these he probably imitated our author's mode of recitation, which was by no means excellent.

Dr. Johnson has observed that THE REHEARSAL, though played in 1671, "is represented as ridiculing passages in THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA and ASSIGNATION, which were not published till 1678; in MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE, published in 1673; and in TYRANNICK LOVE, of 1670."— "These contradictions (he adds) shew how readily satire is applied."-But in truth, there is no contradiction whatsoever; for these seeming difficulties all arise from his having confided in Langbaine's erroneous account of the dates of our author's plays, and his not knowing that various alterations and additions were made to THE REHEARSAL, after its original publication.

The plays of Dryden, parodied or otherwise ridiculed in this farce, as it now appears, are THE WILD GALLANT, THE MAIDEN QUEEN, TYRANNICK LOVE, the two parts of GRANADA, and THE ASSIGNATION. The first of these, we have seen, was printed in 1669; THE MAIDEN QUEEN, in the preceding year; TYRANNICK LOVE in 1670. The two parts of GRANADA were performed in

2

Spence, from the information of Dr. Lockier, who was personally acquainted with Dryden.

The author of the Key to THE REHEARSAL, mentions also MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE, which was not printed till 1673; but there is not a single parody on any passage in that play, nor any allusion to it.

1669 and 1670, though not printed till 1672. They might therefore be ridiculed on the stage in

3 See p. 8. n. If a story which has been often repeated, were true, it might afford us some aid in ascertaining the precise time when the First Part of GRANADA was orginally played. It has been said that Nell Gwyn first attracted the notice of her royal lover in speaking the Epilogue to that play, under the pent-house of a hat as large as a cartwheel. As her son, the Duke of St. Albans, was born on the 8th of May, 1670, this circumstance would prove that the play was performed in the preceding year. But unluckily the very same tale has been told concerning TYRANNICK LOVE; and we are informed, that in speaking the Epilogue to that piece she won the King's heart:

"Hold! are you mad, you damn'd confounded roque?
"I am to rise and speak the Epilogue."

This suits sufficiently well with the birth of her son; for
TYRANNICK LOVE was certainly performed in 1669.-
A third tale, however, says, that it was her agility in
dancing with which Charles was first captivated.

Dryden, who is supposed to have been very partial to Nelly, as she was usually called till she became Madam Gwyn, allotting to her the principal part in some of his comedies, told Mr. Boyer, (as he has mentioned in a note on his translation of Grammont's MEMOIRS, 8vo. 1714,) that she was Lord Dorset's mistress, before the King fell in love with her; and that having a mind to get her from his Lordship, he sent him on a sleeveless errand to France." If the account given by Collins in his PEERAGE were correct, that Lord Dorset was sent to France in 1669, this anecdote also would confirm the date of GRANADA, supposing that to have been the play in which this celebrated actress attracted the royal favour. But the embassy to France was in return for the visit of

dog

a piece exhibited in December 1671, from memory, or from copies furnished by some of the actors; and as THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA was published in 1672, and THE REHEARSAL at a late period in that year, the author had an opportunity of making his parodies correct from the printed copy of the play intended to be exposed. As for the comedy last mentioned in the list of pieces ridiculed, the original edition of THE REHEARSAL contains no allusion to THE ASSIGNATION; the only passage that has a reference to that comedy being added in an edition posterior to its publica

tion.

66

The song in the third act, which Bayes tells us was made by Tom Thimble's first wife after she was dead," to the tune of Farewel, fair Armida, &c. is known to have been a parody on one written by our author on the death of Captain Digby, (a younger son of George, Earl of Bristol,) who was

the Duchess of Orleans to Charles, who met her at Dover in May 1670; and therefore Lord Dorset's mission must have been posterior to that time. However, Nell Gwyn, who, after she became the King's mistress, remained for some time on the stage, was probably not unkind to some of her former lovers, among whom are enumerated Hart and Lacy, the players, as well as Lord Dorset ; and the King finding that nobleman perhaps too much in his way, after the birth of her son, (who in January, 1683-4, was created Duke of St. Albans,) might perhaps have sent him on a sleeveless errand in June, 1670.

4" Indeed, Mr. Bayes, that hip-hop," &c. and Bayes's Answer, REHEARSAL, Act III. sc. 5.-These words are not in the original edition of 1672.

killed in the sea-fight between the English and Dutch Fleet off Southwold Bay, on the 28th of May, 1672. Here is a seeming difficulty, which, however, is at once removed by examining the original edition; where Bayes only says—“ What, are they [the players] gone, without singing my last new song?" The song itself, with the prefatory matter, was introduced in a subsequent copy. The original lines on which Buckingham's parody is formed, not having been preserved in Dryden's works, and being found entire only in a scarce miscellany,' I shall here insert them. Such is the force of the association of ideas, that it is difficult to peruse this song without finding some of that ridicule which has been attached to it; yet I know not that, if it had not been parodied, the conceits in it would appear more objectionable than those which are found in many other similar compositions of the last century, and were certainly very generally admired. The lines must be supposed to be written immediately before the lover's departure, and, in the style of ancient ballads, would have been called-" Digby's last Goodnight." The lady to whom they are addressed, is said to have been the beautiful Frances Stuart, wife of Charles Stuart, Duke of Richmond, of whom she was deprived in the following December.

5 Covent-Garden Drollery, 8vo. 1672, p. 16. See Actel!

The

fair Armida" was married to the Duke of Rich- and ment mond in 1667, and died October 15, 1702. h 6

VOL. I.

Ver. I.part.

8.133,

"Farewell, fair Armida, my joy and my grief, "In vain I have lov'd you, and hope no relief; "Undone by your virtue, too strict and severe, "Your eyes gave me love, and you gave me despair: "Now call'd by my honour, I seek with content "The fate which in pity you would not prevent : "To languish in love, were to find by delay "A death that's more welcome the speediest way. "On seas and in battles, in bullets and fire, "The danger is less than in hopeless desire; "My death's wound you give, though far off I bear My fall from your sight,-not to cost you a tear: "But if the kind flood on a wave should convey "And under your window my body should lay, "The wound on my breast when you happen to see, "You'll say with a sigh-it was given by me."

66

In conversing with the late Mr. Boswell on the merit of THE REHEARSAL, Dr. Johnson observed, with his usual pointed energy, that “it had not salt enough to keep itself sweet ;-it had not sweet;-it vitality enough to preserve it from putrefaction." Dryden, however, (as I learn from the testimony of one who was personally acquainted with him,) allowed that "it had a great many good things in it, though so severe (he added) against myself; but I can't help saying, that Smith and Johnson are two of the coolest and most insignificant fellows I ever met with on the stage."—He made no reply, for which he has assigned the following

6 Spence, from the information of Dr. Lockier, of whom some account will be given hereafter.