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taftrophes, the univerfal fear and abhorrence that purfue the 

 guilty monfters of the tragic ftagc, prevent their fentiments from 

 fpreading infedion, and their examples from exciting imitation. 

 Though the Grecian Mufe deUghted in the exhibition of out- 

 rageous paffions and enormous guilt, fhe gave them no falfe 

 colouring. She delighted to reprefent them, as they truly were, 

 objeds of horror, and caufes of mifery ; not as themes of appro- 

 bation, much lefs as fubjeds of imitation. The powers of eloquence 

 and poetry were employed, in heightening their natural aptitude 

 to excite abhorrence, and in fhowing their fatal confequences, 

 not in a wild attempt, to decorate or make them plaufiblc ; for 

 the extravagant and bombaftic fury of the German ftage was 

 referved the mad and mifchievous defign, of palliating, or cm- 

 bellifhing, what ought to excite difguft and horror, and of 

 cloathing rapine, impiety, and affaffination, in a fplendid and 

 impofmg garb: Vain and criminal attempt! Yet fuch is the 

 tendency of the Robbers of Schiller, a performance which de- 

 ferves equal reprobation, from found tafte, and from found 

 morality. 



A SMALL degree of refledion may convince us, that no habits 

 of cruelty can be imbibed, no mechanical hardnefs of heart be 

 contraded, by the perufal of works that relate thefe dreadful 

 ftories in queftion ; or from the being prefent at reprefentations 

 of gigantic villainy, or ftupendous mifery, on the ftage. It is 

 wifely ordained by the Author of our nature, in order to deter 

 man from the commiffion of ads of cruelty, that fuch ads not 

 only ftrike the moral fenfe with a perception of their turpitude, 



but 



