It is therefore very ridiculous, to busy Porus wholly with his Love, just before a great Battle, which was to decide his destiny; nor is it less preposterous to make Alexander quit the field, when the Enemy begin to rally. One should have introduc'd him impatient to find out Porus, and not make him leave the fight with precipitation, only to pay a visit to Cleophile; he that was never troubled with any such amorous disorders, and who never thought a Victory complete, till he had either destroy'd or pardon'd. That which is harder upon him still, is, that he is made to lose much on one side, without gaining any thing on't'other: he is as indifferent a Hero in Love, as in War; and thus the History is disfigur'd, without any ornament to the Romance: we find him a Warriour, whose glory cannot inflame our courage; and a Lover, whose passion cannot affect our tenderness.
This is what I had to say of Alexander and Porus. If I have not regularly tied my self to an exact Criticism, 'tis because, instead of entering into particulars, I rather chose to enlarge my self upon the Decorum that ought to be observ'd in the discourses of Heroes, and the difference of their Characters; upon the good and ill usage of the tenderness of Love in Tragedies, which is rejected too severely by those, that ascribe every thing to the motions of Pity and Fear; and is too nicely pursu'd by those, that have no relish, but for these sorts of sentiments.
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