And here it may not be amiss to look a little into the Behaviour of the _Heathens_. Now 'tis no wonder to find them run riot upon this Subject. The Characters of their Gods were not unblemish'd. Their prospect of the other World, was but dim; neither were they under the Terrors of _Revelation_. However, they are few of them so bad as the _Moderns_. _Terence_ does not run often upon this rock. 'Tis true _Chærea_ falls into an ill Rapture after his Success.[171] _Chremes_ bids his Wife not tire the Gods with Thanks:[172] And _Æschinus_ is quite sick of the Religious part of the Weding.[173] These Instances; excepting his Swearing, are the most, (and I think near all the) exceptionable Passages of this _Author_. _Plautus_ is much more bold. But then his sally's are generally made by _Slaves_ and _Pandars_. This makes the Example less dangerous, and is some sort of extenuation. I grant this imperfect excuse wont serve him always. There are some Instances where his _Persons_ of better Figure are guilty of lewd Defences, Profane Flights, and Sawcy Expostulation.[174] But the _Roman_ Deities were _Beings_ of ill Fame, 'tis the less wonder therefore if the _Poets_ were familiar with them. However, _Plautus_ has something good in him, and enough to condemn the Practise. _Pleusides would gladly have had the Gods changed the method of Things, in some Particulars. He would have had frank good Humour'd People long live'd, and close-fisted Knaves die Young._ To this _Periplectimenes_ Gravely answers, _That 'tis great Ignorance, and Misbehaviour to Censure the Conduct of the Gods, or speak dishonorably of them_.[175] In his _Pseudolus_ the Procurer _Ballio_ talks Profanely. Upon which _Pseudolus_ makes this Reflection. _This Fellow makes nothing of Religion, how can we trust him in other matters? For the Gods whom all People have the greatest reason to fear, are most slighted by him._[176]