Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/155

Rh Gentleman now living, who, as I have been inform’d, made his firt Application to the Law; but quitted thoe rougher Studies for the more pleaing Entertainment of the Mues; and after the writing of two Plays, with no ill Succes, at leat with very good Judges, mov’d by his active Temper, he left, for ome Years, the calmer retreat of Poetry for the War; till, in the Year 1690. he preented the Town with that diverting Comedy of Sir Anthony Love, and Six more, but of all in their order:

The Diappointment; or, The Mother in Fahion; acted at the Theatre Royal, 1684. 4 to. and dedicated to the o Honourable, James, Earl of Oery (the preent Duke of Ormond). The Curious Impertinent of the incomparable Hitory of Don Quixot, eems to have given our Author an Hint of the Plot.

The Loyal Brother; or, The Perian Prince; a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majeties Servants, 1682. 4 to. and dedicated to his Grace, the Duke of Richmond. This was his firt Play, and is built on the Novel of Tachmas, Prince of Peria, 8 vo.

The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery; a Play, acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majeties Servants, 1694. 4 to. and dedicated to Anthony Hammond, of Somerham Place, Eq; In the Dedication our Author owns his taking a hint of the Tragical part of this Play, from a Novel of Mrs. Behn’s, call’d, The Nun; or, The Fair Vow-breaker. This Play was receiv’d with vat Applaue, and is yet acted with Succes; the Ditres of the Story being extreamly moving, and the Paions very well touch’d by the Author; tho’ had he made Villeroy and Biron Friends, it wou’d have omething heighten’d the Ditres. In the Comical part, the Hint of Fernando being peruaded to believe that he had been dead, buried, and in Purgatory, eems to be owing to The Little Thief of Fletcher.

The Maids Lat Prayer; or, Any thing rather than Fail; a Comedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majeties Servants, 1693. 4 to. and dedicated to the Honourable, Mr. Charles Boyl.

Oroonoko, a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majety’s Servants, 1696. 4 to. and dedicated to his Grace, William, Duke of Devonhire, &c. in which the Author makes this ingenuous Acknowledgement, which few Poets have formerly done; viz. ‘I tand engaged to Mrs. Behn for the occaion of a mot paionate Ditres in my lat Play, (which was The Innocent Adultry) and in a Concience that I had not made her a ufficient Acknowledgment, I have run farther into her Debt, with a Deign to oblige me