Effay on MaJJinger, 139 



difpofition*. — When he is informed that his 

 brother has retired from the world, and has left 

 him his immenfe fortune, he feems at firft to 

 apprehend a deception. 



. Omy Lord ! 



This heap of wealth which you poffefs me of. 



Which to a worldly man had been a blefling. 



And to the meffenger might with juftice challenge 



A kind of adoration, is to me 



A curfe, I cannot thank you for; and much lefs 



Rejoice in that tranquillity of mind. 



My brother's vows mull purchafe. I have made 



A dear exchange with him. He now enjoys 



My peace and poveity, the trouble of 



His wealth conferr'd on me, and that a burden 



Too heavy for my weak Ihoulders. Aft-lil. Sc. 2. 



On receiving the will, he begins to promife un- 

 bounded lenity to his fervants, and makes pro- 

 feffions and promifes to the Ladies who ufed him 

 fo cruelly in his adverfity^ which appear at laft 

 to be ironical, though they take them to be 

 fincere. H6 does not difplay himfelf till he has 

 vifited his wealth, the fight of which dazzles and 

 aftonifhes him fo far as to throw him off his 

 guard, and to render him infolent. MalTinger 

 difplays a knowledge of man not very ufual with 

 dramatic writers, while he reprefents the fame 

 perfon as prodigal of a fmall fortune in his youth, 

 fervile and hypocritical in his diftrefles, arbitrary 

 and rapacious, in the poffeffion of wealth fud- 



• See particularly his Solilociuy, Aft III. Sc. 2. 



denly 



