Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/71

Rh tells us it would be a sort of presumption to dissent from them, tho' with the Town on ones side; for of them, as of Cato, it may be said, Viatrix causa diis placuit sed victa Catoni; yet 'tis to me unaccountable, that Ramlure should be introduced speaking broken English, or a sort of Jargon between French and English, when all the Persons in the Play except Guillamour are French, and the Scene laid at Versailes. Nor can I imagine how Mr. Durfey and his two Judges cou'd oversee the young Count Tornese absconding in the very Court of the King, in so thin a Disguise as that of a Woman, when he had committed so unpardonable a Fault as a Duel is there, and have such a Confident of his Disguise as Voudosm, who had a better way of Attacking him than with a pruning Knife: But Nequid Nimis. As for the Thefts they are numerous enough. Tornezres Disguise, and Count Brisack's falling in Love with his Wifes Gallant in Womans Cloaths, are Borrowed from a Novel call'd, The Double Cuckold. Vandosms Character seems to be a fairer Copy of Olivia in The Plain Dealer, and Mirtilla in Mrs. Behn's Play, call'd, The Amorous Jilt; but Vandosms Language is more Billinsgate than either, wanting the Wit of the first, and the Genteelness of the last.

Love for Money; or, The Boarding-School, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1691. 4to. and Dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, Lord Viscount Lansdown, Count of the Sacred Roman Empire, &c. This Play it seems in the first Days Representation met with Enemies, which endeavoured to Damn it, especially the Dancing-Masters, and other Friends to the Boarding-Schools, who supposed themselves, and their Livelihood expos'd; from which the Poet clears himself, and lets us understand, that all this Opposition could not oppress the Merit of the Play; which is, without doubt, a sufficient Proof that there was something in it that pleas'd more than ordinary. I do not find many new Characters; Deputy Nicompoop, Ned Bragg, &c., being the Refuge of ev'ry Cinic Writer, at least of late. The Plot in general I take to be his own.

Madam Fickle; or, The Witty False One, a Comedy, 4to. 1677. Acted at his Royal Highness the Dukes Theatre, and Dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Ormond. Old Love resembles Veterano in Marmion's Antiquary, Zechiels creeping into the Tavern-Bush, and Tilburys being drunk under it, &c. from Sir Reverence Lamard and Pimpwell in Islington and Hogsden-Walks. See also a Play call'd 'The Fawn, writ by Marston.

The Marriage Hater Match'd; a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, 1693. 4to. and Dedicated to the Illustrious, and truly Noble Prince James, Duke, Marquess, and Earl of Ormond in England and Ireland, &c. This Play was very well received, and in it Mr. Dogget gave the first Proofs that were taken great notice of, what an admirable Actor he was. Before this