The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume III.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume III.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
Mr. Coxeter has imputed to him a piece called Measure for Measure, or
Beauty the best Advocate; altered from Shakespear, and performed at
the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn-Fields 1700, with the addition of several
Entertainments of Music. Prologue and Epilogue by Mr. Oldmixon.
The Deist's Manual, or Rational Enquiry into the Christian Religion,
with some Animadversions on Hobbs, Spinosa, the Oracles of Reason,
Second Thoughts, &c. to which is prefixed a Letter from the Author of
the Method with the Deists, 1705.
Complete Art of Poetry.
Mr. Gildon died on the 12th of January 1723, and in the words of Boyer's
Political State, vol. xxvii. p. 102. we shall sum up his character.
'On Sunday, January 12, died Mr. Charles Gildon, a person of great
literature, but a mean genius; who having attempted several kinds of
writing, never gained much reputation in any. Among other treatises, he
wrote the English Art of Poetry, which he had practised himself very
unsuccessfully in his dramatic performances. He also wrote an English
Grammar, but what he seemed to build his chief hopes of fame upon,
was, his late Critical Commentary on the Duke of Buckingham's Essay
on Poetry, which last piece was perused, and highly approved, by his
grace.'
* * * * *
THOMAS D'URFEY,
Was born in the county of Devon, and was first bred to the law; but we
have not heard from what family he was descended, nor in what year he
was born. He has written upwards of thirty plays, with various success,
but had a genius better turned to a ballad, and little irregular odes,
than for dramatic poetry. He soon forsook the profession of the law, and
threw himself upon the public, by writing for the stage.----That D'Urfey
was a man of some abilities, and, enjoyed the esteem and friendship
of men of the greatest parts in his time, appears from the favourable
testimony of the author of the Guardian: And as the design of this work
is to collect, and throw into one view, whatever may be found concerning
any poet of eminence in various books, and literary records, we
shall make no scruple of transcribing what that ingenious writer has
humorously said concerning our author.
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