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
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
parantur Obsonator Coquus convivarum gulae periti sunto De Discubitu non contenditur Ministri à Dapibus oculati muti A poculis auriti celeres sunto Vina puris fontibus ministrantur aut vapulet hospes Moderatis poculis provocare sodales fas esto At sabulis magis quà m vino velitatio fiat Convivae nec muti nec loquaces sunto De seriis aut sacris poti saturine disserunto Fidicen nisi accersitus non venito Admisso risu tripudiis choreis saltibus Omni gratiarum festivitate sacra celebrantur Joci sine felle sunto Insipida Poemata nulla recitantur Versus scribere nullus cogitur Argumentationis totius strepitus abesto Amatoriis querelis ac suspiriis liber angulus esto Lapitharum more scyphis pugnare vitrea collidere Fenestras excutere supellectilem dilacerare ne fas esto Qui foras dicta vel facta eliminet eliminatur Neminem reum pocula jaciunto Focus perennis esto As to his Poetry I dare not pretend to give a Judgment on it it deserving somewhat above what my faint Praise can reach or describe therefore those who would be better satisfy'd must have recourse to his Character drawn by Dr. Fuller and Mr. Anthony Wood in Prose and by Mr. Carthwright and the late Mr. Oldham in Verse to the foregoing I might add Mr. Dryden's Dramatick Essay which had it been writ after his Postscript to Granada might have aton'd for that unbecoming Character and had serv'd for a Palinode but since he has not that I know of thought fit to retract it give me leave to insert an old Copy of Verses which seems to wipe off the Accusations of Mr. Johnson's Enemies Ad Benjaminum Johnsonum In jus te voco Jonsoni venito Adsum qui plagii malae rapinae Te ad Phoebi peragam reum tribunal Assidente choro NovemDearum Quaedam Dramata scilicet diserta Nuper quae Elysii roseti in umbrâ Faestivissimus omnium Poeta Plautus composuit Diisque tandem Stellato exhibuit poli in Theatro Movendo superis leves cachinnos Et risos tetrico Jovi ciendo Axe plausibus intonante utroque Haec tu Dramata scilicet diserta Clepsisti superis negotiosis Quae tu nunc tua venuitare pergis In jus te voco Jonsoni venito En pro te Pater ipse Rexque Phoebus Assurgit modò Jonsoni palamque Testatur tua serio fuisse Illa Dramata teque condidisse Sese non modò conscio at juvante Unde ergò sibi Plautus illa tandem Nactus exhibuit Jovi Deisque Maiae Filius Nepos Atlantis Pennatus celeres Pedes at ungues Viscatus volucer puer vaferque Furto condere quidlibet jocoso Ut quondam facibus suis Amorem Per ludos videavit Pharetrâ Sic nuper siquidem solet frequenter Tecum ludere plaudere jocari Neglectas tibi ilepsit has papyrus Secumque ad Superos abire jussit Jam victus taceo pudore vincis Phoebo Judice Jonsoni Patrono I might here appositely enough bring in a pleasant Story or two of Ben. Jonson's as Instances of his Debonaire Humor and Readiness at Repartee did I not fear to be condemn'd by Mr. Dryden and reckon'd by him and his Admirers in the number of those grave Gentlemen whose Memory he says is the only Plea for their being Wits for this reason I shall forbear and hasten to give an Account of his Works He has writ above fifty several Pieces which we may rank under the Species of Dramatick Poetry of which we shall give an Account in Order beginning with one of his best Comedies viz. Alchymist a Comedy acted in the Year 1610. by the Kings Majesties Servants with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Lady most deserving her Name and Blood the Lady Mary Wroth the Author of the Urania Mr. Dryden supposes this Play was copy'd from the Comedy of Albumazer as far as concerns the Alchymist's Character as the Reader may observe from the following Lines being part of his Prologue to Albumazer reviv'd Subtle was got by our Albumazer That Alchymist by this Astrologer Here he was fashion'd and we may suppose He lik'd the Fashion well who wore the Cloaths Whether this Accusation be true I pretend not to determine but sure I am that this last Couplet is borrow'd from Mr. Dryden's Dramatick Essay where he says of Mr. Johnson thus You will pardon me therefore if I presume he lov'd the Fashion when he wore their Cloaths Bartholomew Fair a Comedy acted at the Hope on the Bank-side Oct. 31. in the Year 1614. by the Lady Elizabeth's Servants and then dedicated to King James the First and printed fol. Lond. 1640. This Play has frequently appear'd on the Stage since the Restauration with great applause Cataline his Conspiracy a Tragedy first acted in the Year 1611. by the Kings Majesties Servants with Allowance from the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the great Example of Honour and Virtue the most Noble William Earl of Pembroke This Play is still in Vogue on the Stage and always presented with success It was so well approv'd of by the Judicious Beaumont that he writ a Copy of Verses in praise of it which the Reader may find before our Authors Works Nevertheless I must take notice that Mr. Johnson has borrow'd very much from the Ancients in this Tragedy as for Instance part of Sylla's Ghost in the very Entrance of the Play is copy'd from the Ghost of Tantalus in the beginning of Seneca's Thyestes Thus our Author has translated a great part of Salust's History tho' with great Judgment and Elegance and inserted it into his Play For the Plot see Salust Plutarch in the Life of Cicero Florus Lib. 4. C. 1. Challenge at Tilt at a Marriage a Masque printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Christmass his Masque presented at Court 1516. printed Fol Lond. 1640. Cloridia or Rites to Cloris and her Nymphs personated in a Masque at Court by the Queens Majesty and her Ladies at Shrove-tide 1630. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. The Inventors of this Masque were Mr. Johnson and Mr. Inigo Jones Cynthia's Revels or The Fountain of Self-love a Comical Satyr first acted in the Year 1600. by the then Children of Queen Elizabeth's Chappel with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed Folio Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Special Fountain of Manners The Court. Devil is an Ass a Comedy acted in the Year 1616. by his Majesties Servants and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Tho' our Author seldome borrows any part of his Plot yet in this Play if I mistake not Wittipol's giving his Cloak to Fitz-dotterel to court his Wife one quarter of an Hour is founded on a Novel in Boccace Day 3. Nov. 5. Entertainment of King James in passing to his Coronation printed in Fol. Lond. 1640. This Entertainment was mention'd I suppose by
this Play the Author has writ Annotations Pan's Anniversary or The Shepherd's Holy-day a Masque presented at Court before King James 1625. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. In the Decorations our Author was assisted by the above mention'd Mr. Jones Pleasure reconcil'd to Virtue a Masque presented at Court before King James 1619. to which were made some Additions for the Honour of Wales This in former Catalogues was mention'd as a Masque distinct from the other Poetaster or His Arraignment a Comical Satyr first acted in the Year 1601. by the then Children of his Majesties Chappel with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Vertuous and his Worthy Friend Mr. Richard Martin I have already spoken of this Play in the Account of Decker's Satyromastix and I must further add I heartily wish for our Author's Reputation that he had not been the Agressor in this Quarrel but being altogether ignorant of the Provocations given him I must suspend my Judgment and leave it to better Judges to determine the Controversy Our Author has adorn'd this Play with several Translations from the Ancients as Ovid. Amor. lib. 1. Eleg. 15. Horatii Sat. lib. 1. Sat. 9. lib. 2. Sat. 1. Virgilii AEneid lib. 4. with others Queen's Masques the first of Blackness personated at the Court at Whitehall on the Twelfth-Night 1605. the second of Beauty was presented in the same Court at Whitehall on the Sunday Night after the Twelfth-Night 1608. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Sad Shepherd or A Tale of Robin Hood a Pastoral printed fol. Lond. 1641. This Play is left imperfect there being but two Acts and part of the third finisht Sejanus's Fall a Tragedy first acted in the Year 1603. by the Kings Majesties Servants with the Allowance of the Master of the Revells printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the No less Noble by Virtue than Blood Esme Lord Aubigny This Play is generally commended by all Lovers of Poetry and usher'd into the World by nine Copys of Verses one of which was writ by Mr. George Chapman 'T is founded on History and the Author in a former Edition published 4o. Lond. 1605. has printed Quotations throughout the Reasons whereof take in his own Words being part of the Preface to that Edition The next is least in some nice Nostrils the Quotations might favour affected I do let you know That I abhor nothing more and have only done it to shew my Integrity in the Story and save my self in those common Torturers that bring all Wit to the Rack whose Noses are ever like Swine spoiling and rooting up the Muses Gardens and their whole Bodies like Moles as blindly working under Earth to cast any the least hills upon Vertue For the Story the Reader may consult Tacitus's Annals lib. 3 4 5. Suetonius in the Life of Tiberius Dion c. Silent Woman a Comedy first acted in the Year 1609. by the Children of her Majesties Revels with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the truly Noble by all Titles Sir Francis Stuart Part of this Play is borrow'd from the Ancients as Act 1. Sc. 1. part from Ovid de Arte Amandi Act 2 Sc. 2. part from Juvenal Sat. 6. Act 2. Sc. 5. part from Plautus's Aulularia Act 3. Sc. 5. with other passages Notwithstanding which this Play is Accounted by all One of the best Comedies we have extant and those who would know more may be amply satisfied by the perusal of the judicious Examen of this Play made by Mr. Dryden Speeches at Prince Henry's Barriers printed fol. Lond. 1640. These Speeches being printed amongst his other Masques and always reckoned under that Species of Poetry by others in former Catalogues I could not omit their Mention in this place Staple of News a Comedy acted in the Year 1625. by his Majesties Servants and printed fol. Lond. 1631. The Author introduces four Gossips on the Stage who continue during the Action and criticise on the Play This was practised more than once witness Every man out of his Humor and Magnetick Lady and herein he was follow'd by Fletcher as I have already observ'd in His Knight of the Burning-pestle Tale of a Tub a Comedy printed fol. Lond. 1640. Time vindicated to himself and to his Honours a Masque presented at Court on Twelfth-Night 1623. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. Vission of Delight a Masque presented at Court in Christmas 1617. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. Vulpone or The Fox a Comedy first acted in the Year 1605. by the Kings Majesties Servants with the Allowance of the Master of the Revells printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to both Universities in the following form To the most Noble and most Equal Sisters the two Famous Universities for their Love and Acceptance shewn to his Poem in the Presentation Ben. Johnson the grateful Acknowledger dedicates both it and himself This Play is writ in Imitation of the Comedy of the Ancients and the Argument is form'd into an Acrostick like those of Plautus which are said to be writ by Priscian or some other Eminent Grammarian It is still in vogue at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden and its value is sufficiently manifested by the Verses of Mr. Beaumont and Dr. Donne All these Plays with several other Poems and Translations and an English Grammar are printed together in two Volumes in Folio He has three other Plays which are omitted in these Volumes tho' for what reason I know not two of which are printed in 4o. and the third in 8o. of which we are now to speak Case is alter'd a pleasant Comedy sundry times acted by the Children of the Black-fryars and printed 4o. Lond. 1609. In this Comedy our Author hath very much made use of Plautus as the Learned Reader may observe by comparing His Aulularia and Capteivei with this Comedy Widow a Comedy acted at the Private House in Black-fryars with great applause by his late Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1652. This Play was writ by Mr. Johnson Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Middleton and first publisht by Mr. Alexander Gough a great lover of Plays who helpt Mr. Mosely the Bookseller to this and several other Dramatick Manuscripts as the Passionate Lovers 2. parts The Queen or The Excellency of her Sex c. It was reviv'd not many Years ago at the King's House with a new Prologue and Epilogue which the Reader may find in London Drollery p. 11 12. New-Inn or The Light Heart a Comedy never acted but most negligently play'd by some the Kings Servants and more squeamishly beheld and censured by others the Kings Subjects 1629. Now at last set at liberty to the Readers his Majesties Servants and Subjects to be judg'd printed 8o. Lond. 1631. The Reader may see by this Title-page that the Play succeeded not answerable to our Author's Expectation and the just Merit as he thought of his Play which may be conjectured from the Ode
Overthrow a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Portsmouth This Play is writ in Heroick Verse and hath always appear'd on the Stage with applause especially from the Female Sex and Envy it self must acknowledge That the Passion between Massanissa and Sophonisba is well express't tho' Hannibal and Scipio's Parts fall somewhat short of the Characters given them by Historians as the Ingenious and Sharp Lord Rochester has observ'd in his Allusion to Horace's Tenth Satyr of the First Book When Lee makes temperate Scipio sret and rave And Hannibal a whining Amorous Slave I laugh and wish the Hot-brain'd Fustian-Fool In Busby's Hands to be well lasht at School As our Author has taken the Liberty in several Plays to follow Romances so possibly he purposely err'd with the late Earl of Orrery who in his first Part of Parthenissa has represented the Warlike Hannibal as much in Love with Izadora as Mr. Lee has describ'd him passionate of Rosalinda's Charms Many Historians have writ the Actions of these Great Men see Cornelius Nepos his Life of Hannibal Plutarch's Life of Scipio and that of Hannibal father'd on him tho' suppos'd to be writ by Donatus Acciajolus Livy Dec. 3. Lib. 1. c. Florus Lib. 2. C. 6. Justin Orosius Diodorus Polybius Appian c. Those who understand Italian may read the Story of Massanissa and Sophonisba very neatly describ'd by the Excellent Pen of Petrarch in his Il Trionfo d'Amore C. 2. Theodosius or The Force of Love a Tragedy acted by their Royal-Highness's Servants at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Richmond The Passions are extreamly well drawn in this Play and it met with its deserv'd Applause and our Author has said with as much Truth as Modesty That such Characters Every Dawber cannot draw This Play is founded on a Romance call'd Pharamond translated from the French of Mr. Calpranede See the History of Varannes Part 3. Book 3. p. 282. Of Martian Part 7. Book 1. p. 207. Of Theodosius Part 7. Book 3. p. 256. I know nothing else that our Author has in Print and therefore I shall conclude with that just Commendation given him and Mr. Otway by Mr. Evelyn in his Imitation of Ovid's Elegy ad Invidos When the aspiring Grecian in the East And haughty Philip is forgot in the West Then Lee and Otway's Works shall be supprest John LILLY An Ancient Writer living in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth he was a Kentish Man and in his younger Years brought up in St. Mary Magdalen Colledge in Oxon. where in the Year 1575. he took his Master of Arts Degree He was a very close Student and much addicted to Poetry a Proof of which he has given the World in Nine Plays he has bequeath'd to Posterity and which in that Age were well esteem'd both by the Court and the University He was One of the first Writers that in those Days attempted to reform our Language and purge it from obsolete Expressions Mr. Blount a Gentleman who has made himself known to the World by the several Pieces of his own Writing as Horae Subsecivae his Microcosmography c. and who publisht fix of these Plays in his Title-page stiles him The only Rare Poet of that Time The Witty Comical Facetiously-Quick and Unparalell'd John Lilly 'T is not to be expected that I should any where trace this Author if the Character Mr. Blount gives of him in his Epistle Dedicatory be true That he sat at Apollo's Table that Apollo gave him a Wreath of his own Bayes without Snatching and that the Lyre he play'd on had no borrow'd Strings The Reader therefore is only to expect a short Account of his Titles Alphabetically Alexander and Campaspe a Tragical-Comedy play'd before the Queens Majesty on Twelfth-day at Night by her Majesties Children and the Children of Paul's and afterwards at the Black-fryars printed 120. Lond. 1632. The Story of Alexander's bestowing Campaspe on the Enamour'd Apelles is related by Pliny in his his Natural History Lib. 35 L.10 Endymion a Comedy presented before Queen Elizabeth by the Children of her Majesties Chappel and the Children of Pauls printed 120 Lond. 1632. For the Story of Endimion's being belov'd by the Moon with Comments upon it may be met with in most of the Mythologists See Lucian's Dialogues between Venus and the Moon Natalis Comes Lib. 4. C 8. Hygini Poeticon Astronomicon Fulgentii Mythologia Galtruchius's History of the Heathen Gods Lib. I. C. 9. M. Gombauld has writ a Romance call'd Endymion translated in English printed octavo 1639. Galathea a Comedy play'd before the Queens Majesty at Greenwich on new-New-Years Day at Night by the Children of Paul's printed 120. Lond. 1632. In the Characters of Galathea and Phillidia the Poet has copy'd the Story of Iphis and Janthe which the Reader may find at large In Ovid's Metamorphosis Lib. 9 Cap. 12 Love's Metamorphosis a Witty and Courtly Pastoral first play'd by the Children of Paul's and now by the Children of the Chappel printed 4o. Lond. 1601. Maid's Metamorphosis a Comedy sundry times acted by the Children of Paul's printed 4o. Lond. 1600. The first Act is wholy writ in Verse and so is the greatest part of the Play Mother Bombie a Pleasant Conceited Comedy sundry times play'd by the Children of Paul's printed 120. Lond. 1632. Mydas a Comedy play'd before the Queens Majesty upon Twelfth-day at Night printed 120. Lond. 1632. For the Story see Ovid's Metamorphosis Lib. II. Fab. 4 Natalis Comes Lib. 9. Cap. 15. Galtruchius Book 2. Ch. 5 Apuleius has writ the Story at large in his Aureus Asinus c. Sapho and Phao a Comedy play'd before the Queens Majesty on Shrove-Tuesday by her Majesties Children and the Children of Paul's and afterwards at the Black-fryars printed 120. Lond. 1632. This Story the Reader may learn from Ovid's Epistle of Sapho to Phaon Ep. 21. Woman in the Moon a Comedy presented before Her Highness printed 4o. Lond. 1667. Six of these Plays viz. Alexander and Campaspe Endymion Galathea Mother Bombie Mydas Sapho and Phao are printed together under the Title of Six Court Comedies 120. Lond. 1632. and dedicated by the above mention'd Mr. Blount to the Right Honourable Richard Lumley Viscount Lumley of Waterford The other three are printed single in 4o. By which it appears how and Mr. Philips and his Transcriber Mr. Winstanley are mistaken in affirming That all Mr. Lilly's Plays are printed together in a Volume Not are they less mistaken in ascribing to him a Play call'd Warning for fair Women it being writ by an Anonymous Author I presume our Author may have other Pieces in print tho' I have not been so happy to see them Mr. Blount seems to mention a Book stiled Euphues Our Nation says he are in his Debt for a new English which he taught them Euphues and his
Leonardo from Lucretia's Lodging where he got in by her Maid's Assistance is an Incident as I have already shew'd in several Plays Fine Companion a Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall and sundry times with great applause at the Private House in Salisbury-court by the Prince's Servants printed quarto Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the truly Noble and his worthy Kinsman in all respects Sir Ralph Dutton The Reader will find that Captain Porpuss in Sir Barnaby Whig is beholding to Captain Whibble in his Play for some of his Expressions Holland's Leaguer an Excellent Comedy often acted with great Applause by the High and Mighty Prince Charles his Servants at the Private House in Salisbury-court printed quarto Lond. 1632. The Author in this Play has shewed his Reading having borrow'd several things from Juvenal Petronius Arbyter c. Mr. Winstanley has made no mention of our Author and Mr. Philips to prove his Character of him that he is not an Obscure or Uncopious Writer of English Comedy has ascrib'd two Comedies to him which belong to other Men the Fleire being writ by Edward Sharpham and the Fair Maid of the Exchange if we may believe Kirkman's Account by Thomas Heywood John MARSTON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First who was a Contributor to the Stage in his Time by Eight Plays which were approv'd by the Audience at the Black-fryars and one of them viz. Dutch Curtezan was some few Years since reviv'd with success on the present Stage under the Title of The Revenge or The Match in New-gate The place of our Author's Birth and Family are to me unknown neither can I recover other Information of him than what I learnt from the Testimony of his Bookseller That he was free from all Obscene Speeches which is the chief cause that makes Plays to be so odious unto most Men. That he abhorr'd such Writers and their Works and profest himself an Enemy to all such as stufft their Scenes with Ribaldry and larded their Lines with Scurrilous Taunts and Jests So that whatsoever even in the Spring of his Years he presented upon the private and publick Theatre in his Autumn and Declining Age he needed not to be asham'd of An Excellent Character and fit for the Imitation of our Dramatists most of whom would be thought to have throughly studyed Horace I could wish therefore that they which know him so well would call to Mind and practice his Advice which is thus exprest Silvis deducti caveant me judice Fauni Ne nimiū teneres juvenentur versibus unquam Aut immunda crepent ignominiosaque dicta Offenduntur enim quibus est equus pater res But leaving this I shall give the Reader an Account of his Plays in their Accustom'd Order having first inform'd him that six of our Author's Plays are collected into one Volume being publisht under the Title of The Works of Mr. John Marston printed octavo Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Elizabeth Carie Viscountess Faulkland According to the Alphabet I am to begin with viz. Antonio and Melida a History acted by the Children of Paul's printed octavo Lond. 1633. Antonio's Revenge or The Second part of Antonio and Melida frequently acted by the Children of Paul's printed in octavo These two Plays were likewise printed in quarto above 30 Years before this new Edition viz. 1602. Dutch Curtezan a Comedy divers times presented at the Black-fryars by the Children of the Queens Majesties Revels printed in octavo Lond. 1633. This Play was publisht long before in quarto viz. 1605. Cockledemoy's cheating Mrs. Mulligrub the Vintner's Wife of the Goblet and the Salmon is borrow'd from an old French Book called Les Contes du Monde see the same Story in English in a Book of Novels call'd The Palace of Pleasure in the last Novel Insatiate Countess a Tragedy acted at the White-fryars printed quarto Lond. 1603. It being a common custom with our Author to disguise his Story and to personate real Persons under feign'd Characters I am perswaded that in this Play under the Title of Isabella the Insatiable Countess of Suevia he meant Joane the First Queen of Jerusalem Naples and Sicily and I doubt not but the Reader who will compare the Play with the History will assent to my conjecture Many are the Writers that have related her Life as Collenuccio Simmoneta Villani Montius c. but I refer my English Reader to Dr. Fuller's Prophane State Ch. 2. That her Life has been the Subject not only of History but of Poetry and Novels also is manifest from this Play and the Novels of Bandello who has related her Story under the Title of The Inordinate Life of The Countess of Celant This Novel is translated into French by Belleforest Tom. 2. Nov. 20. and possibly our Author might build his Play on this Foundation The like Story is related in God's Revenge against Adultery under the Name of Anne of Werdenberg Dutchess of Ulme See Hist. 5. Male Content a Tragicomedy the first Design being laid by Mr. Webster was corrected and augmented by our Author printed 4o. Lond. 1604. and dedicated in the following Stile to Ben Johnson Benjamini Johnsonio Poetae Elegantissimo Gravissimo Amico suo candido cordato Johannes Marston Musarum Alumnus asperam hanc suam Thaliam D. D. Notwithstanding our Authors profession of Friendship he afterwards could not refrain from reflecting on Mr. Johnson on Account of his Sejanus and Catiline as the Reader will find in the perusal of his Epistle to Sophonisba Know says he that I have not labour'd in this Poem to relate any thing as an Historian but to enlarge every thing as a Poet. To transcribe Authors quote Authorities and translate Latin Prose Orations into English Blank-Verse hath in this Subject been the least aim of my Studies That Mr. Johnson is here meant will I presume be evident to any that are acquainted with his Works and will compare the Orations in Salust with those in Catiline On what provocations our Author thus censured his Friend I know not but this Custom has been practic'd in all Ages the Old Proverb being verify'd in Poets as well as Whores Two of a Trade can never agree 'T is within the Memory of Man that a Play has been dedicated to the late witty Earl of Rochester and an Essay upon Satyr from the same Hand has bespatter'd his Reputation So true it is that some Poets Are still prepar'd to praise or to abhor us Satyr they have and Panegyrick for us But begging pardon for this Digression I return to the Play which I take to be an honest general Satyr and not as some malicious Enemies endeavour'd to perswade the World design'd to strike at any particular Persons Parasitaster or The Fawn a Comedy divers times presented at the Black-fryars by the Children of the Queens Majesties Revels printed 80. Lond. 1633. This Play was formerly printed
this Play Shakespear meant when he brought in Sir John Falstaff speaking in K. Cambyses Vein My Counsaile grave and sapient with Lords of Legal Train Attentive eares towards us bend and mark what shall be sain So you likewise my valiant Knight whose manly acts doth fly By brute of Fame the sounding trump doth perse the azure Sky My sapient words I say perpend and so your skill delate You know that Mors vanquished hath Cyrus that King of state And I by due Inheritance possess that Princely Crown Ruling by sword of mighty force in place of great Renown Edmund PRESTWITH The Author of a Tragedy called Hyppolitus which as I suppose is translated from Seneca tho' I never saw it but have heard 't was printed in octavo Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley have placed another Play to his Account viz. The Hectors but it was a fault which I suppose they were led into by my Catalogue printed 1680. as I my self was tho' I must now assure my Reader That that Play has no Name to it and in Mr. Kirkman's Catalogue is set down as an Anonymal Play Q. Francis QUARLES Esq THis Gentleman was Son to James Quarles Esq who was Clerk of the Green-Cloth and Purveyor to Queen Elizabeth He was Born at Stewards in the Parish of Rumford in Essex He was sent to Cambridge and was bred for some time in Christ-Church Colledge afterwards he became a Member of Lincolns-Inn in London He was sometime Cup-bearer to the Queen of Bohemia Secretary to the Reverend James Usher Archbishop of Armagh and Chronologer to the Famous City of London He was a Poet that mix'd Religion and Fancy together and was very careful in all his Writings not to intrench upon Good Manners by any Scurrility in his Works or any ways offending against his Duty to God his Neighbour and himself The Occasion of our Mentioning him in this place is from his being the Author of an Innocent Innosfensive Play called The Virgin Widow a Comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1649. As to his other Works they are very numerous those which I have seen are his History of Sampson in Verse Jonah Esther Job Militant His Emblems are reputed by some a Copy of Hermannus Hugo's Pia Desideria Anniversaries upon his Paranete Pentalogia or The Quintessence of Meditation Argalus and Parthenia being founded on a Story in Sir Philip Sydney's Arcadia Enchiridion of Meditations Divine and Moral Nor must I forget his Loyal Convert tho' I never saw it being a Cause of his Persecution by the Usurped Authority then in being The troubles of Ireland forc'd him from thence so that he dy'd in his Native Country Sept. 8. 1644. being aged 52 Years and the Father of eighteen Children by one Wife and was buried at St. Foster's Church London R. Thomas RANDOLPH HE Flourisht in the Reign of King Charles the First and was Born at Houghton in Northamptonshire from whence he was sent for Education to Westminster School and thence was remov'd to Cambridge where he became Fellow of Trinity Colledge in that University He was accounted one of the most pregnant Wits of his Time and was not only admir'd by the Wits of Cambridge but likewise belov'd and valu'd by the Poets and Men of the Town in that Age. His Gay Humour and Readiness at Repartee begat Ben. Johnson's Love to that Degree that he Adopted him his Son on which Account Mr. Randolph writ a Gratulatory Poem to him which is printed these Lines being part of the Copy When my Muse upon obedient knees Asks not a Father's Blessing let her leese The Fame of this Adoption 't is a Curse I wish her 'cause I cannot think a worse How true a Filial Love he pay'd to his Reputation may appear from his Answer to that Ode which Ben. writ in Defence of his New-Inn and which Mr. Feltham reply'd upon so sharply Having given you the two former in my Account of Mr. Johnson give me leave likewise to transcribe this in Honour of Mr. Randoph whose Memory I reverence for his Respect to that Great Man An Answer to Mr. Ben Johnson's Ode to perswade him not to leave the Stage I. Ben do not leave the Stage 'Cause 't is a loathsome Age For Pride and Impudence will grow too bold When they shall hear it told They frighted thee stand high as is thy Cause Their Hiss is thy Applause More just were thy Disdain Had they approv'd thy Vein So thou for them and they for thee were born They to incense and thou as much to scorn II. Will't thou engross thy Store Of Wheat and pour no more Because their Bacon-brains have such a tast As more delight in Mast No! set them forth a board of Dainties full As thy best Muse can cull Whilst they the while do pine And thirst midst all their Wine What greater plague can Hell it self devise Than to be willing thus to Tantalize III. Thou can'st not find them stuff That will be bad enough To please their Pallates let 'em them refuse For some Pye-Corner Muse She is too fair an Hostess 't were a sin For them to like thine Inn 'T was made to entertain Guests of a Nobler Strain Yet if they will have any of thy Store Give them some scraps and send them from thy dore IV. And let those things in plush Till they be taught to blush Like what they will and more contented be With what Brome swept from thee I know thy worth and that thy lofty Strains Write not to Cloaths but Brains But thy great Spleen doth rise 'Cause Moles will have no Eyes This only in my Ben I faulty find He 's angry they 'l not see him that are blind V. Why should the Scene be mute Cause thou canst touch thy Lute And string thy Horace let each Muse of Nine Claim thee and say Th' art mine 'T were fond to let all other Flames expire To sit by Pindar's Fire For by so strange Neglect I should my self suspect The Palsie were as well thy Brains disease If they could shake thy Muse which way they please VI. And tho' thou well canst sing The Glories of thy King And on the wings of Verse his Chariot bear To Heaven and fix it there Yet let thy Muse as well some Raptures raise To please him as to praise I would not have thee chuse Only a treble Muse But have this Envious Ignorant Age to know Thou that canst sing so high canst reach as low There was another Copy of Verses writ by Mr. Carew to Mr. Johnson on occasion of his Ode of Defiance annexed to his Play of the New-Inn See his Poems 8o. p. 90. Having given you a taste of his Lyrick Poetry I now proceed to his Dramatick Performance of which according to our Custom I shall speak Alphabetically Amyntas or The Impossible Dowry a Pastoral acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall Aristippus or The Jovial Philosopher presented in a private Shew to which is added The Conceited
Querer por solo querer To love only for Love's sake a Dramatick Romance represented at Aranjuez before the King and Queen of Spain to celebrate the Birth-day of that King Phil. IV. by the Meninas which are a Set of Ladies in the Nature of Ladies of Honour in that Court Children in Years but Higher in Degree being Daughters and Heirs to Grandees in Spain than the Ladies of Honour Attending likewise that Queen This Play was written in Spanish by Don Antonio de Mendoza 1623. and dedicated to the Queen of Spain which was Elizabeth Daughter to Henry the Great of France It was paraphras'd by our Author in English in 1654. during his Confinement to Tankersly Park in Yorkshire by Oliver after the Battle of Worcester in which as I have already observ'd he was taken prisoner serving his Majesty King Charles the Second as Secretary of State At that time he writ on this Dramatick Romance 3 Stanzas both in Latin and English which may give the Reader a Taste of his Vein in both these Languages and therefore may not be improper for me to transcribe or unpleasant to the Reader to perufe I shall give the preference to the Latin Verses Learning and Learned Men being to be preferr'd before Vulgar Readers Ille ego qui dubiis quondam jactatus in Undis Qui dum nunc Aulae nunc mibi Castra Strepunt Leni importunas mulceban Carmine Curas In quo PASTORIS Flamma FIDELIS erat At nunc Castris Aulisque ejectus Undis Nam mihi Naufragium Portus Ira Quies Altius insurgens Regum haud intactus Amores Et Reginarum fervidus Arma Cano Quae vinclis Hymenaee tuis spretisque Coronis Nec juga ferre virûm nec dare Jur a velint Dulce prosellosos audire ex Litore fluctus Eque truci Terram dulce videre Mari. In English thus Time was when I a Pilgrim of the Seas When I midst noise of Camps Courts disease Purloin'd some Hours to charm rude Cares with Verse Which Flame of FAITHFUL SHEPHERD did rehearse But now restrain'd from Sea from Camp from Court And by a Tempest blown into a Port I raise my Thoughts to muse on higher things And Eccho Arms Loves of Queens Kings Which Queens despising Crowns and Hymen's Band Would neither Men Obey nor Men Command Great Pleasure from rough Seas to see the Shore Or from firm Land to hear the Billows rore Tho' this Play was during the Author's Imprisonment translated 't was not printed till long after his Death viz. 4o. Lond. 1671. to which is added Fiestas de Aranjuez Festivals represented at Aranjuez written by the same Author and on the same Occasion and translated by the same Hand The Play it self consists but of three Acts which the Spaniards call Jornadas according to the Spanish Custom their Poets seldom or never exceeding that number As to his other Works he writ several Poems in Latin as a Copy on the Escurial another on the Royal Sovereign and a third on Mr. May's Translation of and Supplement to Lucan He translated other Pieces into that Learned Tongue as two Poems written by Mr. Thomas Carew Several Pieces he translated out of Latin into English as the fourth Book of Virgil's AEneids an Epigram out of Martial Lib. 10. Epig. 47. Two Odes out of Horace relating to the Civil Wars of Rome the First Carm. Lib. 3. Ode 24. The Second Epod. 16. with some Sonnets translated from the Spanish and other Poems writ in his Native Language with several Pieces which you will find bound up with Pastor Fido printed 8o. Lond. 1671. Nor was it out of these Languages only that he translated what pleas'd him but even so uncourted a Language as he terms that of Portugal employ'd his Pen during his Confinement For he translated Luis de Camoens whom the Portugals call their Virgil his Lusiad or Portugal's Historical Poem This Poem was printed fol. Lond. 1665. and dedicated to the Right Honourable William Earl of Strafford Son and Heir to that Glorious Protomartyr of Monarchy the Noble Thomas Earl of Strafford Lord Deputy of Ireland on whose Tryal our Author writ a Copy of Verses printed amongst his Poems p. 302. Besides these Pieces Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley attribute to him the Latin Version of Mr. Edmund Spencer's Shepherds Calendar which I take to be a mistake of Mr. Philips ' whose Errors Mr. Winstanley generally copies not having heard of any other Translation than that done by Mr. Theodore Bathurst sometime Fellow of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge and printed at the end of Mr. Spencer's Works in fol. Lond. 1679. Henry L d Viscount FAULKLAND This Worthy Person was as I suppose Father of the present Right Honourable Cary Viscount Faulkland A Person Eminent for his Extraordinary Parts and Heroick Spirit He was well known and respected at Court in the Parliament and in Oxfordshire his Country of which he was Lord Lieutenant When he was first elected to serve in Parliament some of the House oppos'd his Admission urging That he had not sow'd his Wild-oats he reply'd If I have not I may sow them in the House where there are Geese enough to pick them up And when Sir J. N. told him That He was a little too wild for so grave a Service he reply'd Alas I am wild and my Father was so before me and I am no Bastard as c. But what need I search for Wit when it may be sufficiently seen in a Play which he writ the occasion of our making mention of him call'd The Marriage Night a Tragedy printed 4 o Lond. 1664. I know not whether this Play ever appear'd on the Stage or no. He was cut off in the prime of his Years as much miss'd when dead as belov'd when living Nathaniel FIELD An Author that liv'd in the Reigns of King James and King Charles the First who was not only a Lover of the Muses but belov'd by them and the Poets his Contemporaries He was adopted by Mr. Chapman for his Son and call'd in by Old Massinger to his Assistance in the Play call'd The Fatal Dowry of which Play more hereafter He writ himself two Plays which will still bear Reading viz. Amends for Ladies with the merry Pranks of Moll Cut-purse or The Humour of Roaring a Comedy full of honest Mirth and Wit Acted at the Black-Friars both by the Prince's Servants and the Lady Elizabeth's and printed 4 o Lond. 1639. The Plot of Subtles tempting the married Wife at her Husbands intreaty seems to be founded on Don Quixote's Novel of the Curious Impertinent and has been the Subject of many Plays as The City Night-cap Amourous Prince of The Curious Husband c. This Play was writ by our Author as Amends to the Fair Sex for a Play which he had writ some Years before and whose very Title semm'd a Satyr on Womankind viz. Woman's Weather-cock a Comedy acted before the King in White-hall and several times privately at the
White-Friars by the Children of her Majesty's Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1612. and dedicated to any Woman that hath been no Weather-cock This Play is commended by a Copy of Verses writ by Mr. Chapman There is one thing remarkable in this Play and which for the Author's Credit I must take notice of that the Time of the Action is circumscrib'd within the compass of twelve Hours as the Author himself observes in the Conclusion of his Play Nere was so much what cannot Heavenly Powers Done and undone and done in twelve short hours Richard FLECKNOE Esq This Gentleman liv'd in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second and was as Famous as any in his Age for indifferent Metre His Acquaintance with the Nobility was more than with the Muses and he had a greater propensity to Riming then a Genius to Poetry He never could arrive with all his Industry to get but one Play to be acted and yet he has printed several He has publisht sundry Works as he stiles them to continue his Name to Posterity tho' possibly an Enemy has done that for him which his own Endeavours would never have perfected For whatever become of his own Pieces his Name will continue whilst Mr. Dryden's Satyr call'd Mack Flecknoe shall remain in Vogue He has publisht several Pieces both in Prose and Verse which I have seen and he hath others in print which I could never obtain a view of as in particular that Epistle Dedicatory to a Nobleman which Mr. Dryden raillys so severely in his Dedication of Limberham As to what Works I have seen of his I shall give the Reader a particular Account beginning first with his Plays Damoiselles à la mode a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1667. and dedicated to their Graces the Duke and Dutchess of Newcastle more humbly than by way of Epistle This Comedy was design'd by the Author to have been acted by the Kings Servants as the Reader may see by the Scheme drawn by the Poet shewing how he cast the several Parts but I know not for what reason they refus'd it The Poet indeed seems to give one which whether true or false is not much material but methinks it will serve to shew the Reader his Humour For the acting this Comedy says he those who have the Governing of the Stage have their Humours and would be intreated and I have mine and won't intreat them and were all Dramatick Writers of my mind they should wear their Old Plays Thread-bare ere they should have any New till they better understood their own Interest and how to distinguish betwixt good and bad I know not whether the late Duke of Buckingham thought of Mr. Flecknoe when he drew the Character of Mr. Bayes but methinks there is some resemblance between his Anger at the Players being gone to Dinner without his leave and Mr. Flecknoe's Indignation at their Refusing his Play Mr. Bays seeming to me to talk much at the same rate How are the Players gone to Dinner If they are I 'll make them know what 't is to injure a Person that does them the Honour to write for them and all that A Company of Proud Conceited Humorous Cross-grain'd Persons and all that I 'll make them the most Contemptible Despicable Inconsiderable Persons and all that in the whole World for this Trick This Play as the Author in his Preface acknowledges is taken out of several Excellent Pieces of Molliere The main Plot of the Damoiselles out of his Les Precieuses Ridicules the Counterplot of Sganarelle out of his L'Escole des Femmes and the Two Naturals out of his L'Escole des Maris Erminia or The Chast Lady printed 8 o Lond. 1665. and dedicated to the Fair and Virtuous Lady the Lady Southcot This Play tho' the Actors Names design'd by the Authors be printed over against the Dramatis Personae was never acted Love's Dominion a Dramatick Piece full of Excellent Morality written as a Pattern for the Reformed Stage printed 8 o Lond. 1654. and dedicated to the Lady Elizabeth Claypole In this Epistle the Author insinuates the use of Plays and begs her Mediation to gain License to act them Whether the Play answer the Title-page or whether Mr. Flecknoe have so regularly observ'd the three Unities I shall leave to the Criticks Love's Kingdom a Pastoral-Tragi-comedy not as it was acted at the Theatre near Lincolns-Inn but as it was written and since corrected printed 8 o Lond. 1664. and dedicated to his Excellency William Lord Marquess of Newcastle This Play is but the former Play a little alter'd with a new Title and after the King 's Return it seems the Poet got leave to have it acted but it had the misfortune to be damn'd by the Audience which Mr. Flecknoe stiles The people and calls them Judges without Judgment for want of its being rightly represented to them He owns that it wants much of the Ornament of the Stage but that he says by a lively Imagination may easily be supply'd To the same purpose he says of his Damoiselles à la mode That together with the Persons represented he had set down the Comedians that he design'd should represent them that the Reader might have half the pleasure of seeing it acted and a lively Imagination might have the pleasure of it all entire M r John Fletcher Marriage of Oceanus and Britannia a Masque which I never saw and therefore am not able to give any Account of it Whether our Author have any more Plays in print I know not but I remember a Prologue amongst his Epigrams intended for a Play call'd The Physician against his will which I believe might be a Translation of Molliere's Le Medecin malgré luy but it was never publisht that I know of As to his other Works they consist of Epigrams and Enigmatical Characters which are usually bound up with his Love's Dominion at the end of which is a short Discourse of the English Stage which I take to be the best thing he has extant There is another Book of his Writing call'd Diarium or The Journal divided into twelve Jornadas in Burlesque Verse with some other Pieces printed 120 Lond. 1656 John FLETCHER and Francis BEAUMONT Esq I am now arriv'd at a brace of Authors who like the Dioscuri Castor and Pollux succeeded in Conjunction more happily than any Poets of their own or this Age to the reserve of the Venerable Shakespear and the Learned and Judicious Johnson 'T is impossible for me to reach their Characters and therefore as the Witty Dr. Fuller cites Bale's saying of Randal Higden That 't is no shame to crave aid in a Work too weighty for any ones back to bear I must have recourse to others Assistance for the Characters of this worthy pair of Authors To speak first of Mr. Beaumont he was Master of a good Wit and a better Judgment he so admirably well understood the Art of the Stage that even Johnson himself thought it