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

124 The World in the Moon, an Opera, 4 to. 1698. as it is performed at the Theatre in Doret-Garden, by his Majety’s Servants; and dedicated to Chritopher Roth, Eq; This is omething unuual, being a comical Opera. I think great part of the Run betwixt Palmerin, Worthy, Sir Dotterel, and Jacintha, pleaant enough, tho’ the firt and late Eay of our Author in the Soc. Gentleman of a good Family in the County of Norfolk; was well received by the Noblemen of Wit, epecially the preent Earl of Doret, the late Duke of Newcatle, &c. he was on the Revolution made Poet Laureat, which place he held till his Death, which happened about three or four Years ince. His Comedies, at leat ome of them, hew him to undertand 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 Majeties Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, then Earl, now Duke of Shrewsbury.

Bury Fair, a Comedy, 4 to. 1689. acted by his Majety’s Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Doret and Middleex, then Lord Chamberlain of his Majety’s HoholdHoushold [sic]. Part of this Play taken from the Duke of Newcatle’s Triumphant Widow, and part from Molliere’s Precieues Ridicules.

Epom Wells, a Comedy, 4 to. 1676. acted at the Duke’s Theatre; and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcatle. ’Tis a pleaant Commendation of Mr. Langbain, (whose τοπαν Mr. Shadwell is) to bring Monieur St. Euveremont’s Praie of it who cannot peak a Word of Englih, and by Conequence, none of the bet Judges of the Goodnes of our Englih Plays, which require a Matery of our Tongue.

The Humourits, a Comedy, 4 to. 1671, acted by his Royal Highnes’s Servants; and dedicated to the mot Illutrious Margaret, Dutches of Newcatle. This Play (tho’ the Deign of it was good) met with many Enemies at its firt appearance on the Stage.

The Lancahire Witches, and Teague O Divelly, the Irih Priet; a Comedy, 4 to. 1682. acted at the Duke’s Theatre. Heywood and Brome have writ on the ame Subject, but not o diverting.

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