I 56 3 



tisfied with pieces, where the plots are more finely wrought ; they 

 are able to judge of the differences of charader, and the truth of 

 reprefentation, and willingly fee on the ftage fuch perfon?, as they 

 have been accuftomed to obferve in the common intercourfe of fo- 

 ciety. It is remarked, by a judicious traveller * that the Saxon 

 Dramatic Wiitings are not fo monftrous and extravagant, as thofe, 

 which are exhibited in the weftern and fouthern parts oi Germany, 

 becaufe, in that country a freer intercourfe of man with man, and 

 a more enlightened morality prevails. The poet is there more 

 -competent, to draw piflures of human life; and the people are 

 more competent, to judge of the fidelity of the portrait. In other 

 parts of Germany the majority of the people conftfts of a mob, and 

 a mob delights in fcurrile mirth, and reforts with eagemefs to a 

 funeral or an execution. " The poets (continues this fame tra- 

 veller) " are often as ignorant as the mob, of the fprings that 

 " aduate mankind, and have only chofen writing, as a trade. 

 " Their writings, confequently, have neither beauty, fhape, grace, 



(( 



nor proportion. 



There is another circumftance, which may have a confiderabJe 

 effedt. Courts are the feminaries of afFedled manners, ambitious 

 ornament, and the defire of diftindions. Every thing there is 

 eftimated by exterior, and fet out for Ihew ; every objcfl, every 



adion, 



* Riefbeck. 



