Now why should it be in the power of a few mercenary Hands to play People out of their Senses, to run away with their Understandings, and wind their Passions about their Fingers as they list? Musick is almost as dangerous as Gunpowder; And it may be requires looking after no less than the _Press_, or the _Mint_. 'Tis possible a Publick Regulation might not be amiss. No less a Philosopher than _Plato_ seems to be of this Opinion. He is clearly for keeping up the old grave, and solemn way of _Playing_. He lays a mighty stress upon this Observation: He does not stick to affirm, that to extend the _Science_, and alter the _Notes_, is the way to have the _Laws_ repeal'd and to unsettle the _Constitution_.[500] I suppose He imagined that if the Power of _Sounds_, the Temper of Constitutions, and the Diversities of Age, were well studied; If this were done, and some general Permissions formed upon the Enquiry, the _Commonwealth_ might find their Account in't. _Tully_ does not carry the Speculation thus high: However, he owns it has a weight in't, and should not be overlook'd.[501] He denies not but that when the Musick is soft, exquisite, and airy, 'tis dangerous and ensnaring. He commends the Discipline of the ancient _Greeks_, for fencing against this Inconvenience. He tells us the _Lacedemonians_ fixt the number of Strings for the Harp, by express _Law_. And afterwards silenc'd _Timotheus_,[502] and seiz'd his Harp, for having One String above publick Allowance. To return. If the _English Stage_ is more reserv'd than the _Roman_ in the Case above mention'd: If they have any advantage in their _Instrumental_ Musick, they loose it in their _Vocal_. Their _Songs_ are often rampantly Lewd, and Irreligious to a flaming Excess. Here you have the very _Spirit_ and _Essence_ of Vice drawn off strong scented, and thrown into a little Compass. Now the _Antients_ as we have seen already were inoffensive in this respect. To go on. As to Rankness of Language we have seen how deeply the _Moderns_ stand charged upon the Comparison. And as for their Caressing of Libertines, their ridiculing of Vertue, their horrible Profaness, and Blasphemies, there's nothing in _Antiquity_ can reach them. Now were the _Stage_ in a Condition to wipe off any of these Imputations, which They are not, there are two Things besides which would stick upon them, and [......] an ill Effect upon the _Audience_. The first is their dilating so much upon the Argument of Love.