Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/59

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tation, and owns he has not hit the Humours of the Town in some of his principal parts.

The Lover's Luck, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre in Little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, by his Majesties Servants, 4to. 1696. Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lord Raby.

This Play, as the Author takes care to inform us, met with a general Applause. As to the Characters, they are most but Copies, Sir Nicholas Purflew, of the Antiquary of Marmion; Goosandelo, of Sir Courtly, and Sir Fopling, &c. I won't say, that the Poet had the Sharpers in the Squire of Alsatia in his Eye, when he drew Eager, &c. but there is some resemblance.


An excellent Comedian, now living, who dealing daily in the Products of Parnassus, found himself inspired with the Vein of Poetry, that has spread so far among his Brothers of the Stage, and has given us a very diverting Play called,

The Country Wake, a Comedy, Acted at the New Theatre in Little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1696, 4to. Dedicated to the Illustrious and truly Noble James, Duke, Marquess, and Earl of Ormond, in England and Ireland, &c. This Play was well received, but whether it was owing to the admirable Account of the Author, or his Writing, or to both, I leave to the Reader; that it has Merit, is not to be doubted, nor do I know of any remarkable Thefts from other Plays, unless the imitation of Shakespear's Clowns, in the Character of Hob, which I look on as a praise to Mor. Dgget, and no Fault.


A Gentleman of Grays-Inn, in the time of Charles II. whether he be yet living, I know not; he Writ one Play, (viz.)

The Roman Generals, or, The Distressed Ladies, 4to. 1697. Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lord Brook. For the Plot see Plutarch's Lives of Cæsar and Pompey. See also Lucan, Suetonius, &c.

Dr.