VoirLecky, I, p

2. ...'Tis to be hop'd Uiis once wise and sober Nation will awaken from ils Lethargy. That notwithstanding Ihe présent Popularity ofVice, Levity and Impiety, it may one Day recover ils Relish of solid Knowledge and real Merit. That BufToons themselves may one Day be expos'd, the Laughers in their turn become ridiculous, and an Atheislical Scoffer be as much ont of Crédit, as a sober and religions Man is at présent... 'Tis great Pity that in so noble a Cause any should shew such Poorness of Spirit, as to be ashamM of asserting their Religion, and stcmming the Tide of Impiety, for fear of becoming the Entertainment of scoffing Libertines. (Blackmore, Création, Préface.)

3. Now is the Time that Rakes their Revels keep; Kindlera of Riot. Enemies of Sieep.

Hia scatter'd Pence the flying Nicker flings, iind with Copper ShowV the Casoment ringâ. Who has not heard the Scowrer's Midnight Famé? Who has oot trembled al the Mohock's name? Was there o Watchman took his hourly Rounds, Safe from their Blows, or new-invented Wound»? 1 pass their dcnp'rate Deed:», and Mischiefs done Where. from Snow-HUl black steepy Torrents run; IIow Malrons hoop'd wilhin the Hogshead's Womb,

JOSEPH ÂDDISON. 239

on trichait au jeu *, on buvait, on se grisait *j les femmes n'étaient pas plus réservées que par le passé '. Si nous cherchons dans le théâtre des indices de la moralité, nous voyons que le dévergondage et toutes les débauches d'imagination continuaient à s'étaler complaisamment sur la scène. Les anciens auteurs comiques restaient fidèles à Tancienne inspiration : V Amphitryon de Dryden*; les Scowrers et les Volontaires de Shadwell; le Don Quichotte de D'Urfey sont des comédies aussi libres que les précédentes des mômes écrivains ^

Were tumbled furious theoce; th^rolUng Tomb O'er tbe Stones thanders; bounds from Side to Side : So Regulwt to save bis Country dy'd.

(Gay, Trivia.)

Voir aussi le Spectateur, n»' 324, 332, 335, 347; Swift, Jowma/ to Stella, 8, 9, 12, lo, 16, 18, 22, 26 mars 1711-12; et ma bibliographie, v© Mohocks.