Effay on Majfinger. 137 



lity, flies to him with all the eagernefs of attach- 

 ment, when Charolois is involved in difficulties 

 by the murder of Novalle and his wife, and 

 revenges his death when he is affaffinated by 

 Pontalier. Rov/e, who neglefted the fineft 

 parts of this tragedy in his plagiarifm, (the Fair 

 Penitent) has not failed to copy the fault I 

 have pointed out. His Horatio is a much finer 

 charafter than his Altamont, yet he is but a 

 puppet when compared with Maffinger's Romont. 

 Camiola, the Maid of Honour, is a moft delight- 

 ful charafter j her fidelity, generofity, dignity of 

 manners and elevation of fentiments, are finely 

 difplayed, and nobly fuftained throughout. It 

 is pity that the poet thought himfelf obliged 

 to debafe all the other charafters in the piece, 

 in order to exalt her. There is an admirable 

 portrait of Old Malefort, in that extravagant 

 compofition, the Unnatural Combat. The poet 

 feems to equal the art of the writer whom he 

 here imitates i 



I have known him 



From his firft youth, but never yet obferv'd 



In all the paffages of his life and fortunes. 



Virtues fo mix'd with vices. Valiant the world fpeaks 



him. 

 But with that bloody ; liberal In his gifts ; 

 But, to maintain his prodigal expence, 

 A fierce extortioner ; an impotent lover 

 Of women for a flafh, but, his fires quench'd. 

 Hating as deadly. - . 



Almira 



