as_o it_o be_v manifest_a from_o experience_n he_o be_v in_o this_o case_n for_o the_o german_n be_v now_o as_o much_o use_v to_o play_n as_o the_o spaniard_n or_o the_o italian_n and_o yet_o their_o woman_n be_v much_o chaste_a than_o the_o woman_n of_o those_o two_o nation_n from_o whence_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o german_a woman_n owe_v their_o chastity_n to_o the_o rudeness_n of_o their_o manner_n and_o to_o their_o want_n of_o attraction_n and_o to_o the_o coldness_n of_o their_o constitution_n in_o the_o hurry_n of_o my_o dispatch_n i_o have_v almost_o forget_v to_o return_v to_o valerius_n maximus_n who_o say_v mr_n collier_n be_v contemporary_a with_o livy_n give_v much_o the_o same_o account_n of_o the_o rise_n of_o theatre_n at_o rome_n it_o be_v devotion_n which_o build_v they_o and_o as_o for_o the_o performance_n of_o those_o place_n which_o mr_n dryden_n call_v the_o ornament_n this_o author_n censure_v as_o the_o blemish_n of_o â—eace_n and_o which_o be_v more_o he_o affirm_v that_o they_o be_v the_o occasion_n of_o civil_a distraction_n and_o that_o the_o state_n first_o blush_v and_o then_o bleed_v for_o the_o entertainment_n he_o conclude_v the_o consequence_n of_o play_n intolerable_a and_o that_o the_o massilienses_n do_v well_o in_o clear_v the_o country_n of_o they_o now_o here_o in_o one_o citation_n mr_n collier_n have_v make_v no_o less_o than_o four_o or_o five_o mistake_n whether_o through_o malice_n or_o ignorance_n i_o must_v leave_v the_o reader_n to_o judge_v for_o in_o the_o first_o place_n valerius_n maximus_n censure_v neither_o comedy_n nor_o tragedy_n as_o the_o blemish_n of_o peace_n and_o if_o mr_n collier_n by_o theatre_n do_v not_o mean_v they_o he_o mean_v nothing_o that_o concern_v we_o in_o the_o next_o place_n he_o do_v not_o affirm_v that_o either_o they_o or_o any_o of_o the_o public_a spectacle_n be_v the_o occasion_n of_o civil_a distraction_n in_o the_o three_o place_n he_o do_v not_o affirm_v that_o the_o state_n either_o blush_v or_o bleed_v for_o the_o representation_n of_o play_n in_o the_o four_o place_n the_o refusal_n of_o the_o massilienses_n to_o admit_v of_o dramatical_a representation_n can_v never_o argue_v any_o thing_n not_o only_o because_o the_o consent_n of_o nation_n be_v against_o that_o little_a state_n but_o because_o we_o can_v conclude_v from_o their_o refusal_n that_o they_o do_v not_o approve_v of_o they_o that_o all_o this_o may_v appear_v i_o be_o oblige_v to_o transcribe_v what_o he_o say_v proximus_fw-la militaribus_fw-la institutis_fw-la ad_fw-la urbana_fw-la castra_fw-la id_fw-la est_fw-la theatra_fw-la gradus_fw-la faciendus_fw-la est_fw-la quoniam_fw-la haec_fw-la quoque_fw-la sepenumero_fw-la animosas_fw-la acies_fw-la instruxerunt_fw-la excogitataque_fw-la cultus_fw-la deorum_fw-la &_o hominum_fw-la delectationis_fw-la causa_fw-la non_fw-la sine_fw-la aliquo_fw-la pacis_fw-la rubore_fw-la voluptatem_fw-la &_o religionem_fw-la civili_fw-la sanguine_fw-la 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above_o eight_o year_n which_o be_v more_o than_o they_o have_v be_v for_o above_o a_o hundred_o year_n before_o and_o after_o the_o first_o representation_n of_o comedy_n and_o tragedy_n which_o be_v in_o the_o five_o hundred_o and_o fourteen_o year_n of_o the_o city_n there_o be_v never_o any_o civil_a dissension_n or_o at_o least_o never_o but_o once_o till_o the_o sedition_n of_o tiberius_n graâ—chus_n which_o be_v above_o a_o hundred_o year_n after_o mr_n collier_n translate_v civili_fw-la sanguine_fw-la macularunt_fw-la cause_v civil_a distraction_n as_o if_o play_n be_v the_o principal_a cause_n of_o the_o dissension_n between_o the_o commons_o and_o the_o patrician_n whereas_o those_o dissension_n be_v natural_a to_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o roman_a state_n mere_a necessary_a consequence_n of_o enlarge_a their_o empire_n and_o by_o that_o mean_n increase_n the_o number_n and_o force_v of_o the_o commons_o as_o machiavelli_n have_v declare_v in_o the_o six_o chapter_n of_o the_o first_o book_n of_o his_o discourse_n as_o for_o the_o massilian_n they_o will_v be_v better_o include_v under_o the_o authority_n which_o mr_n collier_n have_v bring_v in_o the_o second_o place_n from_o state_n in_o examine_v the_o authority_n which_o mr_n collier_n have_v bring_v from_o state_n it_o will_v be_v convenient_a to_o say_v a_o word_n to_o the_o proceed_n of_o the_o massilian_n as_o it_o be_v cite_v from_o valerius_n maximus_n who_o commend_v they_o for_o refuse_v to_o admit_v of_o play_n among_o they_o but_o first_o the_o refusal_n of_o this_o petty_a state_n can_v be_v of_o very_o small_a significancy_n against_o the_o consent_n of_o nation_n second_o this_o refusal_n be_v no_o sign_n of_o their_o disesteem_a of_o the_o drama_n but_o only_o of_o the_o prudence_n of_o their_o conduct_n for_o expense_n and_o any_o thing_n which_o look_v like_o magnificence_n be_v destructive_a to_o little_a state_n which_o can_v never_o subsist_v without_o extreme_a frugality_n 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aâ—eopagus_n establish_v a_o law_n that_o no_o man_n whatever_o shall_v make_v any_o comedy_n from_o whence_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o this_o law_n be_v make_v in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o old_a comedy_n and_o long_o before_o that_o come_v to_o any_o perfection_n for_o comedy_n as_o be_v apparent_a from_o aristotle_n treatise_n of_o poetry_n be_v very_o much_o discourage_v at_o first_o indeed_o at_o first_o they_o be_v so_o intolerable_o scandalous_a that_o they_o be_v think_v to_o be_v prejudicial_a to_o the_o state_n and_o it_o be_v a_o long_a time_n before_o the_o magistrate_n can_v be_v prevail_v upon_o to_o be_v at_o the_o expense_n of_o the_o chorus_n but_o after_o the_o magistrate_n be_v at_o the_o expense_n of_o the_o chorus_n it_o be_v absurd_a to_o imagine_v that_o a_o law_n shall_v be_v prefer_v against_o the_o writing_n that_o sort_n of_o poem_n which_o be_v represent_v at_o the_o public_a expense_n so_o that_o a_o citation_n which_o mr_n collier_n have_v bring_v against_o the_o stage_n in_o general_n be_v of_o no_o force_n we_o see_v against_o tragedy_n nor_o against_o the_o new_a comedy_n no_o nor_o so_o much_o as_o against_o the_o old_a one_o as_o it_o stand_v in_o the_o time_n of_o eupolis_n and_o aristophanes_n mr_n collier_n bring_v the_o word_n of_o his_o author_n but_o leave_v we_o to_o look_v for_o their_o sense_n and_o yet_o he_o will_v take_v it_o very_o ill_a to_o have_v that_o return_v upon_o he_o which_o he_o have_v say_v of_o mr_n durfey_n that_o he_o be_v at_o least_o in_o his_o citation_n vox_fw-la &_o praeterea_fw-la nihil_fw-la but_o he_o proceed_v to_o the_o lacedaemonian_n and_o say_v that_o they_o who_o be_v remarkable_a for_o the_o wisdom_n of_o their_o law_n the_o sobriety_n of_o their_o manner_n and_o their_o breed_n of_o brave_a man_n will_v not_o endure_v the_o stage_n in_o any_o form_n nor_o under_o any_o regulation_n this_o citation_n too_o be_v from_o plutarch_n and_o just_a of_o as_o much_o validity_n against_o the_o stage_n as_o the_o other_o for_o what_o can_v mr_n
the_o usefulness_n of_o the_o stage_n to_o the_o happiness_n of_o mankind_n to_o government_n and_o to_o religion_n occasion_v by_o a_o late_a book_n write_v by_o jeremy_n collier_n m._n a._n by_o mr._n dennis_z london_n print_v for_o rich._n parker_n at_o the_o unicorn_n under_o the_o piazza_n of_o the_o royal_a exchange_n 1698._o introduction_n the_o best_a thing_n here_o below_o be_v liable_a to_o be_v corrupt_v and_o the_o better_a thing_n be_v in_o their_o own_o nature_n the_o more_o mischievous_a be_v they_o if_o corrupt_v for_o that_o which_o be_v super_fw-la lative_o good_a in_o itself_o can_v be_v corrupt_v by_o nothing_o but_o extraordinary_a malice_n since_o then_o the_o stage_n be_v acknowledge_v by_o its_o great_a adversary_n to_o be_v in_o itself_o good_a and_o instrumental_a to_o the_o instruction_n of_o mankind_n nothing_o can_v be_v more_o unreasonable_a than_o to_o exhort_v people_n to_o ruin_v it_o instead_o of_o reform_v it_o since_o at_o that_o rate_n we_o must_v 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stage_n have_v debauch_v the_o people_n i_o be_o full_o convince_v it_o have_v not_o and_o i_o believe_v i_o have_v say_v enough_o in_o the_o follow_a treatise_n to_o convince_v the_o reader_n of_o it_o but_o this_o be_v certain_a that_o the_o corruption_n of_o the_o stage_n hinder_v its_o efficacy_n in_o the_o reformation_n of_o manner_n for_o beside_o that_o vice_n be_v contrary_a to_o virtue_n it_o render_v the_o stage_n little_a and_o contemptible_a for_o nothing_o but_o virtue_n can_v make_v any_o thing_n awful_a and_o true_o great_a and_o nothing_o but_o what_o be_v awful_a and_o true_o great_a can_v be_v universal_o respect_v and_o by_o that_o mean_n in_o a_o condition_n to_o influence_n the_o mind_n of_o the_o people_n for_o this_o reason_n as_o i_o say_v above_o if_o mr_n collier_n have_v only_o attack_v the_o licentiousness_n of_o the_o stage_n in_o so_o fair_a a_o manner_n as_o he_o ought_v to_o have_v do_v it_o i_o have_v return_v he_o my_o thanks_o but_o when_o i_o find_v by_o his_o last_o chapter_n that_o his_o design_n be_v against_o the_o stage_n itself_o i_o think_v i_o can_v not_o spend_v a_o month_n more_o useful_o than_o in_o the_o vindication_n of_o it_o my_o business_n therefore_o be_v a_o vindication_n of_o the_o stage_n and_o not_o of_o the_o corruption_n or_o the_o abuse_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o i_o have_v no_o further_o meddle_v with_o mâ—_n collier_n book_n than_o as_o i_o have_v have_v occasion_n to_o show_v that_o he_o have_v endeavour_v to_o make_v some_o thing_n pass_v for_o abuse_n either_o of_o the_o stage_n in_o general_n or_o of_o the_o english_a stage_n particular_o which_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v abuse_n that_o they_o may_v be_v account_v excellence_n this_o little_a treatise_n be_v conceive_v dispose_v transcribe_v and_o print_v in_o a_o month_n aâ—d_o though_o on_o that_o very_a account_n it_o may_v not_o be_v whole_o free_a from_o error_n yet_o this_o i_o can_v assure_v the_o reader_n that_o i_o have_v industrious_o 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and_o in_o exempt_n no_o degree_n or_o order_n of_o man_n from_o censure_n i_o see_v very_o well_o that_o there_o be_v no_o proceed_v any_o far_o in_o the_o vindication_n of_o it_o for_o no_o man_n can_v make_v any_o reasonable_a defence_n either_o for_o the_o immorality_n or_o the_o immodesty_n or_o the_o unnecessary_a wanton_a profaneness_n which_o be_v too_o just_o charge_v upon_o it_o but_o for_o the_o particular_a gentleman_n which_o mr_n collier_n have_v attack_v in_o some_o particular_a passage_n which_o he_o have_v industrious_o cull_v from_o their_o write_n i_o can_v make_v a_o very_a good_a defence_n for_o several_a of_o they_o if_o i_o be_v not_o satisfy_v that_o they_o be_v able_a to_o defend_v themselves_o he_o have_v treat_v they_o indeed_o with_o the_o last_o disdain_n and_o the_o last_o contempt_n not_o consider_v that_o by_o do_v it_o he_o have_v treat_v all_o at_o the_o same_o rate_n who_o profess_v a_o esteem_n for_o they_o that_o be_v all_o the_o town_n he_o have_v give_v they_o some_o language_n which_o must_v be_v resent_v by_o all_o who_o profess_v humanity_n for_o mr_n collier_n be_v so_o far_o from_o have_v show_v in_o his_o book_n either_o the_o meekness_n of_o a_o true_a christian_a or_o the_o humility_n of_o a_o exemplary_a pastor_n that_o he_o have_v neither_o the_o reason_n of_o a_o man_n of_o sense_n in_o it_o nor_o the_o style_n of_o a_o polite_a man_n nor_o the_o sincerity_n of_o a_o honest_a man_n nor_o the_o humanity_n of_o a_o gentleman_n or_o a_o man_n of_o letter_n the_o usefulness_n of_o the_o stage_n chap._n i._n that_o the_o stage_n be_v instrumental_a to_o the_o happiness_n of_o mankind_n nothing_o can_v more_o strong_o recommend_v any_o thing_n to_o we_o than_o the_o assure_v we_o that_o it_o will_v improve_v our_o happiness_n for_o the_o chief_a end_n and_o design_n of_o man_n be_v to_o make_v himself_o happy_a it_o be_v what_o he_o constant_o have_v in_o his_o eye_n and_o in_o order_n to_o which_o he_o take_v every_o step_n that_o he_o make_v in_o whatever_o he_o do_v or_o he_o do_v not_o he_o design_n to_o improve_v or_o maintain_v his_o happiness_n and_o it_o be_v by_o this_o universal_a principle_n that_o god_n maintain_v the_o harmony_n and_o order_n and_o quiet_a of_o the_o reasonable_a world_n it_o have_v indeed_o be_v a_o inconsistency_n in_o providence_n to_o have_v make_v a_o think_v and_o reason_v creature_n that_o have_v be_v indifferent_a as_o to_o misery_n and_o happiness_n for_o god_n have_v make_v such_o a_o one_o only_o to_o disturb_v the_o rest_n and_o consequent_o have_v act_v against_o his_o own_o design_n if_o then_o i_o can_v say_v enough_o to_o convince_v the_o reader_n that_o the_o stage_n be_v instrumental_a to_o the_o happiness_n of_o mankind_n and_o to_o his_o own_o by_o consequence_n it_o be_v
for_o as_o long_o as_o the_o enemy_n of_o the_o state_n be_v divert_v by_o public_a spectacle_n their_o seditious_a preacher_n must_v be_v in_o a_o wretched_a condition_n but_o far_o the_o stage_n be_v beneficial_a to_o the_o present_a government_n if_o you_o consider_v a_o three_o sort_n of_o people_n who_o daily_o frequent_v it_o and_o they_o be_v such_o who_o be_v always_o indifferent_a what_o government_n they_o live_v under_o so_o they_o can_v live_v but_o agreeable_o now_o these_o be_v of_o all_o other_o the_o most_o addict_v to_o their_o pleasure_n and_o will_v take_v it_o most_o heinous_o to_o be_v deprive_v of_o they_o thus_o be_v the_o stage_n beneficial_a to_o the_o present_a government_n if_o you_o consider_v those_o who_o be_v friend_n to_o it_o or_o enemy_n or_o indifferent_a and_o the_o same_o may_v appear_v from_o consider_v they_o all_o together_o for_o nothing_o tend_v to_o the_o unite_n man_n more_o than_o the_o bring_v they_o frequent_o together_o and_o the_o please_a they_o when_o they_o be_v assemble_v thus_o have_v we_o show_v that_o the_o stage_n be_v beneficial_a to_o the_o english_a government_n and_o more_o particular_o to_o the_o present_a government_n and_o that_o from_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o people_n and_o the_o consideration_n of_o those_o who_o frequent_a our_o theatre_n we_o come_v now_o to_o answer_v what_o have_v be_v or_o what_o may_v be_v object_v from_o reason_n from_o authority_n and_o from_o religion_n chap._n iii_o the_o objection_n from_o authority_n answer_v we_o will_v begin_v with_o the_o objection_n which_o be_v bring_v from_o authority_n the_o authority_n be_v numerous_a which_o mr_n collier_n have_v produce_v in_o the_o last_o chapter_n of_o his_o book_n which_o chapter_n be_v level_v against_o the_o stage_n and_o dramatic_a poetry_n in_o general_n as_o any_o one_o may_v see_v by_o peruse_v the_o first_o paragraph_n now_o i_o will_v fain_o ask_v mr_n collier_n one_o question_n whether_o the_o business_n of_o play_n be_v not_o to_o recommend_v virtue_n and_o discountenance_n vice_n and_o to_o bring_v every_o thing_n that_o be_v ill_a under_o infamy_n and_o neglect_n whether_o the_o poet_n if_o they_o please_v may_v not_o be_v serviceable_a to_o this_o purpose_n and_o the_o stage_n be_v very_o significant_a what_o will_v he_o say_v to_o this_o will_v he_o deny_v it_o why_o then_o do_v he_o affirm_v it_o in_o these_o very_a word_n in_o his_o introduction_n to_o his_o book_n well_o will_v he_o confess_v it_o then_o why_o this_o pedantic_a scroll_n of_o authority_n to_o oppose_v the_o truth_n or_o of_o what_o significancy_n be_v human_a authority_n against_o human_a reason_n but_o yet_o to_o show_v the_o ungenerous_a temper_n of_o this_o adversary_n to_o dramatic_a poetry_n and_o consequent_o to_o human_a learning_n i_o shall_v make_v it_o appear_v that_o of_o all_o the_o authority_n which_o he_o have_v produce_v several_a make_v in_o defence_n of_o the_o stage_n and_o not_o one_o of_o they_o make_v against_o it_o the_o objection_n be_v of_o two_o sort_n those_o opinion_n of_o particular_a statesman_n and_o the_o sentiment_n of_o state_n in_o general_n we_o shall_v answer_v the_o authority_n which_o be_v bring_v from_o both_o in_o the_o same_o order_n as_o they_o be_v cite_v by_o mr._n collier_n the_o two_o first_o which_o he_o bring_v be_v plato_n and_o xenophon_n in_o the_o 234th_o page_n plato_n say_v mr_n collier_n have_v banish_v play_n from_o his_o commonwealth_n but_o what_o can_v be_v conclude_v from_o thence_o that_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v expel_v from_o the_o english_a government_n when_o every_o body_n know_v that_o the_o commonwealth_n of_o plato_n be_v a_o mere_a romantic_a notion_n with_o which_o human_a nature_n and_o human_a life_n and_o by_o consequence_n dramatic_a poetry_n can_v possible_o agree_v machiavil_n may_v give_v a_o solid_a answer_n to_o this_o in_o the_o fifteen_o chapter_n of_o his_o prince_n some_o man_n say_v he_o have_v formâ—d_a sword_n and_o sovereignty_n in_o their_o own_o fancy_n such_o as_o never_o be_v and_o as_o never_o will_v be_v but_o the_o distance_n be_v so_o very_o great_a between_o what_o man_n be_v and_o between_o what_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v that_o the_o statesman_n who_o leave_v that_o which_o be_v to_o follow_v that_o which_o ought_v to_o be_v seek_v his_o own_o destruction_n rather_o than_o his_o preservation_n and_o by_o consequence_n he_o who_o make_v profession_n of_o be_v perfect_o good_a among_o too_o many_o other_o who_o be_v not_o perfect_o so_o soon_o or_o late_a must_n certain_o perish_v but_o what_o have_v thus_o exasperate_v plato_n against_o the_o drama_n why_o it_o raise_v the_o passion_n say_v he_o and_o be_v by_o consequence_n a_o enemy_n to_o morality_n but_o aristotle_n who_o as_o mr_n collier_n in_o this_o very_a page_n unhappy_o own_v see_v as_o far_o into_o human_a nature_n as_o any_o man_n aristotle_n have_v declare_v that_o tragedy_n by_o exciting_a the_o passion_n purge_v they_o and_o reduce_v they_o to_o a_o just_a mediocrity_n and_o be_v by_o consequence_n a_o promoter_n of_o virtue_n as_o plato_n have_v lay_v the_o plan_n of_o a_o notional_a commonwealth_n xenophon_n have_v give_v a_o account_n in_o his_o cyropedia_n of_o a_o romantic_a monarchy_n in_o which_o he_o say_v that_o the_o persian_n will_v not_o suffer_v their_o youth_n to_o hear_v any_o thing_n that_o be_v amorous_a or_o tawdry_a but_o what_o can_v this_o man_n mean_v by_o bring_v this_o as_o a_o authority_n against_o the_o stage_n and_o the_o drama_n in_o general_a for_o can_v any_o one_o be_v so_o absurd_a as_o to_o imagine_v that_o this_o be_v intend_v by_o xenophon_n to_o condemn_v the_o gravity_n and_o severity_n and_o majesty_n of_o euripides_n play_n those_o play_n which_o be_v say_v to_o be_v in_o part_n the_o production_n of_o the_o wise_a and_o most_o virtuous_a of_o all_o the_o philosopher_n of_o xenophon_n honour_a incomparable_a master_n socrates_n the_o next_o who_o authority_n be_v produce_v be_v aristotle_n produce_v for_o what_o why_o to_o overthrow_v the_o authority_n of_o that_o very_a sort_n of_o write_v which_o be_v establish_v upon_o his_o own_o rule_n well!_o and_o what_o say_v aristotle_n why_o in_o his_o politic_n he_o lay_v it_o down_o for_o a_o rule_n that_o the_o law_n ought_v to_o forbid_v young_a people_n the_o see_v of_o comedy_n such_o permission_n not_o be_v safe_a till_o age_n and_o discipline_n have_v form_v they_o in_o sobriety_n fortify_v their_o virtue_n and_o make_v it_o as_o it_o be_v proof_n against_o debauchery_n and_o what_o be_v these_o word_n of_o aristotle_n cite_v to_o show_v why_o that_o play_n in_o general_n be_v the_o nursery_n of_o vice_n the_o corruption_n of_o youth_n and_o the_o grievance_n of_o the_o country_n where_o they_o be_v suffer_v for_o that_o be_v the_o thing_n which_o in_o the_o first_o paragraph_n of_o this_o six_o chapter_n mr_n collier_n propound_v to_o show_v now_o can_v any_o thing_n in_o nature_n be_v more_o unreasonable_a than_o this_o for_o in_o the_o first_o place_n it_o can_v never_o be_v no_o not_o so_o much_o as_o pretend_v that_o aristotle_n in_o this_o place_n require_v the_o forbid_v any_o thing_n but_o only_a comedy_n which_o be_v but_o one_o sort_n of_o dramatic_a poetry_n nor_o can_v it_o be_v so_o much_o as_o pretend_v that_o he_o require_v that_o this_o shall_v be_v forbid_v to_o any_o but_o boy_n nor_o second_o be_v it_o probable_a that_o aristotle_n mean_v this_o of_o any_o thing_n but_o only_o that_o sort_n of_o ancient_a comedy_n which_o have_v no_o resemblance_n with_o we_o for_o i_o have_v two_o reason_n to_o persuade_v i_o that_o aristotle_n mean_v this_o of_o only_a the_o old_a and_o the_o middle_a comedy_n the_o first_o reason_n be_v that_o in_o all_o likelihood_n aristotle_n write_v his_o politic_n while_o he_o be_v governor_n to_o alexander_n which_o be_v before_o the_o establishment_n of_o the_o new_a comedy_n for_o aristotle_n in_o his_o moral_n commend_v the_o reservedness_n of_o the_o new_a comedy_n which_o may_v appear_v from_o mr_n collier_n citation_n in_o the_o 160th_o page_n of_o this_o very_a book_n the_o second_o reason_n be_v that_o i_o can_v hardly_o believe_v that_o aristotle_n will_v have_v leave_v rule_n for_o the_o write_n of_o comedy_n if_o he_o have_v believe_v that_o comedy_n in_o general_n be_v a_o corrupter_n of_o youth_n what_o then_o aristotle_n in_o all_o probability_n mean_v only_o of_o the_o horrible_a licence_n of_o the_o old_a and_o middle_a comedy_n which_o yet_o he_o require_v to_o be_v forbid_v only_a to_o boy_n be_v here_o inply_v to_o be_v level_v against_o dramatic_a poetry_n in_o general_a when_o this_o very_a philosopher_n have_v declare_v that_o nothing_o be_v more_o proper_a than_o tragedy_n for_o the_o entertainment_n even_o of_o youth_n pronounce_v it_o more_o grave_a and_o more_o moral_a than_o history_n and_o more_o
collier_n conclude_v from_o hence_o that_o the_o spartan_n disapproud_v of_o the_o drama_n why_o then_o do_v they_o frequent_v the_o theatre_n while_o they_o so_o journ_v at_o athens_n as_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o they_o do_v both_o from_o the_o cato_n major_n of_o cicero_n and_o from_o valerius_n maximus_n chap._n 5._o lib._n 4._o all_o that_o can_v be_v conclude_v from_o what_o plutarch_n say_v of_o the_o lacedaemonian_n be_v that_o the_o drama_n be_v not_o so_o agreeable_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o spartan_a government_n it_o be_v incompatible_a with_o rigid_a poverty_n and_o with_o fewness_n of_o subject_n which_o as_o machiavelli_n observe_v in_o the_o six_o chapter_n of_o the_o first_o book_n of_o his_o discourse_n be_v the_o two_o fundamental_o of_o their_o constitution_n but_o then_o mr_n collier_n may_v be_v please_v to_o observe_v that_o no_o sort_n of_o poetry_n flourish_v in_o that_o government_n nor_o history_n nor_o eloquence_n nor_o write_a philosophy_n for_o as_o 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predecessor_n count_v all_o stage-play_n uncreditable_a and_o scandalous_a insomuch_o that_o any_o roman_a who_o turn_v actor_n be_v not_o only_o to_o be_v degrade_v but_o likewise_o as_o it_o be_v disincorporate_v and_o unnatur_fw-la alize_v by_o the_o order_n of_o the_o censor_n this_o mr_n collier_n tell_v we_o that_o st._n austin_n cite_v from_o tully_n in_o the_o four_o book_n de_fw-fr repub._n to_o which_o i_o can_v easy_o answer_v that_o the_o same_o st_n austin_n as_o he_o be_v cite_v by_o mr_n collier_n in_o the_o 274th_o page_n of_o his_o book_n have_v apparent_o do_v tully_n wrong_v in_o his_o citation_n of_o one_o of_o his_o oration_n which_o be_v extant_a the_o passage_n which_o he_o cite_v from_o the_o four_o book_n de_fw-fr republica_n which_o be_v not_o come_v down_o to_o we_o may_v be_v very_o just_o suspect_v this_o i_o say_v i_o can_v easy_o answer_v and_o to_o convince_v the_o reader_n that_o i_o have_v very_o good_a ground_n for_o it_o i_o think_v my_o self_n oblige_v to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o st_n austin_n as_o mr_n collier_n have_v cite_v he_o in_o the_o 274th_o page_n of_o his_o book_n have_v do_v cicero_n a_o great_a deal_n of_o wrong_n the_o passage_n be_v this_o their_o own_o tully_n be_v commendation_n of_o the_o actor_n roscius_n be_v remarkable_a he_o be_v so_o much_o a_o master_n say_v he_o that_o none_o but_o himself_o be_v worthy_a to_o tread_v the_o stage_n and_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n so_o good_a a_o man_n that_o he_o be_v the_o most_o unfit_a person_n of_o the_o gang_n to_o come_v there_o now_o what_o will_v the_o reader_n say_v when_o i_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o tully_n never_o say_v any_o such_o thing_n in_o order_n to_o which_o i_o be_o oblige_v to_o transcribe_v the_o passage_n roscius_n socium_fw-la fraudavit_fw-la potest_fw-la hoc_fw-la homini_fw-la huic_fw-la haerere_fw-la peccatum_fw-la qui_fw-la medius_fw-la â—idius_fw-la audacter_fw-la dico_fw-la plus_fw-la fidei_fw-la quam_fw-la artis_fw-la plus_fw-la veritatis_fw-la quam_fw-la disciplinae_fw-la possidet_fw-la in_o se_fw-la quem_fw-la populus_fw-la romanus_n meliorem_fw-la virum_fw-la quam_fw-la histrionem_fw-la esse_fw-la arbitratur_fw-la qui_fw-la it_o a_o dignissimus_fw-la est_fw-la scenan_n propter_fw-la artificium_fw-la ut_fw-la dignissimus_fw-la sit_fw-la curia_fw-la propter_fw-la abstinentiam_fw-la have_v roscius_n defraud_v his_o friend_n can_v he_o possible_o be_v guilty_a of_o this_o who_o by_o heaven_n i_o bold_o speak_v it_o have_v more_o sincerity_n than_o he_o have_v art_n more_o integrity_n than_o he_o have_v discipline_n who_o by_o the_o judgement_n of_o the_o roman_a people_n be_v a_o better_a man_n than_o he_o be_v a_o player_n the_o worthy_a of_o all_o man_n to_o tread_v the_o stage_n by_o reason_n of_o his_o excellent_a action_n and_o the_o worthy_a to_o partake_v of_o the_o magistracy_n by_o reason_n of_o his_o singular_a moderation_n now_o i_o appeal_v to_o the_o reader_n if_o this_o have_v so_o much_o as_o the_o least_o affinity_n with_o mr_n collier_n meaning_n i_o have_v all_o this_o while_n do_v my_o utmost_a to_o keep_v my_o temper_n but_o i_o can_v forbear_v inform_v mr_n collier_n that_o nature_n do_v not_o make_v the_o ferment_n and_o rise_n of_o the_o blood_n for_o atheism_n as_o he_o fond_o imagine_v in_o the_o 80th_o page_n of_o his_o book_n for_o a_o atheist_n be_v a_o wretched_a unthinking_a creature_n who_o deserve_v compassion_n no_o nature_n make_v the_o ferment_n of_o the_o blood_n to_o rise_v against_o those_o who_o be_v base_a enough_o to_o defame_v the_o dead_a by_o suborn_v they_o to_o witness_v what_o they_o never_o know_v nor_o think_v from_o all_o which_o it_o plain_o appear_v that_o i_o may_v deny_v very_o just_o to_o answer_v to_o what_o be_v cite_v here_o from_o cicero_n since_o part_v of_o it_o carry_v in_o itself_o such_o a_o manifestation_n of_o falsehood_n for_o how_o can_v play_n be_v account_v scandalous_a by_o the_o predecessor_n of_o cicero_n when_o 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