something Romantick in
all that they do.

Were we daily to be in the _House_ of _Feasting_ and the soberest
Mirth, our Spirits wou'd grow by degrees so frothy and light, that we
shou'd not easily bring them to settle again on any thing that was
worthy our care: Without something now and then to raise them a
little, they wou'd be dull and unactive, but _all_ Relaxation wou'd
make them too airy, and of no sort of Use. They wou'd not serve to
keep up our Souls from sinking under the pleasures of sense, but so
unawares betray us into them, by loosning the strength we have to
resist, and improving the Charm, that tho' we supposed the whole
Concern of the _Stage_ to set out all Virtuous at first, we cou'd not
expect its continuing long in that primitive State, before it run into
some foolish Excess. For if Mens coming often and many together, on
business, or kind and friendly Occasions, is apt to lay a snare in
their Way; Nay if _Societies_ form'd for the very promotion of Virtue;
and ti'd to all the Discipline of it, are yet hardly kept from growing
irregular: What can we hope from such places of Concourse, where
Imagination expects to be rais'd, and the End is Delight?

But I doubt we never began so fairly as this, because our present
_Corruption_ is greater, than can well be conceiv'd to have sprung
from a _Root_ that had at first no _Bitterness_ in it.

Was there nothing _ill_ in the _Representations_ themselves, yet there
is so much of that by agreement of All, in the Vain _Behaviour of
those that are there_; that they must needs be very fond of a _Play_,
that can bring themselves to sit often and long in such _Company_ for
it.

And yet one wou'd think sufficient care had been taken by those on the
_Stage_, to heighten and please the most vicious _Tast_. They appear
to have study'd all the _Arts_ of an easie _Defilement_, and to have
left out no _Colours_ that were likely to _Stain_. And that these may
be sure to sink deep enough, their business is to discharge the Heart
of all its pure and _native Impressions_, that it may be the better
disposed to receive what _Tincture_ they please.

Men must here begin to _unlearn_ what their _Parents_ and grave
_Instructors_ have told them in the very tenderest part of their care;
and learn to suspect some of their first and plainest Notions of
things. They are now to be taught how they might _Be_, without a
Creator; and how, now they are, they may live best without any
Depe