Under the First, I shall cite some of the most celebrated Heathen Philosophers, Orators, and Historians; Men of the biggest Consideration, for Sense, Learning, and Figure. The

Second, Shall consist of the Laws and Constitutions of Princes, &c. The

Third, Will be drawn from Church-Records, from Fathers, and Councils of unexceptionable Authority, both as to Persons, and Time.

1st. I shall produce some of the most celebrated Heathen Philosophers &c. To begin with Plato. 'This Philosopher tells us that Plays raise the Passions, and pervert the use of them, and by consequence are dangerous to Morality. For this Reason he banishes these Diversions his Common-Wealth.'Plat. de Repub. Lib. 10.
Euseb. Præpar. Evang.[437]

Xenophon who was both a Man of Letters and a great General, commends the Persians for the Discipline of their Education. 'They won't (says he) so much as suffer their Youth to hear any thing that's Amorous or Tawdry.'Cyropæd. p. 34[438] They were afraid want of Ballast might make them miscarry, and that 'twas dangerous to add weight to the Byass of Nature.

Aristole lays it down for a Rule 'that the Law ought to forbid Young People the seeing of Comedies. Such permissions not being safe till Age and Discipline had confirm'd them in sobriety, fortified their Virtue, and made them as it were proof against Debauchery.'Polit. Lib. 7. c. p. 12.[439] This Philosopher who had look'd as far into Humane Nature as any Man, observes farther. 'That the force of Musick and Action is very affecting. It commands the Audience and changes the Passions to a Resemblance of the Matter before them.'Polit. Lib. 8.[440] So that where the Representation is foul, the Thoughts of the Company must suffer.

Tully crys out upon 'Licentious Plays and Poems, as the bane of Sobriety, and wise Thinking: That Comedy subsists upon Lewdness, and that Pleasure is the Root, of all Evil.'Tusc. Quest. Lib. 4.
De Leg. Lib. 1.[441]

Livy, reports the Original of Plays among the Romans. 'He tells us they were brought in upon the score of Religion, to pacifie the Gods, and remove a Mortality. But then He adds that the Motives are sometimes good, when the Means are stark naught: That the Remedy in this case was worse than the Disease, and the Atonement more Infectious then the Plague.'Dec. 1. Lib. 7.[442]

Valerius Maximus, Contemporary with Livy, gives much the same Account of the rise of Theatres at Rome. 'Twas Devotion which built them. And as for the Performances of those Places, which Mr. Dryden calls the Ornaments, this Author censures as the Blemishes of Peace.' And which is more, He affirms 'They were the Occasions of Civil Distractions; And that the State first Blush'd, and then Bled, for the Entertainment.Lib. 2. cap. 4.
cap. 6.[443] He concludes the consequences of Plays intolerable;[444] And that the Massilienses did well in clearing the Country of them. Seneca complains heartily of the Extravagance and Debauchery of the Age: And how forward People were to improve in that which was naught. That scarce any Body would apply themselves to the Study of Nature and Morality, unless when the Play-House was shut, or the Weather foul. That there was no body to teach Philosophy, because there was no body to Learn it: But that the Stage had Nurseries, and Company enough. This Misapplication of time and Fancy, made Knowledge in so ill a Condition. This was the Cause the Hints of Antiquity were no better pursued; that some Inventions were sunk, and that Humane Reason grew Downwards rather than otherwise.Natural Quest. Lib. 7. cap. 32.[445] And elswhere he avers that there is nothing more destructive to Good Manners then to run Idling to see Sights. For there Vice makes an insensible Approach, and steals upon us in the Disguise of pleasure.Epist. 7.[446]

'Tacitus relating how Nero hired decay'd Gentlemen for the Stage, complains of the Mismanagement;Annal. Lib 14. cap. 14.[447] And lets us know 'twas the part of a Prince to releive their Necessity, and not to Tempt it. And that his Bounty should rather 'have set them above an ill practise, than driven them upon't.'