ftaa ON ENGLISH PLA.Y9. Juoe I 5, 



deviates from nature moft widely ; yet it is not inferior t-i fome rthcr 

 modem alterations of good old plays. Indeed, the original, though it 

 contains fomt excellent femes, is not of a piece, and is not, on the 

 whole, one of the btfl of Beaumont's and Fletcher's pla\«s. I luppufe 

 tliis play had a great run, and high applaufe, at Covent Garden. 



Tie Hijlory and Fall of Caius Mariiis, a I'ragedy, hy 



Otway. 

 WuEN I read this, and other plays in which Shakefpcare's writings are 

 pai rly introduced, I always rpfleA on a beautiful paffagc in his Richard 

 the becond, which Drydcn has juflly celebrated in one of his prefaces. 



" As on a theatre, the eyes of men, 



" After a well-grac'd a<ffor leaves the ftage, 



" Are idly bent on him that follows next, 



« Thinking his prattle to he tedious; 



" Even fo, or with much more contempt," &c. 



This diftindion is handfoniely coiifeffed in the prologue to Otway's 

 phy. 



*' I.Ike greedy beggars tliat Heal flieaves away, 



" You'll find he's rifled him nf half a piay. 



" Aniidft his bafer drofs you'll fee it fliinc, 



" Mofl beautiful, amazing, and divine !" &c. 



1'be Fair ^juaker of Deal, a Comedy. 



The fea charadlers are well-drawn and preferved ; there are fome fccncs 

 of humour and natural converfation; but the two lafl adls lall off. The 

 plot is neither well invented, well wrought up, nur interefling. 



She would, a?id She "Mould not, a Comedy, by Cibbcr. 



These modern plays have fome merit, and afford entertainment when 

 well aded oo the ag< , but are liable to many exceptions, and juft cri- 

 ticifni, when coolly confulered in the dofet. 



Ulyffcs, a I'ragedy, hy Rowe. 



The genius of Shalcefpeare formed natural chara<5lers and converflition, , 

 ano probable entertaining plots, dignified above common life, by the 

 power of true poetry. This author has ventured to imitate his manner, 

 but very unfuccefsfully. Though tbe'?-e are fome happy fcrains of poetry 

 intermixed, yet, ui general, the ci'iumftances of the plot are romantic 

 and unintereflinsj. The convc rfatimi is labniircd in one uniform flyle ; 

 and the characlers, like the conipofilion in modern drama, (tudicd and 

 artijicial. 



