Volume III Part 29 (1/2)

19. The Comical History of Don Quixot, Part the Second; acted at the Queen's Theatre 1694, dedicated by an Epistle, in heroic Verse, to Charles Earl of Dorset and Middles.e.x, &c. This play was likewise acted with applause.

20. Don Quixot, Part the Third, with the Marriage of Mary the Buxom, 1669; this met with no success.

21. The Intrigues at Versailles, or A Jilt in all Humours; a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1697, dedicated to Sir Charles Sedley the Elder, Bart. and to his much honoured Friend Sir Charles Sedley, his Son. Scene Versailles. The author complains of the want of success in this play, when he a.s.serts, the town had applauded some pieces of his of less merit. He has borrowed very liberally from a play of Mrs. Behn's called The Amorous Jilt.

22. Cynthia and Endymion, or The Lover of the Deities, a Dramatic Opera; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1697, dedicated to Henry Earl of Romney; this was acted with applause; and the author tells us, that King William's Queen Mary intended to have it represented at Court. 'There are many lines (says Jacob) in this play, above the genius which generally appears in the other works of this author; but he has perverted the characters of Ovid, in making Daphne, the chaste favourite of Diana, a wh.o.r.e, and a jilt; and fair Syrene to lose her reputation, in the unknown ignominy of an envious, mercenary, infamous woman.' Scene Ionia.

23. The Campaigners, or The Pleasant Adventures at Brussels; a Comedy; with a familiar Preface upon a late Reformer of the Stage, ending with a Satirical Fable of the Dog, and the Otter, 1698. This play is dedicated to Thomas Lord Wharton, and part of it is borrowed from a Novel called Female Falsehood. Scene Brussels. 24. Ma.s.sanello, or a Fisherman Prince, in two Parts; acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1700.

25. The Modern Prophets, or New Wit for a Husband; a Comedy.

26. The Old Mode and the New, or Country Miss with her Furbelo; a Comedy. Scene Coventry.

27. Wonders in the Sun, or The Kingdom of Birds; a Comic Opera; performed at the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market.

28. Bath, or The Western La.s.s; a Comedy; dedicated to John Duke of Argyle.

29. The Two Queens of Brentford, or Bays no Poetaster; a Musical Farce, or Comical Opera; being the Sequel of the Rehearsal, written by the Duke of Buckingham; it has five Acts. Scene Inside of the Playhouse.

30. The Grecian Heroine, or The Fate of Tyranny; a Tragedy; written 1718. Scene Corinth.

31. Ariadne, or The Triumph of Bacchus; the Scene Naxos, an Island in the Archipelago. These last were published with a Collection of Poems 1721.

These are the dramatic performances of D'Urfey, by which his incessant labours for the stage are to be seen; though not one of his numerous issue is now in possession of it. He was author of many poems, and songs, which we need not here enumerate. Mr. c.o.xeter takes particular notice of a piece of his called Gloriana, a Funeral Pindarique Poem to the memory of Queen Mary, 4to. 1695.

The Trophies, or Augusta's Glory; a triumphant Ode, made in honour of the City, and upon the Trophies taken from the French at the Battle of Ramillies, May 25, 1706, by the Duke of Marlborough, and fixed in Guildhall, London, dedicated to the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen and Sheriffs, and also to the President. and Court of Managers for the united Trade to the East Indies.

Honor & Opes, or The British Merchant's Glory; a Poem Congratulatory, on the happy Decision, and Conclusion of all Difficulties between the Old and New Company in the Trade to the East Indies. As a specimen of his poetry take the following lines.

VERSES Congratulatory, to the Honourable WILLIAM BROMLEY, Esq; on his being chosen SPEAKER of this present Parliament.

As when Hyperion with victorious light Expels invading Pow'rs of gloomy night, And vernal nature youthful dress'd and gay, Salutes the radiant power that forms the day; The mounting Lark exalts her joyful note, And strains with harmony her warbling throat: So now my muse that hopes to see the day, When cloudy faction, that do's Britain sway, Shall be o'ercome by reason's dazling ray; Applauding senates for their prudent choice, The will of Heaven by the Peoples voice, First greets you Sir, then gladly do's prepare, In tuneful verse, your welcome to the chair.

Awful th' a.s.sembly is, august the Queen, In whose each day of life are wonders seen: The nation too, this greatest of all years, Who watch to see blest turns in their affairs, Slighting the tempest on the Gallic sh.o.r.e, Hope from the senate much, but from you more: Whose happy temper judgment cultivates, And forms so fit to aid our three estates.

The change of ministry late ordered here, Was fated sure for this auspicious year; That you predestin'd at a glorious hour, To be chief judge of legislative power, Might by your skill that Royal right a.s.serts, Like Heaven, reconcile the jarring parts.

Nor s.h.i.+nes your influence, Sir, here alone, The Church must your unequall'd prudence own, Firm to support the cause, but rough to none.

Eusebia's sons, in laws divine possest, Can learn from you how truth should be exprest; Whether in modest terms, like balm, to heal; Or raving notions, falsly counted zeal.

Our holy writ no rule like that allows, No people an enrag'd apostle chose, Nor taught Our Saviour, or St. Paul, like those.

Reason was mild, and calmly did proceed, Which harsh might fail to make transgressors heed; This saint your rhet'ric best knows how to prove, Whose gracious method can inform, and move; Direct the elders that such errors make, And shew both how to preach, and how to speak.

Oh! sacred gift! in public matters great, But in religious tracts divinely sweet; Since to this grace they only have pretence Whose happy learning join with a caelestial sense.

That Sir, you share both these, the muse forgive, If I presume to write what all believe, Your candour too, and charming courtesy, Rever'd by them is justly so by me, Let me not then offend your modesty, If now my genius to a height I raise, Such parts, and such humanity to praise.

This ancient [1]Baginton can witness well, And the rich [2]library before it fell; The precious hours amongst wise authors past, Your Soul with their unvalued wealth possest; And well may he to heights of knowledge come, Who that Panthaeon always kept at home.

Thus once, Sir, you were blest, and sure the fiend That first entail'd a curse on human-kind, And afterwards contriv'd this fatal cross, Design'd the public, by your private loss.

Oh! who had seen that love to learning bore, The matchless authors of the days of yore; The fathers, prelates, poets, books where arts Renown'd explain'd the men of rarest parts, Shrink up their shrivell'd bindings, lose their names, And yield immortal worth to temporary flames, That would not sigh to see the ruins there, Or wish to quench 'em with a flowing tear.

But as in story, where we wonders view, As there were flames, there was a Phoenix too; An excellence from the burnt pile did rise, That still aton'd for past calamities; So my prophetic genius in its height, Viewing your merit, Sir, foretels your fate.