_4ly._ _Plautus_ his _Prologues_ and _Epilogues_ are inoffensive. 'Tis true, _Lambinus_ pretends to fetch a double _entendre_ out of that to _Poenulus_, but I think there is a Strain in the Construction. His _Prologue_ to the _Captivi_ is worth the observing. _Fabulæ huic operam date._ _Pray mind the Play._ The next words give the reason why it deserves regarding. _Non enim pertractate facta est Neque spurcidici insunt versus immemorabiles._ We see here the Poet confesses Smut a scandalous Entertainment. That such Liberties ought to fall under Neglect, to lie unmention'd, and be blotted out of Memory. And that this was not a Copy of his Countenance we may learn from his Compositions. His best _Plays_ are almost alwaies Modest and clean Complexion'd. His _Amphitrio_ excepting the ungenuine Addition is such. His _Epidicus_ the Master-Piece of his whole Collection is inoffensive Throughout: And so are his _Menechmi_, _Rudens_, and _Trinummus_, which may be reckon'd amongst some of his next Best. His _Truculentus_ another fine _Play_ (tho' not entire) with a Heathen Allowance, is pretty Passable. To be short: Where he is most a Poet, he is generally least a Buffoon. And where the Entertainment is Smut, there is rarely any other Dish well dress'd: The Contrivance is commonly wretched, the Sence lean and full of Quibbles. So that his Understanding seems to have left him when he began to abuse it. To conclude, _Plautus_ does not dilate upon the Progress, Successes, and Disappointments of _Love_, in the _Modern_ way. This is nice Ground, and therefore He either stands off, or walks gravely over it, He has some regard to the Retirements of Modesty, and the Dignity of Humane Nature, and does not seem to make Lewdness his Business. To give an Instance. _Silenium_ is much gone in Love,[28] but Modest withall, tho' formerly debauch'd. She is sorry her Spark was forced from her, and in Danger of being lost. But then she keeps within compass and never flies out into Indecency. _Alcesimarchus_ is strangely smitten with this _Silenium_, and almost distracted to recover her.[29] He is uneasy and blusters, and threatens, but his Passion goes off in Generals. He Paints no Images of his Extravagance, nor descends to any nauseous particulars. And yet after all, _Plautus_ wrote in an Age not perfectly refin'd, and often seems to design his _Plays_ for a Vulgar Capacity. 'Twas upon this view I suppose his _Characters_ exceed Nature, and his ill Features are drawn too large: His old Men over credulous, his Misers Romantick, and his Coxcombs improbably singular. And 'tis likely for this reason his _Slaves_ might have too much Liberty.