Page:An Essay on the Opera's After the Italian Manner.pdf/28

 preion enough to work any change in the Souls of an Audience; or if they are not like to be wholly lot in the oftnes of lucious ounds; or if the mind is fit to attend to its duty, while the whole Man is diolv’d in the wantonnes of effeminate Airs.

After what has been aid, I appeal to any Lover of his Country, if Poetry which begets a publick Spirit, ought to be banih’d for Muick which detroys it, which as it corrupts Mankind has a natural tendency to the Inlaving them; and indeed where-ever Opera’s have been a contant Entertainment they have been attended with lavery. We are at preent contending for Liberty, and hard is the Contention, and the event doubtful, and we can not o much as hope to ucceed, but by the Virtue of that magnanimous Spirit, which Poetry exalts, and which effeminate Mufick debaes.

I know not by what Fate it has happen’d, that when in ome late Reigns, in which Arbitrary Pow’r was the thing that was aim’d at, the Stage the Protector of Liberty was chiefly encourag’d, in a Reign like this which Deigns and Breaths forth nothing but Liberty; Pleaures hould be encourag’d ev’n by Lovers of Liberty, which are Independant of Reaon, and tend to nothing but Slavery. A long experience has told us, that what My Lord Rocommon has aid in his Eay on tranlated Vere is true.

The Declenion of Poetry in Greece and Ancient Rome was oon follow’d by that of Liberty and Empire. And the