And when the Fences are thus broken down, what hopes can we have any Virtue shou’d stand without being impair’d at the least?  Nor do they stick to pursue their design, but go on overturning the natures of things as fast as they can, and they have met but with too much success.

The Sense of God being pretty well laid, the next thing to be sunk is all Respect to Superiours here; A Prince seldom appears to advantage, and ’tis easie to guess what use of this the Subjects will make.  Imposing on Parents, and despising their Age is made a Mark of Spirit and Wit, and few are brought in dull enough to Obey.  False Notions of Honour are here proposed as the ground of Esteem, and something of Wildness must go to the gaining Applause.  To set up for themselves is the first thing young People must learn, and to think it brave to trample on all that stands in their Way:  No Greatness like a thorough Revenge, nor any Spirit so Mean as that which forgives; Abusing those that honestly help them with their Labour, or Goods, has briskness and Reach, and a lively Cheat go’s off with more Reputation than paying ones Debts.

Their Friendships are built upon serving their Pleasures, and so cannot but be as loose as that which holds them together:  They who are Constant in breaking their Vows, shall here be caress’d as Faithful and True; but to shew Fidelity where it is ow’d, is too formal a business for those who have the sense to be free, and can relish nothing but what is forbid.

This makes them treat all Regular Love with that Stile of contempt, as if keeping of Measures was unbecoming our nature; and it was a shame to have the Bed undefiled.  They mix with Marriage all the disagreeable things they can find to turn the single against it, and make those that are in weary and sick of so flouted a State:  To increase their uneasiness under which Holy and Prudent Restraint, wandring Images are dressed up with all possible skill to affect them, and their heads are filled with the ways, of bringing these strange Desires to pass.

If this be the Case in the Main, as it plainly appears from the Account above mention’d, and might further be shewn by a very great addition of proof; then whether all this can be found at any one time, or whether some Days may not possibly be pretty clear of it all but what is brought thither, is not very material, more than to determin, what particular Plays should always be chosen by those that will go to Any.  For the fitness of allowing this Custom, or giving it any Encouragement, will not depend upon it’s not being faulty alike in every Part; but ’tis enough to condemn it, if what has been said is the general Scope, tho’ I doubt a Tryal wou’d shew that All offend in one thing or other.