Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/119

Rh ſalary as might be made with them; and of his houſe, cloaths, and ſcencs, with the Queen’s licenſe to employ them, upon payment of the caſual rent of five pounds every acting day, and not to exceed 700 l. per annum. With this propoſal Mr. Svviny complied, and governed that ſtage till another great theatrical revolution.

There are two plays of our author not yet mentioned, viz. The Falſe Friend, a Comedy; acted in 1698, and A Journey to London, a Comedy; which he left unfiniſhed. This laſt piece was finiſhed by Mr. Cibber to a very great advantage, and now is one of the beſt comedies in our language. Mr. Cibber, in his prologue, takes particular notice of our author’s virtuous intention in compoſing this piece, which, he ſays, was to make ſome amends for thoſe looſe ſcenes, which in the fire of his youth he had with more regard to applauſe, than virtue, exhibited to the public: but this deſign will be beſt underſtood by inſerting the prologue.

This play took birth from principles of truth, To make amends for errors paſt, of youth. A bard that’s now no more, in riper days, Conſcious review’d the licence of his plays: And tho’ applauſe his wanton muſe had fir’d, Himſelf condemn’d what ſenſual minds admired. At length he own’d that plays ſhould let you ſee Not only what you are, but ought to be: Though vice was natural, ’twas never meant, The ſtage ſhould ſhew it, but for puniſhment! Warm with that thought his muſe once more took flame, Reſolv’d to bring licentious life to ſhame. Such