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168 imitate him; and the ill Succes of Shakepear's Imitators, produces no other Effect, than to make him be conider'd as inimitable. You remember that in the Tragedy of Moor of Venice, (a mot tender Piece) a Man trangles his Wife on the Stage; and that the poor Woman, whilt he is trangling, cries aloud, that he dies very unjutly. You know that in Prince of Denmark, two Grave-Diggers make a Grave, and are all the Time drinking, inging Ballads, and making humourous Reflexions, (natural indeed enough to Perons of their Profeion) on the everal Skulls they throw up with their Spades; but a Circumtance which will urprize you is, that this ridiculous Incident has been imitated. In the Reign of King Charles the Second, which was that of Politenes, and the Golden Age of the Liberal Arts; Otway, in his Venice Preserv'd, introduces Antonio the Senator, and Naki his Curtezan, in the Midt of the Horrors of the Marquis of Bedemar's Conpiracy. nio