The Theater (1720) | Page 8

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._
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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 s?vior 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 surest Step is to sow Dissention, and strengthen their own Interest, by alienating the Affections of the Wife from her Husband; whose Bread they are eating at the same Time, that they are undermining his Quiet in the nearest Concerns of Life.
Making a Visit the other Day to my Friend Gellius, who happened to be abroad, I found the Partner of his Bosom Clarissa, and her eternal Companion Drusilla, all in Tears. I was not received with that open Familiarity, which was used to be shewn me; and I observed something in them of that kind of Reserve, which is common with People who are under some great Affliction. I at first apprehended, that some fatal Accident had happen'd to the