Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/94

74 Boadicea, Queen of Britain, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1697. 4to. and Dedicated, in Verse, to Mr. Congreve. This Play met with great Applause, pleasing both the Ladies and Gentlemen; and indeed, besides the peculiar Sweetness of his Numbers, for it is written in Heroick Verse, he has in this Play touch'd the Passions, and the First Scene of the Fourth Act, betwixt Cassibellan and Camilla, where she discovers her Rape, is most Masterly perform'd. The Story is the same with Bonduca, she being sometimes called, Boadicea, and sometimes Bonduca. You may read of her in the Fourteenth Book of Tacituss Annals, the Second Book of Miltons History of England, the Seventh Page of Ubaldino de cita delle donne illustri del Regno d' Ingelterra & Scotia, and Mr. Tyrrell's History of England, lately Publish'd, Vol. 1.

Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, a Tragedy, Acted at the new Theatre, in Little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1695. 4to. and Dedicated to his illustrious Highness, the Duke of Gloucester. This was our Author's First Play, in which there is a great deal that shews him a Poet, but not enough, it seems, to gain it that Success which he desired: He was very Young when it was writ, and therefore may be well excus'd for wanting that Correctness, which a more Mature Author, perhaps, wou'd have observ'd. The History of Pyrrhus is to be found in Livy Book, Plutarch, in the Life of that King, Lucius Florus, &c. Rother to the Right Honourable, Sir Robert Howard, and of the Noble Family of Berk-shire, 'tis to be wish'd, that his Friends cou'd either have prevail'd with him to have Publish'd none of his Poetry, or have been less severe upon him, he has Four Plays in Print, viz.

Man of New-Market, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Theatre Royal, but with little Applause.

Six Days Adventure, a Comedy, 4to. 1671. Acted at the Duke of York's Theatre, in Dorset-Garden. This Play met with no good Success.

The Usurper, a Tragedy, 4to. 1668. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants.

Woman's Conquest, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1677. Acted by the Duke of York's Servants, in Dorset-Garden. This Author has written Two Books of Poetry, in 8vo., One call'd, The British Princess; the other, Poems and Essays, with a Paraphrase on Cicero's Lælius; Printed 1675. James