The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume II.Cibber, Theophilus
History
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume II.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
Such the animadversions which critics of great name have made on
Gondibert, and the result is, that if Davenant had not power to begin
and consummate an epic poem, yet by what he has done, he has a right
to rank in the first class of poets, especially when it is considered
that we owe to him the great perfection of the theatre, and putting it
upon a level with that of France and Italy; and as the theatrical are
the most rational of all amusements, the latest posterity should hold
his name in veneration, who did so much for the advancement of
innocent pleasures, and blending instruction and gaiety together.
The dramatic works of our author are,
1. Albovine King of the Lombards, a tragedy. This play is commended by
eight copies of verses. The story of it is related at large, in a
novel, by Bandello, and is translated by Belleforest[3].
2. Cruel Brother, a tragedy.
3. Distresses, a tragi-comedy, printed in folio, Lond. 1673.
4. First Day's Entertainment at Rutland-House, by declamation and
music, after the manner of the ancients. Of this we have already given
some account.
5. The Fair Favourite, a tragi-comedy, printed in folio, 1673.
6. The Just Italian, a tragi-comedy.
7. Law against Lovers, a tragi-comedy, made up of two plays by
Shakespear, viz. Measure for Measure, and Much Ado about Nothing.
8. Love and Honour, a tragi-comedy; which succeeded beyond any other
of our author's plays, both on the theatre at Lincoln's-Inn, and
Dorset-Garden.
9. Man's the Master, a tragi-comedy, acted upon the Duke of York's
theatre.
10. Platonic Lovers, a tragi-comedy.
11. Play House to be Let. It is difficult to say, under what species
this play should be placed, as it consists of pieces of different
kinds blended together, several of which the author wrote in Oliver's
time, that were acted separately by stealth.--The History of Sir
Francis Drake, expressed by instrumental and vocal music, and by art
of perspective scenes, and the cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru, were
first printed in 4to. and make the third and fourth acts of this play.
The second act consists of a French farce, translated from
Mollier[e]'s Ganarelle, ou le Cocu Imaginaire, and purposely by our
author put into a sort of jargon, common to Frenchmen newly come over.
The fifth act consists of tragedy travestie; or the actions of Caesar,
Anthony and Cleopatra in burlesque verse.
12. Siege of Rhodes in two parts. These plays, during the civil war,
were acted in Stilo Recitativo, but afterwards enlarged, and acted
with applause at the Duke's theatre. Solyman the second took this
famous city in the year 1522, which is circumstantially related by
Knolles in his History of the Turks, from whence our author took the
story.
13. Siege, a tragi-comedy.
14. News from Plymouth, a comedy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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