Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/144

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The World in the Moon, an Opera, 4 to. 1698. as it is performed at the Theatre in Dorſet-Garden, by his Majeſty’s Servants; and dedicated to Chriſtopher Roth, Eſq; This is ſomething unuſual, being a comical Opera. I think great part of the Run betwixt Palmerin, Worthy, Sir Dotterel, and Jacintha, pleaſant enough, tho’ the firſt and late Eſſay of our Author in the Soc.

Tho. Shadwell, Eſq;

A Gentleman of a good Family in the County of Norfolk; was well received by the Noblemen of Wit, eſpecially the preſent Earl of Dorſet, the late Duke of Newcaſtle, &c. he was on the Revolution made Poet Laureat, which place he held till his Death, which happened about three or four Years ſince. His Comedies, at leaſt ſome of them, ſhew him to underſtand Humour; and if he cou’d have drawn the Character of a Man of Wit, as well as that of a Coxcomb, there wou’d have been nothing wanting to the Perfection of his Dramatick Fables. But to his Plays in their Order, being Seventeen in Number, (viz.)

The Amorous Bigotte, with the Second part of Teague O Divelly, a Comedy 4 to. 1690. acted by their Majeſties Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, then Earl, now Duke of Shrewsbury.

Bury Fair, a Comedy, 4 to. 1689. acted by his Majeſty’s Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Dorſet and Middleſex, then Lord Chamberlain of his Majeſty’s Hoſhold. Part of this Play taken from the Duke of Newcaſtle’s Triumphant Widow, and part from Molliere’s Precieuſes Ridicules.

Epſom Wells, a Comedy, 4 to. 1676. acted at the Duke’s Theatre; and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcaſtle. ’Tis a pleaſant Commendation of Mr. Langbain, (whose τοπαν Mr. Shadwell is) to bring Monſieur St. Euveremont’s Praiſe of it who cannot ſpeak a Word of Engliſh, and by Conſequence, none of the beſt Judges of the Goodneſs of our Engliſh Plays, which require a Maſtery of our Tongue.

The Humouriſts, a Comedy, 4 to. 1671, acted by his Royal Highneſs’s Servants; and dedicated to the moſt Illuſtrious Margaret, Dutcheſs of Newcaſtle. This Play (tho’ the Deſign of it was good) met with many Enemies at its firſt appearance on the Stage.

The Lancaſhire Witches, and Teague O Divelly, the Iriſh Prieſt; a Comedy, 4 to. 1682. acted at the Duke’s Theatre. Heywood and Brome have writ on the ſame Subject, but not ſo diverting.

The Libertine, a Comedy, 4 to. 1676. acted by his Royal Highneſſes Servants; and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcaſtle. This is accounted one of his beſt Plays, and is diverting enough.

Plot