Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	place_n	speak_v	word_n	2,430	5	3.8248	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35682	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.	1698 (1698)	Wing D1046; ESTC R12743	51,263	154

instructive_a than_o philosophy_n the_o next_o who_o enter_v the_o list_n be_v cicero_n who_o as_o mr_n collier_n assure_v we_o cry_v out_o upon_o licentious_a play_n and_o poem_n as_o the_o bane_n of_o sobriety_n and_o wise_a think_v and_o say_v that_o comedy_n subsist_v upon_o lewdness_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v first_o that_o cicero_n in_o this_o place_n speak_v only_o against_o the_o corruption_n of_o the_o stage_n which_o corruption_n we_o do_v not_o pretend_v to_o defend_v second_o that_o cicero_n in_o his_o four_o book_n of_o the_o tusculan_a question_n speak_v only_o against_o comedy_n which_o be_v but_o one_o sort_n of_o dramatic_a poetry_n whereas_o in_o the_o very_a same_o place_n he_o implicit_o commend_v tragedy_n three_o that_o even_o in_o condemn_v of_o comedy_n he_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o himself_o and_o that_o if_o the_o opinion_n of_o cicero_n be_v of_o any_o validity_n it_o be_v as_o valuable_a pro_fw-la as_o con_v cicero_n in_o his_o treatise_n de_fw-fr amicitia_n and_o de_fw-fr senectute_n implicit_o commend_v comedy_n for_o lelius_n who_o cicero_n by_o the_o mouth_n of_o fan●ius_n extol_v above_o all_o the_o celebrate_v seven_o who_o greece_n renown_v for_o wisdom_n leliu●_n who_o have_v the_o universal_a reputation_n of_o the_o great_a statesman_n of_o the_o best_a man_n and_o the_o true_a friend_n of_o his_o time_n this_o lelius_n in_o the_o treatise_n which_o bear_v his_o name_n be_v not_o only_o find_v to_o cite_v a_o verse_n with_o approbation_n from_o terence_n but_o to_o mention_v his_o acquaintance_n and_o intimacy_n with_o that_o comic_a poet._n now_o i_o leave_v it_o to_o any_o one_o to_o judge_v whether_o cicero_n have_v not_o be_v very_o absurd_a if_o he_o have_v introduce_v a_o person_n who_o he_o so_o much_o extol_v as_o lelius_n a_o person_n of_o that_o gravity_n and_o that_o capacity_n and_o one_o who_o have_v so_o considerable_a a_o share_n in_o the_o government_n of_o the_o roman_a state_n have_v not_o cicero_n i_o 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est_fw-la ut_fw-la appareret_fw-la quam_fw-la ab_fw-la sano_fw-la initio_fw-la res_fw-la in_o hanc_fw-la vix_fw-la opulent_a be_v regnis_fw-la tolerabilem_fw-la insani●m_fw-la venerit_fw-la among_o the_o small_a beginning_n of_o other_o thing_n we_o be_v oblige_v to_o give_v some_o account_n of_o the_o original_n of_o theatrical_a representation_n that_o it_o may_v appear_v how_o a_o thing_n that_o be_v innocent_a in_o its_o institution_n grow_v up_o to_o so_o much_o licentious_a fury_n as_o to_o render_v they_o intolerable_a even_o to_o the_o most_o flourish_a state_n from_o whence_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o livy_n in_o this_o place_n condemn_v the_o corruption_n neither_o of_o comedy_n nor_o tragedy_n but_o either_o the_o licentiousness_n of_o liberius_n his_o farce_n or_o the_o barbarity_n of_o the_o fight_n of_o the_o gladiator_n or_o the_o lewdness_n of_o the_o pantomime_n motion_n or_o all_o of_o they_o put_v together_o for_o it_o be_v manifest_a to_o any_o one_o who_o have_v the_o least_o tincture_n of_o the_o roman_a learning_n that_o of_o the_o comedy_n and_o tragedy_n which_o be_v extant_a in_o livy_n time_n those_o be_v the_o pure_a which_o have_v be_v write_v late_a four_o i_o desire_v leave_n to_o observe_v here_o that_o the_o latter_a half_n of_o wha●_n mr_n collier_n have_v father_v upon_o livy_n viz._n that_o the_o motive_n be_v sometime_o good_a when_o the_o mean_n be_v stark_o naught_o that_o the_o remedy_n in_o this_o case_n be_v worse_a than_o the_o disease_n and_o the_o atonement_n more_o infectious_a than_o the_o plague_n have_v no_o manner_n of_o foundation_n in_o that_o historian_n from_o all_o which_o the_o reader_n may_v discover_v the_o uncommon_a sincerity_n and_o intergrity_n of_o this_o censurer_n of_o the_o stage_n indeed_o without_o give_v myself_o all_o this_o trouble_n for_o the_o clear_n of_o the_o business_n i_o may_v have_v leave_v it_o to_o any_o one_o to_o judge_v whether_o one_o of_o livy_n extraordinary_a sense_n who_o court_v reputation_n and_o the_o favour_n of_o the_o public_a can_v have_v so_o little_a prudence_n or_o so_o little_a good_a manner_n as_o to_o use_v those_o expression_n which_o mr_n collier_n put_v in_o his_o mouth_n of_o the_o drama_n itself_o at_o the_o time_n that_o it_o be_v cherish_v by_o the_o people_n support_v by_o the_o magistrate_n and_o esteem_v a_o considerable_a part_n of_o their_o religious_a worship_n now_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o any_o thing_n can_v show_v less_o judgement_n than_o the_o follow_a citation_n from_o tacitus_n who_o blame_v nero_n say_v mr_n collier_n for_o hire_v decay_a gentleman_n for_o the_o stage_n for_o what_o do_v mr_n collier_n conclude_v from_o hence_o that_o tacitus_n condemn_v the_o diversion_n of_o the_o stage_n all_o that_o can_v be_v reasonable_o conclude_v from_o it_o be_v this_o that_o tacitus_n be_v of_o opinion_n that_o nero_n debase_v the_o dignity_n of_o the_o roman_a nobility_n by_o enrol_v some_o of_o their_o rank_n among_o a_o order_n of_o man_n which_o among_o the_o roman_n be_v repute_v infamous_a tacitus_n be_v too_o much_o a_o statesman_n to_o say_v any_o thing_n against_o the_o stage_n especial_o in_o the_o condition_n in_o which_o we_o be_v at_o present_a he_o approve_v the_o conduct_n of_o augustus_n in_o the_o first_o of_o his_o annal_n who_o after_o he_o have_v get_v possession_n of_o the_o government_n honour_v the_o roman_a theatre_n with_o his_o presence_n not_o only_o out_o of_o his_o own_o inclination_n and_o complaisance_n to_o maecenas_n but_o because_o he_o believe_v that_o reason_n of_o state_n require_v that_o he_o shall_v sometime_o partake_v of_o the_o pleasure_n of_o the_o people_n tiberius_n say_v tacitus_n be_v quite_o of_o another_o humour_n however_o he_o have_v too_o much_o policy_n and_o too_o much_o good_a sense_n to_o use_v his_o new_a subject_n several_o at_o first_o after_o they_o have_v for_o so_o long_o together_o live_v a_o gentle_a voluptuous_a life_n thus_o far_o go_v tacitus_n in_o the_o first_o of_o his_o annal_n and_o mounseur_fw-fr amelot_n have_v make_v this_o remark_n upon_o the_o place_n a_o prince_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o his_o reign_n ought_v not_o to_o alter_v any_o of_o the_o establish_a custom_n because_o the_o people_n be_v very_o unwilling_a to_o part_v with_o they_o to_o what_o tacitus_n say_v of_o the_o german_a woman_n that_o they_o owe_v their_o chastity_n to_o their_o ignorance_n of_o these_o diversion_n this_o may_v be_v answer_v that_o first_o suppose_v tacitus_n in_o the_o right_n that_o can_v have_v no_o reflection_n on_o our_o modern_a theatre_n for_o the_o roman_a lady_n may_v very_o well_o have_v be_v corrupt_v by_o the_o intolerable_a lewdness_n of_o the_o pantomime_n which_o lewdness_n have_v no_o relation_n to_o we_o second_o it_o have_v be_v observe_v of_o tacitus_n that_o he_o be_v for_o refer_v all_o thing_n to_o politic_n even_o thing_n that_o ought_v to_o be_v refer_v to_o nature_n and_o be_v for_o that_o reason_n sometime_o out_o

of_o olivia_n misfortune_n in_o that_o excellent_a play_n which_o be_v a_o most_o instructive_a and_o a_o most_o noble_a satyr_n upon_o the_o hyprocrisie_n and_o villainy_n of_o mankind_n mr_n wycherley_n be_v indeed_o almost_o the_o only_a man_n alive_a who_o have_v make_v comedy_n instructive_a in_o its_o fable_n almost_o all_o the_o rest_n be_v content_v to_o instruct_v by_o their_o character_n but_o what_o mr_n collier_n have_v say_v of_o mr_n wycherley_n be_v sufficient_a to_o show_v we_o what_o candour_n nay_o and_o what_o justice_n we_o be_v to_o expect_v from_o this_o censurer_n of_o the_o stage_n for_o in_o give_v mr._n wycherley_n character_n he_o have_v show_v himself_o invidious_a and_o detract_n even_o in_o his_o commendation_n for_o the_o best_a thing_n that_o he_o can_v afford_v to_o say_v of_o the_o great_a of_o our_o comic_a wit_n be_v that_o he_o be_v a_o man_n of_o good_a sense_n which_o put_v i_o in_o mind_n of_o a_o father_n in_o france_n overhear_v his_o son_n say_v of_o the_o marshal_n de_fw-fr turenne_n ma_fw-fr foy_fw-fr je_fw-fr trouve_fw-fr mounseur_fw-fr de_fw-fr t●renne_fw-fr a_o joly_a homme_fw-fr et_fw-fr vous_fw-fr mo●●its_fw-fr reply_n the_o father_n je_fw-fr vous_fw-fr trouve_fw-fr un_fw-fr joly_a sot_n de_fw-fr parler_fw-fr ainsi_fw-fr du_fw-mi plus_fw-fr grand_fw-fr homme_fw-fr que_fw-fr la_fw-fr france_n a_o port_n how_o unworthy_a be_v it_o to_o commend_v mr_n wycherley_n for_o a_o thing_n which_o though_o certain_o he_o have_v in_o a_o very_a great_a degree_n yet_o be_v common_a to_o he_o with_o a_o thousand_o more_o and_o to_o take_v no_o notice_n of_o those_o extraordinary_a quality_n which_o be_v peculiar_a to_o he_o alone_o his_o wit_n his_o penetration_n his_o satyr_n his_o art_n his_o character_n and_o above_o all_o that_o incomparable_a vivacity_n by_o which_o he_o have_v happy_o equal_v the_o ancient_n and_o surpass_v the_o modern_n but_o now_o let_v we_o pass_v to_o the_o philosopher_n i_o mean_v the_o philosopher_n who_o be_v not_o poet_n for_o no_o man_n can_v be_v a_o good_a poet_n who_o be_v not_o a_o philosopher_n he_o have_v cite_v plutarch_n in_o four_o several_a place_n in_o his_o symposiaecum_fw-la his_o book_n de_fw-fr audiendis_fw-la poetis_fw-la his_o treatise_n de_fw-fr glori●_fw-la atheniensium_fw-la and_o his_o laconic_a institution_n for_o the_o two_o last_o we_o shall_v say_v nothing_o to_o they_o till_o we_o come_v to_o speak_v of_o government_n in_o the_o two_o first_o mr_n collier_n make_v plutarch_n say_v that_o play_n be_v dangerous_a to_o corrupt_v young_a people_n and_o therefore_o stage-poetry_n when_o it_o grow_v too_o hardy_a and_o licentious_a aught_o to_o be_v check_v but_o i_o make_v no_o doubt_n but_o to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o mr_n collier_n have_v be_v guilty_a of_o three_o thing_n in_o this_o very_a action_n which_o be_v unworthy_a the_o candour_n of_o a_o gentleman_n or_o of_o a_o man_n of_o letter_n first_o he_o have_v bring_v a_o authority_n which_o can_v only_o convince_v we_o that_o this_o philosopher_n do_v not_o approve_v of_o the_o licentiousness_n of_o the_o stage_n which_o licentiousness_n we_o by_o no_o mean_n design_n to_o defend_v such_o a_o authority_n i_o say_v he_o have_v bring_v in_o a_o chapter_n design_v to_o show_v that_o the_o ancient_n disapprove_v of_o play_n and_o the_o stage_n in_o general_n second_o he_o have_v make_v use_n of_o the_o authority_n of_o plutarch_n against_o the_o stage_n whereas_o that_o philosopher_n have_v say_v infinite_o more_o in_o its_o behalf_n than_o he_o have_v against_o it_o three_o he_o have_v from_o two_o tract_n of_o plutarch_n slur_v one_o citation_n upon_o we_o in_o the_o way_n of_o a_o argument_n which_o be_v very_o unlike_o the_o reason_n of_o that_o philosopher_n for_o in_o the_o first_o part_n of_o the_o enthyme_n he_o make_v plutarch_n damn_v the_o stage_n and_o the_o drama_n in_o general_a and_o in_o the_o second_o conclude_v against_o they_o in_o particular_a for_o play_n say_v he_o that_o be_v all_o play_n be_v dangerous_a to_o corrupt_v young_a people_n and_o therefore_o some_o play_n ought_v to_o be_v check_v and_o why_o do_v mr_n collier_n make_v the_o philosopher_n argue_v after_o this_o jesuitical_a manner_n when_o it_o be_v plain_a to_o any_o reader_n that_o have_v but_o common_a apprehension_n that_o since_o in_o the_o second_o part_n of_o the_o euthymene_n plutarch_n condemn_v only_o some_o particular_a play_n he_o only_o say_v in_o the_o first_o part_n of_o it_o that_o some_o particular_a play_n be_v dangerous_a but_o let_v we_o proceed_v to_o seneca_n and_o since_o it_o high_o concern_v we_o to_o give_v a_o full_a and_o satisfactory_a account_n of_o what_o be_v object_v from_o he_o let_v we_o cite_v he_o at_o length_n a●_n mr_n collier_n translate_v he_o seneca_n complain_v hearty_o of_o the_o extravagance_n and_o debauchery_n of_o the_o age_n and_o how_o forward_a people_n be_v to_o improve_v in_o that_o which_o be_v naught_o that_o scarce_o any_o body_n will_v apply_v themselves_o to_o the_o study_n of_o nature_n and_o morality_n unless_o when_o the_o playhouse_n be_v shut_v or_o the_o weather_n foul_a that_o there_o be_v no_o body_n to_o teach_v philosophy_n because_o there_o be_v no_o body_n to_o learn_v it_o but_o that_o the_o stage_n have_v nursery_n and_o company_n enough_o this_o misapplication_n of_o time_n and_o fancy_n make_v knowledge_n in_o so_o ill_a a_o condition_n this_o be_v the_o cause_n the_o hint_n of_o antiquity_n be_v no_o better_o pursue_v that_o some_o invention_n be_v sink_v and_o that_o some_o invention_n grow_v downward_o rather_o than_o otherwise_o to_o which_o i_o answer_v first_o that_o it_o be_v not_o likely_a that_o seneca_n shall_v condemn_v the_o drama_n and_o the_o stage_n in_o general_n since_o it_o be_v so_o notorious_o know_v that_o he_o write_v play_n himself_o second_o that_o by_o what_o he_o say_v it_o be_v evident_a that_o he_o declaim_v only_o against_o the_o abuse_n of_o the_o theatre_n and_o those_o such_o abuse_n as_o have_v no_o relation_n to_o we_o as_o for_o example_n the_o pass_a whole_a day_n together_o in_o the_o theatre_n which_o the_o roman_n oftentimes_o do_v three_o that_o if_o mr_n collier_n will_v infer_v from_o hence_o that_o our_o theatre_n be_v hindrance_n to_o the_o advancement_n of_o learning_n we_o have_v nothing_o to_o do_v but_o affirm_v what_o all_o the_o world_n must_v consent_v to_o that_o learning_n be_v now_o at_o a_o great_a height_n than_o ever_o it_o be_v know_v in_o england_n what_o we_o have_v say_v be_v sufficient_a to_o confound_v mr_n collier_n but_o we_o will_v not_o be_v content_v with_o that_o for_o here_o we_o triumph_v here_o we_o insult_v here_o we_o have_v a_o just_a occasion_n to_o show_v the_o admirable_a advantage_n of_o the_o stage_n to_o letter_n and_o the_o incomparable_a excellency_n of_o the_o drama_n and_o in_o a_o more_o peculiar_a manner_n of_o tragedy_n which_o seem_v purposely_o form_v and_o design_v for_o raise_v the_o mind_n and_o fire_v it_o to_o that_o noble_a emulation_n which_o be_v so_o absolute_o necessary_a for_o the_o improvement_n of_o arts._n this_o be_v a_o truth_n which_o be_v confirm_v by_o the_o experience_n of_o all_o nation_n of_o all_o age_n for_o whether_o we_o look_v upon_o the_o ancient_n or_o modern_n whether_o we_o consider_v the_o athenian_n or_o roman_n or_o the_o french_a or_o ourselves_o we_o shall_v find_v that_o art_n and_o science_n have_v for_o the_o most_o part_n begin_v but_o all_o of_o they_o at_o least_o begin_v to_o prosper_v with_o the_o stage_n and_o that_o as_o they_o have_v flourish_v they_o have_v at_o last_o decline_v with_o it_o and_o this_o we_o may_v affirm_v not_o only_o of_o the_o the_o more_o human_a art_n poetry_n history_n eloquence_n of_o which_o the_o theatre_n be_v certain_o the_o best_a school_n in_o the_o world_n the_o school_n that_o form_v in_o a_o great_a measure_n those_o prodigious_a disciple_n cicero_n and_o demosthenos_n but_o we_o may_v true_o assert_v it_o of_o all_o other_o sort_n of_o learning_n for_o before_o thespis_n appear_v in_o attica_n and_o reduce_v the_o drama_n to_o some_o sort_n of_o form_n which_o have_v nothing_o but_o confusion_n before_o he_o they_o have_v neither_o author_n nor_o knowledge_n among_o they_o that_o can_v be_v esteem_v by_o posterity_n that_o little_a knowledge_n which_o they_o have_v of_o nature_n be_v to_o we_o ridiculous_a for_o moral_a philosophy_n they_o have_v no_o such_o thing_n nor_o orator_n nor_o historian_n but_o as_o soon_o as_o after_o thespis_n their_o theatre_n begin_v to_o flourish_v all_o their_o extraordinary_a man_n in_o all_o these_o sort_n appear_v almost_o together_o not_o only_o those_o who_o adorn_v the_o stage_n as_o aeschylus_n euripides_n and_o the_o divine_a sophocles_n but_o those_o orator_n philosopher_n and_o historian_n who_o have_v since_o be_v the_o wonder_n of_o all_o posterity_n socrates_n plato_n

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 ●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 senicorum_fw-la protentorum_fw-la gratiae_fw-la macularunt_fw-la from_o military_a institution_n let_v we_o proceed_v to_o our_o city_n camp_n that_o be_v to_o theatre_n for_o these_o too_o have_v often_o show_v mighty_a army_n draw_v up_o and_o be_v first_o design_v for_o the_o worship_n of_o the_o god_n and_o for_o the_o delight_n of_o man_n defile_v our_o pleasure_n and_o our_o religion_n with_o the_o blood_n of_o the_o people_n where_o we_o may_v take_v notice_n of_o three_o thing_n 1._o that_o valerius_n maximus_n implicit_o commend_v the_o original_a institution_n of_o theatre_n 2._o that_o he_o charge_n that_o which_o be_v unblamable_a in_o they_o upon_o the_o combat_n of_o the_o gladiator_n three_o the_o representation_n of_o play_n be_v so_o far_o from_o cause_v civil_a distraction_n that_o upon_o the_o first_o representation_n of_o the_o ludi_fw-la pescennini_fw-la 390_o year_n after_o the_o build_n of_o the_o city_n the_o patr●cians_n and_o plebian_n be_v quiet_a for_o 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 gra●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 but_o the_o athenian_n say_v mr_n collier_n for_o which_o he_o cite_v plutarch_n think_v comedy_n so_o unreputable_a a_o performance_n that_o they_o make_v a_o law_n that_o no_o judge_n of_o the_o areopagus_n shall_v make_v one_o to_o which_o we_o reply_v that_o this_o citation_n of_o plutarch_n be_v absolute_o false_a and_o that_o if_o it_o be_v true_a it_o can_v not_o be_v so_o much_o as_o pretend_v that_o it_o conclude_v against_o any_o thing_n but_o comedy_n which_o be_v but_o one_o species_n of_o dramatic_a poetry_n and_o that_o in_o reality_n it_o will_v be_v of_o no_o force_n against_o that_o what_o plutarch_n say_v be_v not_o that_o the_o athenian_n make_v a_o law_n that_o none_o of_o the_o areopagi_n shall_v make_v a_o comedy_n for_o one_o may_v as_o well_o suppose_v that_o it_o shall_v be_v enact_v by_o a_o english_a parliament_n that_o none_o of_o the_o twelve_o judge_n shall_v write_v a_o farce_n that_o which_o plutarch_n say_v be_v this_o that_o the_o council_n of_o a●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