But after all, why shou’d Mr. Collier blame Mr. Dryden for making Dorax exclaim against the Mahometan Priest?  Or how can that be a Prejudice to the Character of the Christian Clergy?  Is it not natural for such a one as Dorax to say as much, and especially against such a one as the Mufti in the Play?  And does Mr. Collier blame Mr. Dryden for writing naturally?  I think it is a Fault throughout Mr. Collier’s Book, that in his Criticisms of the Plays, he never considers the Person who speaks; that is, Whether ’tis not natural for a Man of such a Character, to say such a thing?  It wou’d have been of more Service to have proved, That no Person is to be brought on the Stage to say an ill thing, and then he had thrown away all the Profaneness, which is so much an Offence, at once.  But if such Persons are to be represented, there is not so much Reason against any of our present Plays, as is urg’d by Mr. Collier; for you must allow a Coquett to talk like her self, a Lover to vent his Passion in Raptures, and a Rake to speak the Language of the Town.

I have already told you, That I am far from vindicating the present Stage.  I don’t know a regular Play, or that ought to be represented on a regular Stage; yet I know a great many Plays that I would not loose for want of that Regularity.  Who wou’d not have Sir G.  Etheridge, Mr. Wicherly, and even some of Mr. Dryden’s Plays?  Who would reject the Orphan, because Mr. Collier objects against a loose Speech in it.

But Mr. Collier has laid other things to the Poet’s Charge besides the Abuse of the Clergy; and that the profane Characters in the Play, has had an ill Effect on the Age, by promoting of Immorality and Vice.  This I very much question; for I can’t apprehend so much danger even in the present Stage as Mr. Collier wou’d suggest.  The greatest Faults of our Plays are their being generally, in one part or other, unnatural:  That which is regular in any of them can never be an Offence; and where that Monster appears, it rather frightens than allures; so that we are not in so much danger, even from our very bad Plays:  For the more monstrous, the less Power it has to please; and whatever looses the Power, can never do much damage.  So that if Mr. Collier should make a Collection of D’urfey’s Works, who is there that wou’d become a Convert?  And who wou’d turn Parson to be drunk and beat the Watch?  Or who wou’d be proud of an Imitation of any of his Heroes?  Has any Body brought themselves under his Character, in hopes to recommend them to the World?  It would be happy if the World had learnt no more Irreligion from the Pulpit than it has from the Stage; at least, the Consequence of the first has been more fatal.  What dismal Effect has the holy Cant had upon the Multitude:  What Rebellion, Blood-shed and Mischief have been encourag’d under the Name of Sanctity, Religion,