ,
             if
             we
             credit
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             will
             be
             ,
             and
             since
             this
             very
             Pride
             is
             the
             Virtue
             of
             those
             who
             are
             not
             Virtuous
             ,
             and
             the
             Religion
             of
             those
             who
             are
             not
             Religious
             ,
             I
             
             appeal
             to
             any
             sensible
             Reader
             ,
             if
             it
             is
             not
             to
             this
             that
             he
             owes
             in
             some
             measure
             his
             life
             ,
             his
             fortune
             ,
             and
             all
             his
             happiness
             .
             For
             it
             is
             this
             ,
             which
             in
             a
             great
             measure
             makes
             his
             Servant
             just
             to
             him
             ,
             his
             Friend
             faithful
             ,
             and
             his
             Wife
             chaste
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             this
             too
             from
             whence
             for
             the
             most
             part
             comes
             the
             security
             and
             ornament
             of
             States
             .
             The
             love
             of
             Glory
             goads
             on
             the
             conquering
             Souldier
             to
             his
             duty
             ,
             excites
             the
             Philosopher
             ,
             animates
             the
             Historian
             ,
             and
             inflames
             the
             Poet.
             So
             that
             ,
             in
             short
             ,
             from
             this
             very
             quality
             ,
             the
             encouraging
             which
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             undistinguishing
             Pen
             condemns
             ,
             proceed
             almost
             all
             the
             advantages
             that
             make
             private
             men
             happy
             ,
             and
             States
             prosperous
             .
          
           
             But
             Secondly
             ,
             The
             Stage
             encourages
             Revenge
             ,
             which
             is
             so
             destructive
             to
             the
             happiness
             of
             particular
             men
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             publick
             Peace
             .
             To
             which
             I
             answer
             ,
             First
             ,
             that
             the
             Stage
             keeps
             a
             man
             from
             revenging
             little
             injuries
             ,
             by
             raising
             his
             mind
             above
             them
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             if
             it
             does
             sometimes
             show
             its
             Characters
             revenging
             intolerable
             injuries
             ,
             and
             consequently
             punishing
             enormous
             crimes
             ,
             
             yet
             by
             doing
             that
             it
             deters
             men
             from
             committing
             such
             crimes
             ,
             and
             consequently
             from
             giving
             the
             occasions
             of
             such
             Revenge
             :
             So
             that
             we
             may
             set
             the
             one
             against
             the
             other
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             That
             perhaps
             it
             equally
             concerns
             the
             peace
             of
             mankind
             ,
             that
             men
             should
             decline
             the
             revenging
             little
             injuries
             which
             happen
             every
             day
             ,
             and
             should
             sometimes
             revenge
             intolerable
             ones
             ,
             which
             very
             seldom
             happen
             .
             Cicero
             affirms
             in
             his
             Oration
             for
             Milo
             ,
             that
             Milo
             had
             done
             a
             service
             to
             the
             Commonwealth
             by
             removing
             of
             Cloudius
             .
             From
             whence
             it
             appears
             ,
             that
             that
             great
             Statesman
             thought
             that
             sometimes
             private
             Revenges
             might
             be
             necessary
             for
             the
             publick
             Safety
             .
             
               Servilius
               Ahala
            
             did
             service
             to
             the
             State
             by
             removing
             of
             
               Spurius
               Melius
            
             ;
             and
             
               Scipio
               Nasica
            
             sav●d
             it
             from
             utter
             ruin
             by
             the
             Death
             of
             
               Tiberius
               Gracchus
            
             .
             Fourthly
             ,
             That
             sort
             of
             Tragedy
             ,
             in
             which
             the
             Characters
             are
             the
             best
             form'd
             and
             the
             incidents
             the
             best
             contriv'd
             to
             move
             Compassion
             and
             Terror
             ,
             has
             either
             no
             Revenge
             ,
             or
             by
             no
             menas
             that
             sort
             of
             Revenge
             which
             can
             encourage
             the
             Crime
             in
             others
             .
             If
             Mr
             Collier
             had
             known
             any
             thing
             of
             a
             
             Play
             ,
             he
             would
             have
             been
             sensible
             of
             this
             .
             If
             any
             Reader
             wants
             to
             be
             convinc'd
             of
             it
             ,
             I
             refer
             him
             to
             what
             I
             have
             cited
             from
             
             Aristotle's
             Poetick
             in
             the
             last
             Chapter
             of
             the
             Remarks
             on
             
               Prince
               Arthur
            
             .
             But
             ,
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             The
             Stage
             exposes
             the
             Nobility
             ,
             and
             so
             brings
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Government
             into
             contempt
             .
             This
             objection
             seems
             to
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             peculiar
             to
             the
             English
             Stage
             .
             For
             as
             for
             Moliere
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             he
             pretends
             to
             fly
             his
             Satyr
             no
             higher
             than
             a
             Marquis
             .
             Good
             God!
             As
             if
             a
             Marquis
             were
             not
             above
             any
             condition
             of
             men
             that
             have
             been
             expos'd
             on
             the
             English
             Stage
             .
             This
             trick
             that
             our
             Poets
             have
             got
             of
             exposing
             quality
             ,
             is
             a
             liberty
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             unpractis●d
             by
             the
             Latin
             Comedians
             :
             where
             ,
             by
             Comedians
             ,
             I
             suppose
             ,
             he
             means
             Comick
             Poets
             .
             But
             it
             was
             very
             common
             with
             the
             
               Greeks
               ,
               Aristophanes
               ,
               Cratinus
               ,
               Eupolis
               ,
            
             and
             all
             Writers
             of
             the
             old
             Comedy
             ,
             not
             only
             expos●d
             the
             chief
             of
             the
             Athenian
             Nobility
             ,
             but
             mention'd
             their
             very
             names
             ,
             and
             produc'd
             their
             very
             persons
             by
             the
             resemblance
             of
             the
             Vizors
             .
             In
             imitation
             of
             these
             ,
             Lucilius
             the
             Inventor
             of
             Satyr
             ,
             as
             Horace
             
             tells
             us
             ,
             spar'd
             none
             of
             the
             Roman
             Nobility
             ,
             if
             they
             deserv'd
             the
             lash
             ,
             no
             ,
             not
             even
             persons
             of
             Consular
             dignity
             .
             And
             yet
             as
             Boileau
             observes
             in
             his
             discourse
             upon
             Satyr
             ,
             Scipio
             ,
             and
             Lelius
             ,
             did
             not
             think
             this
             man
             unworthy
             of
             their
             friendship
             ,
             because
             he
             had
             expos'd
             some
             of
             the
             scandals
             to
             quality
             ,
             and
             did
             not
             imagin
             that
             they
             in
             the
             least
             endanger'd
             their
             own
             Reputation
             ,
             by
             abandoning
             all
             the
             Coxcombs
             of
             the
             Commonwealth
             to
             him
             .
             From
             whence
             't
             is
             apparent
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             Roman
             Comick
             Poets
             did
             not
             bring
             the
             Nobility
             of
             Rome
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             it
             was
             for
             want
             of
             opportunity
             and
             not
             of
             good
             will.
             For
             how
             should
             they
             bring
             the
             Roman
             quality
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             when
             it
             is
             plain
             that
             they
             never
             laid
             their
             Scene
             in
             Rome
             ,
             nor
             so
             much
             as
             in
             Italy
             .
             The
             Latin
             Comick
             Poets
             translated
             the
             Greeks
             ;
             now
             the
             old
             and
             the
             middle
             Comedy
             they
             could
             not
             translate
             ,
             because
             the
             old
             Comedy
             describing
             particular
             persons
             ,
             and
             the
             middle
             one
             particular
             adventures
             ,
             those
             Comedies
             must
             have
             lost
             most
             of
             their
             graces
             upon
             the
             Theatre
             of
             another
             Sta●e
             .
             The
             Latins
             then
             translated
             the
             new
             Comedy
             ,
             in
             
             which
             indeed
             the
             Athenian
             Nobility
             was
             never
             expos'd
             ,
             because
             it
             was
             impracticable
             in
             that
             way
             of
             writing
             .
             For
             the
             Athenians
             had
             no
             Titles
             among
             them
             ;
             because
             those
             people
             who
             were
             truly
             great
             knew
             that
             real
             greatness
             consisted
             in
             merit
             and
             virtue
             ;
             but
             when
             that
             real
             greatness
             forsook
             the
             world
             ,
             a
             titular
             greatness
             ,
             the
             shadow
             of
             the
             other
             ,
             was
             introduced
             to
             supply
             it
             ;
             a
             meer
             invention
             to
             cajole
             people
             ,
             and
             perswade
             them
             that
             they
             might
             be
             noble
             without
             Virtue
             .
             Now
             the
             Athenians
             having
             no
             Titles
             ,
             I
             cannot
             conceive
             how
             the
             Athenian
             Nobility
             could
             be
             possibly
             expos'd
             by
             Menander
             ,
             or
             any
             of
             the
             Writers
             of
             the
             new
             Comedy
             .
             For
             ,
             to
             set
             the
             mark
             of
             Quality
             on
             any
             one
             of
             their
             Characters
             ,
             there
             was
             either
             a
             necessity
             of
             mentioning
             his
             name
             ,
             or
             describing
             his
             person
             ,
             or
             his
             particular
             employment
             in
             the
             State
             ;
             the
             doing
             which
             would
             have
             thrown
             them
             back
             upon
             the
             old
             or
             middle
             Comedy
             ,
             which
             were
             both
             forbid
             by
             the
             Law.
             From
             all
             which
             it
             appears
             ,
             that
             the
             Romans
             in
             this
             case
             are
             not
             against
             us
             ,
             and
             the
             French
             are
             clearly
             on
             our
             sides
             .
             But
             to
             come
             to
             the
             reason
             of
             the
             thing
             ,
             if
             a
             
             Lord
             may
             not
             be
             shewn
             a
             ●ool
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             I
             would
             fain
             ask
             Mr
             Collier
             what
             Fools
             a
             Comick
             Poet
             may
             lawfully
             show
             there
             ,
             and
             at
             what
             condition
             of
             men
             he
             ▪
             is
             oblig'd
             to
             stop
             .
             I
             would
             fain
             know
             whether
             a
             Poet
             may
             be
             allow'd
             to
             Dub
             his
             Dramatical
             Coxcombs
             ?
             May
             he
             show
             a
             Fool
             a
             Knight
             Baronet
             ,
             or
             a
             Knight
             Batchelour
             ,
             or
             are
             they
             too
             included
             in
             Quality
             ?
             Must
             he
             be
             oblig'd
             to
             go
             no
             further
             than
             Squire
             ,
             and
             must
             Fool
             and
             Squire
             continue
             to
             be
             terms
             synonimous
             ?
             If
             any
             of
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             acquaintance
             will
             give
             himself
             the
             diversion
             of
             asking
             him
             these
             questions
             ,
             I
             dare
             engage
             that
             he
             will
             find
             him
             embarass'd
             sufficiently
             .
          
           
             But
             methinks
             neither
             the
             Lords
             nor
             we
             are
             oblig'd
             to
             Mr
             Collier
             for
             his
             extraordinary
             civility
             .
             For
             if
             a
             Lord
             is
             capable
             of
             committing
             extravagancies
             as
             well
             as
             another
             man
             ,
             why
             should
             Mr
             Collier
             endeavour
             to
             perswade
             him
             that
             he
             is
             above
             it
             ?
             or
             why
             should
             he
             hinder
             him
             from
             being
             reclaim'd
             ?
             unless
             he
             would
             imply
             that
             a
             Commoner
             may
             be
             corrected
             when
             he
             grows
             extravagant
             ,
             but
             that
             when
             a
             Lord
             grows
             fantastick
             he
             is
             altogether
             incorrigible
             .
             Nor
             are
             
             we
             oblig'd
             to
             Mr
             Collier
             any
             more
             than
             the
             Peers
             are
             ?
             For
             since
             the
             bare
             advantage
             of
             their
             conditions
             makes
             some
             of
             them
             already
             grow
             almost
             insupportable
             ,
             why
             should
             any
             one
             endeavour
             to
             add
             to
             their
             vanity
             ,
             by
             exempting
             them
             from
             common
             censure
             ?
          
           
             Besides
             ,
             since
             follies
             ought
             to
             be
             expos'd
             ,
             the
             follies
             of
             the
             great
             are
             the
             fittest
             ,
             as
             being
             most
             conspicuous
             and
             most
             contageous
             .
             The
             follies
             of
             the
             meaner
             sort
             are
             often
             the
             effects
             of
             ignorance
             ,
             and
             merit
             compassion
             rather
             than
             contempt
             .
             Affected
             follies
             are
             the
             most
             despicable
             ;
             now
             Affectation
             is
             the
             child
             of
             Vanity
             ,
             and
             Vanity
             of
             Condition
             .
          
           
             But
             why
             should
             a
             Lord
             be
             free
             from
             Dramatical
             censure
             ,
             when
             he
             can
             be
             corrected
             no
             where
             but
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ?
             A
             Commoner
             may
             be
             corrected
             in
             company
             ,
             but
             such
             friendly
             admonition
             to
             a
             Lord
             may
             be
             interpreted
             Scandal
             .
          
           
             For
             our
             Comick
             Poets
             ,
             I
             dare
             engage
             that
             no
             men
             respect
             our
             Nobility
             more
             than
             they
             do
             :
             They
             know
             very
             well
             that
             their
             titles
             illustrate
             their
             merit
             ,
             and
             adorn
             their
             virtue
             ;
             but
             that
             those
             whom
             they
             expose
             ,
             are
             such
             
             whose
             Follies
             and
             whose
             Vices
             render
             their
             Titles
             ridiculous
             .
             And
             yet
             that
             they
             expose
             them
             no
             more
             than
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Kings
             Subjects
             :
             For
             Folly
             as
             well
             as
             Vice
             is
             personal
             ,
             and
             the
             Satyr
             of
             Comedy
             falls
             not
             upon
             the
             order
             of
             men
             ,
             out
             of
             which
             the
             Ridiculous
             Characters
             are
             taken
             ,
             but
             upon
             the
             persons
             of
             all
             orders
             who
             are
             affected
             with
             the
             like
             follies
             .
          
           
             For
             they
             know
             further
             what
             Mr
             Collier
             apparently
             never
             knew
             ,
             that
             a
             Lord
             in
             effect
             in
             a
             Comedy
             signifies
             any
             man.
             For
             the
             Characters
             of
             Comedy
             are
             always
             at
             bottom
             universal
             and
             allegorical
             :
             And
             the
             making
             Lords
             of
             their
             Comick
             Fools
             ,
             can
             signifie
             no
             more
             than
             to
             admonish
             our
             men
             of
             Quality
             that
             they
             are
             concern'd
             in
             the
             instruction
             as
             well
             as
             others
             .
          
           
             The
             fourth
             objection
             from
             Reason
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             Stage
             exposes
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             and
             so
             by
             endangering
             Religion
             endangers
             Government
             .
             But
             of
             this
             I
             shall
             speak
             in
             the
             following
             part
             of
             this
             Book
             ,
             where
             I
             design
             to
             treat
             of
             Religion
             .
          
           
             We
             now
             come
             to
             answer
             what
             is
             objected
             from
             Religion
             ,
             which
             is
             ,
             That
             there
             is
             no
             need
             of
             the
             Stage
             to
             make
             
             people
             good
             Subjects
             ;
             for
             that
             the
             Pulpit
             teaches
             men
             their
             duty
             to
             their
             Prince
             ,
             better
             than
             all
             the
             Philosophy
             and
             all
             the
             Poetry
             in
             the
             world
             .
             'T
             is
             indeed
             undeniable
             .
             But
             the
             validity
             of
             this
             objection
             depends
             upon
             two
             suppositions
             ;
             which
             are
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             Subjects
             of
             the
             State
             go
             to
             Church
             ,
             and
             that
             all
             attend
             when
             they
             are
             there
             .
             Whereas
             it
             is
             manifest
             that
             our
             Atheists
             and
             Deists
             seldom
             go
             thither
             ;
             and
             that
             our
             doubting
             ,
             cold
             ,
             and
             lukewarm
             Christians
             seldom
             attend
             when
             they
             are
             there
             .
             But
             that
             the
             Stage
             ,
             reduc'd
             to
             its
             primitive
             purity
             ,
             would
             be
             a
             means
             to
             send
             them
             thither
             ,
             and
             the
             best
             of
             all
             human
             preparatives
             for
             the
             Divine
             instruction
             which
             they
             would
             find
             there
             ,
             is
             designed
             to
             be
             shown
             in
             the
             remaining
             part
             of
             this
             Treatise
             .
          
        
         
           The
           end
           of
           the
           second
           part
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           USEFULNESS
           OF
           THE
           STAGE
           .
        
         
           PART
           III.
           
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             I.
             
          
           
             That
             the
             Stage
             is
             useful
             to
             the
             Advancement
             of
             Religion
             .
          
           
             I
             Now
             come
             to
             shew
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             useful
             to
             the
             advancement
             of
             Religion
             .
             
             And
             ,
             First
             ,
             Of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             in
             general
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             Of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             particularly
             ,
             and
             more
             especially
             of
             the
             Reform'd
             Religion
             .
          
           
             Religion
             in
             general
             ,
             or
             natural
             Religion
             ,
             may
             be
             consider'd
             as
             consisting
             of
             two
             parts
             ;
             the
             things
             to
             be
             believed
             ,
             and
             the
             things
             to
             be
             done
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             The
             things
             to
             be
             believed
             ,
             are
             1.
             
             The
             being
             of
             a
             God.
             2.
             
             Providence
             .
             3.
             
             Immortality
             of
             the
             Soul.
             4.
             
             Future
             Rewards
             and
             Punishments
             .
             The
             Poet
             ,
             and
             particularly
             the
             Tragick
             Poet
             ,
             asserts
             all
             these
             ,
             and
             these
             are
             the
             very
             foundations
             of
             his
             Art
             ;
             for
             in
             the
             first
             place
             the
             Machines
             are
             the
             very
             life
             and
             soul
             of
             Poetry
             ;
             now
             the
             Machines
             would
             be
             absurd
             and
             ridiculous
             without
             the
             belief
             of
             a
             God
             ,
             and
             a
             particular
             Providence
             .
             In
             the
             second
             place
             ,
             let
             any
             man
             shew
             me
             where
             Terror
             is
             mov'd
             to
             a
             heighth
             ,
             and
             I
             will
             shew
             him
             that
             that
             place
             requires
             the
             belief
             of
             a
             God
             and
             particular
             Providence
             .
             In
             the
             third
             place
             ,
             Poetick
             Iustice
             would
             be
             a
             j●st
             if
             it
             were
             not
             an
             Image
             of
             the
             Divine
             ,
             and
             if
             it
             did
             not
             consequently
             suppose
             the
             being
             of
             a
             God
             and
             Providence
             .
             
             It
             supposes
             too
             the
             immortality
             of
             the
             Soul
             ,
             and
             future
             rewards
             and
             punishments
             .
             For
             the
             things
             which
             in
             perfect
             Tragedy
             bring
             men
             into
             fatal
             calamities
             are
             involuntary
             faults
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             faults
             occasion'd
             by
             great
             passions
             .
             Now
             this
             upon
             a
             supposition
             of
             a
             future
             state
             ,
             is
             very
             just
             and
             reasonable
             .
             For
             since
             passions
             in
             their
             excesses
             ,
             are
             the
             causes
             of
             most
             of
             the
             disturbances
             that
             happen
             in
             the
             world
             ,
             upon
             a
             supposition
             of
             a
             future
             state
             ,
             nothing
             can
             be
             more
             just
             ,
             than
             that
             the
             power
             which
             governs
             the
             world
             ,
             should
             make
             sometimes
             very
             severe
             examples
             of
             those
             who
             indulge
             their
             passions
             ;
             providence
             seems
             to
             require
             this
             .
             But
             then
             to
             make
             involuntary
             faults
             capital
             ,
             and
             to
             punish
             them
             with
             the
             last
             punishment
             ,
             would
             not
             be
             so
             consistent
             with
             the
             goodness
             of
             God
             ,
             unless
             there
             were
             a
             compensation
             hereafter
             .
             For
             such
             a
             punishment
             would
             not
             only
             be
             too
             rigorous
             ,
             but
             cruel
             and
             extravagant
             .
          
           
             The
             second
             part
             of
             natural
             Religion
             contains
             the
             things
             which
             are
             to
             be
             done
             ;
             which
             include
             ,
             
             
               
                 1.
                 
                 Our
                 duty
                 to
                 God.
                 
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 Our
                 duty
                 to
                 our
                 Neighbour
                 .
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 Our
                 duty
                 to
                 our selves
                 .
              
            
          
           
             And
             all
             these
             it
             is
             the
             business
             of
             Tragedy
             to
             ●each
             ;
             witness
             the
             practice
             of
             the
             Ancient
             Chorus
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             comprehended
             in
             the
             following
             verses
             of
             
               Horace
               ▪
            
             
               
                 Ille
                 bonis
                 favetque
                 &
                 concilietur
                 Amicis
              
               
                 Et
                 regatirato
                 ,
                 &
                 amet
                 peccare
                 timentes
                 :
              
               
                 Ille●
                 Dapes
                 laudet
                 mensae
                 brevis
                 ille
                 salubrem
              
               
                 Iustitiam
                 ,
                 legesque
                 &
                 apertis
                 otia
                 portis
                 :
              
               
                 Ille
                 tegat
                 commissa
                 Deosque
                 precetur
                 &
                 oret
              
               
                 Vt
                 redeat
                 miseris
                 ,
                 abeat
                 fortuna
                 superbis
                 .
              
            
             From
             which
             it
             appears
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             the
             business
             of
             Tragedy
             to
             exhort
             men
             to
             Piety
             and
             the
             worship
             of
             the
             Gods
             ;
             to
             perswade
             them
             to
             Justice
             ,
             to
             Humility
             ,
             and
             to
             Fidelity
             ,
             and
             to
             incline
             them
             to
             moderation
             and
             temperance
             .
             And
             't
             is
             for
             the
             omission
             of
             one
             of
             these
             duties
             that
             the
             persons
             of
             the
             modern
             Tragedy
             are
             shewn
             unfortunate
             in
             their
             Catastrophes
             .
          
           
           
             Thus
             
               Don
               Iohn
            
             is
             destroy'd
             for
             his
             libertinism
             and
             his
             impiety
             ;
             Timon
             for
             his
             profusion
             and
             his
             intemperance
             ;
             Macbeth
             for
             his
             lawless
             ambition
             and
             cruelty
             ;
             Castalio
             for
             his
             falshood
             to
             his
             Brother
             and
             Friend
             ;
             Iaffeir
             for
             his
             clandestine
             Marriage
             with
             the
             Daughter
             of
             his
             Benefactor
             ;
             and
             Belvidera
             for
             her
             disobedience
             .
          
           
             Thus
             we
             have
             shewn
             ,
             by
             reason
             and
             by
             matter
             of
             fact
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             business
             of
             the
             Stage
             to
             advance
             Religion
             ,
             and
             it
             is
             plain
             from
             History
             and
             from
             Experience
             ,
             that
             Religion
             ha
             flourish'd
             with
             the
             Stage
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             Athenians
             and
             Romans
             who
             most
             encourag'd
             it
             ,
             were
             the
             most
             religious
             people
             in
             the
             world
             .
             And
             ,
             perhaps
             ,
             if
             we
             would
             come
             down
             to
             our selves
             ,
             it
             would
             be
             no
             difficult
             matter
             to
             shew
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             frequent
             our
             Theatres
             ,
             have
             a
             great
             deal
             more
             of
             natural
             Religion
             in
             them
             ,
             than
             it
             s
             declared
             inveterate
             Enemies
             ,
             who
             are
             principally
             Fanaticks
             and
             Jesuits
             :
             for
             the
             Vices
             which
             are
             charg'd
             upon
             the
             friends
             of
             the
             Stage
             ,
             are
             for
             the
             most
             part
             the
             effects
             of
             frailty
             ,
             and
             meer
             human
             Vices
             ;
             whereas
             the
             faults
             of
             its
             inveterate
             Enemies
             ,
             are
             known
             to
             be
             
             diabolical
             crimes
             ,
             destructive
             of
             Society
             ,
             of
             Peace
             ,
             and
             of
             human
             Happiness
             ;
             such
             as
             falshood
             ,
             slander
             ,
             injustice
             ,
             back-biting
             ,
             perfidiousness
             ,
             and
             irreconcileable
             hatred
             .
          
           
             I
             now
             come
             to
             shew
             in
             the
             second
             place
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             useful
             for
             the
             advancing
             the
             Christian
             ,
             and
             particularly
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             .
             The
             Christian
             Religion
             has
             two
             parts
             ,
             the
             Moral
             and
             the
             Mysterious
             .
             The
             Moral
             consists
             of
             Human
             and
             Christian
             Virtues
             :
             The
             Human
             Virtues
             are
             a
             part
             of
             Natural
             Religion
             ,
             which
             ,
             since
             the
             Stage
             advances
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             shewn
             above
             ,
             it
             follows
             that
             it
             partly
             advances
             Christianity
             .
             The
             Stage
             too
             in
             some
             measure
             may
             be
             made
             to
             recommend
             Humility
             ,
             Patience
             and
             Meekness
             to
             us
             ,
             which
             are
             true
             Christian
             Virtues
             :
             And
             tho
             a
             Dramatick
             Poet
             neither
             can
             nor
             ought
             to
             teach
             the
             Mysteries
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             yet
             by
             recommending
             the
             Human
             and
             the
             Christian
             Virtues
             to
             the
             practice
             of
             our
             Audience
             ,
             he
             admirably
             prepares
             men
             for
             the
             belief
             of
             the
             Mysteries
             .
             For
             this
             is
             undeniable
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             not
             Reason
             ,
             but
             Passion
             and
             Vice
             that
             keeps
             any
             man
             from
             being
             a
             Christian.
             
             That
             therefore
             that
             moderates
             our
             Passions
             ,
             and
             instructs
             us
             in
             our
             Duty
             ,
             must
             consequently
             advance
             our
             Faith.
             So
             that
             the
             Stage
             is
             not
             only
             absolutely
             necessary
             for
             the
             instructing
             and
             humanizing
             those
             who
             are
             not
             Christians
             ,
             but
             the
             best
             of
             all
             human
             things
             to
             prepare
             them
             for
             the
             sublimer
             Doctrines
             of
             the
             Church
             .
             Now
             that
             which
             inclines
             us
             to
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             will
             incline
             us
             to
             the
             purer
             sort
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             that
             which
             has
             the
             least
             affinity
             with
             Idolatry
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             Reform'd
             Religion
             .
             That
             which
             opens
             men's
             eyes
             as
             the
             Stage
             does
             ,
             by
             purging
             our
             passions
             and
             instructing
             us
             in
             our
             duty
             ;
             and
             that
             which
             raises
             their
             minds
             ,
             will
             make
             them
             naturally
             averse
             from
             superstitious
             foppery
             ,
             and
             from
             being
             slaves
             to
             Priestcraft
             ,
             And
             that
             which
             exposes
             Hypocrisy
             ,
             as
             the
             Stage
             does
             ,
             must
             naturally
             make
             ●en
             averse
             from
             Fanaticism
             and
             the
             affected
             austerity
             of
             Bigots
             .
             And
             therefore
             the
             Jesuits
             on
             one
             hand
             ,
             and
             the
             Fanaticks
             on
             the
             other
             ,
             have
             always
             been
             inve●erate
             Enemies
             to
             Plays
             .
             This
             is
             remarkable
             ▪
             that
             the
             Church
             and
             the
             Hierarchy
             ,
             ever
             since
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             have
             flourish'd
             with
             the
             Stage
             ,
             were
             depos'd
             with
             it
             ,
             and
             
             restor'd
             with
             it
             .
             Thus
             have
             I
             shewn
             that
             the
             Stage
             advances
             Religion
             ,
             and
             more
             particularly
             the
             Christian
             Reform'd
             Religion
             .
             I
             come
             now
             to
             answer
             what
             may
             be
             objected
             from
             Reason
             and
             from
             Authority
             .
          
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             II.
             
          
           
             The
             Objections
             from
             Reason
             Answer'd
             .
          
           
             THe
             objections
             from
             Reason
             are
             chiefly
             three
             .
             That
             the
             Stage
             makes
             its
             Characters
             sometimes
             talk
             prophanel
             ;
             that
             it
             encourages
             Pride
             ,
             that
             it
             exposes
             Religion
             in
             the
             Priesthood
             .
             These
             are
             so
             easily
             answer'd
             ,
             that
             I
             shall
             dispatch
             them
             in
             a
             few
             words
             ,
             and
             come
             to
             the
             objections
             from
             Authority
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             The
             Stage
             sometimes
             makes
             its
             Characters
             talk
             prophanely
             .
             To
             which
             I
             answer
             ;
             That
             if
             the
             Character
             which
             speaks
             is
             well
             mark'd
             and
             the
             prophaneness
             be
             necessary
             for
             the
             Fable
             and
             for
             
             the
             Action
             ,
             then
             the
             prophaness
             is
             not
             unjustifiable
             :
             for
             to
             assert
             the
             contrary
             ,
             would
             be
             to
             affirm
             ,
             that
             is
             is
             unlawful
             for
             a
             Dramatick
             Poet
             to
             write
             against
             prophaneness
             ,
             which
             is
             ridiculous
             .
             A
             Poet
             has
             no
             other
             way
             in
             the
             Drama
             of
             giving
             an
             Audience
             an
             aversion
             for
             any
             Vice
             ,
             than
             by
             exposing
             or
             punishing
             it
             in
             the
             persons
             of
             the
             Drama
             .
             And
             here
             I
             think
             my self
             obliged
             to
             reply
             to
             something
             that
             Mr
             Colller
             has
             asserted
             ,
             in
             his
             Remarks
             upon
             Mr
             
             Dryden's
             
               King
               Arthur
            
             ,
             which
             is
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             bring
             Devils
             on
             the
             Stage
             ,
             can
             hardly
             believe
             them
             any
             whereelse
             .
             But
             why
             for
             Godsake
             ?
             for
             a
             man
             of
             sense
             always
             reasons
             ,
             but
             the
             Pedant
             asserts
             dogmatically
             .
             Did
             Aeschilus
             in
             bringing
             the
             Furies
             upon
             the
             Stage
             of
             Athens
             ,
             shew
             that
             he
             thought
             they
             were
             nothing
             but
             a
             poetical
             sham
             ?
             Why
             should
             it
             be
             more
             irrelig●on
             in
             us
             to
             bring
             Devils
             on
             the
             Stage
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             to
             bring
             Furies
             in
             him
             ?
             Can
             any
             thing
             be
             more
             terrible
             ,
             than
             the
             shewing
             of
             Devils
             ,
             if
             they
             are
             shewn
             solemnly
             ?
             And
             can
             any
             thing
             that
             moves
             Terror
             ,
             do
             a
             disservice
             to
             Religion
             ?
          
           
           
             But
             ,
             Secondly
             ,
             The
             Stage
             encourages
             Pride
             .
             Indeed
             ,
             I
             must
             confess
             ,
             that
             even
             the
             best
             sort
             of
             Pride
             ,
             which
             some
             call
             honour
             ,
             and
             others
             greatness
             of
             mind
             ,
             is
             not
             so
             very
             consistent
             with
             some
             of
             the
             Christian
             virtues
             .
             But
             then
             I
             do
             not
             affirm
             that
             the
             Stage
             can
             be
             at
             all
             useful
             for
             the
             instruction
             of
             those
             who
             are
             arrived
             at
             any
             more
             perfect
             state
             of
             Religion
             ;
             but
             for
             those
             who
             are
             not
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             for
             the
             generality
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             greatness
             of
             mind
             may
             be
             very
             serviceable
             ,
             for
             the
             assisting
             them
             to
             command
             their
             passions
             ,
             and
             the
             restraining
             them
             from
             committing
             enormous
             crimes
             .
          
           
             But
             ,
             Thirdly
             ,
             The
             Stage
             exposes
             Religion
             by
             exposing
             the
             Priesthood
             .
             To
             which
             I
             answer
             ,
             That
             to
             talk
             of
             exposing
             Religion
             is
             Cant
             ;
             for
             to
             expose
             Religion
             is
             to
             expose
             Truth
             ,
             which
             is
             absurd
             ;
             because
             nothing
             can
             be
             expos'd
             but
             that
             which
             is
             false
             .
             If
             the
             Stage
             really
             ridicul'd
             Religion
             ,
             instead
             of
             ridiculing
             Hypocrisie
             ,
             some
             people
             ,
             whose
             Religion
             lies
             in
             their
             Muscles
             ,
             would
             be
             more
             easily
             reconciled
             to
             it
             .
             For
             how
             many
             Books
             have
             been
             printed
             in
             English
             that
             have
             been
             levell'd
             directly
             against
             Religion
             itself
             ?
             For
             what
             
             reason
             then
             have
             none
             of
             those
             Zealots
             ,
             who
             have
             declaim'd
             with
             so
             much
             fury
             against
             the
             Stage
             ,
             writ
             any
             thing
             to
             dissuade
             people
             from
             reading
             those
             Deisti●al
             and
             Atheistical
             Treatises
             ?
             For
             what
             reason
             have
             they
             omitted
             this
             ,
             unless
             because
             those
             Books
             only
             attack
             Religion
             ,
             about
             which
             they
             never
             much
             trouble
             their
             heads
             ;
             but
             the
             Poets
             attack
             them
             .
             The
             bringing
             a
             vicious
             or
             a
             ridiculous
             Priest
             upon
             the
             Stage
             then
             cannot
             be
             interpreted
             the
             exposing
             Religion
             ,
             but
             the
             ridiculing
             Hypocrisie
             .
             However
             ,
             this
             is
             very
             certain
             ,
             that
             no
             Poet
             ought
             to
             shew
             a
             Priest
             in
             such
             a
             manner
             as
             to
             shew
             any
             disesteem
             of
             the
             Character
             .
             But
             I
             cannot
             for
             my
             life
             conceive
             why
             the
             bringing
             a
             foolish
             or
             a
             vicious
             Priest
             upon
             the
             Stage
             should
             be
             such
             an
             abominable
             thing
             .
          
           
             For
             ,
             since
             persons
             of
             all
             degrees
             ,
             from
             Monarch
             to
             Peasant
             ,
             are
             daily
             brought
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             why
             should
             the
             Clergy
             be
             exempted
             ?
             The
             Clergy
             have
             been
             treated
             by
             our
             Comick
             Poets
             with
             a
             great
             deal
             more
             respect
             than
             the
             Laity
             :
             Because
             they
             have
             hardly
             spar'd
             any
             condition
             of
             the
             Laity
             ,
             but
             none
             of
             the
             superiour
             Clergy
             have
             been
             ever
             
             expos'd
             in
             our
             Comedies
             ;
             which
             is
             one
             sign
             of
             the
             good
             intention
             of
             the
             Poets
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             only
             show
             the
             Follies
             and
             Vices
             of
             some
             ,
             while
             they
             reverence
             the
             Piety
             and
             Learning
             of
             others
             ,
             and
             the
             order
             in
             general
             .
          
           
             And
             whereas
             Mr
             Collier
             affirms
             ,
             that
             foreign
             States
             suffer
             no
             Priests
             to
             be
             expos'd
             on
             the
             Comick
             Stage
             .
             To
             that
             we
             answer
             ,
             That
             in
             Countries
             where
             the
             Church
             of
             Rome
             is
             establish'd
             they
             have
             some
             reason
             to
             use
             this
             niceness
             :
             For
             prudence
             requires
             that
             the
             Magistrate
             should
             always
             take
             care
             of
             the
             established
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             established
             Religion
             in
             those
             Countries
             being
             almost
             all
             Priestcraft
             ,
             to
             expose
             the
             Priests
             is
             there
             to
             expose
             Religion
             .
             Besides
             ,
             in
             those
             places
             Priestcraft
             and
             Secular
             Policy
             have
             a
             nearer
             alliance
             ,
             and
             a
             closer
             dependance
             on
             each
             other
             by
             much
             ,
             than
             they
             have
             here
             :
             for
             the
             Priests
             are
             considerably
             assistant
             to
             the
             Magistrates
             in
             the
             enslaving
             the
             people
             ,
             Besides
             ,
             in
             Italy
             and
             Spain
             the
             Inquisition
             rages
             ,
             and
             Priests
             will
             be
             sure
             to
             take
             care
             of
             themselves
             .
             As
             for
             France
             ,
             tho
             they
             never
             had
             a
             Priest
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             yet
             they
             have
             a
             Poem
             which
             was
             writ
             on
             
             purpose
             to
             ridicule
             even
             the
             superiour
             Clergy
             .
             And
             by
             whom
             was
             it
             writ
             ?
             By
             Monsieur
             Boileau
             ,
             the
             most
             sober
             and
             most
             religious
             of
             all
             their
             Poets
             ▪
             Who
             advis'd
             it
             ?
             Who
             commanded
             it
             ?
             Monsieur
             
               De
               Lamoignon
            
             ,
             illustrious
             for
             his
             profound
             Capacity
             ,
             renown'd
             for
             his
             Learning
             ,
             and
             fam'd
             for
             his
             Piety
             ;
             who
             believ'd
             that
             the
             exposing
             that
             litigious
             humour
             that
             was
             crept
             into
             the
             Regular
             Clergy
             ,
             might
             do
             important
             service
             to
             the
             Gallican
             Church
             .
             And
             why
             should
             our
             Magistrates
             make
             any
             exception
             against
             the
             exposing
             the
             faults
             of
             the
             Clergy
             here
             ,
             where
             the
             Religion
             is
             so
             pure
             ,
             that
             to
             touch
             a
             Priest
             is
             by
             no
             means
             to
             hurt
             the
             Religion
             .
          
           
             And
             whereas
             Mr
             Collier
             says
             ,
             that
             to
             affront
             a
             Priest
             is
             to
             affront
             the
             Deity
             ;
             so
             it
             is
             to
             a
             affront
             a
             Peasant
             who
             is
             a
             good
             Christian
             ;
             besides
             ,
             affronts
             are
             always
             personal
             ,
             but
             a
             Priest
             in
             a
             Play
             is
             a
             general
             Character
             ;
             and
             the
             bringing
             an
             ill
             or
             a
             ridiculous
             one
             upon
             the
             Stage
             ,
             rather
             proceeds
             from
             our
             veneration
             for
             Religion
             ,
             than
             from
             any
             contempt
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             And
             whereas
             Mr
             Collier
             takes
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             pains
             to
             prove
             that
             a
             Priest
             
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             contemn'd
             because
             he
             is
             a
             degree
             above
             a
             Gentleman
             ;
             that
             defence
             methinks
             is
             not
             altogether
             so
             pertinent
             .
             For
             it
             is
             evident
             ,
             that
             persons
             of
             degrees
             superiour
             to
             Gentlemen
             are
             every
             day
             expos'd
             on
             the
             Stage
             .
             And
             besides
             ,
             the
             way
             for
             a
             Clergyman
             to
             secure
             himself
             from
             contempt
             ,
             is
             not
             to
             boast
             of
             secular
             advantages
             which
             in
             him
             is
             truly
             ridiculous
             ,
             but
             to
             shew
             his
             Meekness
             and
             his
             Humility
             ,
             which
             are
             true
             Christian
             virtues
             .
          
           
             Besides
             ,
             the
             Characters
             in
             every
             Comedy
             are
             always
             at
             the
             bottom
             universal
             and
             allegorical
             ,
             or
             else
             the
             instruction
             could
             not
             be
             universal
             .
             A
             ridiculous
             or
             vicious
             Priest
             in
             a
             Comedy
             ,
             signifies
             any
             man
             who
             has
             such
             follies
             or
             vices
             ,
             and
             the
             Cassock
             is
             produc'd
             on
             purpose
             to
             signify
             to
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             partly
             concern'd
             in
             the
             instruction
             ,
             and
             have
             sometimes
             their
             vices
             and
             follies
             as
             well
             as
             the
             Laity
             .
          
           
             The
             exposing
             upon
             the
             Stage
             a
             Priest
             ,
             who
             is
             an
             ill
             ,
             or
             a
             ridiculous
             person
             ,
             can
             never
             make
             the
             order
             contemptible
             ,
             for
             nothing
             can
             make
             the
             Priesthood
             contemptible
             but
             Priests
             .
             He
             among
             them
             who
             writ
             the
             
               Grounds
               of
               
               the
               Coutempt
               of
               the
               Clergy
               ,
            
             says
             nothing
             that
             I
             remember
             of
             the
             Stage
             ;
             but
             he
             says
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             their
             own
             follies
             ,
             and
             something
             too
             of
             their
             vices
             ;
             now
             the
             exposing
             these
             follies
             and
             vices
             ,
             would
             be
             a
             way
             to
             reclaim
             them
             ,
             and
             so
             to
             preservè
             the
             esteem
             that
             they
             have
             in
             the
             world
             .
          
           
             This
             is
             plain
             from
             experience
             :
             For
             the
             Inferiour
             Clergy
             is
             much
             more
             respected
             in
             England
             ,
             than
             the
             Regular
             Clergy
             is
             either
             in
             France
             or
             Italy
             ,
             where
             they
             are
             never
             expos'd
             on
             the
             Stage
             .
             And
             their
             lives
             are
             here
             less
             scandalous
             than
             they
             are
             abroad
             .
             They
             who
             have
             been
             at
             Marseilles
             ,
             may
             inform
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             there
             a
             very
             common
             thing
             to
             see
             Priests
             ,
             both
             Secular
             and
             Regular
             ,
             who
             are
             slaves
             in
             the
             Galleys
             for
             the
             most
             detestable
             crimes
          
           
             It
             appears
             to
             be
             full
             as
             necessary
             ,
             to
             expose
             a
             Priest
             ,
             who
             is
             an
             ill
             man
             ,
             as
             one
             of
             the
             Laity
             ,
             because
             his
             example
             is
             more
             contageous
             ,
             and
             the
             salvation
             of
             so
             many
             Souls
             depend
             on
             it
             :
             whereas
             a
             Layman
             influences
             fewer
             .
             Besides
             ,
             a
             Layman
             often
             offends
             thro
             want
             of
             consideration
             ,
             because
             he
             does
             not
             reflect
             ,
             his
             worldly
             avocations
             diverting
             
             his
             thoughts
             from
             Religion
             ;
             so
             that
             such
             a
             one
             may
             have
             returns
             of
             Conscience
             .
             But
             an
             ill
             Clergyman
             cannot
             pretend
             inconsiderateness
             ,
             for
             it
             is
             his
             daily
             business
             to
             reflect
             on
             his
             Duty
             ;
             and
             consequently
             such
             a
             one
             must
             be
             a
             downright
             Atheist
             ;
             and
             an
             Atheist
             sinning
             on
             this
             side
             the
             Law
             ,
             has
             nothing
             to
             restrain
             him
             but
             the
             apprehension
             of
             infamy
             ,
             and
             the
             fear
             of
             becoming
             contemptible
             .
          
           
             Besides
             ,
             a
             Layman
             who
             transgresses
             ,
             has
             his
             Rector
             or
             his
             Curate
             to
             remind
             him
             of
             his
             duty
             .
             Shall
             a
             Clergyman
             who
             is
             an
             ill
             liver
             go
             on
             without
             admonition
             .
             Is
             that
             for
             his
             advantage
             ,
             or
             the
             benefit
             of
             his
             flock
             ,
             or
             the
             good
             of
             the
             publick
             .
          
           
             We
             own
             indeed
             that
             it
             is
             our
             duty
             to
             be
             instructed
             by
             them
             ,
             yet
             ought
             they
             sometimes
             to
             take
             their
             turn
             ,
             and
             be
             subject
             to
             our
             remonstrances
             :
             As
             the
             Roman
             Consuls
             ,
             if
             we
             may
             have
             leave
             to
             make
             such
             a
             comparison
             ,
             were
             accountable
             to
             the
             Tribunes
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             by
             the
             policy
             of
             that
             constitution
             .
             Thus
             I
             have
             answer'd
             what
             may
             be
             objected
             from
             Reason
             against
             the
             Stage
             in
             general
             ,
             and
             what
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             objected
             
             against
             the
             English
             Stage
             in
             particular
             ,
             I
             mean
             as
             much
             as
             was
             fit
             to
             be
             answer'd
             .
             For
             there
             is
             no
             defending
             the
             Immodesty
             ,
             or
             Immorality
             of
             ,
             or
             unnecessary
             Prophaneness
             of
             some
             of
             our
             Plays
             .
             Let
             us
             now
             come
             to
             the
             objections
             which
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             brought
             from
             Authority
             .
          
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             III.
             
          
           
             The
             Objections
             from
             Authority
             Answer'd
             .
          
           
             THe
             objections
             from
             Authority
             are
             of
             two
             sorts
             ,
             Councils
             and
             Fathers
             .
             But
             now
             let
             me
             ask
             Mr
             Collier
             this
             question
             ,
             Were
             these
             persons
             inspir'd
             or
             no
             ?
             That
             is
             ,
             did
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             dictate
             whatever
             they
             writ
             to
             em
             ?
             If
             he
             says
             it
             did
             ,
             I
             have
             nothing
             to
             say
             to
             such
             a
             man
             ,
             but
             abandon
             him
             to
             Ecclesiastical
             censure
             ▪
             If
             he
             says
             it
             did
             not
             ,
             why
             then
             I
             must
             tell
             him
             ,
             that
             we
             
             live
             in
             an
             age
             in
             which
             there
             are
             persons
             that
             are
             too
             judicious
             ,
             and
             too
             generous
             to
             forego
             their
             reasons
             for
             meer
             Human
             Authority
             .
             An
             age
             in
             which
             we
             account
             it
             not
             only
             an
             absurdity
             ,
             but
             a
             sin
             to
             believe
             in
             any
             thing
             under
             Heaven
             ;
             as
             well
             knowing
             that
             Reason
             is
             the
             top
             of
             all
             human
             things
             ;
             and
             tho
             not
             so
             sacred
             as
             Revelation
             ,
             is
             in
             some
             measure
             Divine
             .
             For
             Reason
             is
             given
             us
             by
             God
             for
             our
             guide
             ,
             where
             we
             have
             no
             Revelation
             to
             contradict
             it
             .
             And
             both
             Human
             Authority
             and
             Revelation
             hold
             and
             depend
             on
             Reason
             .
             We
             always
             assent
             to
             Revelations
             divine
             Authority
             ,
             because
             Reason
             assures
             us
             ,
             that
             we
             always
             ought
             to
             assent
             to
             it
             :
             And
             we
             sometimes
             refuse
             to
             acknowledge
             human
             Authority
             ,
             because
             we
             are
             convinc'd
             by
             Reason
             that
             we
             ought
             not
             to
             submit
             to
             it
             .
          
           
             For
             the
             Councils
             he
             has
             cited
             ,
             I
             must
             tell
             him
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             not
             oblig'd
             to
             acknowledge
             any
             of
             those
             Councils
             Infallible
             ;
             but
             refuse
             to
             be
             determin'd
             by
             their
             decrees
             ,
             unless
             they
             are
             confirm'd
             by
             Reason
             or
             Revelation
             .
          
           
             Now
             I
             desire
             to
             know
             of
             Mr
             Collier
             whether
             he
             himself
             pays
             the
             last
             deference
             
             to
             those
             Councils
             or
             no
             ?
             If
             he
             answers
             ,
             that
             he
             owns
             their
             Authority
             ,
             how
             durst
             he
             appear
             to
             have
             read
             so
             many
             Plays
             as
             he
             has
             cited
             thro
             out
             this
             Book
             ,
             when
             the
             Decrees
             of
             these
             Councils
             even
             in
             this
             very
             case
             appear
             from
             his
             own
             citations
             so
             much
             stronger
             against
             the
             Clergy
             than
             they
             do
             against
             the
             Laity
             ?
             But
             if
             he
             answers
             ,
             that
             he
             disowns
             their
             Authority
             ,
             with
             what
             prodigious
             assurance
             can
             he
             offer
             to
             impose
             it
             on
             us
             that
             while
             he
             takes
             his
             own
             satisfaction
             he
             may
             laugh
             àt
             our
             credulity
             ?
          
           
             But
             to
             come
             to
             the
             Fathers
             ,
             they
             had
             their
             reasons
             for
             crying
             out
             against
             the
             Stage
             ,
             which
             cannot
             so
             much
             as
             be
             pretended
             to
             be
             reason
             ▪
             to
             us
             .
             They
             had
             chiefly
             five
             ,
             and
             those
             five
             reasons
             will
             serve
             to
             answer
             whatever
             has
             been
             cited
             by
             Mr
             Collier
             in
             his
             long
             Ecclesiastical
             scrowl
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             Plays
             in
             their
             time
             were
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Pagan
             worship
             ;
             and
             that
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             Christianity
             was
             alone
             a
             sufficient
             motive
             to
             oblige
             the
             Fathers
             to
             forbid
             those
             diversions
             to
             the
             new
             Christians
             ,
             several
             of
             which
             may
             be
             very
             well
             suppos'd
             to
             be
             not
             yet
             confirm'd
             in
             the
             Faith.
             
          
           
           
             The
             Second
             reason
             why
             the
             Fathers
             forbad
             the
             first
             Christians
             Plays
             ,
             was
             because
             the
             Combats
             of
             the
             Gladiators
             were
             mingled
             with
             those
             diversions
             ,
             and
             something
             which
             was
             full
             as
             barbarous
             .
             
               
                 Media
                 inter
                 Carmina
                 pof●unt
              
               
                 Aut
                 ursum
                 aut
                 Pugiles
                 .
              
               
                 Hor
                 ep
                 .
                 1.
                 l.
                 1.
                 
              
            
          
           
             The
             Third
             was
             the
             gesticulations
             of
             the
             Pantomimes
             ,
             which
             indeed
             were
             unsufferably
             lewd
             ,
             and
             unfit
             to
             be
             seen
             not
             only
             by
             Christians
             ,
             but
             by
             any
             civil
             people
             .
          
           
             Let
             any
             one
             but
             consult
             what
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             cited
             from
             the
             Fathers
             ,
             and
             he
             will
             find
             that
             these
             were
             three
             of
             the
             main
             reasons
             which
             prevail'd
             upon
             the
             Fathers
             to
             forbid
             the
             Christians
             the
             diversions
             of
             the
             Theatre
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             not
             lawful
             (
             says
             Theophilus
             ,
             
               whom
               he
               cites
               first
            
             )
             for
             us
             to
             be
             present
             at
             the
             Prizes
             of
             your
             Gladiators
             ,
             lest
             by
             this
             means
             we
             should
             be
             accessary
             to
             the
             Murthers
             there
             committed
             .
             Neither
             dare
             we
             presume
             upon
             the
             Liberties
             of
             your
             other
             shews
             ,
             lest
             our
             sences
             should
             be
             touched
             and
             disobliged
             with
             indecency
             and
             prophaneness
             .
          
           
             And
             Tertullian
             ,
             whom
             he
             cites
             next
             ,
             says
             in
             his
             Apologetick
             ,
             
               We
               keep
               off
               from
               your
               publick
               shews
               ,
               becáuse
               we
               can't
               understand
               
               the
               warrant
               of
               their
               original
               .
            
          
           
             But
             there
             are
             two
             reasons
             behind
             ;
             the
             first
             of
             which
             was
             drawn
             from
             the
             purity
             of
             the
             primitive
             times
             .
             Which
             makes
             Tertullian
             ,
             as
             Mr
             Collier
             has
             cited
             him
             ,
             cry
             out
             ,
             page
             354.
             
             
               But
               if
               you
               can't
               wait
               for
               delight
               ,
               if
               you
               must
               be
               put
               into
               present
               possession
               ,
            
             &c.
             
             By
             which
             Tertullian
             seems
             to
             allow
             ,
             that
             diversions
             indeed
             are
             necessary
             ,
             but
             that
             Christians
             will
             find
             abundant
             entertainment
             in
             the
             very
             exercise
             of
             their
             Religion
             .
             This
             ,
             I
             must
             confess
             ,
             was
             very
             well
             directed
             by
             Tertullian
             .
             But
             if
             Cato
             was
             formerly
             laugh'd
             at
             ,
             for
             speaking
             in
             the
             Senate
             as
             if
             he
             had
             liv'd
             in
             
             Plato's
             Republick
             ,
             whereas
             he
             was
             really
             in
             the
             very
             dregs
             of
             that
             of
             Romulus
             ,
             how
             shall
             this
             upstart
             Reformer
             escape
             contempt
             ,
             who
             has
             apply'd
             to
             this
             profligate
             Age
             ,
             what
             Tertullian
             directed
             to
             those
             fervent
             Christians
             ,
             whose
             Souls
             were
             flaming
             with
             divine
             love
             in
             the
             purity
             of
             happier
             times
             .
          
           
             Thus
             have
             I
             examin'd
             four
             of
             the
             five
             reasons
             ,
             not
             one
             of
             which
             can
             be
             a
             reason
             to
             us
             .
             For
             ,
             neither
             is
             our
             Drama
             a
             part
             of
             Idolatrous
             worship
             ,
             nor
             have
             we
             either
             Gladiators
             or
             Pantomimes
             ;
             nor
             
             the
             people
             of
             this
             age
             be
             satisfy'd
             to
             be
             always
             entertain'd
             with
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             but
             require
             other
             diversions
             .
          
           
             But
             the
             fifth
             reason
             is
             yet
             to
             come
             ;
             by
             which
             it
             will
             appear
             ,
             that
             these
             venerable
             Gentlemen
             are
             by
             no
             means
             qualified
             to
             judge
             of
             a
             cause
             ,
             of
             which
             it
             appears
             even
             from
             Mr
             
             Collier's
             citations
             ,
             that
             they
             have
             not
             the
             least
             knowledge
             .
          
           
             For
             ,
             says
             the
             Bishop
             of
             Antioch
             ,
             whom
             he
             cites
             first
             .
             
               The
               Tragical
               distractions
               of
            
             Tereus
             and
             Thyestes
             
               are
               nonsense
               to
               us
            
             .
             Now
             could
             any
             man
             possibly
             talk
             thus
             ,
             who
             had
             the
             least
             knowledge
             of
             the
             nature
             of
             Tragedy
             ,
             and
             particularly
             of
             that
             Tragedy
             ?
             It
             was
             below
             that
             Prelate
             to
             consider
             Horace
             ,
             for
             he
             would
             have
             told
             him
             ,
             
               
                 Irae
                 Thyesten
                 exitio
                 gravi
              
               
                 Stravere
                 ,
                 &
                 eltis
                 urbibus
                 ultimae
              
               
                 Stetere
                 causae
                 ,
                 cur
                 perirent
              
               
                 Funditus
                 ,
                 Imprimeritque
                 muris
              
               
                 Hostile
                 aratrum
                 exercitus
                 Insolens
                 .
              
               
                 Compesce
                 mentem
                 .
              
            
             Is
             the
             Moral
             which
             the
             Poet
             draws
             from
             this
             Fable
             nonsense
             to
             us
             ?
             Is
             it
             impertinence
             in
             a
             Poet
             to
             tell
             us
             ,
             that
             we
             ought
             to
             restrain
             our
             anger
             ,
             because
             the
             indulging
             it
             has
             often
             brought
             
             men
             into
             fatal
             calamities
             ?
             For
             had
             this
             Prelate
             understood
             this
             affair
             ,
             what
             could
             he
             have
             possibly
             dislik'd
             here
             ?
             The
             Moral
             or
             the
             Fable
             ?
             The
             Moral
             ?
             That
             methinks
             should
             be
             hardly
             becoming
             of
             a
             professor
             of
             that
             Religion
             ,
             which
             is
             therefore
             extoll'd
             above
             all
             others
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             more
             Moral
             .
             Was
             it
             the
             Fable
             then
             which
             offended
             him
             ,
             or
             the
             manner
             of
             conveying
             the
             Instruction
             ?
             Methinks
             it
             is
             something
             odd
             in
             a
             Christian
             Prelate
             to
             condemn
             that
             method
             of
             Teaching
             which
             was
             chiefly
             practis'd
             by
             his
             great
             Master
             ,
             whom
             he
             professes
             to
             imitate
             .
          
           
             But
             now
             to
             come
             to
             the
             Author
             
               De
               Spectacul
               is
            
             :
             What
             need
             I
             mention
             ,
             
               says
               he
            
             ,
             the
             Levities
             and
             Impertinence
             in
             Comedies
             ,
             or
             the
             Ranting
             Distractions
             of
             Tragedy
             ?
             Were
             th●se
             things
             unconcern'd
             with
             Idolatry
             ,
             Christians
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             at
             them
             .
             For
             ,
             w●re
             they
             not
             highly
             criminal
             ,
             the
             foolery
             of
             them
             is
             egregious
             ,
             and
             unbecoming
             the
             gravity
             of
             Believers
             .
          
           
             Now
             let
             me
             ask
             Mr
             Collier
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             lawful
             for
             Christians
             to
             read
             History
             ?
             It
             would
             certainly
             be
             the
             absurdest
             thing
             in
             the
             world
             to
             deny
             it
             .
             Now
             
             Aristotle
             has
             declar'd
             very
             formally
             that
             Tragedy
             is
             more
             grave
             and
             more
             instructive
             than
             History
             .
             And
             tho
             when
             the
             question
             is
             concerning
             Grace
             ,
             I
             will
             believe
             the
             least
             of
             the
             Fathers
             before
             Aristotle
             ,
             and
             all
             his
             Interpreters
             the
             Schoolmen
             together
             ;
             yet
             where
             the
             dispute
             is
             concerning
             the
             nature
             of
             Writing
             ,
             and
             the
             colours
             of
             Speech
             ,
             I
             will
             believe
             
             Aristotle's
             single
             testimony
             ,
             before
             all
             the
             Fathers
             and
             Councils
             joyn'd
             in
             a
             body
             .
          
           
             Tho
             Plays
             are
             forbidden
             by
             the
             Fathers
             and
             Councils
             ,
             yet
             the
             Fathers
             own
             ,
             and
             Mr
             Collier
             owns
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             not
             forbidden
             by
             Scripture
             :
             Nor
             are
             they
             forbidden
             by
             Reason
             .
             For
             who
             are
             they
             who
             frequent
             them
             ?
             Who
             are
             they
             that
             approve
             of
             them
             ?
             Who
             are
             they
             that
             have
             not
             the
             least
             scruple
             about
             them
             ?
             Not
             a
             parcel
             of
             fools
             that
             are
             carry'd
             away
             by
             meer
             imagination
             ,
             and
             are
             only
             fit
             for
             Bedlam
             ;
             but
             the
             best
             and
             most
             reasonable
             part
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
             and
             particularly
             a
             thousand
             whom
             I
             could
             name
             that
             are
             considerable
             for
             their
             extraordinary
             qualities
             .
             Now
             I
             cannot
             for
             my
             life
             apprehend
             upon
             what
             account
             any
             
             thing
             that
             is
             not
             forbidden
             by
             God
             ;
             that
             is
             neither
             prohibited
             by
             Reason
             nor
             Revelation
             ,
             should
             be
             forbidden
             by
             men
             .
             We
             know
             what
             our
             Saviour
             has
             said
             in
             St
             Matthew
             of
             those
             who
             teach
             for
             Doctrines
             the
             Commandments
             of
             men
             ,
             
               c.
               15.
               v.
            
             9.
             
             That
             it
             renders
             all
             their
             zeal
             ineffectual
             .
             But
             then
             ,
             says
             Tertullian
             ,
             as
             he
             is
             cited
             by
             Mr
             
               Collier
               ,
               p.
            
             245.
             
             
               The
               Play-house
               is
               implicitly
               ,
               tho
               not
               expressly
               forbid
               by
               the
               Scripture
               ,
               in
               the
               first
               verse
               of
               the
               first
               Psalm
               :
               Blessed
               is
               the
               man
               who
               walketh
               not
               in
               the
               counsel
               of
               the
               ingodly
               ,
               nor
               stands
               in
               the
               way
               of
               sinners
               ,
               nor
               sits
               in
               the
               seat
               of
               the
               scorner
               .
            
             But
             then
             say
             we
             ,
             that
             nothing
             can
             be
             forbid
             by
             this
             ,
             but
             what
             the
             Scripture
             or
             Reason
             have
             declar'd
             to
             be
             the
             counsel
             of
             the
             ungodly
             ,
             and
             the
             way
             of
             sinners
             .
             Now
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             manifestly
             shown
             above
             ,
             neither
             Reason
             nor
             Revelation
             says
             that
             of
             the
             Theatre
             .
             And
             as
             for
             the
             seat
             of
             the
             scorner
             ,
             that
             part
             of
             the
             Text
             can
             only
             be
             applicable
             to
             Comedy
             ,
             and
             is
             full
             as
             applicable
             to
             the
             Press
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             to
             the
             Pulpit
             itself
             .
          
           
             In
             the
             next
             place
             ,
             says
             the
             Author
             
               De
               Spectaculis
            
             ,
             as
             he
             is
             cited
             by
             Mr
             
               Collier
               ,
               
               p.
            
             ●62
             .
             Some
             have
             thought
             the
             Play-house
             no
             unlawful
             diversion
             ,
             because
             it
             was
             not
             condemn'd
             by
             express
             Scripture
             .
             
               Let
               meer
               modesty
            
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             
               supply
               the
               Holy
               Text
               ,
               and
               let
               Nature
               govern
               ,
               where
               Revelation
               does
               not
               reach
               .
               Some
               things
               are
               too
               black
               to
               lye
               upon
               Paper
               ,
               and
               are
               more
               strongly
               forbidden
               because
               unmentioned
               .
               The
               divine
               wisdom
               must
               have
               had
               a
               low
               opinion
               of
               Christians
               ,
               if
               it
               had
               descended
               to
               particulars
               in
               this
               case
               .
               Silence
               is
               sometimes
               the
               best
               method
               of
               Authority
               .
               To
               forbid
               often
               puts
               people
               in
               mind
               of
               what
               they
               should
               not
               do
               .
            
             Thus
             ,
             say
             Tertullian
             ,
             says
             Mr
             Collier
             .
             But
             for
             my
             part
             ,
             I
             both
             hope
             and
             believe
             that
             he
             wrongs
             him
             .
             For
             it
             is
             incredible
             to
             me
             ,
             that
             a
             Father
             of
             the
             Church
             should
             reason
             ,
             in
             so
             absurd
             a
             manner
             .
             For
             the
             chief
             reason
             why
             Tertullian
             affirms
             that
             the
             frequenting
             of
             Plays
             is
             not
             forbid
             by
             Scripture
             ,
             is
             because
             the
             crime
             is
             too
             black
             to
             be
             particularly
             insisted
             on
             .
             As
             if
             St
             Paul
             in
             the
             first
             Chapter
             of
             the
             Romans
             had
             not
             descended
             to
             particular
             crimes
             of
             a
             blacker
             nature
             than
             this
             .
             Can
             we
             suppose
             that
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             is
             a
             revelation
             of
             the
             will
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             
             a
             supplement
             to
             the
             law
             of
             Nature
             ,
             should
             descend
             to
             condemn
             things
             which
             Reason
             had
             before
             condemn'd
             as
             abominable
             ,
             and
             utterly
             against
             Nature●
             and
             shall
             it
             take
             no
             notice
             of
             things
             which
             are
             allow●d
             by
             Reason
             ,
             and
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             (
             as
             we
             have
             shewn
             that
             the
             Theatre
             is
             )
             and
             which
             consequently
             cannot
             be
             discover'd
             to
             be
             sins
             but
             by
             the
             light
             of
             Revelations
             ?
             Could
             St
             Paul
             in
             the
             5th
             Chap.
             to
             the
             I
             Ep.
             to
             the
             
               Co●
               rinthians
            
             be
             so
             particular
             as
             to
             descend
             to
             a
             crime
             ,
             which
             ,
             when
             the
             Apostle
             writ
             the
             Epistle
             ,
             concern'd
             but
             only
             one
             ,
             who
             had
             married
             his
             Father's
             Wife
             ,
             and
             which
             could
             never
             be
             suppos'd
             to
             concern
             very
             many
             ,
             because
             the
             crime
             was
             against
             the
             custom
             and
             consent
             of
             Nations
             :
             Could
             the
             Apostle
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             I
             say
             descend
             to
             this
             ,
             and
             think
             it
             too
             particular
             to
             mention
             a
             sin
             which
             concern'd
             the
             salvation
             of
             so
             many
             thousands
             who
             were
             then
             alive
             ,
             and
             of
             so
             many
             millions
             who
             were
             to
             succeed
             them
             ?
             Nay
             ,
             could
             St
             Paul
             ,
             in
             the
             7th
             of
             the
             1st
             Ep.
             to
             the
             Cor.
             descend
             so
             particularly
             ,
             as
             to
             give
             his
             advice
             against
             Marriage
             ,
             which
             was
             neither
             forbid
             by
             Revelation
             nor
             Reason
             ,
             but
             
             was
             highly
             warranted
             by
             both
             ,
             as
             absolutely
             necessary
             for
             the
             propagation
             of
             Christianity
             ,
             and
             the
             accomplishment
             of
             the
             promises
             ?
             Could
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             descend
             to
             this
             ,
             and
             take
             no
             notice
             of
             a
             sin
             of
             so
             black
             and
             damnable
             a
             nature
             as
             frequenting
             the
             Theatres
             is
             by
             Mr
             Collier
             pretended
             to
             be
             ?
             A
             sin
             too
             which
             endanger'd
             the
             salvation
             not
             only
             of
             the
             Christians
             to
             whom
             he
             writ
             ,
             but
             those
             who
             were
             to
             succeed
             them
             in
             all
             posterity
             ?
             But
             ,
             says
             Tertullian
             ,
             the
             Apostle
             had
             no
             occasion
             expressly
             to
             condemn
             what
             is
             condemn'd
             by
             Reason
             .
             But
             that
             which
             was
             a
             reason
             in
             
             Tertullian's
             time
             does
             not
             subsist
             in
             ours
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             plainly
             shewn
             above
             .
             But
             if
             any
             one
             at
             last
             shall
             urge
             ,
             that
             the
             acting
             of
             Plays
             was
             condemn'd
             by
             express
             Scripture
             ,
             because
             it
             was
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Pagan
             worship
             ,
             and
             Idolatry
             was
             expressly
             condemn'd
             ;
             to
             this
             I
             answer
             ,
             That
             nothing
             can
             make
             more
             for
             my
             cause
             than
             this
             :
             For
             since
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             condemn'd
             the
             representation
             of
             Plays
             only
             as
             they
             were
             included
             under
             Idolatry
             ,
             you
             must
             either
             shew
             that
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             did
             not
             foresee
             that
             in
             process
             of
             time
             they
             would
             cease
             to
             be
             
             Idolatrous
             ,
             which
             to
             affirm
             is
             horrible
             Blasphemy
             ;
             or
             you
             must
             acknowledge
             ,
             that
             by
             condemning
             them
             only
             under
             the
             general
             term
             of
             Idolatry
             ,
             he
             approv'd
             them
             ,
             and
             allow'd
             of
             them
             ,
             as
             soon
             as
             they
             should
             be
             no
             longer
             Idolatrous
             ;
             or
             else
             you
             must
             be
             forc'd
             to
             acknowledge
             that
             the
             word
             of
             God
             is
             defective
             ,
             and
             does
             not
             contain
             all
             things
             which
             are
             necessary
             to
             the
             salvation
             of
             his
             people
             .
             Besides
             ,
             it
             may
             be
             manifestly
             prov'd
             from
             St
             Paul
             ,
             that
             the
             Idolatry
             of
             them
             extended
             no
             farther
             than
             to
             the
             representation
             of
             them
             ,
             which
             representation
             was
             render'd
             Idolatrous
             ,
             only
             by
             the
             direction
             and
             intention
             of
             the
             Magistrates
             and
             Publick
             ,
             at
             whose
             expence
             they
             were
             represented
             ;
             for
             St
             Paul
             has
             sufficiently
             warranted
             the
             writing
             them
             ,
             and
             consequently
             the
             reading
             of
             them
             ,
             by
             citing
             a
             verse
             of
             a
             Comick
             Poet
             in
             the
             first
             Epistle
             to
             the
             Corinthians
             ch
             .
             15.
             v.
             33.
             for
             if
             those
             writings
             had
             been
             in
             themselves
             Idolatrous
             ,
             St
             Paul
             durst
             neither
             have
             read
             them
             while
             a
             Jew
             ,
             nor
             cited
             them
             while
             a
             Christian
             ,
             Idolatry
             both
             to
             Jew
             and
             Christian
             being
             alike
             abominable
             .
             But
             it
             is
             evident
             that
             he
             has
             
             cited
             them
             ;
             for
             it
             is
             known
             to
             all
             the
             world
             ,
             that
             
               evil
               communication
               corrupts
               good
               manners
            
             ,
             is
             a
             verse
             of
             Menander
             ,
             and
             the
             Corinthians
             particularly
             could
             not
             be
             ignorant
             of
             it
             .
             Since
             then
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             thought
             fit
             to
             put
             the
             verse
             of
             a
             Comick
             Poet
             into
             the
             mouth
             of
             his
             greatest
             Apostle
             ,
             as
             very
             fit
             for
             the
             instruction
             of
             his
             people
             ,
             and
             the
             reformation
             of
             mankind
             ;
             and
             since
             the
             same
             Spirit
             has
             said
             not
             a
             Syllable
             to
             condemn
             either
             Plays
             or
             Theatres
             ,
             any
             farther
             than
             as
             they
             are
             included
             under
             Idolatry
             ,
             it
             seems
             to
             be
             very
             plain
             to
             me
             ,
             that
             he
             has
             not
             only
             approved
             ,
             but
             recommended
             Plays
             to
             his
             people
             ,
             when
             they
             are
             not
             corrupt
             and
             idolatrous
             .
             For
             the
             Corinthians
             saw
             plainly
             that
             St
             Paul
             had
             read
             Menander
             ,
             they
             were
             convinc'd
             that
             he
             had
             cited
             him
             for
             their
             instruction
             ,
             and
             consequently
             that
             he
             approv'd
             of
             him
             :
             since
             then
             they
             were
             satisfied
             that
             the
             Apostle
             read
             him
             ,
             why
             might
             not
             they
             do
             the
             like
             ,
             when
             St
             Paul
             had
             not
             said
             so
             much
             as
             a
             word
             to
             discourage
             '
             em
             .
             Now
             if
             the
             reading
             him
             could
             be
             allowable
             ,
             why
             should
             not
             the
             seeing
             him
             be
             equally
             lawful
             ,
             when
             the
             representation
             should
             cease
             to
             be
             corrupt
             and
             idolatrous
             ?
          
           
           
             And
             therefore
             St
             Thomas
             ,
             and
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             School-men
             ,
             who
             liv'd
             when
             Dramatical
             representations
             were
             no
             longer
             Idolatrous
             ,
             have
             loudly
             declared
             them
             lawful
             ;
             and
             they
             are
             at
             this
             very
             day
             encouraged
             in
             Countries
             ,
             where
             they
             are
             mortally
             severe
             against
             any
             thing
             that
             offends
             Religion
             ,
             and
             where
             the
             cruelty
             of
             the
             Inquisition
             is
             most
             outrageous
             .
             Thus
             have
             I
             endeavour'd
             to
             shew
             ,
             that
             Plays
             are
             instrumental
             to
             human
             happiness
             ,
             to
             the
             welfare
             of
             Government
             ,
             and
             the
             advancement
             of
             Piety
             ;
             that
             Arts
             and
             Empire
             have
             flourish'd
             with
             the
             Stage
             ,
             which
             has
             been
             always
             encouraged
             by
             the
             best
             of
             Men
             ,
             and
             by
             the
             bravest
             Nations
             .
             After
             which
             I
             hope
             the
             Enemies
             of
             Plays
             will
             be
             reconciled
             to
             our
             Theatres
             ,
             and
             not
             by
             persisting
             in
             their
             aversion
             ,
             affect
             to
             seem
             more
             wise
             than
             the
             Athenians
             ,
             more
             austere
             than
             the
             Romans
             ,
             more
             nice
             than
             the
             School-men
             ,
             more
             cruel
             than
             Inquisitors
             ,
             and
             more
             zealous
             than
             the
             Apostle
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           
             PAge
             6.
             for
          
           that
           is
           r.
           it
           is
           ,
           
             p.
             9.
             f.
          
           these
           passions
           r.
           the
           passions
           ,
           
             Ib.
             f.
          
           in
           these
           a
           full
           r.
           in
           a
           full
           ,
           
             p.
             24.
             f.
          
           eve●
           these
           r.
           even
           in
           these
           ,
           
             p.
             32.
             f.
          
           action
           r.
           citation
           ,
           
             p.
             38.
             f.
          
           who
           liv'd
           r.
           who
           was
           born
           
             p.
             44.
             f.
          
           Stager
           .
           State
           ,
           
             p.
             54.
             f.
          
           seeing
           r.
           saying
           ,
           
             p.
             65.
             f.
          
           not
           by
           r.
           not
           only
           by
           ,
           
             p.
             70.
             f.
          
           these
           opinions
           r.
           the
           opinions
           ,
           
             p.
             77.
             f.
          
           verum
           r.
           rerum
           ,
           
             p.
             78.
             f.
          
           them
           r.
           it
           ,
           
             p.
             80.
             after
          
           especially
           r.
           Treaties
           of
           a
           State.
           
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A35682-e350
           
             Hor.
             Ode
             Lib.
             2.