_3d._ Place. That notwithstanding the scandalous Liberty for which _Aristophanes_ is so remarkable; yet in his Lucid Intervalls, when Sence and Sobriety return upon him, he pronounces against his own Practise. In the contest between _Æschylus_ and _Euripides_, _Bacchus_ is made the Umpire of the Controversie. _Æschylus_ begins with a Question,[91] and asks _Euripides_ what 'tis which makes a _Poet_ admired? He answers. 'Tis for the address of his Conduct, and the handsome Turns of Morality in his Poems. 'Tis because his performance has a tendency to form the Audience to Virtue, and Improvement, _Æschylus_ demands of him farther; But suppose you debauched the Age, and made an Honest and a brave People Lewd, and good for nothing, what do you deserve then? Here _Bacchus_ interposes, and crys out, what does he deserve? A Halter! pray don't ask so plain a question. And afterwards we are told, that _Poets_ are valuable only for describing Things useful, in Life and Religion, for polishing Inventions, and setting off great Examples with Lustre, and Advantage.[92] In the progress of the Dispute, _Æschylus_ taxes _Euripides_ with being too uncautious in his Representations; And tells him that Poets ought to conceal that which is vicious in Story; And entertain with nothing but Virtue, and Sobriety: He goes on reprimanding _Euripides_ for his Dramatick incests, Strumpets, and Amours: And as for himself, to his best remembrance, He never brought any Love-Intrigues upon the Stage.[93] This is very significant expostulation: and contains very good Rules for the Trial of the _Muses_: But if the English _Stage_, should be obliged to this Test; _Aristophanes_ must set fire to it, and that with much more reason than to _Socrates_ his _School_. Now that _Æschylus_ spoke _Aristophanes_'s Sense is pretty plain: For first; As to the Business of Love, _Aristophanes_ always declines it; He never patches up a _Play_ with _Courtship_, and _Whining_, tho' he wrote nothing but _Comedy_. In the next place the _Chorus_ which is usually the _Poets_ Interpreter, speaks honourably of _Æschylus_ even to a Preference;[94] And at last Judge _Bacchus_ gives Sentence for him. Thus we see _Aristophanes_ Confutes his own Lewdness, and comes in Evidence against himself. This with the other two Exceptions I have made good against him, are sufficient to take off the Force of the _Precedent_, and make him an insignificant Authority. To what I have observ'd from the _Stage_ of the Antients, I could add the Authorities of _Aristotle_, and _Quintilian_, both extraordinary Persons, but I shall reserve their Testimony till Afterwards. To come Home, and near our own Times: The English Theatre from Queen _Elizabeth_ to King _Charles_ II. will afford us something not inconsiderable to our purpose. As for _Shakespear_, he is too guilty to make an Evidence: But I think he gains not much by his Misbehaviour; He has commonly _Plautus's Fate_, where there is most Smut, there is least Sense.