The Poets and Players would soon find
themselves oblig'd to restrain their licentious Conduct, reform
the Theatre, and present to the Town, if not instructive, at least
inoffensive and unshocking Diversions. And it is very desirable, that
this Expedient were set on foot, that the Honour of the _English_
Theatre may be retriev'd; that while we justly boast of our Priority
in Wit and Humour to our Neighbours, we may not be oblig'd to
acknowledge the great Inferiority of our Comedies, in respect of
Cleanness and moral Beauty: that we may not be reproach'd, that while
we profess a Reform'd and pure Religion, we encourage an immodest and
unreform'd Theatre, and that we are very defective in the Practice
of Vertue and Regularity of Manners, while these Abominations are
indulg'd, and these unhallow'd Groves and High Places of Immorality
are frequented without Disturbance.
[Illustration]
No 45 The FREE-HOLDER
No 45 Friday, May 25.
_Nimium risus pretium esi si probitatis impendis constat_
Quintil.
Laughter is bought too dear, if it be at the expence of honesty.
I have lately read, with much pleasure, the Essays upon several
subjects published by Sir _Richard Blackmore_; and though I agree
with him in many of his excellent observations, I cannot but take
that reasonable freedom, which he himself makes use of, with regard
to other writers, to dissent from him in some few particulars.
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