_Ben Johnson's_ _Fox_ is clearly against Mr. _Dryden_. And here I have his own Confession for proof. He declares the _Poets end in this Play was the Punishment of Vice, and the Reward of Virtue_.[319] _Ben_ was forced to strain for this piece of Justice, and break through the _Unity of Design_. This Mr. _Dryden_ remarks upon him: How ever he is pleased to commend the Performance, and calls it an excellent _Fifth Act_. _Ben Johnson_ shall speak for himself afterwards in the Character of a Critick; In the mean time I shall take a Testimony or two from _Shakespear_. And here we may observe the admir'd _Falstaffe_ goes off in Disappointment. He is thrown out of Favour as being a _Rake_, and dies like a Rat behind the Hangings. The Pleasure he had given, would not excuse him. The _Poet_ was not so partial, as to let his Humour compound for his Lewdness. If 'tis objected that this remark is wide of the Point, because _Falstaffe_ is represented in Tragedy, where the Laws of Justice are more strickly observ'd, To this I answer, that you may call _Henry_ the Fourth and Fifth, Tragedies if you please. But for all that, _Falstaffe_ wears no _Buskins_, his Character is perfectly Comical from end to end. The next Instance shall be in _Flowerdale_ the _Prodigal_. This Spark notwithstanding his Extravagance, makes a lucky Hand on't at last, and marries a rich Lady.[320] But then the Poet qualifies him for his good Fortune, and mends his Manners with his Circumstances. He makes him repent, and leave off his Intemperance, Swearing _&c._ And when his Father warn'd him against a Relapse, He answers very soberly, _Heaven helping me I'le hate the Course of Hell._ I could give some instances of this kind out of _Beaumount_ and _Fletcher_, But there's no need of any farther Quotation; For Mr. _Dryden_ is not satisfied with his Apology from Authority: He does as good as own that this may be construed no better than defending one ill practise by another. To prevent this very reasonable objection he endeavours to vindicate his _Precedents_ from the Reason of the Thing. To this purpose he _makes a wide difference between the Rules of Tragedy and Comedy. That Vice must be impartially prosecuted in the first, because the Persons are Great &c._