Page:Life and Writings of Homer.pdf/80

68 Dignities, and bet Men of the Nation, are advantageous to that kind of Writing. But if that Liberty was often abued, and if the Drama is capable of a nobler Turn, and of giving a more refined Pleaure; if more Truth can be brought into the Manners, and Men and their Natures more generally repreented, in that cae it mut give way to the new.

however own, that while the high Democracy prevailed at Athens, and the Commonalty were poeed of that uncontrouled Power which Pericles had put in their hands, and Cleon exercied, during that time, Aritophanes and his Fellows had Originals to draw from; and in that repect their Wit and Writings, which appear to us theatrical and fale, are natural and true. But that wild licentious Government was no ooner check'd by Fears from abroad, (which always produce Regulations at Home) than the κάλοι κἀγαθοί, the Men of Capacity and Worth, began to ditinguih themelves and appear eminent; A Secretion was made; Manners were formed, and Characters oberved and valued. Here was the Rie of the new Comedy; Ribaldry was banihed, and Menander wrote. That is, at a Seaon when Liberty was not lot, but the Excrecencies of it lopp'd off; when the Humour of that witty People was not quahed but regulated: So true it is, That every kind of Writing, but epecially the Poetick, depends upon