The _Poet's_ Success in the last _Unity_ of _Action_ is much the same with the former. _Lovelace_, _Amanda_, and _Berinthia_, have no share in the main Business. These Second rate _Characters_ are a detatched Body: Their Interest is perfectly Foreign, and they are neither Friends, nor Enemies to the _Plot_. _Young Fashion_ does not so much as see them till the Close of the Fifth _Act_, and then they meet only to fill the _Stage_: And yet these _Persons_ are in the _Poets_ account very considerable; Insomuch that he has misnamed his _Play_ from the Figure of two of them. This strangness of _Persons_, distinct Company, and inconnexion of Affairs, destroys the Unity of the _Poem_. The contrivance is just as wise as it would be to cut a Diamond in two. There is a loss of Lustre in the Division. Increasing the Number, abates the Value, and by making it more, you make it less. Thus far I have examin'd the _Dramatick_ Merits of the _Play_. And upon enquiry, it appears a Heap of Irregularities. There is neither Propriety in the _Name_, nor Contrivance in the _Plot_, nor Decorum in the _Characters_. 'Tis a thorough Contradition to Nature, and impossible in _Time_, and _Place_. Its _Shining Graces_ as the Author calls them,[433] are _Blasphemy_ and _Baudy_, together with a mixture of _Oaths_, and _Cursing_. Upon the whole; The _Relapser's_ Judgment, and his Morals, are pretty well adjusted. The _Poet_, is not much better than the _Man_. As for the _Profane_ part, 'tis hideous and superlative.[434] But this I have consider'd elsewhere. All that I shall observe here is, that the Author was sensible of this Objection. His Defence in his _Preface_ is most wretched: He pretends to know nothing of the Matter, and that _'tis all Printed_; Which only proves his Confidence equal to the rest of his Virtues. To out-face Evidence in this manner, is next to the affirming there's no such Sin as _Blasphemy_, which is the greatest Blasphemy of all. His Apology consists in railing at the _Clergy_; a certain sign of ill Principles, and ill Manners. This He does at an unusual rate of Rudeness and Spite. He calls them the Saints with Screw'd _Faces, and wry Mouths_. And after a great deal of scurrilous Abuse too gross to be mention'd, he adds;[435] _If any Man happens to be offended at a story of a Cock and a Bull, and a Priest and a Bull-dog, I beg his Pardon_, &c. This is brave _Bear-Garden_ Language! The _Relapser_ would do well to transport his Muse to _Samourgan_.[436] There 'tis likely he might find Leisure to lick his _Abortive Brat_ into shape; And meet with proper Business for his Temper, and encouragement for his Talent. CHAP. VI. _The Opinion of_ Paganism, _of the_ Church, _and_ State, _concerning the_ Stage.