Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/40

20 Loves last Shift, or The Fool in Fashion, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants. London, Printed 1696. 4to. And Dedicated to Richard Norton of Southwick, Esq.

In the Epistle our Author informs us that the usual Enmity at the Success of an unknown Author, had produced some Surmises that this Play was not his own; but he assures his Patron, that he should think he affronted him, if he should dedicate a Play to him that he could not entirely call his own; no part of this, either of the Plot or the Expression being borrowed from either the Dead or the Living. He indeed took a very rational Way to that Success, which his Epistle lets us know this Performance of his met with, by making use of the extensive Acquaintance of Mr. Southern. For that Author that will stand on the bare Merit of his Play, may satisfie himself in its Justness and Perfection, but will seldom or never reap that Profit from his Labours, that will answer either his Hopes or his Merit. Being sensible of this, I suppose Mr. Cibber took care to engage the Interest of a great many, by obliging their Vanity, in submitting his Play to their Perusal and Censure; for there is no Complement so prevailing with Mankind, as that which is made to their Wit.

Mr. Cibber has taken Care to avoid the Guilt of an unconfessed Theft, in avowing his Innocence, only so far as he could remember. The Plot indeed seems to be new, as it is surprising and admirable; but some of the Criticks will have it founded on a very great improbability, viz. on Loveless's not knowing his Wife: Tho' it may be urged in defence of it, That young Worthy's Confirmation of her Uncle's former Account of her Death might very much contribute to his being impos'd on. But were this insufficient, yet the Beauty of the Incident, and the excellent Moral that flows from it, abundantly outweigh the Fault. The Characters of Sir Novelty, Snap, Narcissa, and the Elder Worthy, seem to be good Copies of Sir Fopling, Jerry in Love for Love, Setter in the Old Batchelor, &c. Of Melantha in Marriage Alamode, &c. and Vainlove in the Old Batchelor.

Womans Wit, or The Lady in Fashion, a Comedy acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants, 4to. 1697.

This Play is much short of the former in the Easiness of Wit and Style, as in the Artful working up of the Plot. The Characters of Rakeish, Father and Son, with the Plot of their Walk, is much borrowed from the Fortune Hunters; from Otway's Dare Devil; from Sir Thomas Revel and his Son in Greenwich-Parke; and indeed among the other Characters there is not much new.

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