n the Heathen Schools, or make use of that Learning. This made the Chriftians fufpect a Snake in the Grafs, and put them on the other hand,(a)upon a Counter- Plot, to fruftrate his project. So they fet to work Apollinarius, a perfon, very luckily then; of manifold Learning and Wit; who, in the room of Homer, compofed for them the Hiflory of the Old Testament in Heroick Verse, down to the Times of Saul.

And Comedies also in imitation of Vicnander, together with Trageaies, like thofe of Euripides; and Lyricks, exactly to the ftrain of Pindar. An old Author, in his life of Gregory Nazianzen, affures us how that that holy Prelate undertook and performed the very fame thing, fo defeated the purpofe of that wicked Tyrant. Thefe Noble Labours have all dropt fhort of us? What Philofophers, what Conjurers fhould we have been? how our Ears would ha' tingled at this day, with the three Homers, and a Triple Round of all the Græcian Poetry? But the Fathers and Councils for feveral Ages declaring against every thing of Heathen denomination; the Stage-Plays, of course, were cry'd out upon, as Pagan Practice, Heathen Tradition, Rags and Relicks of Paganism, and Pagan Idolatry, in (4) Sozomen Hift. Eccles, L. 5. c. 17. D

vented

vented by the Devil, and appropriated to the Worship of falfe Gods.

And, upon this Topick, to this day, we find the Spanish Jefuits wondrous Eloquent. Says Pedro de Guzman (b); The Chriftian Emperours, Kings, and Popes have cut off, and burnt with the fire of their holy Zeal, many Heads of that old Hydra of Pagan Leudness: But yet there be two Heads that Still remain, which caufe a world of mischief : Thefe two Heads also must be lopt off and burnt down to rights; to wit, y Comedias y los Juegos de Toros, Comedies, and the Bull-Feafts.

At the beginning of the Reformation,the name of Poct was a mighty Scar-Crow to the Mumpfimus Doctors every where. The German Divines, and Profeffors at Kullen, were nettled and uneafie by this Poet, and the t'other Poct (c); Poet Reuclin, Poet Erafmus. Every body was reckoned a Poet that was more a Conjurer than themfelves. And, belike, the Jefuits are still of Opinion, That the Stage-Plays have not done 'em fervice. Campanella tells us, that the German and Gallican Herefie began with Sing-Song, and is carried on by (d) Comedy, and Tragedies. Ex Cantilenis incepit Ha refis Germanica & Gallicana, Comediis (b) Dif. 5. § 1. (c) Epift. Obse. (d) l. Poetic. c. 6.

Tragediis

Tragediis nutritur; Meaning, perhaps, Marots Tranflation of the Palms. The Sorbone declared against them, yet were they so much in vogue at the French Court, that no perfon of Note, but had their favourite Pfalm to their occafions. King H. 2. chose the 42 Pfalm, Ainfi qu' on oyt le Cerf. Like as the Hart doth...... which he fung when a-hunting. Madam de Valentinois, who was in Love, took the 130. Da fond de ma pensée-From the bottom of my heart, which the fung en volte. The Queens choice was the 6th, Ne vueillez pas o Sire, Lord, in thy wrath to an Air on the Chant des buffons. Anthony King of Navarr had the 43th, Revange moy, prens ta querelle. Judge, and revenge my Caufe (e), which he tun'd to the Brawl of Poitiers, and the rest in like manner. Clement Marot fet their Pipes a-going in Court and Countrey. And the poor Hereticks keep it up to this day; tho' (God-wot) they now (many of them) fing their Song in a strange Land

To be call'd Apoftate; to be deny'd our Baptism, Eucharist, and Christian Burial; to be Excommunicated, and given up to the Devil by so many Fathers, Canons,and Councils; however terrible to the Ears, is (e) Florimond Ramond, Hift. Hæref.

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not

not so convincing to the Understanding, as one fair Argument from Reason. What occurs of this kind is peradventure mostwhat comprehended in thefe words of Lactantius.

Comica Fabula de Supris Virginum loquuntur, aut amoribus Meretricum: Et quo (f) magis funt eloquentes qui flagitia illa finxerunt, eo magis fententiarum elegantia perfuadent. Et facilius inhærent Audientium memoriæ verfus numerofi & ornati. Tragica Hiftoriae fubjiciunt oculis Parricidia, & Incefta, & Cothurnata fcelera demonftrant.

In Comedies, fays he, are reprefented the debauch, and leud Pranks among Women of evil Converfation: And the more excellent that the Poet is, the deeper is the impression on the hearers. The Neatnefs and Elegance of Thought, with the Beauty and Sweetness of the Verfe, run always in their mind, and will not out of their bead. Tragedy lays before 'em Parricides, Incefts, and Wickedness in its Pontificalibus.

This indeed is of weight, and deferves confideration. It is a standing Objection; and was a Pagan Objection above two thousand years ago.

Plate is very particular in his charge; fays he, Fraud and Rapine, (g) and all (f) Lib. 6. Inft. Div. (g) 1. Common, Dial, a.

manner

manner of violence they commend or countenance by good Presidents, and Examples of this,and t'other God,or Son of God. Mercury is made the Patron for ftealing. And how fcurvily does Jupiter deal with his Old Father? What piques, fcwds and domeftick fquabbles amongst themselves? nor is their War with the Giants a more tolerable fiction. (b) Whatever is devised of this kind is a false fable, and a lye, and yet, were it true, not fit to be divulged to the people. (i) God is never to be represented whether in Songs, in Pfalms, or Tragedy, otherwise than Juft, Good, and Gracious, And on no account, to be faid the author of Evil. When any evil is done the Caufe is to be fought for elsewhere. Nor is it to be imagind that God had any hand in't. Therefore is it not to be endured that any Poet should as Homer (k), give out, that,

Two Barrels in his Cellar Jove has ftill
Of gifts to be bestow'd on Mortal Wights,
One full of good, the other full of ill,
And ufually to mingle them delights,

Nor must be suffer'd that infraction and violation of the Oaths and Truce by (1)Pan(b) Lof Laws, Dial.12.(i) Commonw. ut supra.(k)Il.w. (1)ILD• darus

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