4ly. Plautus his Prologues and Epilogues are inoffensive. 'Tis true, Lambinus pretends to fetch a double entendre out of that to Pœnulus, but I think there is a Strain in the Construction. His Prologue to the Captivi is worth the observing.
Fabulæ huic operam date.
Pray mind the Play. The next words give the reason why it deserves regarding.
Non enim pertractate facta est
Neque spurcidici insunt versus immemorabiles.
We see here the Poet confesses Smut a scandalous Entertainment. That such Liberties ought to fall under Neglect, to lie unmention'd, and be blotted out of Memory.
And that this was not a Copy of his Countenance we may learn from his Compositions. His best Plays are almost alwaies Modest and clean Complexion'd. His Amphitrio excepting the ungenuine Addition is such. His Epidicus the Master-Piece of his whole Collection is inoffensive Throughout: And so are his Menechmi, Rudens, and Trinummus, which may be reckon'd amongst some of his next Best. His Truculentus another fine Play (tho' not entire) with a Heathen Allowance, is pretty Passable. To be short: Where he is most a Poet, he is generally least a Buffoon. And where the Entertainment is Smut, there is rarely any other Dish well dress'd: The Contrivance is commonly wretched, the Sence lean and full of Quibbles. So that his Understanding seems to have left him when he began to abuse it.
To conclude, Plautus does not dilate upon the Progress, Successes, and Disappointments of Love, in the Modern way. This is nice Ground, and therefore He either stands off, or walks gravely over it, He has some regard to the Retirements of Modesty, and the Dignity of Humane Nature, and does not seem to make Lewdness his Business. To give an Instance. Silenium is much gone in Love,Cistellear. A. 1.[28] but Modest withall, tho' formerly debauch'd.
She is sorry her Spark was forced from her, and in Danger of being lost. But then she keeps within compass and never flies out into Indecency. Alcesimarchus is strangely smitten with this Silenium, and almost distracted to recover her.Ibid. A. 2.[29] He is uneasy and blusters, and threatens, but his Passion goes off in Generals. He Paints no Images of his Extravagance, nor descends to any nauseous particulars.
And yet after all, Plautus wrote in an Age not perfectly refin'd, and often seems to design his Plays for a Vulgar Capacity. 'Twas upon this view I suppose his Characters exceed Nature, and his ill Features are drawn too large: His old Men over credulous, his Misers Romantick, and his Coxcombs improbably singular. And 'tis likely for this reason his Slaves might have too much Liberty.