'Tis Heaven to have thee, and without thee Hell. Orph. p. 20.[110]

Polydor when upon the attempt to debauch Monimia, puts up this ejaculation.

Blessed Heaven assist me but in this dear Hour: p. 31.[111]

Thus the Stage worships the true God in Blasphemy, as the Lindians did Hercules by Cursing and throwing stones.Lactan.[112] This Polydor has another Flight of Profaness, but that has got a certain Protection, and therefore must not be disturb'd.

In the Old Batchelour, Vain-love asks Belmour, could you be content to go to Heaven?

Bell. Hum, not immediatly in my Conscence, not heartily.p. 19.[113]——This is playing I take it with Edge-Tools. To go to Heaven in jeast, is the way to go to Hell in earnest. In the Fourth Act, Lewdness is represented with that Gaity, as if the Crime was purely imaginary, and lay only in ignorance and preciseness. Have you throughly consider'd (says Fondlewife) how detestable, how Heinous, and how crying a Sin the Sin of Adultery is? have you weighed I say? For it is a very weighty Sin: and, altho' it may lie——yet thy Husband must also bear his part; For thy iniquity will fall on his Head.p. 28.[114] I suppose this fit of Buffoonry and profaness, was to settle the Conscience of young Beginners, and to make the Terrors of Religion insignificant. Bellmour desires Lætitia to give him leave to swear by her Eyes and her Lips: He kisses the Strumpet, and tells her, Eternity was in that Moment.p. 31.
38.
p. 39.
p. 39.[115] Lætitia is horibly profane in her Apology to her Husband; but having the Stage-Protection of Smut for her Guard, we must let her alone.[116] Fondlewife stalks under the same shelter, and abuses a plain Text of Scripture to an impudent Meaning.[117] A little before, Lætitia when her Intrigue with Bellmour was almost discover'd, supports her self with this Consideration. All my comfort lies in his impudence, and Heaven be prais'd, he has a Considerable Portion.[118] This is the Play-house Grace, and thus Lewdness is made a part of Devotion! Ther's another Instance still behind: 'Tis that of Sharper to Vain-Love, and lies thus.

I have been a kind of God Father to you, yonder: I have promis'd and vow'd something in your Name, which I think you are bound to Perform.Id. 49.[119] For Christians to droll upon their Baptism is somewhat extraordinary; But since the Bible can't escape, 'tis the less wonder to make bold with the Catechisme.

In the Double Dealer, Lady Plyant cries out Jesu and talks Smut in the same Sentence.Double Dealer. 34.[120] Sr. Paul Plyant whom the Poet dub'd a Fool when he made him a Knight, talks very Piously! Blessed be Providence, a Poor unworthy Sinner, I am mightily beholden to Providence36.
55.[121]: And the same word is thrice repeated upon an odd occasion.[122] The meaning must be that Providence is a ridiculous supposition, and that none but Blockheads pretend to Religion. But the Poet can discover himself farther if need be. Lady Froth is pleas'd to call Jehu a Hackney Coachman.p. 40.[123] Upon this, Brisk replies, If Jehu was a Hackney Coachman, I am answer'd——you may put that into the Marginal Notes tho', to prevent Criticisms——only mark it with a small Asterisme and say——Jehu was formerly a Hackney Coachman. This for a heavy Piece of Profaness, is no doubt thought a lucky one, because it burlesques the Text, and the Comment, all under one. I could go on with the Double Dealer but he'll come in my way afterwards, and so I shall part with him at present. Let us now take a veiw of Don Sebastian. And here the Reader can't be long unfurnish'd. Dorax shall speak first.

Shall I trust Heaven

With my revenge? then where's my satisfaction?