ife_ design'd.
Be this in _Tragic_ an _Eternal Law_;
_Bold Strokes_ and _larger_ than the _Life_ to draw:
Let all be _Great_; when here a _Woman's_ seen,
Paint her a _Fury_, or a _Heroine_:
_Slaves, Spendthrifts_, angry _Fathers_, better fit
The meaner _Sallies_ of COMEDIAN Wit;
But _Courtly_ HORACE did their _Stage_ refuse, 970
Nor was it trod by _Maro's_ heav'nly Muse:
A _Walk_ so _low_ their _nobler Minds_ disdain,
Where _sordid Mirth's_ exchang'd for _sordid Gain_;
Where, in false _Pleasure_ all the _Profit's_ drown'd,
Nor _Authors_ with just _Admiration_ crown'd:
Hence was the _Sock_ a Task for _servile Wit_,
Course PLAUTUS hence, and neater TERENCE writ:
Yet if you still your _Fortune_ long to take,
And long to hear the _crouded Benches_ shake; 980
If you'd _reform_ the _Mob_, lov'd _Vice restrain_,
The _Pulpits_ break, and neighb'ring _B----_ drain;
Let _Heav'n_ at least, if not its _Priests_, be free,
The _Bible_ sures's too _grave_ for _Comedy_:
If she nor _lewdly_ nor _profanely_ talk
She'll have a _cleaner_, tho a _narrower Walk_.
Our Nation's _endless Humour_ will supply
So large a _Fund_ as never can be _dry_;
Why then should _Vice_ be _bare_ and _open_ shown,
And with such _Nauseous Scenes_ affront the _Town_? 990
Why thrive the _Lewd_, their _Wishes_ seldom crost,
And why _Poetic Justice_ often lost?
They plead they copy _Nature_.--Don't abuse
Her _sacred Name_ with such a _vile Excuse_!
She wisely _hides_ what these, like Beasts _display_, }
Ev'n _Vice_ it self, less _impudent_ than they, }
Remote in _Shades_, and far from _conscious_ Day. }
From this _Retrenchment_ by strong _Reason_ beat,
They next to _poor Necessity_ retreat:
The _Murderers, Bawds_ and _Robbers_ last pretence 1000
With equal _Justice_, equal _Innocence_!
So _Crack_, in _pious Fit_, will plead she's _poor_,
'Tis a _hard Choice_, Good Sir, to _starve_ or _whore_!
--Is there no _Third_, or will such _Reas'nings_ pass
In _Bridewel's_ rigid Court, or save the _Lash_?
Where the _stern Judge_, like _Radamanth_, surveys
The _trembling Sinner_, and each Action _weighs_.
A lazy, black, encumber'd _Stream_ rolls by,
Whole thick _sulphureous Vapours_ load the Sky;
Near where, in _Caves_ from _Heav'n's_ sweet _Light_ debar'd, 1010
_Shrieks, Groans_, and _Iro