This was so much the Opinion of Mr. _Maynwaring_, who was generally allow'd to be the best Critick of our Time, that he was against bringing the Play upon the Stage, and it lay by unfinish'd many Years. Mr. _Maynwaring_ highly approv'd of the Sentiments and the Diction, but did not fall in with the Design. That it was play'd at last was owing to Mr. _Hughes_, who wrote the _Siege of Damascus_, a Tragedy. He had read the Four Acts, which were finished, and rightly thought it would be of Service to the Publick, to have it represented at the latter End of Queen _Ann_'s Reign, when the old _English_ Spirit of Liberty was as likely to be lost as it had ever been since the Conquest. He endeavour'd to bring Mr. _Addison_ into his Opinion, which he did so far as to procure his Consent, that it should be acted if Mr. _Hughes_ would write the last Act, and he offer'd him the Scenary for his Assistance, excusing his not finishing it himself on Account of some other Avocations. He prest Mr. _Hughes_ to do it so earnestly, that he was prevail'd upon and set about it. But a Week after, seeing Mr. _Addison_ again with an Intention to communicate to him what he had thought of it, he was agreeably surpris'd at his producing some Papers, where near half of the Act was written by the Author himself, who took Fire at the Hint that it would be serviceable, and upon a second Reflection went thorough with the Fifth Act: Not that he was diffident of Mr. _Hughes_'s Ability, but knowing that no Man could have so perfect a Notion of his Design as himself, who had been so long and so carefully thinking of it. I was told this by Mr. _Hughes_, and I tell it to shew that it was not for the _Love_ Scenes, that Mr. _Addison_ consented to have his Tragedy acted, but to support the old _Roman_ and _English_ Publick Spirit, which was then so near being suppressed by Faction and Bigotry. The most cunning of their Leaders were sensible of it, and therefore very dexterously stole away the Merit of the Poem, by applauding the Poet, and patronizing the Action and Actors. It is therefore obvious, that a severe Critick may find a Colour for his Severity, with Respect to the _Design_ of the Play, but that will not hinder its captivating every one that sees or reads it. The Graces and Excellencies, both of Thought and Expression, do much more deserve our Admiration and Applause, than the Deficiency in the Fable deserves Censure. However, as to _Dryden_'s _Virgil_ and _Cato_, ask those that admire the one or the other what it is that pleases them? And I doubt it will be found to be the very Places, which should have most displeased, where _Dryden_ offended most against the Character of Epick Poetry by imitating _Ovid_'s Softness, and an eternal _Jeu des Mots_, _Playing upon Words_, and where _Cato_ suspends the Action and Passion of the Scene to teach the Audience, Philosophy and Morality.