_For Priests of all Religions are the same._[212] However that the Sense may be perfectly intelligible, he makes the Invective General, changes the Language, and rails in the stile of Christendom. _Benducar_ speaks, ----_Churchmen tho' they itch to govern all, Are silly, woful, awkard Polititians, They make lame Mischief tho' they mean it well._ So much the better, for 'tis a sign they are not beaten to the Trade. The next Lines are an Illustration taken from a _Taylor_. _Their Intrest is not finely drawn and hid, But seams are coarsly bungled up and seen._[213] This _Benducar_ was a rare Spokesman for a first _Minister_; And would have fitted _John_ of _Leyden_ most exactly! In the Fourth _Act_ the Mufti is _Depos'd_ and _Captain Tom_ reads him a shrewd Lecture at parting. But let that pass: To go on, _Mustapha_ threatens his great Patriark to put him to the Rack. Now you shall hear what an answer of Fortitude and Discretion is made for the _Mufti_. Mufti. _I hope you will not be so barbarous to torture me. We may Preach Suffering to others, but alas holy Flesh is too well pamper'd to endure Martyrdom._[214] By the way, if flinching from _Suffering_ is a proof of _Holy Flesh_, the _Poet_ is much a Saint in his Constitution, witness his _Dedication_ of _King Arthur_. In _Cleomenes, Cassandra_ rails against Religion at the Altar, and in the midst of a publick Solemnity. _Accurs'd be thou Grass-eating fodderd God! Accurs'd thy Temple! more accurs'd thy Priests!_[215] She goes on in a mighty Huff, and charges the Gods and Priesthood with Confederacy, and Imposture, This Rant is very unlikely at _Alexandria_. No People are more bigotted in their Superstition than the _Ægyptians_; Nor any more resenting of such an Affront. This Satyr then must be strangely out of Fashion, and probability. No matter for that; it may work by way of Inference, and be serviceable at Home. And 'tis a handsom Compliment to Libertines and Atheists. We have much such another swaggering against Priests in _Oedipus_. _Why seek I Truth from thee? The smiles of Courtiers and the Harlots tears, The Tradesmens Oaths, and Mourning of an Heir, Are Truths to what Priests tell. O why has Priesthood privilege to Lie, And yet to be believ'd!_[216] And since They are thus Lively, I have one word or two to say to the _Play_. When _Ægeon_ brought the News of King _Polybus_'s Death, _Oedipus_ was wonderfully surpriz'd at the Relation. _O all ye Powers is't possible? what, Dead!_[217] And why not? was the Man invulnerable or immortal? Nothing of that: He was only Fourscore and Ten years old, that was his main security. And if you will believe the Poet he _Fell like Autumn Fruit that mellow'd long, Ev'n wondred at because he dropt no sooner._[218]