Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/119

 tial Eays which we have prefixed to the hitorical Matter contained in every Book; and which we have determined to be eentially neceary to this Kind of Writing, of which we have et ourelves at the Head.

For this our Determination we do not hold ourelves trictly bound to aign any Reaon; it being abundantly ufficient that we have laid it down as a Rule neceary to be oberved in all Proai-comi-epic Writing. Who ever demanded the Reaons of that nice Unity of Time or Place which is now etablihed to be o eential to dramatick Poetry? What Critick hath been ever aked why a Play may not contain two Days as well as one, or why the Audience (provided they travel like Electors, without any Expence) may not be wafted Fifty Miles as well as five! Hath any Commentator well accounted for the Limitation which an ancient Critic hath et to the Drama, which he will have contain neither more nor les than five Acts; or hath any one living attempted to explain, what the modern Judges of our Theatres mean by that Word low; by which they have happily ucceeded in banihing all Humour from the Stage, and have made the Theatre