Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/52

32 Lady Ann Clifford (to whom he had been Tutor) afterwards Countess of Pembrook, Dorset, and Montgomery. Besides his excellent History of England, Printed in Folio, and continued by Trussel, he left behind him several Poetical Pieces, among them Five Dramatick, of which in their Order:

Cleopatra, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1611. and 4to. 1622. Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Countess of Pembrook: The last Edition is much amended, and far excels the first. For the Story see Plutarch's Lives of Pompey and Anthony; Florus, lib. 4. c. 11. ''Appian de Bel. Civil. lib''. 5. but chiefly, Otway's Translation of a French Book called, The History of the Three Triumvirates, 8vo. 1686. This Play was much esteemed in its time.

Hymen's Triumph, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1623. This was presented at the Queen's Court, at the Nuptials of the Lord Roxborough, and Dedicated in Verse to the most excellent Majesty of the Highest Born Princess, Ann of Denmark, Queen of England, &c.

Philotas, his Tragedy, 4to. 1623, and Dedicated to King Charles the First, when he was Prince. This was the first Play our Author writ, and then esteemed, tho' at first met with some Opposition, the Reason you may find by his Apology, at the End of the Play; where he handsomly acquits himself from the Imputation cast on him. Plot from Plutarch's Life of Alexander; Quint. Curt. Book 6., &c.

Queen's Arcadia, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1623. This Play was presented to the Queen and her Ladies, by the University of Oxon. in Christ Church Colledge, 1605. Dedicated to the Queen's Majesty. Act. 1. Scene 2. of Carinus and Amintas, resemble Quinault's Philene, and Daphnis, in his Comedy Sans Comedie, and Scene 4. Act 2. and the 7th Scene of the same Act, are very like Randolph's Amintas.

Vision of the Twelve Goddesses, a Masque, 4to. 1623. Presented by the Queen and her Ladies at Hampton Court, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Lucy, Countess of Bedford, and because this was first publish'd imperfect, the Author soon after publish'd it from his own Copy to prevent its suffering for the Future. HE Son of John D'avenant, Vintner of Oxford, in that very House that has now the Sign of the Crown near Carfax; a House much frequented by Shakespear in his frequent Journeys to Warwick-shire; whither for the Beautiful Mistress of the House, or the good Wine, I shall not determine. Our Author was Born there in the Year 1605, in February, and Christen'd on the 3d of March