te. For
if, in a Country disposed to a _lighter Temper and Air_, where the
_Church_ has greater Corruption, and the _Theater_ fewer, there can
yet be whole Bodies of _Casuists_ found, disallowing the sight of
their _Modester Plays_; Methinks it shou'd not be thought an Absurdity
here, to go about to disswade so _thoughtful_ a _People_ as we reckon
our selves, from going to ours which shew so little of that
Reformation to which we pretend.

[Sidenote: P. of _Conde_. _Vid. traite de la Comedie_.]

And least this should seem to be only the sense of some retired
_Divines_, I beg leave to observe that the same censure is also pass'd
by a _Prince of the Blood_, as highly Esteem'd for his _Learning_ as
_Birth_. And I wish his Example were follow'd here, that the shameful
_Indignities_ put upon Persons of the _Highest Descent_ by those of
the _Meanest_, wou'd stir up some excellent Spirit of that Eminent
Rank, to shew them how much beneath them it was, to stoop so low to be
thus coarsly entertained: And that it betray'd a want of _Honour_ as
well as _Religion_, tamely to see themselves as well as their _Maker_
abused, and to seem pleased with that in a Croud, which said or done
before them any where else, they wou'd be obliged to resent as the
highest Affront.

At least I hope that one way or other, they will be convinced how much
it concerns them to put a stop to this Insolent Course, and find out
some other _Diversions_, till these at least are reform'd, more
suitable to the Christian Religion, and less threatning their Virtue
and Fame. And such no doubt may be found, tho' some perhaps will be
apt to reply, that, at this way of talking, all are condemn'd.

But this I conceive is not fair, nor rightly deduced from what has
been said; good reasons I know are sometimes press'd with these kind
of Extremities, when Men have not a mind to admit their natural force;
and to hinder inferring any thing from them, they frowardly insist on
their proving too much: And thus I think it wou'd be in those, who
shou'd offer to urge that this sort of arguing puts an end to all kind
of Mirth.

For are then all Diversions alike? And can there be none without such
follies, as no Man in his sense wou'd endure? Must all easie
Conversation be lost, unless Men have leave to be loose and profane?
And can there be no coming together of Strangers or Friends, but some
naked Vice must dance and be praised, or some Virtue made a Sacrifice
of, to fill