“I own,” said Selim, “that this supposition strikes me: but may I not observe to you, that people go to the playhouse, fully persuaded that they are to see the imitation of an event, and not the event itself.”

“And ought that persuasion,” replied Mirzoza, “to hinder the players from representing the event in the most natural manner?”

“All this means, madam,” interrupted Mangogul, “that you put yourself at the head of the censors.”

“And if your opinion be received,” continued Selim, “the empire is threatened with the decay of good taste; barbarism will revive, and we are in danger of relapsing into the ignorance of the ages of Mamurrha and Orondado.”