_Plautus_'s _Pinacium_ tells her Friend _Panegyric_ that they ought to acquit themselves fairly to their Husbands, tho' These should fail in their Regards towards them.[305] For all good People will do justice tho' they don't receive it. Lady _Brute_ in the _Provok'd Wife_ is govern'd by different maxims. She is debauch'd with ill Usage, says _Virtue is an Ass, and a Gallant's worth forty on't_.[306] _Pinacium_ goes on to another Head of Duty, and declares that a Daughter can never respect her Father too much, and that Disobedience has a great deal of scandal, and Lewdness in't.[307] The Lady _Jacinta_ as I remember does not treat her Father at this rate of Decency. Let us hear a little of her Behaviour. The _Mock Astrologer_ makes the Men draw, and frights the Ladys with the Apprehension of a Quarrel. Upon this; _Theodosia_ crys _what will become of us!_ _Jacinta_ answers, _we'll die for Company: nothing vexes me but that I am not a Man, to have one thrust at that malicious old Father of mine, before I go_.[308] Afterwards the old Gentleman _Alonzo_ threatens his Daughters with a Nunnery. _Jacinta_ spars again and says, _I would have thee to know thou graceless old Man, that I defy a Nunnery: name a Nunnery once more and I disown thee for my Father_.[309] I could carry on the Comparison between the old and Modern Poets somewhat farther. But this may suffice. Thus we see what a fine time Lewd People have on the _English Stage_. No Censure, no mark of Infamy, no Mortification must touch them. They keep their Honour untarnish'd, and carry off the Advantage of their Character. They are set up for the Standard of Behaviour, and the Masters of Ceremony and Sense. And at last that the Example may work the better, they generally make them rich, and happy, and reward them with their own Desires. Mr. _Dryden_ in the _Preface_ to his _Mock-Astrologer_, confesses himself blamed for this Practise. _For making debauch'd Persons his_ Protagonists, _or chief Persons of the Drama; And, for making them happy in the Conclusion of the Play, against the Law of Comedy, which is to reward Virtue, and punish Vice_. To this Objection He makes a lame Defence. And answers _1st._ _That he knows no such Law constantly observ'd in Comedy by the Antient or Modern Poets._ What then? _Poets_ are not always exactly in Rule. It may be a good Law tho' 'tis not constantly observ'd, some Laws are constantly broken, and yet ne're the worse for all that. He goes on, and pleads the Authorities of _Plautus_, and _Terence_. I grant there are Instances of Favour to vitious young People in those Authors, but to this I reply _1st._ That those _Poets_ had a greater compass of Liberty in their Religion. Debauchery did not lie under those Discouragements of Scandal, and penalty, with them as it does with us. Unless therefore He can prove _Heathenism_, and _Christianity_ the same, his _precedents_ will do him little service.