_5thly._ Smut is still more insufferable with respect to Religion. The Heathen Religion was in a great Measure a _Mystery_ of _Iniquity_. Lewdness was Consecrated in the Temples, as well as practised in the _Stews_. Their Deitys were great Examples of Vice, and worship'd with their own Inclination. 'Tis no wonder therefore their Poetry should be tinctured with their Belief, and that the _Stage_ should borrow some of the Liberties of their Theology. This made _Mercurys_ Procuring, and _Jupiters_ Adultery the more passable in _Amphitrion_[10]: Upon this Score _Gymnasium_[11] is less Monstrous in Praying the Gods to send her store of Gallants. And thus _Chæræa_[12] defends his Adventure by the Precedent of _Jupiter_ and _Danæ_. But the Christian Religion is quite of an other Complexion. Both its Precepts, and Authorities, are the highest discouragement to Licentiousness. It forbids the remotest Tendencies to Evil, Banishes the Follies of Conversation, and Obliges up to Sobriety of Thought. That which might pass for Raillery, and Entertainment in Heathenism, is detestable in Christianity. The Restraint of the Precept, and the Quality of the Deity, and the Expectations of Futurity quite alter the Case.
But notwithstanding the Latitudes of Paganism, the Roman and Greek _Theatres_ were much more inoffensive than ours. To begin with _Plautus_. This Comedian, tho' the most exceptionable, is modest upon the Comparison. For
_1st._ He rarely gives any of the above mention'd Liberties to Women; And when there are any Instances of the contrary, 'tis only in prostituted and Vulgar People; And even these, don't come up to the Grossness of the _Modern Stage_.
For the Purpose. _Cleæreta_[13] the Procuris borders a little upon Rudeness: _Lena_[14] and _Bacchis_[15] the Strumpet are Airy and somewhat over-merry, but not _A l'Anglois_ obscene. _Chalinus_[16] in Womans Cloaths is the most remarkable. _Pasicompa Charinus_ his Wench talks too freely to _Lysimachus_;[17] And so does _Sophroclidisca_ _Slave_ to _Lemnoselene_.[18] And lastly: _Phronesiam_ a Woman of the _Town_ uses a double entendre to _Stratophanes_.[19] These are the most censurable Passages, and I think all of them with relation to Women; which considering how the World goes is very moderate. Several of _our_ Single _Plays_ shall far out-do all This put together. And yet _Plautus_ has upon the matter left us 20 entire _Comedies_. So that in short, these Roman Lasses are meer _Vestal Virgins_, comparatively speaking.