t miserable.

'It will not perhaps be unentertaining to the Polite Reader to observe
how these three beautiful Sentences are formed upon different Subjects
by the same way of thinking; but I shall return to the first of them.

'Our Goodness being of a comparative, and not an absolute nature,
there is none who in strictness can be called a Virtuous Man. Every
one has in him a natural Alloy, tho' one may be fuller of Dross than
another: For this reason I cannot think it right to introduce a
perfect or a faultless Man upon the Stage; not only because such a
Character is improper to move Compassion, but because there is no such
a thing in Nature. This might probably be one Reason why the SPECTATOR
in one of his Papers took notice of that late invented Term called
_Poetical Justice_, and the wrong Notions into which it has led some
Tragick Writers. The most perfect Man has Vices enough to draw down
Punishments upon his Head, and to justify Providence in regard to any
Miseries that may befal him. For this reason I cannot think, but that
the Instruction and Moral are much finer, where a Man who is virtuous
in the main of his Character falls into Distress, and sinks under the
Blows of Fortune at the End of a Tragedy, than when he is represented
as Happy and Triumphant. Such an Example corrects the Insolence of
Human Nature, softens the Mind of the Beholder with Sentiments of Pity
and Compassion, comforts him under his own private Affliction, and
teaches him not to judge Mens Virtues by their Successes. I cannot
think of one real Hero in all Antiquity so far raised above Human
Infirmities, that he might not be very naturally represented in a
Tragedy as plunged in Misfortunes and Calamities. The Poet may still
find out some prevailing Passion or Indiscretion in his Character, and
shew it in such a Manner, as will sufficiently acquit the Gods of any
Injustice in his Sufferings. For as _Horace_ observes in my Text, the
best Man is faulty, tho' not in so great a degree as those whom we
generally call vicious Men.

'If such a strict Poetical Justice, as some Gentlemen insist upon, was
to be observed in this Art, there is no manner of Reason why it should
not extend to Heroick Poetry, as well as Tragedy. But we find it so
little observed in _Homer_, that his _Achilles_ is placed in the
greatest point of Glory and Success, though his Character is Morally
Vicious,