e same in
all Ages and Nations: And because the Characters of _Wildair_,
_Angelica_, _Standard_ and _Smuggler_ are _natural_, and well pursued,
They have justly met _with Applause_; but then the Characters of
_Lurewell_ and _Clincher_ Sen. being _out_ of _Nature_ they have as
justly been condemned by all the Good Judges."

* Some _Scholars_, tho' by their constant Conversation with Antiquity,
they may know perfectly the sense of the Learned dead, and be perfect
masters of the Wisdom, be throughly informed of the State, and nicely
skill'd in the Policies of Ages long since past, yet by their retired
and unactive Life, and their neglect of Business, they are such
strangers to the Domestick Affairs and manners of their own Country and
Times, that they appear like the Ghosts of old _Romans_ rais'd by
Magick. Talk to them of the _Assyrian_ or _Persian_ Monarchies of the
_Grecian_ or _Roman_ Commonwealths, they answer like Oracles; They are
such finished States-men that we should scarce take 'em to have been
less than Privy-Councellors to _Semiramis_, Tutors to _Cyrus_ the Great,
and old Cronies of _Solon_, _Licurgus_, and _Numa Pompilius_. But ingage
them in a discourse that concerns the present Times, and their Native
Country, and they hardly speak the language of it; Ask them how many
Kings there have been in _England_ since the Conquest, or in what Reign
the _Reformation_ happened, and they'll be puzzled with the Question;
They know all the minutest Circumstances of _Catiline's_ Conspiracy, but
are hardly acquainted with the late Plot. They'll tell you the Names of
such _Romans_ as were called to an Account by the Senate for their
_Briberies_, _Extortions_ and _Depredations_, but know nothing of the
four impeached Lords; They talk of the ancient way of Fighting, and
warlike Engines, as if they had been Lieutenant Generals under
_Alexander_, _Scipio_, _Annibal_ or _Julius Caesar_; but are perfectly
ignorant of the modern military Discipline, Fortification and Artillery;
and of the very names of _Nassau_, _Conde_, _Turenne_, _Luxembourg_,
_Eugene_, _Villeroy_ and _Catinat_. They are excellent Guides, and can
direct you to every Alley, and Turning in old _Rome_ yet lose their way
home in their own Parish. They are mighty Admirers of the Wit and
Eloquence of the Ancients; Yet had they lived in the Time of
_Demosthenes_, and _Cicero_, would have treated them with as much
supercilious Pride, and disrespect as they do now the Mo