It may not be amiss to observe that there are no Instances of debauching Married Women, in _Plautus_, nor _Terence_, no nor yet in _Aristophanes_. But on our _Stage_ how common is it to make a Lord, a Knight, or an Alderman a Cuckold? The Schemes of Success are beaten out with great Variety, and almost drawn up into a Science. How many Snares are laid for the undermining of Virtue, and with what Triumph is the Victory proclaim'd? The Finess of the _Plot_, and the Life of the Entertainment often lies in these Contrivances. But the _Romans_ had a different sence of these Matters, and saw thro' the consequences of them. The Government was awake upon the Theatre, and would not suffer the Abuses of Honour, and Family, to pass into Diversion. And before we part with these _Comedians_ we may take notice that there are no Smutty Songs in their _Plays_; in which the _English_ are extreamly Scandalous.[42] Now to work up their Lewdness with Verse, and Musick, doubles the Force of the Mischief. It makes it more portable and at Hand, and drives it Stronger upon Fancy and Practice.
To dispatch the _Latins_ all together. _Seneca_ is clean throughout the Piece, and stands generally off from the point of Love. He has no Courting unless in his _Hercules Furens_;[43] And here the Tyrant _Lycus_ addresses _Megara_ very briefly, and in Modest and remote Language. In his _Thebais_, _Oedipus_'s Incest is reported at large, but without any choaking Description. 'Tis granted _Phædra_ speaks her Passion plainly out, and owns the strength of the Impression, and is far less prudent than in _Euripides_.[44] But tho' her Thoughts appear too freely, her Language is under Discipline.
Let us now Travel from _Italy_ into _Greece_, and take a view of the Theatre at _Athens_. In this City the _Stage_ had both its beginning and highest Improvement. _Æschylus_ was the first who appear'd with any Reputation. His Genius seems noble, and his Mind generous, willing to transfuse it self into the Audience, and inspire them with a Spirit of Bravery. To this purpose his Stile is Pompous, Martial, and Enterprizing. There is Drum and Trumpet in his Verse. 'Tis apt to excite an Heroick Ardour, to awaken, warm, and push forward to Action. But his Mettal is not always under Management. His Inclination for the _Sublime_; carrys him too far: He is sometimes Embarrass'd with _Epithites_. His Metaphors are too stiff, and far fetch'd; and he rises rather in Sound, than in Sence. However generally speaking, his Materials are both shining and solid, and his Thoughts lofty, and uncommon. This Tragedian had always a nice regard to Good Manners. He knew corrupting the People was the greatest disservice to the Commonwealth; And that Publick Ruine was the effect of general Debauchery. For this reason he declines the Business of Amours, and declares expresly against it.[45] Now here we can't expect any length of Testimony. His aversion to the subject makes him touch very sparingly upon it. But in this case there is no need of much citation. His very Omissions are Arguments, and his Evidence is the stronger for being short. That little I meet with shall be produced.