The Theater (1720) | Page 8

make a Satisfaction for the Punishment, which he
by his Transgression had earned on himself and his Race.
_For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, Seis'd on by Force, judg'd,
and to Death condemn'd, A shameful and accurst, nail'd to the Cross By
his own Nation, slain for bringing Life; But to the Cross He nails thy
Enemies The Law that is against thee, and the sins Of all Mankind,
with him there crucified, Never to hurt them more, who rightly trust In
this his Satisfaction: So he dies, But soon revives; Death over him no
Power Shall long usurp: e'er the third dawning Light Return, the Stars
of Morron shall see him rise Out of his Grave, fresh as the dawning
Light, The Ransom paid, which Man from Death redeems._
I cannot better conclude the Triumph of this Promise, than by the
Speech, in which Adam expresses his Joy and Wonder at these glad
Tidings.
_'O Goodness infinite! Goodness immense, That all this Good of Evil
shall produce, And Evil turn to Good; more wonderful Than that,
which by Creation first brought forth Light out of Darkness! Full of

doubt I stand, Whether I should repent me now of Sin By me done and
committed, or rejoice Much more, that much more Good thereof shall
spring._
* * * * *
Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the Angel in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where
Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in.

Numb. XX.
THE
THEATRE.
By Sir JOHN FALSTAFFE.
To be Continued every Tuesday and Saturday.
Price Two-pence.
_Tristius baud illis monstrum, nec sævior ulla Pestis, & ira Deum_,
Stygiis _sese extulit oris._
Virg.
Saturday, _April 23. 1720._
It is very odd to consider, yet very frequently to be remark'd, that tho'
we have all so many Passions and Appetites pushing for the
Government of us, and every one of us has a Portion of Reason, that, if
permitted, would regulate our Conduct: yet we are obstinate not to be
directed by that Reason, and give the Rein and Regulation of our
Actions over to the Passions and Appetites of other People. This is
putting our selves upon the Foot of _Epicurus's_ Deities, who were too
indolent to look after the World themselves, and left the Task of
Providence to Chance and Second Causes.
I grant, it is very necessary that our Misconduct should be assisted, and
set right by wiser Judgment; but the Danger is, and especially among
the Female Sex, into what Hands this Power of Direction is committed.

The Trust of Friendship is so often betrayed, and the Duty of the Office
postponed to private Interest, that it is a Question whether we are not
safer, while we give a Loose to our own extravagant Excursions. The
Institution of Douegnas, or Governesses in Spain, we do not doubt, was
a Design well befitting the Caution of that wise and reserved Nation;
but the Corruption of the Persons intrusted, soon brought them into so
much Disreputation, that they became the Objects of hatred and
Scandal.
Don Francisco de Quevedo, in his general Satires, has set these Vermin
in such a Light, as gives a shrewd Suspicion of their having been
mischievous in his own Family. He dreams that he is got within the
Confines of Death, and, among the other visionary Figures presented,
he is encountred by an old Governante. _How's this_! says he, in a
great Amazement, _Have ye any of those Cattle in this Country? Let
the Inhabitants pray heartily for Peace then; and all little enough to
keep them quiet_. In short, he makes the old Gentlewoman acquaint
him, that she had been Eight Hundred Years in Hell, upon a Design to
erect an Order of the _Governantes_; but the Right Worshipful Satanic
Commissioners were not as yet come to any Resolution upon the Point:
For, they said, if your Governantes should come once to settle there,
there would be no Occasion for any other Tormentors, and the Devils
themselves would be but so many Jacks out of Office. I have been, says
she, too in Purgatory _upon the same Project, but there so soon as ever
they set Eyes upon me, all the Souls cried out unanimously_, Libera
nos, Domine. And as for Heaven, _That's no Place for Quarrels,
Slanders, Disquiets, Heart-burnings, and consequently none for_ Me.
These are the _Douegna's_ which the Suspicions of the Spaniards at
first intended as Spies upon the Conduct of their Wives and Daughters.
We have a Species of Governantes among us in England, who being
admitted into a Familiarity in Families, by Policy improve it into
Friendship: this Friendship lets them into a Degree of Trust, which they
are diligent to turn into the best Advantage; and having always little
servile Ends of their own to obtain, their