The first is _Ovid_, who in his Book _De Arte Amandi_, gives his _Reader_ to understand that the _Play-House_ was the most likely Place for him to Forage in. Here would be choice of all sorts: Nothing being more common than to see Beauty surpriz'd, Women debauch'd, and Wenches Pick'd up at these Diversions. _Sed tu præcique curvis venare Theatris, Hæc loca sunt voto fertiliora tuo. ---- ruit ad celebres cultissima Fæmina Ludos; Copia judicium sæpe morata meum est. Spectatum veniunt, veniunt Spectentur ut ipsæ; Ille locus casti damna pudoris habet._[450] And afterwards relating the imperfect beginning of _Plays_ at the Rape of the _Sabine_ Virgins, he adds, _Silicit exillo solennia more Theatra Nunc quoque formosis insidiosa manent._ This _Author_ some time after wrote the _Remedy_ of _Love_. Here he pretends to Prescribe for Prudence, if not for Sobriety. And to this purpose, He forbids the seeing of _Plays_, and the reading of _Poets_, especially some of them. Such Recreations being apt to feed the _Distemper_, and make the _Patient_ relapse. _At tanti tibi sit non indulgere Theatris Dum bene de cacuo Pectore cedat amor. Enervant animos Citharæ, Cantusque, lyraque Et vox, & numeris brachia mota suis. Illic assidue ficti saltantur amantes, Quid, caveas, actor, quid juvet, arte docet_.[451] In his _De Tristibus_, He endeavours to make some Amends for his scandalous _Poems_, and gives _Augustus_ a sort of _Plan_ for a Publick _Reformation_. Amongst other Things, he advises the suppressing of _Plays_, as being the promoters of Lewdness, and Dissolution of Manners. _Ut tamen hoc fatear ludi quoque semina præbent Nequitiæ, tolli tota Theatra jube._[452] To the Testimony of _Ovid_, I could add _Plautus_, _Propertius_, and _Juvenal_, but being not willing to overburthen the _Reader_, I shall content my self with the _Plain-Dealer_ as one better known at _Home_. This _Poet_ in his _Dedication_ to _Lady B_, some Eminent _Procuress_, pleads the Merits of his Function, and insists on being Billeted upon _free Quarter_. _Madam_ (says he) _I think a Poet ought to be as free of your Houses, as of the Play-Houses: since he contributes to the support of both, and is as necessary to such as you, as the Ballad-singer to the Pick-purse, in Convening the Cullies at the Theatres to be pick'd up, and Carried to a supper, and Bed, at your Houses._[453] This is franck Evidence, and ne're the less true, for the Air of a Jest. I shall now in the Second Place proceed to the _Censures_ of the _State_; And show in a few Words how much the _Stage_ stands discouraged by the _Laws_ of other Countrys and our own. To begin with the _Athenians_.[454] This People tho' none of the worst Freinds to the _Play-House_ 'thought a _Comedy_ so unreputable a Performance, that they made a Law that no Judge of the _Ariopagus_ should make one.'