must be
profitable: 'Tis a general Truth that ev'ry Art is a good Thing, because
there is none whose End is not Good: But, as it is not less true, that
Men ordinarily abuse the best Things, that which was design'd for an
wholsome Remedy, may in time become a very dangerous Poison. I declare
then that I don't speak of corrupted _Tragedy_, for 'tis not in vitious
and depraved Works, that we must look for Reason, and the intent of
Nature, but in those which are sound and perfect; I speak of Ancient
_Tragedy_, that which is conform to _Aristotle's_ Rules, and I dare say,
'tis the most profitable, and necessary of all Diversions.

If 'twas possible to oblige Men to follow the Precepts of the Gospel,
nothing could be more happy, they would find there true Peace, solid
Pleasure, and a Remedy for all their Infirmities, and would look on
_Tragedy_ as useless and below them. How could they do otherwise than
have this opinion? since those _Pagans_ who apply'd themselves to the
Study of Wisdome, consider'd it with the same Genius. They themselves
own, that could the People be always brought up in the solid Truths of
Philosophy, the Philosophers need have no recourse to Fables, to give
their Instructions: But as so much Corruption was inconsistent with such
Wisdom, they were forc'd to seek for a Remedy to the Disorders of their
Pleasures; they then invented _Tragedy_, and inspir'd them with it, not
as the best Employment Men could take up, but as a means, which was able
to correct the excess, into which they plung'd themselves at their
Feasts, and to render those amusements profitable, which Custom and
their Infirmities had made necessary, and their Corruption very
dangerous.

Men are the same now, they were then, they have the same Passions, and
run with the same Eagerness after Pleasures. To endeavour to reclaim
them from that State, by the severity of Precepts, is attempting to put
a Bridle on an unruly Horse in the middle of his carrier, in the
mean while, there is no Medium, they run into the most criminal excess,
unless you afford them regular and sober Pleasures. 'Tis a great
Happiness that their remaining Reason inclines them to love Diversions,
where there is Order, and Shows, where Truth is to be found, and I am
perswaded, that Charity obliges us, to take advantage of this, and not
to allow too much time for Debauches, which would extinguish that Spark
of Reason, which yet shines in them. Those People are distemper'd, an