And to make their Discourse more remarkable; These douty Members were just going to the _House_, and had their Heads full of the Good of the Nation, when they entertain'd themselves thus decently[85]. And are these little Buffoons fit to consult _de Arduis Regni, &c._ to give Authority to Law, and Rules for publick Life? Do's Ribaldry and Nonsence become the Dignity of their Station, and the Solemnity of their Office? To make his _Parliament-Men_ play the Fool thus egregiously, must needs have a great deal of Decorum, and State-Policy in the Contrivance; And is just as wise as if a _Painter_ should have Drawn them in the Habit of _Jack-Puddings_, and _Merry-Andrews_. But _Aristophanes_ has still higher Flights of Absurdity. He won't so much as spare the Gods but makes them act these little Parts of Clownishness and Infamy. _Bacchus_ and _Hercules_ in his _Ranæ_ are forced to talk Smut and rally like _Link-boys_, and do almost all the Tricks of _Bartholomew-Fair_. To mention something that will bear the quoting. _Bacchus_ enquires of _Hercules_ the readiest way to _Hades_, or the other World. He bids him either Hang, or Poyson himself, and he can't miss the Road. This is _Hercules's_ Humour to a Tittle! And represents him as much to the Life, as an _Ape_ would do the _Grand Signior_ at a publick Audience! This with a short Sentence or two of Lewdness,[86] is the hardest of _Hercules_ his Usage: And 'tis well he escaped so; for _Bacchus_ is treated much worse. He appears under the disadvantages of a Clownish Debauchee, and a Coward. And is terribly afraid of a _Spectre_.[87] When he comes before _Æacus_, this Judge is very rough with him; and tries his pretences to a Deity by Bastinado: _Bacchus_ howls in the drubbing and had almost spoil'd all.[88] Now do's this paultry Behaviour agree with the Heathen Theology, with the Common Opinion concerning _Bacchus_ and _Hercules_? Do's a _Blew-Cap_ and a _Ladle_, become the Sons of _Jupiter_ and the Objects of Religious Worship? Those who at the lowest, were counted the Conquerors of the World, and more than Men both by Birth and Enterprize? _Sophocles_ and _Euripides_ make these two Persons manage at a quite different rate of Decency. 'Tis no defence to say _Aristophanes_ wrot Comedy, and so was obliged to make his Scenes more diverting. This excuse I say is defective; for a Comedian ought to imitate Life and Probability, no less than a Tragedian. To Metomorphose _Characters_, and present Contradictions to Common Belief, is to write, _Farce_ instead of _Plays_. Such Comedians like _Thespis_ ought to have a travelling _Stage_, and take the Air with _Porcupines_ and _Dromedaryes_. If 'tis said that Gravity and greatness do's not suit the Complection and Entertainment of Comedy. To this I answer, that therefore the _Persons_ should be chosen accordingly. They should have nothing in their known Humour, and Condition too Noble, and solemn for Trifling. 'Tis _Horaces_ advice.