»24 EJfay on Mafmger. 



inferior, and fometimes nearly equal to that 

 wonderful poet. Mafiinger's fate has indeed 

 been hard, far beyond the common topics of the 

 infelicity of genius. He was not merely denied 

 the fortune for which he laboured, and the fame 

 which he merited ; a ftill more cruel circum- 

 flance has attended his produflions : literary 

 pilferers have built their reputation on his obfcu- 

 rity, and the popularity of their ftolen beauties 

 has diverted the public attention from the excel- 

 lent original. 



An attempt was made in favour of this injured 

 poet, in 1761, by a new edition of his works, at- 

 tended with a critical differtation on the' old 

 Englifh Dramatifts, in which, though compofed 

 with fpirit and elegance, there is little to be 

 found refpeding Maffinger. Another edition ap- 

 peared in 1773, but the poet remained unex- 

 ammed. Perhaps Maffinger is ftill unfortunate 

 in his vindicator. 



The fame irregularity of plot, and difregard 

 of rules, appear in Maffinger's produftions, as in 

 thofe of his cotemporaries. On this fubjeft, 

 Shakefpeare has been fo well defended, that it 

 is unnecelTary to add any arguments in vindica- 

 tion of our poet. There is every reafon to fup- 

 pofe, that Maffinger did not neglect the ancient 

 rules from ignorance, for he appears to be one 

 of our moft learned writers (notwithftanding the 



infipid 



