Triumph of Death The Triumph of Time I know not whether ever these Representations appear'd on the Stage or no. The Triumph of Honour is founded on Boccace his Novels Day 10. Nov. 5. The Triumph of Love on the same Author Day 5. Nov. 8. The Triumph of Death on a Novel in The Fortunate Deceiv'd and Unfortunate Lovers part 3. Nov. 3. See besides Palace of Pleasure Nov. 4o. Belle-forest c. The Triumph of Time as far as falls within my discovery is wholly the Authors Invention Honest Man's Fortune a Tragi-Comedy As to the plot of Montaign's being prefer'd by Lamira to be her Husband when he was in Adversity and least expected the like Story is related by Heywood in his History of Women Book 9. pag. 641. Humourous Lieutenant a Tragi-Comedy which I have often seen acted with Applause The Character of the Humourous Lieutenant refusing to fight after he was cured of his Wounds resembles the Story of the Souldier belonging to Lucullus describ'd in the Epistles of Horace lib. 2. Ep. 2. but the very Story is related in Ford's Apothegms p. 30. How near the Poet keeps to the Historian I must leave to those that will compare the Play with the Writers of the Lives of Antigonus and Demetrius the Father and the Son See Plutarch's Life of Demetrius Diodorus Justin Appian c. Island Princess a Tragi-Comedy This Play about three Years ago was reviv'd with Alterations by Mr. Tate being acted at the Theatre Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1687. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Lord Walgrave King and No King a Tragi-Comedy which notwithstanding its Errors discover'd by Mr. Rymer in his Criticisms has always been acted with Applause and has lately been reviv'd on our present Theatre with so great success that we may justly say with Horace Haec placuit semel haec decies repetita placebit Knight of the burning Pestle a Comedy This Play was in vogue some years since it being reviv'd by the King's House and a new Prologue instead of the old One in prose being spoken by Mrs. Ellen Guin The bringing the Citizen and his Wife upon the Stage was possibly in imitation of Ben Johnson's Staple of News who has introduc'd on the Stage Four Gossips Lady-like attir'd who remain during the whole Action and criticise upon each Scene Knight of Malta a Tragi-Comedy Laws of Candy a Tragi-Comedy Little French Lawyer a Comedy The Plot is borrow'd from Gusman or The Spanish Roque part 2. ch 4. The Story of Dinant Clerimont and Lamira being borrow'd from Don Lewis de Castro and Don Roderigo de Montalva The like Story is in other Novels as in Scarron's Novel called The Fruitless Precaution and in The Complaisant Companion 8 o p. 263. which is copied from the above-mentioned Original Love's Cure or The Martial Maid a Comedy Love's Pilgrimage a Comedy This I take to be an admirable Comedy The Foundation of it is built on a Novel of Miguel de Cervantes called The Two Damsels The Scene in the first Act between Diego the Host of Ossuna and Lazaro his Ostler is stoln from Ben Johnson's New Inn which I may rather term borrow'd for that Play miscarrying in the Action I suppose they made use of it with Ben's Consent Lovers Progress a Tragi-Comedy This Play is built on a French Romance written by M. Daudiguier call'd Lisander and Calista Loyal Subject a Tragi-Comedy Mad Lover a Tragi-Comedy The Design of Cleanthe's Suborning the Priestess to give a false Oracle in favour of her Brother Syphax is borrow'd from the Story of Mundus and Paulina describe'd at large by Josephus Lib. 18. Cap. 4. This Play Sr. Aston Cockain has chiefly commended in his Copy of Verses on Mr. Fletcher's Plays See the Verses before the old Edition printed 1647. and Cockain's Poems pag. 101. Maid in the Mill a Comedy This Play amongst othershas likewise been reviv'd by the Duke's House The Plot of Antonio Ismenia and Aminta is borrowed from Gerardo a Romance translated from the Spanish of Don Gonzalo de Cespides and Moneces see the Story of Don Jayme pag. 350. As to the Plot of Otrante's seizing Florimel the Millers supposed Daughter and attempting her Chastity t is borrow'd from an Italian Novel writ by Bandello a Translation of which into French the Reader may find in Les Histoires Tragiques par M. Belleforest Tom. 1. Hist. 12. The same Story is related by M. Goulart see Les Histoires admirables de nôtre temps 8o. Tom. 1. p. 212. Maids Tragedy a Play which has always been acted with great Applause at the King's Theatre and which had still continu'd on the English Stage had not King Charles the Second for some particular Reasons forbid its further Appearance during his Reign It has since been reviv'd by Mr. Waller the last Act having been wholly alter'd to please the Court as the Author of the Preface to the second part of his Poems informs us and give us further the following Account T is not to be doubted who sat for the Two Brothers Characters 'T was agreeable to the Sweetness of Mr. Waller's Temper to soften the Rigor of the Tragedy as he expresses it but whether it be agreeable to the Nature of Tragedy it self to make every thing come off easily I leave to the Criticks This last Act is publisht in the Second Part of Mr. Waller's Poems printed in quarto Lond. 1690. Masque of Grays-Inn Gentlemen and the Inner-Temple This Masque was written by Mr. Beaumont alone and presented before the King and Queen in the Banqueting-house of Whitehall at the Marriage of the Illustrious Frederick and Elizabeth Prince and Princess Palatine of the Rhine Monsieur Thomas a Comedy which not long since appear'd on the present Stage under the Name of Trick for Trick Nice Valour or The Passionate Mad-man a Comedy Night Walker or The Little Thief a Comedy which I have seen acted by the King's Servants with great Applause both in the City and Country Noble Gentleman a Comedy which was lately reviv'd by Mr. Durfey under the Title of The Fools Preferment or The Three Dukes of Dunstable Philaster or Love lies a Bleeding a Tragi-Comedy which has always been acted with Success and has been the diversion of the Stage even in these days This was the first Play that brought these Excellent Authors in Esteem and this Play was One of those that were represented at the old Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields when the Women acted alone The Prologue and Epilogue were spoken by Mrs. Marshal and printed in Covent-garden Drollery pag. 18. About this Time there was a Prologue written on purpose for the Women by Mr. Dryden and is printed in his Miscellany Poems in octavo p. 285. Pilgrim a Comedy which was reviv'd some years since and a Prologue spoke which the Reader may find in Covent-garden Dollery p. 12. Prophetess a Tragical History which has lately been reviv'd by Mr. Dryden under the Title of The Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian with
That he was One who in his time contributed much towards the English Stage by his Dramatick Writings especially in that noted One of his call'd Lingua for neither was that Play writ by him nor Love's Loadstone Landagartha or Love's Dominion as he and Mr. Phillips affirm Landagartha being writ by Henry Burnel Esq and Love's Dominion by Flecknoe But I shall proceed to give an Account of those Plays which are ascrib'd to him by Mr. Kirkman who was better vers'd in Writings of this Nature Country Girl a Comedy often acted with much applause and printed in quarto Lond. 1647. This Play has been reviv'd on the Stage under the Title of Country Innocence or The Chamber-maid turn'd Quaker Love-sick King an English Tragical History with the Life and Death of Cartesmunda the fair Nun of Winchester printed in quarto Lond. 1655. This Play was likewise reviv'd by the Actors of the King's House in the Year 168c and acted by the Name of the Perjur'd Nun. The Historical part of the Plot is founded on the Invasion of the Danes in the Reign of K. Ethelred and Alfred which the Author calls Etheldred and Alured See the Writers of English Affairs as Polydore Vergil Mathaeus Westmonasteriens Gul. Malmsburiensis Ingulsus Ranulphus Higden Du Chesne Speed c. Alexander BROME This Author flourisht in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr and was an Attorney in the Lord Mayor's Court. He was Eminent in the worst of Times for Law and Loyalty and yet more for Poetry Though his Genius led him rather to Lyrick than Dramatick Poetry yet we have One Play of his extant viz. Cunning Lovers a Comedy acted with great applause by Their Majesties Servants at the private House in Drury-lane printed in quatro Lond. 1654. Part of the Plot is borrow'd as the Duke of Mantua's shutting up his Daughter in the Tower and his being deceiv'd by her and Prince Prospero is taken from a Story in the Old Book of the Seven Wise Masters but which the Reader may find better related in the Fortunate Deceiv'd and Unfortunate Lovers in the Fifth Novel of the Deceiv'd Lovers Although our Author has himself made but one Attempt in this Kind yet we are indebted to him for two Volumes of Mr. Richard Brome's Plays in octavo especially One of them since 't was by his Care that after the Author's Death they were preserv'd and publisht On which account One T. S. amongst other Commendations given our Author in Verse says thus Nor can I tell to whom we are more bound Or to Brome's Wit or You that have it found Our Poet is chiefly famous for his Odes and Dithyrambs which he compos'd during the late Troubles together with his Epistles and Epigrams translated from several Authors all which were printed together at the King 's Return in octavo and Second Edition Lond. 1664. Nor was he less eminent for his Version of Horace which tho' not wholly his own yet having supplied his Verse from the Stores of Sr. Richard Fanshaw Dr. Holliday Sr. Tho. Hawkins the Ingenious Mr. Cowley the Admirable Ben Johnson from which great Master he borrow'd the Version of the last Epistle De Arte Poetica to crown the rest tho'it is since left out for a new Translation done by S. P. Esq which I take to be Samuel Pordage he has gain'd to himself a Reputation which will not speedily decay tho' the late Version of Mr. Creech seems somewhat to obscure it Lustre I cannot but inform the Reader that he had once an Intention to translate Lucretius as I learn from an Epigram writ by Sr. Aston Cockain but this great Work notwithstanding what he design'd and Mr. Evelyn perform'd was reserv'd for the management of a nobler Pen that of the much Admired Mr. Creech Richard BROME This Author liv'd in the Reign of K. Charles the First and tho'of mean Extraction being Servant to the fam'd Ben Johnson Writ himself into much credit His Subject for the most part was Comedy according to the usual Motto out of Martial which he placed before most of his Plays Hic totus volo rideat Libellus As to his worth in Comick Writing it is not only asserted by the Testimony of several Poets of that Age in their commendatory Verses before many of his Plays as Shirley Decker Ford Chamberlain Sr. Aston Cockain Alexander Brome and others but even Ben Johnson himself who was not over-lavish of of Praise bestowed the following Copy on his Northern Lass which will weigh against all the Calumnies of his Enemies To my Faithful Servant and by his continu'd Virtue my Loving Friend the Author of this Work Mr. Richard Brome I had you for a Servant once Dick Brome And you perform'd a Servants faithful parts Now you are got into a nearer Room Of Fellowship professing my old Arts. And you do do them well with good Applause Which you have justly gain'd from the Stage By observation of those Comick Laws Which I your Master first did teach the Age. You learnt it well and for it serv'd your time A Prentice-ship which few do now a days Now each Court Hobbihorse will wince in Rime Both learned and unlearned all write Plays It was not so of Old Men took up Trades That knew the Crafts they had bin bred in right An honest Bilboe-Smith would make good Blades And the Physitian teach men spue and sh The Cobler kept him to his Aul but now He 'll be a Poet scarce can guide a Plow Tho' the later part of this Copy be an imitation of the following Lines of Horace yet I doubt not but the Reader will pardon Ben for his ingenious Application Horatii Epistolarum Lib. 2 Epist. 1. Navem agere ignarus navis timet abrotonum aegro Non audet nisi qui didicit dare Quod Medicorū est Promittunt Medici tractant fabilia fabri Scribimus indocti doctique Poemata passim In imitation of his Master Mr. Johnson he studied Men and Humor more than Books and his Genius affecting Comedy his Province was more observation than Study His Plots were his own and he forg'd all his various Characters from the Mint of his own Experience and Judgment 'T is not therefore to be expected that I should be able to trace him who was so excellent an Imitator of his Master that he might truly pass for an Original so that all that I can inform my Reader of his Plays is that he has Fifteen in print most of which were acted with good Applause and that several of them have been thought worthy to be revived by the Players to their own Profit and the Author's Honor in this Critical Age. Nor are several of his other Plays less worthy of Commendation of which Alphabetically Antipodes a Comedy acted in the year 1638. by the Queen's Majesties Servants at Salisbury Court in Fleetstreet printed in quarto 1640. and dedicated to the Right Honourable William Earl of Hertford City Wit or The Woman wears the Breeches
3. Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus c. There are other Works of this Author's writing which speak him a great Wit and Master of an excellent Fancy and Judgment Such as his Poem call'd The Wonders of the Peak printed in octavo Lond. 1681. His Burlesque Poems call'd Scarronides or Virgil Travestie a mock Poem on the first and fourth Books of Virgil's AEneis printed in octavo Lond. 1678. Tho' the Title seems to imply as if this Poem were an Imitation of Scarron who has translated Eight Books of Virgil in the same manner yet those who will compare both these Pieces will possibly find that he has not only exceeded the French but all others that have attempted in that kind to the reserve of the incomparable Butler the fam'd Author of Hudibras and I think we may with little variation apply the following Tetrastick written by Scarron's Uncle to this our Author Si punctum omne tulit qui miscuit utile dulcis Ludendo scribens seria quid meruit Virgilii miranda legens ridere jubetur Hoc debet Cotton Anglica Musa tibi ABRAHAM COWLEY Abraham COWLEY I have generally hitherto contented my self with giving a succinct Account of each Authors Affairs of Life or Family and chose rather to enlarge on their Works but Mr. Cowley was a Person of so great Merit and Esteem in the world when Living and his Memory so fresh in the minds of Learned Men that I am oblig'd not to pass him slightly over 'T is true my Predecessors in this Work I mean Mr. Phillips and Mr. Winstanley have given but an imperfect account of Him or his Writings but as I propose not them for my Pattern in this Subject so I must publickly own that I have so great a Veneration for the Memory of this great Man that methinks his very Name seems an Ornament to my Book and deserves to be set in the best Light I can place it Wherefore I shall be as careful in copying his Picture from his Writings as an Artist would be in hitting the Features of his Sovereign To begin first with his Birth the place of his Nativity was London and the time which made his Virtuous Parents happy in him was the year of our Lord 1618. Tho' his Mother had no prescience like Maia the Parent of the great Virgil who the Night before her delivery dreamt she brought forth a sprig of Lawrel which upon the setting forthwith became a Tree yet it may be said that this our English Maro grew ripe with equal speed as that famous Poplar Bough planted at the Roman Poets Birth sprung up into a beautiful tall Tree which overtopt several others of far riper Age. Virgil at Thirteen years of Age began his Studies at Millain but this our Author writ his Tragical History of Pyramus and Thisbe when he was but Ten years old his Constantia and Philetus at Twelve and at Thirteen had publisht not only these but several other Poetical Blossoms which sufficiently prov'd the pregnancy of his Wit and all this whilst he was yet but a Westminster Schollar before he could say with Juvenal Et nos ergo manum ferulae subduximus Nor is the Character he gives of himself less full of Admiration That even when he was a very young Boy at School instead of running about on Holidays and playing with his Fellows he was wont to steal from them and walk into the Fields either alone with a Book or with some One Companion if he could find any of the same Temper His first Inclinations to Poetry proceeded from his falling by chance on Spencer's Fairy Queen With which he was so infinitely delighted and which by degrees so fill'd his head with the tinkling of the Rhime and dance of the Numbers that he had read him all over before he was Twelve years old and was thus made a Poet as immediately as a Child is made an Eunuch Thus he gradualy grew up to that maturity both of Fancy and Judgment that in the opinion of a great Man now living Whoever would do him right should not only equal him to the principal Ancient Writers of our own Nation but should also rank his Name amongst the Authors of the true Antiquity the best of the Greeks and Romans Nor is this the sence only of this Worthy Person and Excellent Poet but the general Opinion of the Wits of both Universities and which will appear obvious to All that shall diligently read his Works most of which were writ or at least design'd whilst he was of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and of which I shall give a succinct Account begining first with his English Plays which are Three in Number viz. Guardian a Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1650. Made says the Author and acted before the Prince or rather neither made nor acted but rough-drawn only and repeated for the hast was so great that it could neither be revised or perfected by the Author nor learned without Book by the Actors nor set forth in any Measure tolerably by the Officers of the Colledge This Mr. Cowley thought fit to acquaint the Prince with in the Prologue which was spoken to him at that time as the Reader may see by the following Lines being part of it Accept our hasty Zeal a thing that 's play'd E're 't is a Play and acted e're 't is made Our Ignorance but our Duty too we show I would all ignorant People would do so At other times expect our Wit and Art This Comedy is acted by the Heart After the Representation the Author tells us he began to look it over and changed it very much striking out some whole Parts as that of the Poet and the Souldier but he having lost the Copy durst not think it deserv'd the pains to write it again which made him omit it in the publication of his Works in Folio though at that time he acknowledg'd there were some things in it which he was not asham'd of taking the Excuse of his Age when he made it But as it was he accounted it only the hasty first-sitting of a Picture and therefore like to resemble him accordingly This Comedy notwithstanding Mr. Cowley's modest Opinion of it was acted not only at Cambridge but several times after that privately during the prohibition of the Stage and after the King's Return publickly at Dublin and never fail'd of Applause This I suppose put our Author upon revising it and there being many things in it which he dislik't and finding himself at leisure in the Country he fell upon altring it almost throughout and then permitted it to appear publickly on the Stage under a new Title as indeed 't was in a manner a new Play calling it Cutter of Coleman-street acted at his Royal Highness's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1663. This Play met with some Opposition at its Representation under this new Name from some who envyed the Authors unshaken Loyalty to the Prince and the Royal Cause in
sweet and flowing that he has with success practic'd the new way of Versifying introduc'd by his Predecessor Mr. Waller and follow'd since with success by Sr. John Denham and others But for Comedy he is for the most part beholding to French Romances and Plays not only for his Plots but even a great part of his Language tho' at the same time he has the confidence to prevaricate if not flatly deny the Accusation and equivocally to vindicate himself as in the Preface to the Mock Astrologer where he mentions Thomas Corneille's le Feint Astrologue becaus'd 't was translated and the Theft prov'd upon him but never says One word of Molliere's Depit amoreux from whence the greatest part of Wild-blood and Jacinta which he owns are the chiefest parts of the Play are stollen I cannot pass by his Vanity in saying That those who have called Virgil Terence and Tasso Plagiaries tho' they much injur'd them had yet a better Colour for their Accusation nor his Confidence in sheltring himself under the protection of their great Names by affirming That he is able to say the same for his Play that he urges for their Poems viz. That the Body of his Play is his own and so are all the Ornaments of Language and Elocution in them I appeal only to those who are vers'd in the French Tongue and will take the pains to compare this Comedy with the French Plays above-mention'd if this be not somewhat more than Mental Reservation or to use one of his own Expressions A Sophisticated Truth with an allay of Lye in 't Nor are his Characters less borrow'd in his Tragedies and the serious parts of his Tragi-Comedies as I shall observe in the sequel It shall suffice me at present to shew how Magisterially he huffs at and domineers over the French in his Preface to the Conquest of Granada I shall never says he subject my Characters to the French Standard where Love and Honour are to be weigh'd by Drams and and Scruples yet where I have design'd the patterns of exact Virtue such as in this Play are the Parts of Almahide of Ozmyn and Benzaida I may safely challenge the best of theirs Now the Reader is desir'd to observ that all the Characters of that Play are stolle from the French so that Mr. Dryden took a secure way to Conquest for having robb'd them of their Weapons he might safely challenge them and beat them too especially having gotten Ponce de Leon on his side in disguise and under the Title of Almanzor and should Monsieur de Voiture presume to lay claim to his own Song L'Amour sous sa Loy c. which Mr. Dryden has robb'd him of and plac'd in the Play of Sr. Martin Marr-all being that Song which begins Blind Love to this Hour c. our Poet would go nigh to beat him with a Staff of his own Rimes with as much ease as Sr. Martin defeated the Bailiffs in rescue of his Rival But had he only extended his Conquests over the French Poets I had not medled in this Affair and he might have taken part with Achilles and Rinaldo against Cyrus and Oroondates without my engaging in this Forreign War but when I found him flusht with his Victory over the great Scudery and with Almanzor's assistance triumphing over the noble Kingdome of Granada and not content with Conquests abroad like another Julius Caesar turning his Arms upon his own Country and as if the proscription of his Contemporaries Reputation were not sufficient to satiate his implacable thirst after Fame endeavouring to demolish the Statues and Monuments of his Ancestors the Works of those his Illustrious Predecessors Shakespear Fletcher and Johnson I was resolv'd to endeavour the rescue and preservation of those excellent Trophies of Wit by raising the Posse-comitatus upon this Poetick Almanzor to put a stop to his Spoils upon his own Country-men Therefore I present my self a Champion in the Dead Poets Cause to vindicate their Fame with the same Courage tho' I hope different Integrity than Almanzor engag'd in defence of Queen Almahide when he bravely Swore like a Hero that his Cause was right and She was innocent tho' just before the Combat when alone he own'd he knew her false I have out-fac'd my self and justify'd What I knew false to all the World beside She was as Faithless as her Sex could be And now I am alone she 's so to me But to wave this digression and proceed to the Vindication of the Ancients which that I may the better perform for the Readers Diversion and that Mr. Dryden may not tell me that what I have said is but gratis dictum I shall set down the Heads of his Depositions against our ancient English Poets and then endeavour the Defence of those great Men who certainly deserv'd much better of Posterity than to be so disrespectively treated as he has used them Mr. Shakespear as first in Seniority I think ought to lead the Van and therefore I shall give you his Account of him as follows Shakespear who many times has written better than any Poet in any Language is yet so far from writing Wit always or expressing that Wit according to the dignity of the Subject that he writes in many places below the dullest Writers of ours or any precedent Age. He is the very Janus of Poets he wears almost every where two Faces and you have scarce begun to admire the One e're you despise the other Speaking of Mr. Shakespear's Plots he says they were lame and that many of them were made up of some ridiculous incoherent Story which in one Play many times took up the business of an Age. I suppose says he I need not name Pericles Prince of Tyre nor the Historical Plays of Shakespear Besides many of the rest as the Winters Tale Love's Labour lost Measure for Measure which were either grounded on Impossibilities or at least so meanly written that the Comedy neither caused your Mirth nor the serious part your Concernment He says further Most of Shakespear's Plays I mean the Stories of them are to be found in the Heccatomouthi or Hundred Novels of Cinthio I have my self read in his Italian that of Romeo and Juliet The Moor of Venice and many others of them He Characterises Mr. Fletcher who writ after Mr. Shakespear As a Person that neither understood correct Plotting nor that which they call The Decorum of the Stage of which he gives several Instances out of Philaster Humourous Lieutenant and Faithful Shepherdess which are too long to be here inserted In another place he speaks of Fletcher thus Neither is the Luxuriance of Fletcher a less fault than the Carelesness of Shakespear He does not well always and when he does he is a true English-man he knows not when to give over If he wakes in one Scene he commonly slumbers in another and if he pleases you in the first three Acts he is frequently
Earl of Dorset and Middlesex There are two Copies of Verses that I have seen writ in Commendation of this Play one writ by Mr. Tate to the Author and printed with the Play the other writ by the late Mrs. A. Behn see the Miscellany Poems printed with Lycidas or the Lover in Fashion 8o. p. 102. The Plot of this admirable Tragedy is founded on the Story of Tamerlane and Bajazet Many are the Historians that have given an Account of the Affairs of these Great Men. Read Chalcocondylas lib. 3 Leunclavius lib. 6 The Life of Tamerlane by Mr. D'Assigny the same by P. Perondini Knolls his Turkish History in the Life of Bajazet the First This Play the Author wanting patience to attend the leisure of the Stage published without Action How much all Lovers of Poetry are indebted to him for it I must leave to those that are Poets to describe I that am none am glad to set my hand to an Address drawn up by Mr. Tate in the following Lines Accept our Thanks tho' you decline the Stage That yet you condescend the Press t' engage For while we thus possess the precious store Our Benefits the same your Glory more Thus for a Theatre the World you find And your Applauding Audience All Mankind 'T is not in Dramatick Poetry alone that our Author is a Master but his Talent is equal also in Lyricks Witness three Copies of Verses printed in Mr. Tate's Collection of Poems 8o. One to the Earl of Rochester upon the Report of his Sickness in Town in allusion to an Ode in Horace A second to a great Lord inviting him to Court or else to write a History in the Country being a Paraphrase upon Horace Lib. 2. Ode 12. A third to a perjur'd Mistress in imitation of another Ode of Horace Lib. 1. Ode 8. The Honble Sir Richard FANSHAW This Excellent Man was Brother to the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Fanshaw of Ware-Park in Hertfordshire He had his Breeding in his younger Years in Cambridge and was so good a Proficient in Latin French Italian Spanish and Portugese that he understood them as well as his Mother-tongue He removed from Cambridge to Court where he serv'd his Majesty with all imaginable Fidelity and Dutiful Affection He was his Secretary in Holland France and Scotland and at Worcester Fight was wounded and taken prisoner in Defence of the Royal Cause His Loyalty and Abilities were so conspicuous to His Majesty King Charles the II. that at His happy Restauration He preferr'd him to be one of the Masters of the Requests and afterwards sent him into Portugal with the worthy Title of Lord Embassador of Honour to court the present Queen Dowager for this Master where he remain'd three Years and discharg'd his Employment with Honour In the Year 1644. he was sent Embassador into Spain to compleat a Treaty of Commerce and to strengthen the League between the two Crowns which Affair he managed with great Prudence and Integrity He died at Madrid in July 1666. leaving behind him the Character of an able Statesman a great Scholar and a sincere sweet natur'd and pious Gentleman At present we are only to consider his Scholarship which will sufficiently appear by the several Translations which he has publisht particularly those which are Dramatick the first of which in Order and the most Eminent is stil'd Il Pastor Fido The Faithful Shepherd a Pastoral printed 4o. Lond. 1646. and dedicated to the Hope and Lustre of three Kingdoms Charles Prince of Wales This Piece is translated from the Italian of the Famous Guarini of whose Life by way of Digression give me leave to speak succinctly He was a Native of Ferrara and Secretary to Alphonsus the II. Duke of that Principality who sent him into Germany Poland and Rome in the time of Pope Gregory the XIII After the death of Alphonsus he was Secretary to Vincent de Gonzaga Duke of Mantua to Ferdinand de Medicis Great Duke of Tuscany who created him Knight of the Order of Saint Stephen and to Francis Maria de la Rovera Duke of Urbin in all these Stations he was as much admir'd for his Politicks as Poetry How much he was esteem'd for this last the several Academies of Italy are a sufficient proof most of which elected him a Member into their several Societies as Gli Humoristi of Rome De la Crusca of Florence Gli Olympici of Vicenza and Gli Innominati of Parma and Gli Elevati of Ferrara He withdrew from pulick Affairs towards the latter end of his Life and dwelt privately at Padua afterwards at Venice where being about seventy five Years of Age he died in the Year 1613. Having given you this Abridgment of Guarini's Life I shall return to our English Author's Translation Tho' in his Epistle to the Prince He speaks modestly of his Performance as if this Dramatick Poem had lost much of the Life and Quickness by being poured out of one Vessel that is one Language into another besides the unsteadiness of the Hand that pours it and that a Translation at the best is but a Mock-Rainbow in the Clouds faintly imitating the true one into which Apollo himself had a full and immediate Influence I say notwithstanding this modest Apology yet Sir John Denham in his Verses on this Translation infinitely commends it and tho' he seems to assent to our Author's Notions touching Translations in general yet he shews that Sir Richard has admirably succeeded in this particular Attempt as the Reader may see by the following Lines where after having blam'd servile Translators he goes on thus A new and nobler Way thou dost pursue To make Translations and Translators too They but preserve the Ashes thou the Flame True to his Sense but truer to his Fame Foording his Current where thou find'st it low Let'st in thine own to make it rise and flow Wisely restoring whatsoever grace Is lost by change of Times or Tongues or Place Nor fetter'd to his Numbers and his Times Betray'st his Musick to unhappy Rimes Nor are the Nerves of his compacted strength Stretch'd and dissolv'd into unsinew'd length Yet after all lest we should think it thine Thy Spirit to his Circle dost confine I have already said that Guarini imitated Tasso's Aminta in this Pastoral and I may add that by the unquestionable Verdict of all Italy he outstript him which rais'd Tasso's Anger so high that he cry'd out in a great Passion Se non havuto visto il mio Aminta c. If he had not seen my Aminta he had not excell'd it Give me leave to enlarge further that this Pastoral was writ on the occasion of Charles Emmanuel the Young Duke of Savoy's Marriage with the Infanta of Spain The Author's Design is Allegorical and Instructive under the Name of Carino he personates himself and his chief End was to instill into his Princely Pupil under the disguise of a Dramatick Diversion the Principles of Divine Moral and Political Virtues
his own diversion But upon the Importunity of Friends he was prevailed with to have it publisht but without Name because many do censure Plays according to their Opinions of the Author The Plot is founded on the History of Zeno the Twelfth Emperor of Constantinople after Constantine Several Authors have writ his Story as Marcellinus Cassiodorus Cedrenus Evagrius Zonoras Baronius c. John KIRKE A Writer in the Reign of King Charles the First of a Play call'd The Seven Champions of Christendome acted at the Cock-pit and at the Red Bull in St. John's Street with a general liking printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to his much respected and worthy Friend Mr. John Waite This Play is written in a mixt stile and founded on that well known Book in prose which bears the same Title See besides Dr. Heylin's History of St. George Ralph KNEVET An Author that liv'd about the same time with the former He writ a Play call'd Rhodon and Iris a Pastoral presented at the Florists Feast in Norwich May the Third 1631. printed 4o. Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Mr. Nicholas Bacon of Gillingham Esquire This Pastoral is commended by Four Copies of Verses Thomas KYD. An Ancient Writer or rather Translator in the time of Queen Elizabeth who publisht a Play call'd Pompey the Great his Fair Cornelia's Tragedy effected by her Father and Husband 's Down-cast Death and Fortune printed 4o. Lond. 1595. and dedicated to the Virtuously Noble and rightly Honour'd Lady the Countess of Sussex This Play is translated from the French of Robert Garnier who in the Reigns of Charles the Ninth Henry the Third and Henry the Fourth was accounted an Excellent Poet tho' M. Rapin says His Tragedies with those of Rotrou Serre and others of that time are of a mean Character 'T is evident to any that have read his Tragedies which are Nine in Number that he propos'd Seneca for his Model and he was thought in those days to have happily succeeded in his Design This Translation is writ in blank Verse only here and there at the close of a Paragraph if I may so speak the Reader is presented with a Couplet The Chorus's are writ in several Measures of Verse and are very sententious L. John LACY A Comedian whose Abilities in Action were sufficiently known to all that frequented the King's Theatre where he was for many years an Actor and perform'd all Parts that he undertook to a miracle in so much that I am apt to believe that as this Age never had so the next never will have his Equal at least not his Superiour He was so well approv'd of by King Charles the Second an undeniable Judge in Dramatick Arts that he caus'd his Picture to be drawn in three several Figures in the same Table viz. That of Teague in the Committee Mr. Scruple in The Cheats and M. Galliard in The Variety which piece is still in being in Windsor-Castle Nor did his Talent wholly ly in Acting he knew both how to judge and write Plays and if his Comedies are somewhat allied to French Farce 't is out of choice rather than want of Ability to write true Comedy We have Three Plays extant under his Name viz. Dumb Lady or The Farriar made Physitian a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the High-born and most Hopeful Prince Charles Lord Limrick and Earl of Southampton This Play is founded on a Comedy of Molliere's call'd Le Medecin malgré luy If the Reader will take the pains to compare them together he will easily see that our Author has much improv'd the French Play Old Troop or Monsieur Ragou a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the young Prince George Third Son to the Dutchess of Cleveland I fancy by the stile this Play likewise is founded on some French Original tho' my small Acquaintance with French Poets makes me speak only on Conjecture Both these Plays were acted with universal Applause Sir Hercules Buffoon or The Poetical Squire a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1684. This Play was brought upon the Stage and publisht after the Author's Decease the Prologue was writ by Mr. Durfey the Epilogue by Jo. Heyns the Comedian and both spoken by the later I know not how this Play succeeded on the Theatre but I am confident had the Author been alive to have grac'd it with his Action it could not have fail'd of Applause This Mr. Durfey has observ'd in the beginning of his Prologue Ye Scribling Fops cry mercy if I wrong ye But without doubt there must be some among ye Know that fam'd Lacy Ornament o' th' Stage That Standard of true Comedy in our Age Wrote this New Play And if it takes not all that we can say on 't Is we 've his Fiddle not his Hands to play on 't John LEANARD A confident Plagiary whom I disdain to stile an Author One who tho' he would be esteem'd the Father is at best but the Midwife to the Labour of others I mean those Two Dramatick Pieces which go under his Name I know not how they were receiv'd on the Stage but I am sure the Author deserv'd tho' the Plays might not to be damn'd for his vain-glorious Humour of re-printing another Man's Play under his own Name as he has done Mr. Brewer's Country Girl under the Title of Country Innocence or The Chamber-maid turn'd Quaker a Comedy acted at the Theatre Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1677. and dedicated to his Honour'd Friend Sr. Francis Hinchman Whether his Patrons Instructions rais'd him to that height of presumption as to publish another man's Play as his own I pretend not to judge but I am sure he has sufficiently made appear to the World that he is One of those Authors he speaks of whose Arrogance and Impudence are their chief dependency Had our Author been as well acquainted with Martial as he pretends to be with Homer he would have weigh'd his Opinion before he had made any progression as he calls it in his Thefts Mutare dominum non potest liber notus Aliena quisquis recitat petit famam Non emere Librum sed silentium debet Rambling Justice or The Jealous Husbands with the Humours of Sir John Twiford a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1680. A great part of it is stoln from a Comedy of Middleton's call'd More Dissemblers besides Women As the Scene between Sir Generall Amorous and Bramble Act 2. Sc. 1. is stoln from the Scene between Lactantio and Dondolo Act 3. Sc. 1. Petulant Easy disguis'd like a Gipsy in the same Act is borrow'd from Aurelia's Disguise in Middleton's Play Act 4. Sc. 1. The Scene between Bramble and the Gipsies is stoln from the same Play but since our Author is forc'd to strole like One of that Tribe for a Livelihood with the Issue of other Men's Brains I leave him to his
him the Reputation of a Sharp Wit In an Old Copy of Verses I find His Character thus drawn And surely Nash tho' be a Proser were A Branch of Laurel yet deserves to bear Sharply Satyrick was he and that way He went since that his being to this day Few have attempted and I surely think Those Words shall hardly be set down by Ink Shall scorch and blast so as his could when he Would inflict Vengeance As to his Plays he has publisht only two that I have heard of viz. Dido Queen of Carthage in which he joyn'd with Marloe and Summer's last Will and Testament a Comedy I could never procure a Sight of either of these but as to that Play call'd See me and see me not ascribed to him by Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley I have it by me and have plac'd it to the right Author Mr. Dawbridgecourt Belchier see page 24. He writ several other Pieces some Satyrical as Pierce Penniless his Supplication to the Devil Have with ye to Safron-Walden Four Letters Confuted A Poem called The White-Herring and the Red and another Piece in Prose which I take to be the same Thomas Nash called A Fourfold Way to a Happy Life in a Dialogue between a Countryman Citizen Divine and Lawyer printed 4o. Lond. 1633. Alexander NEVILE An Author in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth that early addicted himself to Poetry and was one of those that the Eminent Jasper Heywood made choice of to joyn with him and others in the Translation of Seneca Our Author undertook the Task and at sixteen Years of Age he translated Oedipus a Tragedy which he Englished in the Year 1560. and was printed with the rest 4o. Lond. 1581. and more immediately dedicated by the Author To the Right Honourable Mr. Dr. Wotton One of the Queens Majesties Privy Council Many were the Authors of Antiquity that writ on this Subject tho' but two Plays writ by Sophocles viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have descended to our Times from the which Seneca is said to have borrow'd part of this Play Our Translator acknowledges in his Epistle to his Patron and God-Father That he has not been precise in following the Author word for word but sometimes by Addition sometimes by Substraction to use the aptest Phrases in giving the Sense that he could invent There are other Pieces which I suppose were writ by our Author published in Latin as Oratio in Obitium Sydnaei printed 4o. Lond. 1587. De Furoribus Norfolciensium Ketto Duce printed 4o. 1575. Norvicus ibid. all which being printed about the time that he lived make me imagine them to be his Robert NEVILE An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and in his younger Years was educated in the University of Cambridge where he became a fellow of King's Colledge I know nothing that he has publisht but a single Play call'd Poor Scholar a Comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1662. This Play was as I suppose writ some Years before it being printed for Mr. Kirkman I know not whether ever it was acted but I may presume to say 't is no contemptible Play for Plot and Language It is commended for an excellent one by three Copies of Verses prefix'd to it writ by his Friends One of which says thus in its praise Bees from a bruised Ox says Maro breed But thou drawest Honey from a tatter'd weed Seeing thy Wit 's so pure thy Phrase so clean Thy Sense so weighty that each Line 's a Scene We 'll change the Song and cry as truly too Whither may not This thy Poor Scholar go This fault the Best-nos'd Criticks only smell That thy Poor Scholar is attir'd too well Ben's Auditors were once in such a mood That he was forc'd to swear his Play was good Thy Play than his doth far more currant go For without Swearing we 'll believe thine so William Duke of NEWCASTLE I am now arriv'd at a Nobleman whose Heroick Actions are too Copious and Illustrious for me to attempt the Description of and are a fitter Subject for the Pen of a Modern Plutarch if any such were to be found than for mine I shall leave therefore the Character of this Valiant Heroe Careful Tutor Wise Statesman Exact Courtier and Loyal Subject to be describ'd by some Illustrious Historian or else refer my Reader to his Life already writ in Latin and English by the Hand of his Incomparable Dutchess who during his Life-time describ'd all his Glorious Actions in a Stile so Noble and Masculine that she seems to have even antedated his Apotheosis But tho' I dare not pretend to describe his Heroick Atchievements or view him in the Field as a General yet I shall presume to look upon him in his Retirements and consider him as a Poet and an Author it being my immediate Province To speak first of his Acquaintance with the Muses and his affable Deportment to all their Votaries No Person since the Time of Augustus better understood Dramatick Poetry nor more generously encourag'd Poets so that we may truly call him our English Mecaenas He had a more particular kindness for that Great Matter of Dramatick Poesy the Excellent Johnson and 't was from him that he attain'd to a perfect Knowledge of what was to be accounted True Humour in Comedy How well he has copy'd his Master I leave to the Criticks but I am sure our late as well as our present Laureat have powerful Reasons to defend his Memory He has writ four Comedies which have always been acted with applause viz. Country Captain a Comedy lately presented by his Majesties Servants at the Black-fryars 8o. In 's Grave van Hag. Ant. 1649. I believe this Play was writ during his Exile Humorous Lovers a Comedy acted by his Royal Highness's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This Play equals most Comedies of this Age. Triumphant Widow or The Medley of Humours a Comedy acted by his Royal Highness's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This was thought so excellent a Play by our present Laureat that he has transcrib'd a great part of it in his Bury-Fair Variety a Comedy presented by his Majesties Servants at the Black-fryars printed 8o. Lond. 1649. This Play and Country Captain are always bound together the Duke's Name is not prefix'd to them but I am confident they are his from several Testimonies since Mr. Alexander Brome writ a Copy in praise of this Play directed to his Grace and printed before the Comedy call'd Covent Garden weeded and Mr. Leigh in a Copy directed to Mr. Mosely the publisher of Mr. Carthwright's Works in reckoning what Poetical Treatises he has presented the Publick with names these two Plays in the following Couplet Then fam'd Newcastle's choice Variety With his Brave Captain held up Poetry We have many other Pieces writ by this Ingenious Nobleman scattered up and down in the Poems of his Dutchess all which seem to confirm the Character given by Mr. Shadwell That he was
Bell-guard and Crack in Sir Courtly Nice extreamly resembles Don Patricio and Tarugo in this Play Nay more the Plots of both are alike I leave it to the Decision of Mr. Crown or any other who have seen the Spanish Play In the mean time I desire no Man to rely upon my Judgment but if what I have said cannot save him excuse him upon his own Plea in his own Words If this prevail not he hopes he 's safe from danger For Wit and Malice ought not to reach a Stranger William SAMPSON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First He was sometimes a Retainer to the Family of Sir Henry Willoughby of Richley in Derbyshire and was the Author of a Play call'd Vow-breaker or The Fair Maid of Clifton in Nottinghamshire divers times acted by several Companies with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1633. and dedicated to Mrs. Anne Willoughby Daugther to Sir Henry in which Epistle the Author concludes thus Heaven keep you from Fawning Parasites and busie Gossips and send you a Husband and a Good One or else may you never make a Holyday for Hymen As much Happiness as Tongue can speak Pen can write Heart think or Thoughts imagine ever attend on you your Noble Father and all his Noble Family to whom I ever rest as my bounden Duty a Faithful Servant Will. Sampson This Play seems founded upon Truth I have likewise in my younger Years read a Ballad compos'd upon the same Subject Our Author besides this Play joyned with Mr. Markham in Herod and Antipater which I forgot before But as for the Valiant Scot and How to chuse a Good Wife from a Bad they are in my Judgment none of our Author's writing tho' Mr. Philips and his Follower Mr. Winstanley have ascribed them to him George SANDYS Esq A Gentleman who flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr if one may so say of a Person who sympathiz'd so deeply with his Prince and Country in their misfortunes He was Son to his Grace Edwin Arch-bish of York and was born in the Year 1577 at Bishops-Thorp in the same County being his Father's youngest Child He was sent to the University that memorable Year 1588. being then eleven Years of Age and was enter'd of St. Mary Hall in Oxford how long he stay'd I know not but in the Year 1610. memorable for the Murder of that Great Hero Henry the Fourth of France by that Villain Ravaillac he began his Travels thro' France Italy Turky AEgypt Palestine c. an Account of which you may read in his Travels printed Fol. Lond. 1658. But 't is not on this Account but his Poetry that he is here mentioned and therefore I shall hasten to speak of his Writings in that kind and first of that excellent Piece of Dramatick Poetry which he has left us and chiefly in this Account challenges a particular place viz. Christ's Passion a Tragedy with Annotations printed 8o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to King Charles the First This Play is translated from the Latin Original writ by Hugo Grotius This Subject was handled before in Greek by that Venerable Person Apollinarius of Laodicea Bishop of Hierapolis and after him by Gregory Nazianzen tho' this of Hugo Grotius in our Author's Opinion transcends all on this Argument As to the Translator I doubt not but he will be allow'd an Excellent Artist by Learned Judges and as he has follow'd Horace's Advice of Avoiding a servile Translation Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus Interpres So he comes so near the Sence of the Author that nothing is lost no Spirits evaporate in the decanting of it into English and if there be any Sediment it is left behind This Book was reprinted with Figures 8o. Lond. 1688. Nor are his other Translations less valu'd especially Ovid's Metamorphosis printed with Cuts Fol. Oxon. 1632. This Translation was so much esteem'd in former times that I find two old Copies of Verses speaking in praise of our Author In the first called A Censure of the Poets are these Lines Then dainty Sands that hath to English done Smooth sliding Ovid and hath made him One With so much sweetness and unusual Grace As tho' the neatness of the English Pace Should tell your setting Latin that it came But slowly after as though stiff or lame The other on the Time Poets sayes thus Sands Metamorphos'd so into another We know not Sands and Ovid from each other To this I may add the Translation of the first Book of Virgil's AEneis by which Specimen we may see how much he has excell'd Mr. Ogilby For his other Divine Pieces as his Paraphrase on the Psalms Job Ecclesiastes Lamentatiöns of Jeremiah c. I have heard them much admired by Devout and Ingenious Persons and I believe very deservingly Having done with his Translations give me leave to conclude with His to another World which happen'd at his Nephew Mr. Wiat's House at Boxley-Abbey in Kent in the Chancel of which Parish-Church he lyes buried tho' without a Monument and therefore I shall follow my Author from whence I collected this Account by transcribing what deserves to be inscrib'd on a Monument viz. Georgius Sandys Poetarum Anglorum sui saecult Princeps sepultus fuit Martii 70 Stilo Anglico A.D. 1643. Charles SAUNDERS A Young Gentleman whose Wit began to bud as early as that of the Incomparable Cowley and was like him a King's Scholar when he writ a Play call'd Tamberlane the Great a Tragedy acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal as likewise at Oxford before his late Majesty King Charles the Second at his meeting the Parliament there 'T was printed in quarto Lond. 1681. and the Design was drawn as the Author owns from the Novel of Tamerlane and Asteria in octavo I have so great a value for this Author's Play that I cannot but wish well to his Muse but being no Poet I must set my Hand to another Man's Wishes I mean Mr. Banks who has writ a Copy of Verses on this Play part of which are as follow Launch out young Merchant new set up of Wit The World 's before thee and thy stock is great Sail by thy Muse but never let her guide Then without danger you may safely glide By happier Studies steer'd and quickly gain The promised Indies of a hopeful Brain Bring home a Man betimes that may create His Country's Glory in the Church or State Elkanah SETTLE An Author now living whose Muse is chiefly addicted to Tragedy and has been tragically dealt withal by a Tyranical Laureat which has somewhat eclips'd the glory he at first appeared in But Time has her vicissitudes and he has lived to see his Enemy humbled if not justly punished for this Reason I shall not afresh animadvert upon his fault but rather bury them in Oblivion and without any Reflections on his Poetry give a succinct Account of those Plays which he has published being Nine in Number viz. Cambyses
7. London Prodigal a Comedy This is One of the Seven Plays which are added to this Volume which tho' printed all of them in 4o. were never in Folio till 1685. Two of these viz. Cromwell and Locrine we have already handled the Remaining four viz. Old-castle Pericles Puritan Widow and Yorkshire Tragedy shall be treated in their order Loves Labour lost a Comedy the Story of which I can give no Account of Measure for Measure a Comedy founded on a Novel in Cynthio Giraldi viz. Deca Ottava Novella 51 The like Story is in Goulart's Histoires Admirables de nôtre temps Tome 1. page 216. and in Lipsii Monita L.2 C. 9 p. 125. This Play as I have observed was made use of with the Comedy Much ado about nothing by Sir William D' Avenant in his Law against Lovers Merchant of Venice a Tragi-comedy Merry Wives of Windsor a Comedy which Mr. Dryden allows to be exactly form'd and it was regular before any of Ben. Johnson's This is not wholly without the Assistance of Novels witness Mrs. Ford's conveying out Sir John Falstaff in the Basket of Foul Clothes and his declaring all the Intrigue to her Husband under the Name of Mr. Broom which Story is related in the first Novel of The Fortunate Deceived and Unfortunate Lovers which Book tho' written since Shakespear's Time I am able to prove several of those Novels are translated out of Cynthio Giraldi others from Mallespini and I believe the whole to be a Collection from old Novelists Mackbeth a Tragedy which was reviv'd by the Dukes Company and re-printed with Alterations and New Songs 4o. Lond. 1674. The Play is founded on the History of Scotland The Reader may consult these Writers for the Story viz. Hector Boetius Buchanan Du chesne Hollingshead c. The same Story is succinctly related in Verse in Heywood's Hierarchy of Angels B. 1. p. 508. and in Prose in Heylin's Cosmography Book 1. in the Hist of Brittain where he may read the Story at large At the Acting of this Tragedy on the Stage I saw a real one acted in the Pit I mean the Death of Mr. Scroop who received his death's wound from the late Sir Thomas Armstrong and died presently after he was remov'd to a House opposite to the Theatre in Dorset-Garden Midsummer Nights Dream a Comedy The Comical part of this Play is printed separately in 4o. and used to be acted at Bartholomew Fair and other Markets in the Country by Strolers under the Title of Bottom the Weaver Much ado about nothing a Comedy I have already spoke of Sir William D' Avenant's making use of this Comedy All that I have to remark is That the contrivance of Borachio in behalf of John the Bastard to make Claudio jealous of Hero by the Assistance of her Waiting-Woman Margaret is borrowed from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso see Book the fifth in the Story of Lurcanio and Geneuza the like Story is in Spencer's Fairy Queen Book 2. Canto 4. Oldcastle the good Lord Cobham his History The Protagonist in this Play is Sir John Oldcastle who was executed in the Reign of King Henry the Fifth See his Life at large in Fox his Martyrology Dr. Fuller and other Writers of Church History as well as Chronologers Othello the Moor of Venice his Tragedy This is reckoned an Admirable Tragedy and was reprinted 4o. Lond. 1680. and is still an Entertainment at the Theatre-Royal Our Author borrowed the Story from Cynthio's Novels Dec. 3. Nov. 7. The truth is Salustio Picolomini in his Letter to the Author extreamly applauds these Novels as being most of them fit Subjects for Tragedy as you may see by the following Lines Gli Heccatomithi vostri Signor Cynthio mi sono maravigliosa mente piaciuti Et fra le altre cose io ci ho veduti i più belli argomente di Tragedie che si possano imaginare quanto a i nodi quanto alle solutioni tanto felicemente ho viste legate le difficulta che pure ano impossibili ad essere slegate Mr. Dryden says That most of Shakespear's Plots he means the Story of them are to be found in this Author I must confess that having with great difficulty obtained the Book from London I have found but two of those mentioned by him tho' I have read the Book carefully over Pericles Prince of Tyre with the true-Relation of the whole History Adventures and Fortunes of the said Prince This Play was publish'd in the Author's Life-time under the Title of The much Admired Play of Pericles by which you may guess the value the Auditors and Spectators of that Age had for it I know not whence our Author fetch'd his Story not meeting in History with any such Prince of Tyre nor remembring any of that Name except the Famous Athenian whose Life is celebrated by Plutarch Puritan or The Widow of Wattling-street a Comedy sufficiently diverting Richard the Second his Life and Death a Tragedy which is extreamly commended even by Mr. Dryden in his Grounds of Criticisme in Tragedy printed before Troilus and Cressida and Mr. Tate who altered this Play in 1681. says That there are some Master-touches in this Play that will vye with the best Roman Poets For the Plot consult the Chronicles of Harding Caxton Walsingham Fabian Pol. Virgil Grafton Hollingshead Stow Speed c. Richard the Third his Tragedy with the landing of the Earl of Richmond and the Battle of Bosworth Field This Play is also founded on History See Fabian Caxton Pol. Virgil Hollingshead Grafton Trussel stow Speed Baker c. Romeo and Juliet a Tragedy This Play is accounted amongst the best of our Author's Works Mr. Dryden says That he has read the Story of it in the Novels of Cynthio which as yet I cannot find but set it down in my former Catalogue relying upon his Knowledge But I have since read it in French translated by M. Pierre Boisteau whose Sir-name was Launay who says it was writ by Bandello but not having as yet met with Bandello in the Original I must acquiesce in his Word The French Reader may peruse it in the first Tome of Les Histoires Tragicques extraictes des oeuvres Italiennes de Bandello imprimé 8o. à Turin 157c Taming of the Shrew a very diverting Comedy The Story of the Tinker is related by Pontus Heuteras Rerum Burdicarum lib. 4. and by Goulart in his Hist. Admirables Tom. 1. p. 360 Tempest a Comedy How much this Play is now in Esteem tho' the Foundation were Shakespear's all People know How it took at the Black-fryars let Mr. Dryden's Preface speak For his Opinion of Caliban the Monster 's Character let his Preface to Troilus and Cressida explain No Man except Shakespear ever drew so many Charactars or generally distinguish'd them better from one another except only Johnson I will instance but in one to shew the copiousness of his Invention t is that of Caliban or the Monster in the Tempest He seems here to
Referring to the AUTHORS c. A. ABdelazer 18 Abdicated Prince 525 Abrahams Sacrifice Ib. Acolastus 400 Actaeon and Diana 89 Adelphi 25 273 Adrasta 281 Adventures of 5 hours 505 Agamemnon 495 Aglaura 497 Agrippa K. of Alba. 98 Alaham. 38 Alarum for Lond. 525 All Fools 58 for Love 152 for Money 334 mistaken 276 All 's lost by Lust. 428 All 's well that ends well 455 Albion 525 Albion and Alban 151 Albion's Triumph 525 Albertus Wallenst 232 Albovine 107 Albumazar 525 Alchimist 287 Alcibiades 396 Alexander and Campaspe 328 Alexandrian Tragedy 2 Alphonsus Emperour of Germany 59 Alphonsus King of Arragon 518 Amazon Queen 510 Ambitious Statesm 91 Amboyna 153 Amends for Ladies 198 Amorous Bigotte 445 Fantasm 332 Gallant 526 Old Woman Ib. Prince 18 Amourous War 337 Amynta 98 224 Andraea 25 273 Andromache 91 Andromana 522 Andronicus Comn 513 Anthony and Cleopatra 455 487 Antigone 363 Antipodes 35 Antiquary 346 Antonio Melida 348 Antonius 402 Any thing for a quiet Life 371 Apocryphal Ladies 392 Apollo Shroving 523 Appius and Virg. 509 Arcadia 476 Arden of Feversh 526 Argalus and Parthethenia 232 Ariadne 520 Aristippus 414 Arraignment of Paris 526 Arthur 504 Arviragus and Phil. 46 As you like it 455 Assignation 154 Astraea 511 Atheist 505 396 Atheist's Tragedy 505 Aurengzebe 156 B. BAll 476 Band Ruff and Cuff. 527 Banditti 179 Bartholmew Fair. 287 Bashful Lover 354 Bastard 527 Battle of Alcazer Ib. Begger 's Bush. 207 Bell in Campo 392 Bellamira her Dream 312 Bellamira or The Mistress 487 Benefice 511 Bird in a Cage 476 Birth of Merlin 466 Black Prince 27 Blazing World 392 Blind Begger of Alexandria 60 Blind Begger of Bednal-Green 118 Blind Lady 276 Bloody Banquet 519 Brother 207 Duke 527 Blurt Mr. Constab. 371 Bondman 354 Bonduca 207 Brazen Age. 260 Brenoralt 498 Bridals 392 Bride 380 Broken Heart 219 Brothers 483 Brutus of Alba. 500 Bury Fair. 445 Bussy D'Amboyse 60 Byron's Conspiracy and Tragedy 61 C. CAEsar Borgia 321 Caesar Pomp. 62 Caesar's Revenge 527 Caius Marius 397 Calisto 92 Cambyses K. of Persia. 440 Captain 207 Cardinal 483 Careless Lovers 418 Shepheardess 234 Carnival 407 Case is alter'd 298 Cataline's Conspiracy 288 Chabot Admiral of France 477 Challenge at Tilt. 288 for Beauty 262 Chances 207 Changes 477 Changling 371 Charles the First 528 the Eighth of France 92 Chast Maid in Cheapside 371 Cheats 513 of Scapin 397 Christ's Passion 437 Christian turn'd Turk 117 Christmass Masque 288 Cicilia and Clorinda 312 Cid 431 Circe 116 Citizen turn'd Gentleman 422 City Heiress 19 Madam 354 Match 337 Night-cap 116 Politicks 93 Wit 35 Claricilla 312 Cleopatra 101 363 Cloridia 288 Clouds 490 Cobler's Prophecy 513 Coelum Britannicū 43 Colas Fury 41 Combat of Caps 528 of Love and Friendship 365 Comedy of Errors 455 Committee 276 Committee-man curried 471 Commons condit 528 Common-wealth of Women 180 Conflict of Conscience 513 Conquest of China 440 of Granada 157 Conspiracy 309 511 Constant Maid 477 Nymph 528 Constantine the Great 322 Contention betw York and Lancaster 528 of Ajax and Ulysses 485 for Honour and Riches 478 Coriolanus 455 Cornelia 316 Coronation 208 478 Costly Whore 528 Covent Garden 380 Covent Garden weeded 35 Covent of Pleas. 392 Coūterfeit Bridegr 528 Counterfeits Ib. Countess of Pembroke's Ivy-church 224 Country Captain 386 Girl 31 Innocence 319 Wife 514 Wit 94 Couragious Turk 234 Court Beggar 36 Secret 484 Coxcomb 208 Croesus 3 Cromwell's Hist. 529 Cruel Brother 107 Debtor 529 Cuckolds Haven 501 Cunning Lover 32 Cupid and Death 478 Cupid's Revenge 208 Whirligig 529 Cure for a Cuckold 510 Custom of the Country 208 Cutter of Coleman-street 81 Cymbeline 456 Cynthia's Revels 289 Revenge 493 Cyrus K. of Persia. 529 Cytherea 488 D. DAme Dobson 419 Damoiselle 36 Damoiselles a-la-mode 200 Damon Pythias 529 Darius his Tragedy 3 K. of Persia. 94 David and Bethsabe 401 Debauchee 529 Deorum Dona. 11 Deserving Favourite 47 Destruction of Jerusalem 95 529 Destruction of Troy 7 Devil 's an Ass. 289 Devil's Charter 9 Devil's Law-case 509 Devil of a Wife 280 Dick Scorner 529 Dido Q. of Carthage 383 Disappointment 489 Disobedient Child 280 Distracted State 502 Distresses 107 Divine Comedian 504 Divine Masque 530 Doctor Dodipole 556 Doctor Faustus 342 Don Carlos 398 Don Sebastian 161 Double Marriage 208 Doubtful Heir 484 Duke no Duke 501 Duke of Guise 163 Duke of Lerma 276 Duke of Millain 355 Duke's Mistress 478 Dumb Knight 334 Dumb Lady 318 Dutch Courtezan 348 Dutch Lover 19 Dutchess of Malfy 609 Dutchess of Suff. 262 E. EAstward-hoe 66 Edgar 434 Edward the First 401 Second 343 Third 530 Fourth 262 Elder Brother 208 Electra 522 Elizabeth's Troubles 265 Elvira 530 Emperor of the East 355 Moon 440 Empress of Morocco 530 Enchanted Lovers 333 Endymion 228 English Fryar 95 Lawyer 420 Monsieur 276 Moor. 36 Princess 530 Rogue 504 Traveller 262 Enough 's as good as a Feast 530 Entertainment at King James's Coronat 289 at RutlandH 107 Entertainment of King James and Q. Anne at Theobalds 289 of the K. and Q. at High-gate Ibid. of the K. of Engl. and Denmark at Theobalds 290 of the Q. and Pr. at Althrop Ibid. Epsom Wells 445 Erminia 201 Evening's Love 163 Every man in his Humour 290 out of his Humour Ib. Woman in her Humour 531 Eunuchus 25 273 Example 478 Excommunicated Prin. 15 Extravagant Shepherd 521 F. FActious Citiz. 531 Fair Emm. Ib. Favourite 108 Irene 499 Maid of Brist 531 of the Exchange 262 Inn. 208 West 263 Fair Quarrel 371 Faithful Shepheardess 208 False Favourite disgrac'd 531 Count. 20 One 209 Family of Love 372 Fancies 320 Fancies Festivals 306 Fatal Contract 247 Dowry 355 Jealousie 531 Love 441 Fawn 350 Feign'd Astrologer 531 Courtezans 20 Female Academy 392 Prelate 441 Fidele and Fortunatus 532 Fine Companion 346 Fleire 471 Floating Island 494 Flora's Vagaries 532 Fond Husband 180 Fool turn'd Critick Ib. would be a Favourite 47 Fools Preferment Ib. Forc'd Marriage 20 Fortunate Isles 291 Fortunatus 122 Fortune by Land and Sea 265 Fortune-Hunters 49 Four Lond. Prentices 265 P's 254 Plays in one 209 Fox 297 Free-will 532 French Conjurer 520 Friendship in Fashion 398 Fryar Bacon 242 Fulgius and Lucrelle 532 G. GAlathea 329 Game at Chess 372 Gamester 478 Gam Gurton's Needle 521 Generous Enemies 73 Gentle-Craft 548 Gentleman Dancing-Master 514 of Venice 479 of Verona 466 Usher 63 Ghost 532 Glass of Government 228 Gloriana 322 Goblins 498 Golden Age. 259 Golden Age restored 291 Grateful Servant 479 Great Duke of Florence 356 Green's Tu quoque 72 Grim the Colier of Croyden 522 Gripus and Hegio 11 Guardian 80 356 Guy of Warwick 519 H. HAmlet Prince of Denmark 457 Hannibal and Scipio 380 Heautontimorumenos 25 273 Hector of Germany 488 Hectors 533 Hecyra 25 273 Heir 363 of Morocco 441 Hell 's High Court of Justice 533 Henry the Third of France 473 Henry the Fourth 456 Fifth Ib. Sixth 457 Eighth Ib. Heraclius 48 Hercules