_Aut famam sequere, aut convenientia finge Scriptor._ De. Art. Poet. Let us remember that Operations always resemble the Nature from whence they flow. Great Persons should therefore have a correspondent Behaviour assign'd them. To make _Beings_ much Superior to the Biggest of Mankind, talk below the Least, is absurd and ridiculous. This _Aristophanes_ seems sensible of in his defence of _Æschylus_. Here _Euripides_ objects to _Æschylus_,[89] that he was too rumbling, noisy, and bombastick, over affecting that which _Horace_ calls _Ampulla, & sesquipedalia Verba._ To this _Æschylus_ Answers, that the Thoughts, and Designs of _Heroes_ must be deliver'd in Expressions proportioned to their Greatness. It being likely that the Demi-Gods spoke up to their Dignity and Stature: And as they were distinguish'd by the richness of their Habit, so they had a more Magnificent Language than other Mortals. To this _Euripides_ replys nothing; from whence you may conclude the _Poet_ thought the Apology not unreasonable. In short _Aristophanes_ had Sense but he does not always use it. He is not equal, and uniforme. Sometimes you have him flat and foolish a good while together. And where he has Spirit, 'tis oftentimes lavished away to little purpose.[90] His Buffoonery is commonly too strong for his Judgment. This makes him let fly his jests without regard to Person or occasion: And thus by Springing the _Game_ too soon, the Diversion is lost. I could make several other Material Objections against the Conduct of his _Plays_; But this being not necessary I shall observe in the