_And then, for your Religion, profess none; But wonder at the Diversity of all._ Act 4. Sc. 1.
Also _Ben Johnson_ in his _Alchymist_ so much dishonours his Maker, as to suffer the most tremendous Name of God to be made so vile and cheap, as to be us’d often as an expletive Particle to prevent a Chasme, or make up a Gap in a Sentence, that it may run more smoothly; as appears by some of his Persons thus speaking.
_God’s Will then, Queen of Fairies On with your Tire; and, Doctor, with your Robes. Let’s dispatch him for God’s sake._ Act 3. Sc. 3.
_Fore God, She is a delicate Dab chick! I must have her._ Act 4. Scen. 2.
As for _Tragedies_, those are the most perfect ones in which there are _Peripeties_, that is, Revolutions, Changes of Fortune, and Remembrances, as in the _Oedipus_ of _Sophocles_, the first _Tragedy_ of all Antiquity, where in the 3d Scene of the 4th Act, the _Peripetie_, or Change of one Fortune into another, is contrary to what was expected, in the Man that comes from _Corinth_ to acquaint _Oedipus_ of the Death of King _Polybius_. I shall not take Notice of the Duration of the Representation of a _Play_, which ought not to exceed the Space of a natural Day; but observe, that the Sect of the _Peripateticks_ believing neither _Providence_ nor _fatal Necessity_, but imputes all Accidents to Chance, the antient tragick _Poets_ chose rather to follow the Opinion of the _Stoicks_, who acknowledge a _Providence_ and fatal Necessity; as very well perceiving, that that was the only Means to preserve the _Theatre_, those wonderful Surprizes, which are produc’d by Accidents that seem fortuitous, and yet nevertheless have Causes assign’d to them, which are certain. Again, it is to be noted, that the _Prologue_ should be plac’d before the Play; but _Plautus_ hath took the Liberty of the _Greeks_, in placing the Prologue in the Play, as particularly in the first Act of his _Miles gloriosus_, and after the first Act in _Cistellaria_; however, as I hint above, this Custom ought not to be follow’d by any prudent and regular Poet; and therefore _Terence_ hath took Care not to be guilty of so great a Fault. The _Catastrophe_ of a Play must be happy or fatal; but _Euripides_ has made his Pieces to have a miserable one, wherefore he appears to be the most tragical of all the _Poets_. Now the Use of Machines, which makes the Gods and Goddesses appear upon the Stage, is founded on the generally received Opinion of the _Ethnichs_, who suppose the Gods can see all things, and take Care of Men; for if there were none but _Epicureans_ in the World, the Machines would be ridiculous, or not suffer’d, because they would directly thwart their Opinion, in affirming the Gods lead a quiet Life, free from all Sorts of Care, and if _Nature_ sometimes doth those Things which seem miraculous, the Gods take no Notice of it, and don’t interrupt their Pleasure. By the Way also I must note, that the Imitation of Lightning and Thunder may be put into the Number of the Machines, and also that furious Storm, which makes the unravelling of the second _Oedipus_ in _Sophocles_; for altho’ _Jupiter_ doth not appear, yet ’tis he who sends that Tempest, during which _Oedipus_ is buried: And from hence I infer, that Machines may be employ’d, not only out of, but also in the Action of Tragedy, provided there be an absolute Necessity for them.