reputation. Mr. Dryden tells us, that Waller ufed to fay he never could read it without incredible tranfport. It is much cenfured by Mr. Pope. who, notwithstanding, acknowledges that there is a daring, fiery fpirit, which animates it, fomething like what one might imagine Homer himself would have writ before he arrived at years of difcretion.

He tranflated alfo the Batrachomyomachia; finished Marlow's Tranflation of Mufæus; and produced feveral original Poems, and fome other Tranflations.

He is the Author of the following dramatick performances: (1.) The Blind Beggar of Alexandria: A Comedy. Most pleasantly difcourfing his variable humours in difguifed fhapes full of conceit and pleafure: fundry times publickly acted in London by the Right Honourable the Earl of Notingham, Lord High Admiral, his fervants. 4to, 1598.

66

(2.) A pleafant Comedy; intitled, An Humerous Daye's "Myrth. As it hath beene fundrie times publickely acted by the Right Honourable the Earl of Notingham, Lord "High Admiral, his fervants." 4to, 1599.

(3.) "All Fooles: A Comedy. Prefented at the Black Friers, and lately before his Majeftie." 4to, 1605.

(4.) Eastward Hoe. As it was play'd in the Black Friers. By the Children of her Majeftie's Revels. Made by George Chapman, Ben Jonfon, and John Marfion." 4to, 1605.

(5) The Gentleman Ufher: A Comedy. 4to, 1606. (6.) "Monfieur D'Olive: A Comedie. As it was fundrie "times acted by her Majeftie's Children at the Blacké Friers." 4to, 1606.

(7.) Buffy D'Ambois: A Tragedie. As it hath been often "prefented at Paule's." 4to, 1607. 4to, 1658. 4to, 1646% 4to, 1657 5.

(8.) Cæfar

5 Mr. Dryden, in his Dedication to The Spanish Fryer, fays, "I have "fometimes wondered in the reading what was become of thofe glaring colours which amaz'd me in Buffy D'Amboys upon the Theatre: but "when I had taken up what I fuppos'd a fallen ftar, I found I had been "cozen'd with a jelly nothing but a cold dull mafs, which glitter'd no longer than it was thooting. A dwarfish thought drefs'd up in gigantick words, repetition in abundance, loofenefs of expreffion, and grofs hyperboles; the fense of one line expanded prodigiofly into ten: and

(8.) Cæfar and Pompey: A Roman Tragedy; declaring their Warres. Out of whofe events is evicted this Propofition, Only a juft man is a Freeman. 4to, 1607. 4to, 1631.

(9 and 10.) "The Confpiracie and Tragedie of Charles, "Duke of Byron, Marshall of France. Acted lately, in two "Plays, at the Black Friers." 4to, 1658. 4to, 1625.

(11.) May Day: A Witty Comedie. Divers times acted at "the Blacke Fryers." 4to, 1611.

(12.) "The Widdowe's Tears: A Comedie. As it was "often prefented in the Blacke and White Friers." 4to, 1612. (13.) The Revenge of Buffy D'Ambois: A Tragedie. "As it hath beene often prefented at the private Play-house "in the White Friers." 4to, 1613.

(14.) "The memorable Mafque of the two honourable "Houses, or Innes of Court, the Middle Temple, and Lyn"colne's Inne. As it was performed before the King at "Whitehall on Shrove-Munday at Night, being the 15th of "Febr. 1613, at the princely celebration of the most royall "Nuptials of the Palfgrave, and his thrice gratious Princeffe "Elizabeth, &c." 4to. No date".

(15.) Two Wife Men, and all the reft Fools: or, A Comical Moral, cenfuring the Follies of that age; divers times acted. 4to, 1619.

(16.)" The Tragedy of Alphonfus, Emperour of Germany. "As it hath been very often acted (with great applaufe) at "the private houfe in Black Friers, by his late Majestie's "fervants." 4to, 1654.

(17.) Revenge for Honour: A Tragedy. 4to, 1654. 4to, 1659.

Chapman alfo joined with Shirley in the compofition of two Plays, viz. The Ball; and Chabot, Admiral of France, See the account of Shirley, vol. VIII. p. 196.

to fum up all, uncorrect English, and a hideous mingle of false poetry "and true nonfenfe; or at beft a fcantling of wit which lay gafping for "life, and groaning beneath a heap of rubbish. A famous modern Poet "ufed to facrifice every year a Statius to Virgil's Manes: and I have in"dignation enough to burn a D'Amboys annually to the memory of Jonfon." 6 It appears from Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales, that the expence of this Malique, to the Society of Lincoln's Inn, amounted to the fum of 1086. 8. IId.

H 2

PRO

PROLOGUS.

THE fortune of a flage (like fortune's felf)
Amazeth greatest judgements: and none knows
The bidden caufes of thofe ftrange effects,
That rife from this bell, or fall from this heaven:
Who can fhew cause, why your wits, that in aim
At higher objects, fcorn to compofe plays;

(Though we are fure they could, would they vouchsafe it)
Should (without means to make) judge better far,
Than those that make? and yet ye fee they can;
For without your applause, wretched is be
That undertakes the ftage, and he's more bleft,
That with your glorious favours can conteft.
Who can fhew caufe, why th' ancient comick vein
7 Of Eupolis and Cratinus now reviv'd,
(Subject to perfonal application)

Should be exploded by fome bitter spleens ?
Yet merely comical, and harmless jefts
(Though ne'er fo witty) be effeem'd but toys,
If void of th' other fatyrifms' fauce?

Who can fhew caufe why quick Venerean jefis
Should fometimes ravish? fametimes fall far short
Of the juft length and pleasure of your ears?
When our pure dames think them much less obscene,
Than thofe that win your panegyrick Spleen?
But our poor dooms (alas) you know are nothing;

• Eupolis and Cratinus] Two Athenian Comic Poets, who flourished about 430 years before Christ.

To

To your infpired cenfure, ever we
Muft needs fubmit, and there's the mystery.
Great are the gifts given to united beads ;
To gifts, attire; to fair attire, the flage
Helps much; for if our other audience fee
You on the ftage depart before we end,
Our wits go with you all, and we are fools &
So fortune governs in thefe flage events,
That merit bears leaft fway in moft contents,
Auriculas afini quis non habet?

How we shall then appear, we must refer
To Magick of your dooms, that never err.

DRAMATIS PERSON Æ.

GOSTANZO,

MAR. ANTONIO,

Knights.

VALERIO, Son to GOSTANZO.

FORTUNIO, elder Son to MAR. ANTONIO.
RYNALDO, the younger.

DARIOTTO, }Courtiers.

CLAUDIO,

CORNELIO, a start-up Gentleman.

CURIO, a Page.

KYTE, a Scrivener.

FRANCIS POCK, a Surgeon.

GAZETTA, Wife to CORNELIO.

BELLONORA, a Daughter to GOSTANZO.
GRATIANA, foln Wife to VALERIO.

ALL