But supposing them contented to wave their Privilege, and dispute upon the Level. Granting this, the _Stage_ would be undone by them. The Force of their Reasoning, and the bare _Intrinsick_ of the Argument, would be abundantly sufficient to carry the Cause. But it may be objected, is the Resemblance exact between Old _Rome_ and _London_, will the Paralel hold out, and has the _English Stage_ any Thing so bad as the _Dancing_ of the _Pantomimi_? I don't say that: The _Modern Gestures_ tho' bold and Lewd too sometimes, are not altogether so scandalous as the _Roman_. Here then we can make them some little Abatement. And to go as far in their _Excuse_ as we can, 'tis probable their _Musick_ may not be altogether so exceptionable as that of the _Antients_. I don't say this part of the Entertainment is directly vitious, because I am not willing to Censure at Uncertainties. Those who frequent the _Play-House_ are the most competent Judges: But this I must say, the Performances of this kind are much too fine for the _Place_. 'Twere to be wish'd that either the _Plays_ were better, or the _Musick_ worse. I'm sorry to see _Art_ so meanly Prostituted: Atheism ought to have nothing Charming in its _Retinue_. 'Tis great Pity _Debauchery_ should have the Assistance of a fine Hand, to whet the Appetite, and play it down. Now granting the _Play-House-Musick_ not vitious in the Composition, yet the design of it is to refresh the _Idea_'s of the Action, to keep _Time_ with the _Poem_, and be true to the _Subject_. For this Reason among others the _Tunes_ are generally Airy and Gailliardizing; They are contriv'd on purpose to excite a sportive Humour, and spread a Gaity upon the Spirits. To banish all Gravity and Scruple, and lay Thinking and Reflection a sleep. This sort of Musick warms the Passions, and unlocks the Fancy, and makes it open to Pleasure like a Flower to the Sun. It helps a Luscious Sentence to slide, drowns the Discords of _Atheism_, and keeps off the Aversions of Conscience. It throws a Man off his Guard, makes way for an ill Impresion, and is most Commodiously planted to do Mischief. A Lewd _Play_ with good Musick is like a Loadstone _Arm'd_, it draws much stronger than before.