that no gefture, motion, or deportment, be taught our youth but what by their allowance shall be thought honeft; for fuch Plato was provided of; It will ask more then the work of twenty licencers to examin all the lutes, the violins, and the ghittars in every houfe; they must not be fuffer'd to prattle as they doe, but must be licenc'd what they may say. And who fhall filence all the airs and madrigalls, that whisper foftnes in chambers? The Windows alfo, and the Balcone's must be thought on, there are fhrewd books, with dangerous frontifpices fet to fale; who fhall prohibit them, fhall twenty licenfers? The villages also must have their vifitors to enquire what lectures the bagpipe and the rebbeck rebbeck reads ev'n to the ballatry, and the gammuth of every municipal fidler, for these are the Countrymans Arcadia's and his Monte Mayors. Next, what more Nationall corruption, for which England hears ill abroad, then houfhold gluttony; who fhall be the rectors of our daily rioting? and what fhall be done to inhibit the multitudes that frequent those houses where drunk'nes is fold and harbour'd? Our garments alfo fhould be referr'd to the licencing of fome more fober work-mafters to fee them cut into a leffe wanton garb. Who fhall regulat all the mixt converfation of our youth, male and female together, as is the fafhion of this Country, who shall still appoint what fhall be difcours'd, what pre prefum'd, and no furder? Laftly, who fhall forbid and feparat all idle refort, all evil company? These things will be, and must be; but how they fhall be left hurtfull, how left enticing, herein confifts the grave and governing wisdom of a State. To fequefter out of the world into Atlantick and Eutopian polities, which never can be drawn into use, will not mend our condition; but to ordain wifely as in this world of evill, in the mid'ft whereof God hath plac't us unavoidably. Nor is it Plato's licencing of books will doe this, which neceffarily pulls along with it fo many other kinds of licencing, as will make us all both ridiculous and weary, and yet fruftrat; but thofe unwritt'n, or at least uncon ftraining ftraining laws of vertuous education, religious and civill nurture, which Plate there mentions, as the bonds and ligaments of the Commonwealth, the pillars and the sustainers of every writt'n Statute; these they be which will bear chief fway in fuch matters as these, when all licencing will be eafily eluded. Impunity and remiffenes, for certain are the bane of a Commonwealth, but here the great art lyes to discern in what the law is to bid restraint and punishment, and in what things perfwafion only is to work. If every action which is good, or evill in man at ripe years, were to be under pittance and prescription, and compulsion, what were vertue but a name, what praise could be then due to well-doing, what gram many grammercy to be fober, juft or continent? there be that complain of divin Providence for fuffering Adam to tranf greffe, foolish tongues! when GOD gave him reason, he gave him freedom to choose, for reason is but choofing; he had bin else a meer artificiall Adam, fuch an Adam as he is in the motions. We our selves esteem not of that obedience, or love, or gift, which is of force: GoD therefore left him free, fet before him a provoking object, ever almoft in his eyes herein confifted his merit, herein the right of his reward, the praise of his abftinence. Wherefore did he creat paffions within us, pleasures round about us, but that these rightly temper'd are the very ingredients of vertu? They are |