Mr. Dryden makes homewards and endeavors to fortify himself in modern authority. He lets us know that Ben Jonson, after whom he may be proud to err, gives him more than one example of this conduct; that in The Alchemist is notorious, where neither Face nor his master are corrected according their demerits. But how proud soever Mr. Dryden may be of an error, he has not so much of Ben Jonson's comedy as he pretends. His instance of Face etc. in The Alchemist is rather notorious against his purpose than for it.
For Face did not counsel his master Lovewit to debauch the widow; neither is it clear that the matter went thus far. He might gain her consent upon terms of honor for aught appears to the contrary. 'Tis true, Face, who was one of the principal cheats, is pardoned and considered. But then his master confesses himself kind to a fault. He owns this indulgence was a breach of justice and unbecoming the gravity of an old man. And then desires the audience to excuse him upon the score of the temptation. But Face continued in the cozenage till the last without repentance. Under favor, I conceive this is a mistake. For does not Face make an apology before he leaves the stage? Does he not set himself at the bar, arraign his own practice, and cast the cause upon the clemency of the company? And are not all these signs of the dislike of what he had done? Thus careful the poet is to prevent the ill impressions of his play! He brings both man and master to confession; he dismisses them like malefactors and moves for their pardon before he gives them their discharge. But the Mock Astrologer has a gentler hand: Wildblood and Jacinta are more generously used. There is no acknowledgment exacted, no hardship put upon them. They are permitted to talk on in their libertine way to the last and take leave without the least appearance of reformation. The Mock Astrologer urges Ben Jonson's Silent Woman as another precedent to his purpose. For there Dauphine confesses himself in love with all the collegiate ladies. And yet this naughty Dauphine is crowned in the end with the possession of his uncle's estate, and with the hopes of all his mistresses. This charge, as I take it, is somewhat too severe. I grant Dauphine professes himself in love with the collegiate ladies at first. But when they invite him to a private visit, he makes them no promise, but rather appears tired and willing to disengage. Dauphine therefore is not altogether so naughty as this author represents him.
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