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moft of the ancient tragedies, when the characters anfwer each 

 other for a considerable time by a fingle line, and often the fame 

 number of words. This fhort and abrupt intercourfe might now 

 and then be attended with propriety, by exp r effing anger, but 

 this obfcure dialogue generally happens when the perfons fpeak- 

 ing are in their ufual temper, and about the moll indifferent 

 circumftances. I cannot expect, however, that you mould be 

 able to defend the ancient writers on tragedy upon this head till 

 you have examined the parts I refer to in your library ; when, out 

 of many others, lean, from a memorandum in my pocket, point 

 out Euripides's Medea, 1. 663, et feq. as alfo his Hippolytus, 1. 80. 

 etfeq. 



I have already prefumed to mention fome uninterefting trage- 

 dies of the ancients, and conceive that I may alfo venture to fay, 

 that there are few fcenes even that command the involuntary 

 tear from the reader, which circumftance I mall always confider 

 as the true teft of the merits of a tragedy ; as the involuntary 

 laugh feems to be that of a comedy. Critics may write ingenious 

 diflertations ; but if the reader is not affected till he is taught to- 

 be fo, I fhall always diffcruft the abilities of the author. 



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