Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/118

108 moſt lively ſtrokes of raillery. The proſpects of gain from this theatre were ſo very unpromiſing, that Congreve, in a few months, gave up his ſhare and intereſt in the government wholly to Sir John Vanbrugh; who being now ſole proprietor of the houſe, was under a neceſſity to exert himſelf in its ſupport. As he had a happier talent for throwing the Engliſh ſpirit into his tranſlations of French plays, than any former author who had borrowed from them, he, in the ſame ſeaſon, gave the public three more of that kind, viz.

1. The Cuckold in Conceit, from the Cocu imaginaire of Moliere.

2. Squire Treelooby, from his Monſieur de Pourceaugnac.

3. The Miſtake, from the Depit Amoureux of the ſame Author.

However well executed theſe pieces were, yet they came to the ear in the ſame undiſtinguiſhed utterance, by which almoſt all their plays had equally ſuffered; for as few could plainly hear, it was not likely a great many would applaud.

In this ſituation it appears, that nothing but the union of the two companies could reſtore the ſtage to its former reputation.

Sir John Vanbrugh therefore, tired of theatrical management, thought of diſpoſing of his whole farm to ſome induſtrious tenant, that might put it into better condition. It was to Mr. Owen Swiny, that in the exigence of his affairs, he made an offer of his actors under ſuch agreements of ſalary