And this being so clearly proved, that ’tis past any shew of a reasonable denial; it will not be hard to destroy that other part of his argument, which depends upon it; that ’tis as impossible for a Stage to represent two Rooms or Houses, as two Countries or Kingdoms:  for his reason is already overthrown, which was, because both were alike impossible.  This is manifestly otherwise:  for ’tis proved that a stage may properly Represent two Rooms or Houses.  For the Imagination, being judge of what is represented, will, in reason, be less chocqued [shocked] with the appearance of two rooms in the same house, or two houses in the same city; than with two distant cities in the same country, or two remote countries in the same universe.

Imagination in a man or reasonable creature is supposed to participate of Reason; and, when that governs (as it does in the belief of fiction) reason is not destroyed, but misled or blinded.  That can prescribe to the Reason, during the time of the representation, somewhat like a weak belief of what it sees and hears; and Reason suffers itself to be so hoodwinked, that it may better enjoy the pleasures of the fiction:  but it is never so wholly made a captive as to be drawn headlong into a persuasion of those things which are most remote from probability.  ’Tis, in that case, a free born subject, not a slave.  It will contribute willingly its assent, as far as it sees convenient:  but will not be forced.

Now, there is a greater Vicinity, in Nature, betwixt two rooms than betwixt two houses; betwixt two houses, than betwixt two cities; and so, of the rest.  Reason, therefore, can sooner be led by Imagination, to step from one room to another, than to walk to two distant houses:  and yet, rather to go thither, than to fly like a witch through the air, and be hurried from one region to another.  Fancy and Reason go hand in hand.  The first cannot leave the last behind:  and though Fancy, when it sees the wide gulf, would venture over, as the nimbler; yet, it is withheld by Reason, which will refuse to take the leap, when the distance, over it, appears too large.  If BEN.  JOHNSON himself, will remove the scene from Rome into Tuscany, in the same Act; and from thence, return to Rome, in the Scene which immediate follows; Reason will consider there is no proportionable allowance of time to perform the journey; and therefore, will choose to stay at home.

So then, the less change of place there is, the less time is taken up in transporting the persons of the Drama, with Analogy to Reason:  and in that Analogy or Resemblance of Fiction to Truth consists the excellency of the Play.

For what else concerns the Unity of PLACE; I have already given my opinion of it in my Essay, that “there is a latitude to be allowed to it, as several places in the same town or city; or places adjacent to each other, in the same country; which may all be comprehended under the larger denomination of One Place; yet, with this restriction, the nearer and fewer those imaginary places are, the greater resemblance they will have to Truth:  and Reason which cannot make them One, will be more easily led to suppose them so.”