d the Replyer to have retracted:
and Submitted to the Censure of the Church, Why the Author expresses
himself in Terms so soft and general I undertake not to determine. He
might in Tenderness forbear his Adversarys Name; He might be content to
look upon him as an unwary Publisher, rather than the Writer; and, after
Submission made, might charitably desire, as far as might be, to cover
his Reproach. It Suffices, that the Opinions in the Book be confuted,
and exposed to shame; and when this is done in the Punishment of the
Reputed Author, the matter is not great, if the Name from thenceforth
be forgotten. If Mons'r _Caffaro_ had the Hardiness to assert a Tract
so unworthy his Character, his Answerer would not add perhaps to the
Scandall, when that Shame had been taken to himself, with a Remorse
becoming the Fact. But be this how it will, Censures, we know, are not
inflicted upon _Indefinite Some-bodies_; that such were inflicted, and a
Retractation made, the very first period is peremptory: And I hope the
Bp. of Meaux, and his manner of writing, are at least as credible an
Evidence of this, as the Booksellers can be Allowed to be, of that
Letter being genuine, which refers _Mr. M's_ Conscience to the
_Discourse_ for Satisfaction.

I am heartily glad, if the Plays written by that ingenious Gentleman are
so chast and inoffensive, as he declares them to be. The rather, because
the Success he mentions overthrows that frivolous Pretence, of the Poets
lying under a Necessity of writing lewdly in order to please the Town.
And if this Gentleman do yet retain the same tenderness of doing nothing
for Gain or Glory, which does not strictly become him: If he be still as
desirous to be satisfied what does, or does not, become him to do, with
regard to the matter in hand, as I ought to presume he was, when he
consulted his Friend, I would make it my request, that this Reply may be
Seriously and impartially considered. And I cannot but hope, that it may
disabuse him of the Errours the _Discourse_ might lead him into, and I
am much mistaken, if, upon these Terms, he ever writes for the Stage
any more. Prejudice and Passion, Vainglory and Profit, not Reason, and
Virtue, and the Common Good, seem but too plainly, to support this
Practice, and the Defence of it, as the matter is at present managed
among us. And a Person of _Mr. M's_ Parts and Attainments cannot be
at a loss, for much nobler subjects to employ them upon.

A Popular one perh