An account of the English dramatick poets, or, Some observations and remarks on the lives and writings of all those that have publish'd either comedies, tragedies, tragi-comedies, pastorals, masques, interludes, farces or opera's in the English tongue by Gerard Langbaine.

Margaret Dutchess of NEWCASTLE

A Lady worthy the Mention and Esteem of all Lovers of Poetry and Learning. One, who was a fit Consort for so Great a Wit, as the Duke of Newcastle. Her soul sympathising with his in all things, especially in Dramatick Poetry; to which she had a more than ordinary propensity. She has publisht six and twenty Plays, besides several loose Scenes; nineteen of which are bound, and printed in one Vo∣lume in Fol. 1662. the others in Folio, Lond. 1668. under the Title of Plays never before printed.

I shall not presume to pass my Judgment on the Writings of this Admirable Dutchess; but rather imitate the Carriage of Julius Sca∣linger, to the Roman Sulpitia; by concluding

with himf 1.1, Igitur ut tàm laudibilis Heroinae Ratio habeatur, non ausim objicere ei judicii se∣veritatem. I know there are some that have but a mean Opinion of her Plays; but if it be consider'd that both the Language and Plots of them are all her own: I think she ought with Justice to be preferr'd to others of her Sex, which have built their Fame on other People's Foundations: sure I am, that whoever will consider well the several Epistles before her Books, and the General Prologue to all her Plays, if he have any spark of Generosity, or Good Breeding, will be favourable in his Cen∣sure. As a proof of my Assertion, it may be proper in this place, before I give an Account of her Plays, to transcribe part of that gene∣ral Prologue, the whole being too long to be here inserted.

But Noble Readers, do not think my Plays Are such as have been writ in former Days; As Johnson, Shakespear, Beaumont, Fletcher writ; Mine want their Learning, Reading, Language, Wit; The Latin Phrases I could never tell, But Johnson could, which made him write so well. Greek, Latin Poets, I could never read, Nor their Historians, but our English Speed: I could not steal their Wit, nor Plots out take; All my Plays Plots, my own poor Brain did make; From Plutarch's Story, I nere took a Plot, Nor from Romances, nor from Don Quixot,

As others have, for to assist their Wit, But I upon my own Foundation writ; &c.

I hasten now to give an Account of the Ti∣tles of her Plays, according to our accustomed order; viz.

Apocryphal Ladies, a Comedy. This Play consists of three and twenty Scenes, but is not divided into Acts.

Bell in Campo, a Tragedy in two parts: In the second Play, are several Copies of Verses writ by the Duke of Newcastle.

Blasing World, a Comedy: Tho' this be stil'd a Play in former Catalogues, yet it is but a Fragment; the Authress before she had finisht the second Act desisted, not finding her Ge∣nius tend to the prosecution of it.

Bridals, a Comedy.

Comical Hash, a Comedy: This Play has not been in any Catalogue before.

Convent of Pleasure, a Comedy.

Female Academy, a Comedy.

Lady Contemplation, a Comedy in two parts. Three Scenes in the first, and two in the second part, were writ by the Duke.

Loves Adventures, in two parts, a Comedy. The Song, and the Epithalamium, in the last Scene in the second part, was likewise writ by the Duke.

Matrimonial Trouble, in two parts; the se∣cond being a Tragedy, or as the Authress stiles it, a Tragi-comedy.

Natures three Daughters, Beauty, Love, and Wit; a Comedy, in two parts.

Presence, a Comedy. To this are added twenty nine single Scenes, which the Dutchess design'd to have inserted into this Play, but find∣ing it would too much lengthen it, she printed them separately.

Publick Wooing, a Comedy, in which the Duke writ several of the Suitors Speeches; as that of the Souldier, the Countryman, the Spokesman for the Bashful Suitor; besides two other Scenes, and the two Songs at the End of the Comedy.

Religious, a Tragi-comedy.

Several Wits, a Comedy.

Sociable Companions, or The Female Wits, a Comedy.

Unnatural Tragedy. The Prologue and Epi∣gue, were of the Duke's making. Act 2. Sc. 3. the Dutchess inveighs against Mr. Cambden's Brittannia: tho' whether with Justice, I leave it to the Determination of others.

Wits Cabal, a Comedy in two parts: His Grace writ the Epilogue to the first part.

Youth's Glory, and Death's Banquet; a Tra∣gedy in two parts. Two Scenes with the Speeches at the first part, in commendation of Mile Sans pareille, were writ by his Grace; so were all the Songs and Verses in the second part.

The Blazing World, Bridal, Convent of Plea∣sure, Presence, and Sociable Companions, are printed together in one Volume; and the rest in another.

As to her other Works, I shall only mention the Titles, and the Dates when printed; and I

shall begin with the Crown of her Labours, The Life of the Duke of Newcastle, in English, printed Folio Lond. 1667. and in Latin Folio Lond. 1668 Nature's Picture drawn by Fancy's Pencil to the Life, printed Fol. Lond. 1656. at the End of it she has writ her own Life. Philosophical Fancies, printed Fol. Lond. 1653. Philosophical and Physical Opinions, Fol. Lond. 1655. Philosophical Letters, Fol. Lond. 1664. Two Hundred and Eleven Sociable Letters, Fol. Lond. 1664. Orations, Fol. 1662. Poems, Fol. 1653.

Notes

• f 1.1

  Poet. L.6. C.6.