_2ly._ They Represent their single Ladys, and Persons of Condition, under these Disorders of Liberty, This makes the Irregularity still more Monstrous and a greater Contradiction to Nature, and Probability: But rather than not be Vitious, they will venture to spoil a Character. This mismanagement we have partly seen already. _Jacinta_,[7] and _Belinda_[8] are farther proof. And the _Double Dealer_ is particularly remarkable. There are but _Four_ Ladys in this _Play_, and _Three_ of the biggest of them are Whores. A Great Compliment to Quality to tell them there is not above a quarter of them Honest! This was not the Roman Breeding, _Terence_ and _Plautus_ his Strumpets were Little people; but of this more hereafter.
_3dly._ They have oftentimes not so much as the poor refuge of a Double Meaning to fly to. So that you are under a necessity either of taking Ribaldry or Nonsence. And when the Sentence has two Handles, the worst is generally turn'd to the Audience. The Matter is so Contrived that the Smut and Scum of the Thought rises uppermost; And like a Picture drawn to _Sight_, looks always upon the Company.
_4ly._ And which is still more extraordinary: the _Prologues_, and _Epilogues_ are sometimes Scandalous to the last degree.[9] I shall discover them for once, and let them stand like Rocks in the Margin. Now here properly speaking the _Actors_ quit the _Stage_, and remove from Fiction, into Life. Here they converse with the _Boxes_, and _Pit_, and address directly to the Audience. These Preliminarie and concluding Parts, are design'd to justify the Conduct of the _Play_, and bespeak the Favour of the Company. Upon such Occasions one would imagine if ever, the Ladys should be used with Respect, and the Measures of Decency observ'd, But here we have Lewdness without Shame or Example: Here the _Poet_ exceeds himself. Here are such Strains as would turn the Stomach, of an ordinary Debauchee, and be almost nauseous in the _Stews_. And to make it the more agreeable, Women are Commonly pick'd out for this Service. Thus the _Poet_ Courts the good opinion of the Audience. This is the Desert he regales the Ladys with at the Close of the Entertainment: It seems He thinks They have admirable Palats! Nothing can be a greater Breach of Manners then such Liberties as these. If a Man would study to outrage _Quality_ and Vertue, he could not do it more Effectually. But