e, and in the Press: Nor did I take their single word for
it, but us'd their reasons as a confirmation of my own.

Indeed that day 'twas Acted first, there comes me into the Pit, a long,
lither, phlegmatick, white, ill-favour'd, wretched Fop, an Officer in
Masquerade newly transported with a Scarf & Feather out of France,
a sorry Animal that has nought else to shield it from the uttermost
contempt of all mankind, but that respect which we afford to Rats and
Toads, which though we do not well allow to live, yet when considered as
a part of God's Creation, we make honourable mention of them. A thing,
Reader-- but no more of such a Smelt: This thing, I tell ye, opening
that which serves it for a mouth, out issued such a noise as this to
those that sate about it, that they were to expect a woful Play, God
damn him, for it was a woman's. Now how this came about I am not sure,
but I suppose he brought it piping hot from some who had with him the
reputation of a villanous Wit: for Creatures of his size of sense talk
without all imagination, such scraps as they pick up from other folks. I
would not for a world be taken arguing with such a propertie as this;
but if I thought there were a man of any tolerable parts, who could upon
mature deliberation distinguish well his right hand from his left, and
justly state the difference between the number of sixteen and two, yet
had this prejudice upon him; I would take a little pains to make him
know how much he errs. For waving the examination why women having equal
education with men, were not as capable of knowledge, of whatsoever sort
as well as they: I'll only say as I have touch'd before, that Plays have
no great room for that which is men's great advantage over women, that
is Learning; We all well know that the immortal Shakespeare's Plays (who
was not guilty of much more of this than often falls to women's share)
have better pleas'd the World than Johnson's works, though by the way
'tis said that Benjamin was no such Rabbi neither, for I am inform'd
that his Learning was but Grammar high; (sufficient indeed to rob poor
Salust of his best orations) and it hath been observ'd that they are apt
to admire him most confoundedly, who have just such a scantling of it as
he had; and I have seen a man the most severe of Johnson's Sect, sit
with his Hat remov'd less than a hair's breadth from one sullen posture
for almost three hours at _The Alchymist_; who at that excellent Play of
_Harry t