Since _Tragedy_ has no defect, but what is external, it follows from thence, that 'tis good in its self, and consequently profitable; this cannot be contested, and those who condemn it, condemn, not only the most noble Diversion, but the most capable to raise the Courage, and form the Genius, and the only one, which can refine the Passions, and touch the most vicious and obdurate Souls. I could give many examples; but shall content my self with relating the Story of _Alexander_ of[20] _Pherea_: This barbarous Man, having order'd the _Hecuba_ of _Euripides_ to be Acted before him, found himself so affected, that he went out before the end of the first Act, saying, _That he was asham'd to be seen to weep, at the Misfortunes of_ Hecuba _and_ Polyxena, _when he daily imbrud his Hands in the Blood of his Citizens_; he was affraid that his Heart should be truly mollify'd, that the Spirit of Tyranny would now leave the possession of his Breast, and that he should come a private person out of that Theatre into which he enter'd Master. The Actor who so sensibly touch'd him, difficultly escaped with his Life, but was secur'd by some remains of that pity, which was the cause of his Crime. A very grave Historian, makes reflection much to this purpose, and which seems to me no indifferent one in Politicks; in speaking of the People of _Arcadia_, he says, _That their Humanity, sweetness of Temper, respect for Religion, in a word, the Purity of their Manners, and all their Virtues proceeded chiefly from the Love they had to Musick, which by its Melody, corrected those ill Impressions, a thick and unwholesome Air, joyn'd to a hard, and laborious way of living, made on their Bodies and Minds._ He says on the contrary, _That the_ Cynethians _fell into all sorts of Crimes and Impieties, because they despised the wise Institutions of their Ancestors; and neglected this Art, which was so much the more necessary for them, as they liv'd in the coldest and worst place of_ Arcadia: _There was scarcely any City in_ Greece, _where wickedness was so great and frequent as here_. If _Polybius_ speaks thus of Musick, and accuses _Ephorus_, for having spoken a thing unworthy of himself, when he said, _That 'twas invented to deceive Mankind_: what ought we then to say of _Tragedy_, of which Musick is only a small part; and which is as much above it, as a Word is above an inarticulate Sound, which signifies nothing.