Having in the foregoing _Chapters_ discover'd some part of the Disorders of the _English Stage_; I shall in this Last, present the _Reader_ with a short View of the Sense of _Antiquity_, To which I shall add some _Modern_ Authorities; From all which it will appear that _Plays_ have generally been look'd on as the _Nurseries_ of _Vice_, the _Corrupters_ of _Youth_, and the _Grievance_ of the _Country_ where they are suffer'd. This proof from _Testimony_ shall be ranged under these three Heads. Under the _First_, I shall cite some of the most celebrated _Heathen Philosophers_, Orators, and Historians; Men of the biggest Consideration, for Sense, Learning, and Figure. The _Second_, Shall consist of the _Laws_ and _Constitutions_ of _Princes, &c._ The _Third_, Will be drawn from _Church-Records_, from _Fathers_, and _Councils_ of unexceptionable Authority, both as to Persons, and Time. _1st._ I shall produce some of the most celebrated Heathen Philosophers _&c._ To begin with _Plato_. 'This Philosopher tells us that _Plays_ raise the Passions, and pervert the use of them, and by consequence are dangerous to Morality. For this Reason he banishes these Diversions his _Common-Wealth_.'[437] _Xenophon_ who was both a Man of _Letters_ and a great _General_, commends the _Persians_ for the Discipline of their Education. 'They won't (says he) so much as suffer their Youth to hear any thing that's Amorous or Tawdry.'[438] They were afraid want of Ballast might make them miscarry, and that 'twas dangerous to add weight to the Byass of Nature. _Aristole_ lays it down for a Rule 'that the Law ought to forbid Young People the seeing of _Comedies_. Such permissions not being safe till Age and Discipline had confirm'd them in sobriety, fortified their Virtue, and made them as it were proof against Debauchery.'[439] This Philosopher who had look'd as far into Humane Nature as any Man, observes farther. 'That the force of Musick and _Action_ is very affecting. It commands the Audience and changes the Passions to a Resemblance of the Matter before them.'[440] So that where the Representation is foul, the Thoughts of the Company must suffer. _Tully_ crys out upon 'Licentious _Plays_ and _Poems_, as the bane of Sobriety, and wise Thinking: That _Comedy_ subsists upon Lewdness, and that Pleasure is the Root, of all Evil.'[441] _Livy_, reports the Original of _Plays_ among the _Romans_. 'He tells us they were brought in upon the score of Religion, to pacifie the Gods, and remove a _Mortality_. But then He adds that the Motives are sometimes good, when the Means are stark naught: That the Remedy in this case was worse than the Disease, and the Atonement more Infectious then the Plague.'[442]