known amongst us than the living themselves; the Alexanders, the Scipios, and the Cesars, ought never to lose their Characters in our hands: for the most injudicious spectator perceives that he is offended, when an Author ascribes Faults to them, which they had not; or when he takes from them Virtues, which had made upon his mind an agreeable impression. Their Virtues, once establish'd, interest our self-love near as much as our own real merit; and 'tis impossible to make the least alteration in them, without making us feel this change with violence. Above all things, we ought not to injure the reputation of their Genius in the War, to render them more illustrious in their Amours. We may give them Mistresses of our own inventing, we may mix passion with their Glory: but let us take care of making an Anthony of an Alexander; and not ruin a Hero, confirm'd for so many ages, merely to favour a Lover of our own creating.
To banish Love out of our Tragedies, as unworthy of Heroes, is to take away that secret charm which unites our Souls to theirs, by a certain tie that continues between them: but then to bring them down to us by this common sentiment, don't let us make them descend beneath themselves, nor destroy what they possess above men. Provided this discretion be observ'd, I dare affirm, that there are no subjects, where so universal a passion as Love is, may not be introduc'd naturally, and without violence. Besides, since Women are as necessary in the representation, as Men, we should give them frequent occasions to speak of that which is most agreeable to their nature, and which they talk better than any thing else. Take away from some of the Fair Sex the expression of amorous thoughts, and from others those private familiarities, into which the mutual confidence they have in each other
