and 1692, as Cibber had seen Mrs. Butler in the 2d Constantia.

Merry Devil of Edmonton-Collier, in his collection of Old Plays 1825, gives us a cast of this C., which some person had written on Garrick's copy-the revival must have taken place about this time, as the names of Freeman and Hodgson do not occur before 1690, and in 1692 Leigh and Mountfort died -Fabel=Kynaston: Raymond Mountchensey= Mountfort: Henry Clare Hodgson: Frank Jerningham Alexander: Sir Arthur Clare Sandford: Sir Ralph Jerningham = Betterton: Sir Richard Mountchensey Freeman: Sir John Nokes: Banks = Bright Smug Underhill: Bilbo Bowen: Host Leigh Brian Bowman: Millisent Mrs. Brace

girdle Cory.

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Gerard Langbaine published his account of the Dramatick Poets in 1691-the foundation of his book seems to have been laid by Kirkman, who in the dedication of Nichomede 1671 says "I have "added a Catalogue of all the English Plays hitherto “ printed—I have done it as perfectly as I can."

Langbaine's father was the friend of Selden and Usher-Warton (as quoted in the B. D.) says of

Langbaine himself" His literature chiefly consisted "in a knowledge of the novels and plays of various

languages; and he was a constant and critical "attendant of the playhouses many years-he had "amassed a collection of more than 1000 plays, masques and interludes"—this account is not quite correct---Langbaine himself tells us that he was not a great proficient in French-and it is far from clear that he understood any thing of Spanish or Italian.

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Langbaine is a great detector of Plagiarism-he gives us a great deal of useful information in that way he seems however to have had wrong notions with regard to plagiarism-in speaking of the Duchess of Newcastle he says "I know there are some that have but a mean opinion of her plays, "but if it be considered that both the language and plots of them are all her own, I think she ought "with justice to be preferred to others of her sex, "which have built their fame on other people's foun"dations " -on the other hand he is perpetually censuring authors (and Ravenscroft in particular) for plagiarism, as if that were the worst fault of which a writer could be guilty-the Duchess' plays are so bad, that hardly any person would read them twicewhereas many of those written by Ravenscroft &c. (tho' not original) may be repeatedly read with pleasure a judicious plagiary may be a good dramatic writer-plagiarism is only censurable, when the plagiary attempts to make what he has borrowed, pass for his own or when he borrows from plays which are not become obsolete—many of our old plays, from certain circumstances, can never be brought on the

stage in their original shape this being the case, no good reason can be assigned, why a modern author should not borrow from them-or avail himself of them-Charles the 2d said to those who accused Dryden of stealing, that he wished they would steal as good plays themselves.

Langbaine is very particular in telling us to whom the plays are dedicated—a circumstance which, 99 times in 100, is not of the slightest importanceLangbaine is not to be depended on, as to datesnor indeed as to references-he refers us to Livy for the history of Julius Cæsar-and to Ammianus Marcellinus for that of Cambyses and Valentinian-Ammianus Marcellinus seems not to have mentioned Cambyses, and his history concludes before the time of that Valentinian who is the subject of Fletcher's play.

Langbaine's chief fault seems to have been, that he gives the date of the plays according to the copies of them in his possession, without sufficiently considering whether his copies of those plays were of the first edition, or not-but with all his faults, his book forms the most valuable part of the Biographia Dramatica-Langbaine has been servilely copied by his followers in numberless instances.

VOL. II.

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T. R. 1692.

Rape, or the Innocent Imposters. Gunderic (King of the Vandals) = Betterton: Genselaric (his General) = Williams: Agilmond Mrs. Butler: Briomer = Hodgson: Albimer = Zibber: (Cibber) Valdaura Mr. Michael Leigh: Amalazontha (Queen of the Vandals) Mrs. Betterton: Rhadegonda (Queen of the Goths) Mrs. Lee: Eurione (her daughter) = Mrs. Bracegirdle:-the Vandals had conquered the Goths about 16 years before the play begins-Gunderic, being at that time very desirous of male issue, had threatened to destroy his next child, if a daughter-this induced his Queen to bring up Elisismonda as a man, under the name of Agilmondthe Queen of the Goths, to save her son Ambiomer's life, had brought him up as Valdaura-Gunderic wishes to secure the obedience of the Goths by marrying Agilmond to Eurione-Eurione is in the habit of walking in the garden at night-Genselaric, knowing this, conceals himself in an arbour-and when she comes, he ravishes her-Agilmond enters the garden, but on hearing Eurione's cries, he retreats -he is met by Eurione's woman-and when Eurione is found gagged and bound to a tree, Agilmond's dagger, which he had dropt in the preceding act, is seen lying by her from these circumstances Agilmond is suspected of having committed the RapeRhadegonda assembles the principle Goths, and tells them that Valdaura is in reality her son-when Agilmond comes to visit Eurione, he is detained as a

prisoner-Valdaura appears as Ambiomer and King of the Goths--the Goths fortify themselves in the Citadel-and when Gunderic advances at the head of his troops, Ambiomer threatens, if he should be attacked, to cut off Agilmond's head-Amalazontha is frightened, and acknowledges that Agilmond is a woman-Genselaric is detected and killed-Eurione stabs herself Ambiomer and Elismonda are married, and the Vandals and Goths are united in a firm alliance-this T. is attributed to Brady-it has considerable merit-see L. I. F. Nov. 25 1729.

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Marriage-Hater Match'd. Sir Philip Freewit= Mountfort: Van Grin=Leigh: Sir Lawrence Limber-Sandford: Bias and Solon (his sons) Bright and Dogget: Lord Brainless = Bowman: Capt. Darewell-Hodgson: Callow Bowen: Splutter = Colly: (Cibber) Phoebe alias Lovewell Mrs. Bracegirdle Lady Subtle Mrs. Barry: La Pupsey = Mrs. Butler: Berenice Mrs. Lassels: Lady Bumfiddle Mrs. Cory: Margery (daughter to Sir Lawrence) Mrs. Lawson :-Sir Solomon Subtle and Sir Philip Freewit were particular friends-they were both in love with Lady Subtle while she was singleshe was engaged to Sir Philip, but was so offended at him, for seducing Phoebe, during the time that he was paying his addresses to her, that she gave her hand to Sir Solomon-Sir Solomon died at Hamburgh not long after his marriage, leaving his wife and his property to Sir Philip-Phoebe is disguised as Lovewell-Sir Philip is still fond of her, but is extremely averse from matrimony-Sir Solomon's papers are brought to England by Van Grin, who is