And then as for the General Strains of Courtship, there can be nothing more Profane and extravagant. The Hero's Mistress is no less than his Deity. She disposes of his Reason, prescribes his Motions, and Commands his Interest. What Soveraign Respect, what Religious Address, what Idolizing Raptures are we pester'd with? _Shrines_ and _Offerings_ and Adorations, are nothing upon such solemn Occasions. Thus Love and Devotion, Ceremony and Worship are Confounded; And God, and his Creatures treated both alike! These Shreds of Distraction are often brought from the _Play-House_ into Conversation: And thus the _Sparks_ are taught to Court their Mistresses, in the same Language they say their _Prayers_. A Second Thing which I have to object against the _Stage_ is their encouraging Revenge. What is more Common than Duels and Quarrelling in their _Characters_ of Figure? Those Practises which are infamous in Reason, _Capital_ in _Law_, and Damnable in Religion, are the Credit of the _Stage_. Thus Rage and Resentment, Blood and Barbarity, are almost Deified: Pride goes for Greatness, and _Fiends_ and _Hero's_ are made of the same Mettal. To give Instances were needless, nothing is more frequent. And in this respect the _French Dramatists_ have been to blame no less than the _English_.[503] And thus the Notion of Honour is mistated, the Maxims of Christianity despised, and the Peace of the World disturb'd. I grant this desperate Custom is no _Original_ of the _Stage_. But then why was not the Growth of it check'd? I thought the _Poets_ business had not been to back false Reasoning and ill Practise; and to fix us in Frensy and Mistake! Yes. They have done their endeavour to cherish the Malignity, and keep the Disorder in Countenance. They have made it both the Mark, and the Merit of a Man of Honour; and set it off with _Quality_, and Commendation. But I have discours'd on this Subject elswhere,[504] and therefore shall pursue it no farther.