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bitual, tho’ all a Man’s Intereſt and his whole Reputation require it, how much more difficult muſt it be, when theſe two powerful Motives are wanting.
Perhaps too the Pride and Vanity that is in Mankind, may determine the generality to give into Muſick at the expence of Poetry. Men love to enjoy their Pleaſures entirely, and not to have them reſtrain’d by Awe, or curb’d by Mortification. Now there are but few judicious Spectators at our Dramatick Repreſentations, ſince none can be ſo, but who with great Endowments of Nature have had a very generous Education, and the reſt are frequently mortify’d by paſſing fooliſh Judgments; but in Muſick the Caſe is vaſtly different, to judge of that requires only Uſe and a fine Ear, which the Footman often has a great deal finer than his Maſter. In ſhort, a Man without common Senſe may very well judge of what a Man writes without common Senſe, and without common Senſe compoſes.
Since then we have made it appear ſo plainly, that by introducing Entertainments of meer Muſick among us, we muſt of neceſſity baniſh Poetry, let us now enquire of what conſequence the doing that muſt be to the Reputation and the Intereſt of England.
Now the Intereſt and Reputation of any Nation conſiſts in Power, as Power conſiſts in the Wiſdom, Numbers, and Spirit of the People, but the chiefeſt of theſe is the Spirit, ſince that is capable of making the other two, but without that the other two are of no ſignifacancy.
Now publick Spirit includes two things, Zeal and Affection, for the Honour and Intereſt of ones Country, and Courage and Reſolution to put any thing in Practice that may promote its Service or Glory.
Now
