138 EJfay on Maffinger. 



Almira and Cardenes, in the Very Woman, 

 are copied from nature, and therefore never 

 obfolere. They appear, like many favourite 

 charafters in our prefent comedy, amiable in 

 their tempers, and warm in their attachments, 

 but capricious, and impatient of controul. 

 Maflinger, with unufual charity, has introdu- 

 ced a phyfician in a refpeftable point of view, 

 in this play. We are agreeably interefted in 

 Durazzo*, who has all the good nature of 

 Terence's Micio, with more fpirit. His Pidlure 

 of Country Sports may be viewed with delight 

 even by thofe who might not relifti the reality. 



Rife before the fun. 



Then make a breakfall of the morning-dew. 

 Serv'd up by nature on fome grafly hill ; 

 You'll find it Nedar, 



In the City Madam, we are prefented with the 

 charafter of a finifhed hypocrite, but fo artfully - 

 drawn, that he appears to be rather governed by 

 external circumftances, to which he adapts him- 

 felf, than to aft, like Moliere's Tartuffe, from a 

 formal fyftem of wickednefs. His humility and 

 benevolence, while he appears as a ruined man, 

 and as his brother's fervant, are evidently pro- 

 duced by the prcflure of his misfortunes, and he 

 difcovers a tamenefs amidft the infults of his 

 relations tnat indicates an inherent bafenefs of 



* The Guardian. 



difpofition. 



