But the same author, being filled with the precedents of the Ancients writing their Plays in Verse, commends the thing; and assures us that “our language is noble, full, and significant,” charging all defects upon the ill placing of words; and proves it, by quoting SENECA loftily expressing such an ordinary thing, as “shutting a door.”

    Reserate clusos regii postes Laris.

I suppose he was himself highly affected with the sound of these words.  But to have completed his Dictates [injunctions]; together with his arguments, he should have obliged us by charming our ears with such an art of placing words, as, in an English verse, to express so loftily “the shutting of a door”:  that we might have been as much affected with the sound of his words.

This, instead of being an argument upon the question, rightly stated, is an attempt to prove, that Nothing may seem Something by the help of a verse; which I easily grant to be the ill fortune of it:  and therefore, the question being so much mistaken, I wonder to see that author trouble himself twice about it, with such an absolute Triumph declared by his own imagination.  But I have heard that a gentleman in Parliament, going to speak twice, and being interrupted by another member, as against the Orders of the House:  he was excused, by a third [member] assuring the House he had not yet spoken to the question.

But, if we examine the General Rules laid down for Plays by strict Reason; we shall find the errors equally gross:  for the great Foundation that is laid to build upon, is Nothing, as it is generally stated; which will appear on the examination of the particulars.

First.  We are told the Plot should not be so ridiculously contrived, as to crowd several Countries into one Stage.  Secondly, to cramp the accidents of many years or days, into the Representation of two hours and a half.  And, lastly, a conclusion drawn that the only remaining dispute, is concerning Time; whether it should be contained in twelve or four and twenty hours; and the Place to be limited to the spot of ground, either in town or city, where the Play is supposed to begin [p. 531].  And this is called nearest to Nature.  For that is concluded most natural, which is most probable, and nearest to that which it presents.

I am so well pleased with any ingenious offers, as all these are, that I should not examine this strictly, did not the confidence of others force me to it:  there being not anything more unreasonable to my judgement, than the attempts to infringe the Liberty of Opinion by Rules so little demonstrative.