_Sophocles_ will afford us no more, let us therefore take a view of _Euripides_. 'Tis the Method of this Author to decline the Singularities of the _Stage_, and to appear with an Air of Conversation. He delivers great Thoughts in Common Language, and is dress'd more like a Gentleman than a _Player_. His Distinction lies in the perspicuity of his Stile; In Maxim, and Moral Reflection; In his peculiar Happiness for touching the Passions, especially that of Pity; And lastly, in exhausting the Cause, and arguing _pro_ and _Con_, upon the streach of Reason. So much by way of Character. And as for the Matter before us He is entirely Ours. We have had an Instance or two already in _Electra_ and _Phædra_: To go on to the rest. In his _Hippolitus_ He calls _Whoring_, stupidness and playing the Fool. And to be Chast and regular, is with him, as well as with _Æschylus_, [Greek: Sôphronein]. As much as to say 'tis the Consequence of Sence, and right Thinking. _Phædra_ when her Thoughts were embarrass'd with _Hippolitus_, endeavours to disentangle her self by Argument.[56] She declaims with a great deal of Satyr against intemperate Women; she concluded rather to die then dishonour her Husband and Stain her Family. The Blemishes of Parents, as she goes on, often stuck upon their Children, and made them appear with Disadvantage. Upon this, the _Chorus_ is transported with the Virtue of her Resolution and crys out [Greek: Pheu Pheu. To sôphron hôs hapantachou kalon][57] [Greek: kai do xan esthlên enbrotois komizetai.] _How becoming a Quality is Modesty in all Places._ _How strangly does it burnish a Character, and oblige ones Reputation?_ The Scholiast upon these verses of _Hippolitus_. [Greek: Soi ton de plekton Stephanon ex akêra] [Greek: Leimônos], &c. Makes this Paraphrase, 'Tha[......] Mind should be clean and unsulli[......] that the Muses being Virgins their Performances should agree with their Condition.' To proceed. _Hermione_ complains against _Andromache_ because she was entertain'd by her Husband[58]: For this _Andromache_ tells her she talk'd too much for a Young Woman, and discover'd her Opinion too far. _Achilles_ at the first Sight of _Clytemnestra_, lets her understand he was as much taken with the Sobriety of her Air,[59] as with the rest of her fine Face and Person. She receives the Complement kindly, and commends him for commending Modesty. _Menelaus_ and _Helen_ after a long Absence manage the surprize of their good Fortune handsomly.[60] The Most tender Expression stands clear of ill Meaning. Had _Osmin_ parted with _Almeria_ as civilly as these Two met,[61] it had been much better. That Rant of smut and profainness might have been spared. The _Reader_ shall have some of it. _O my_ Almeria; _What do that Damn'd endure but to despair, But knowing Heaven, to know it lost for ever._