Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/41

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HIS worthy Knight lived (about the Restoration) at his Seat at Ashbourn, a Market Town in Derbyshire, his Family Ancient, pretending an Alliance with William the First: He had Education in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, made the Tour of France and Italy in his Five and Twentieth Year, finishing it in the Year 1632. Poetry being his darling Study. Among other Pieces, he has left us Three Plays and a Masque, of which in their Order,

Masque, presented at Berthie in Derbyshire, 1639. before the then Earl of Chesterfield, on a Twelfth-Night, his Two Sons acting Parts in the same.

Obstinate Lady, a Comedy, 8vo. 1658. This Play seems a meer Imitation of Massenger's Very Woman.

Ovid's Tragedy, 8vo. 1669. Some part taken from his Elegies, and part from Il Atheisto Fulminato, an Italian Play.

Trappolin supposed a Prince, a Tragy-Comedy, 8vo. 1658. Plot from Trapolén credulo Principe, which he owns to have seen acted at Venice. It has been revived by Mr. Tate, and acted in the Year 1685. by the Dukes Servants in Dorset Garden.

Thersites, and Tyranical Government, which may well be supposed to be none of his, tho' placed to him by Winstanly and Philips, you may find it in their Alphabet among the Anonymous Plays. These are all printed with his Poems, Epigrams, &c. in 8vo.

Gentleman now living, who derives himself from an Ancient Family in Staffordshire of that Name. His Politer Knowledge he owes to Dublin Colledge, from whence being returned to England, his first Applications were to the Law. But Mr. Congreve was of too delicate a Taste, had a Wit of too fine a turn, to be long pleas'd with that crabbed, unpalatable Study; in which the laborious dull plodding Fellow, generally excells the more sprightly and vivacious wit; for the Law is something like Preferment at Court, won by Assurance and Assiduity; this concurring with his Natural Inclinations to Poetry, diverted him from the Bar to the declining Stage, which then stood in need of such a Support; and from whence the Town justly receiv'd him as Rome's other Hope.

Rochfoncault truly observes, that Merit alone will never make a

Heroe,