it any wonder an Atheist should misbehave himself in point of Modesty? What can we expect less from those who laugh at the Being of a God, at the Doctrines of Providence, and the Distinctions of Good and Evil? A _Sceptick_ has no notion of Conscience, no Relish for Virtue, nor is under any Moral restraints from Hope or Fear. Such a one has nothing to do but to consult his Ease, and gratifie his Vanity, and fill his Pocket. But how these Ends are compassed, he has no squeamishness, or Scruples about it. 'Tis true when the Methods of Lewdness will Take, they are generally most agreeable. This way suits their Talent, and screens their practise, and obliges their Malice. For nothing is a greater Eye-sore to these Men, then Virtue and Regularity. What a pleasure is it then to be admired for Mischeif, to be reveng'd on Religion, and to see Vice prosper and improve under our Hands! To return: Beside _Aristophanes_ Atheisme, I have a Second objection to his Authority, and that is want of Judgment. If we examine his _Plays_ we shall find his Characters improper, or ununiform; either wrong at first, or unsteady in the Right. For the purpose. In his _Nubes. A. 3. S. 3. p. 146. 150_. He puts dirty expressions in the Mouth of his Man of Probity, makes him declaim vitiously against Vice, and Corrects scurrility with Impudence; Now what can be more idle and senceless, than such Conduct as this? Epecially when this _Justus_ as he calls him had told them in the beginning of his speech, that People used to be well slash'd for such Fooling, when Government and Discipline were in their due Force. The _Chorus_ of his _Ranæ_ slides[82] into the same Inconsistency of Precept, and Practise. Farther, in the Progress of this _Play_; _Æschylus_ falls a rallying contrary to his Humour, and jests away his own Arguments at a very unseasonable Juncture, when he was disputing for no less prize than the Laureatship. This _Tragedian_ after he had play'd a little with the Story of _Bellerophon_,[83] goes on in the same strain; And charges _Euripides_ that he had furnish'd all sorts of People with Sawciness and Prattle. The _Schools_ and _Academies_ were spoil'd by this means; So that the Boys were often whip'd, and the Boatswains drubb'd, for their Chattering.[84] These Comical Levities come with an ill Grace from _Æschylus_. His Character was quite different both in Reality, and in the _Play_ before us. He is all along represented as a Person of a serious Temper, of a reserv'd Loftiness, Cholerick, and tender of his Honour to an Excess, and almost in a rage at the Affront of a Rival, and being forc'd to enter the Lists with _Euripides_. The case standing thus, neither the Man, nor the Business, would admit of Drolling. Another Instance of his want of Conduct we have in his _Concionatores_. Here _Blepyrus_ and some others of his Legislative Assembly, talk at a very dirty insipid rate. The Lowest of the _Mob_, can hardly jest with less Wit, and more Lewdness.