Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/162

142 N Author who writ in the Time of King James the Firt, two Plays, entituled,

The Atheits Tragedy, 4 to. The Conveyance away of Sebatian and Freco, on her Husband’s approach, is taken from Boccace’s Novels, Day 7. Nov. 6.

The Loyal Brother; or, The Revenger’s Tragedy, 4 to. Gentleman of thoe Times, who has writ one Play, call’d,

The Unfortunate Shepherd, a Pastoral, 8 vo. 1683. This is printed with a Piece call’d, A Dicoure of Life, in Proe; and ome Poems on everal Occaions, 8 vo.

HO’ this Gentleman’s Modety has hitherto hindred him from etting his Name to any of the Plays that he has Writ, yet they are o Univerally known to be his, and own’d by him to the Stage by all other ways, that it cannot reaonably be taken amis by him, to find his Name here, ince it is not in the Power of Envy to mention it, without the highet Value and Eteem. This Gentleman, as I am informed, was born in Chehire, and by more than a Common Education, and Convere with the bet Company qualified for thee Performances, which have got him the Preference to all our Modern Writers of Comedy, ince Mr. Wycherly, and Sir George Etheridge have left the Stage; and with all the due Repect that I owe thoe two great Men, I mut place Mr. Van Brug in their Form, for the prightlines of his Wit, the eaines, and at ame time, force of the Converation of his Plays are uch, that none ele can tand in Competition with him. Methinks in the Comparion of his Plays, with mot of our other Drammatic Pieces, there is the ame difference, which there is betwixt the Draughts of Van Dike, Titian, and other great Maters of former Days, and ome of our bet Painters now; thee are