His genius was more turned for tragedy than comedy, which occasioned an old poet to write thus of him:
Deep in a dump, John Ford was alone got, With folded arms, and melancholy hat.
These particulars I find in Mr. Langbaine, who gives the following account of his plays;
1. Broken Heart, a Tragedy, acted by the King"s Servants at the private House in Black-Fryars, printed in 4to. London 1633, and dedicated to Lord Craven, Baron of Hamstead-Marshal: The Speaker"s Names are fitted to their Qualities, and most of them are derived from Greek Etymologies.
2. Fancies Chaste and n.o.ble, a Tragi-Comedy, acted by the Queen"s Servants, at the Phoenix in Drury Lane, printed 4to. London 1638, and dedicated to Lord Randel Macdonell, Earl of Antrim, in the Kingdom of Ireland.
3. Ladies Tryal, a Tragi-Comedy, acted by both their Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury-Lane, printed 4to. London, 1639.
4. Lover"s Melancholy, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at a Private House in Black-Fryars, and publickly at the Globe by the King"s Servants, printed 4to. London 1629, and dedicated to the Society of Gray"s-Inn.
This Play is commended by four of the author"s Friends, one of whom writes the following Tetrastich:
"Tis not the language, nor the fore-placed rhimes Of friends, that shall commend to after times The lover"s melancholy: It"s own worth Without a borrowed praise shall see it forth.
The author, says Langbaine, has imbellished this Play with several fancies from other Writers, which he has appositely brought in, as the Story of the Contention between the Musician and the Nightingale, described in Strada"s academical Prolusions, Lib. ii. Prol. 6.
5. Love"s Sacrifice, a Tragedy, received generally well, acted by the Queen"s Servants, at the Phoenix in Drury-Lane; printed 4to. Lond.
1663. There is a copy of verses prefixed to this Play, written by James Shirley, Esq; a dramatic writer.
6. Perkin Warbeck, a Chronicle History, and strange Truth, acted by the Queen"s Servants in Drury-Lane, printed 4to. 1634, and dedicated to William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle. This Play, as several of the former, is attended with Verses written by four of the Author"s friends. The Plot is founded on Truth, and may be read in all the Chronicles of Henry VII.
7. Sun"s Darling, a Moral Mask, often presented by their Majesties Servants at the c.o.c.k-pit in Drury-Lane, with great Applause, printed in 4to. London 1657, dedicated to the Right Hon. Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. This Play was wrote by our author and John Decker, but not published till after their decease. A Copy of Verses written by Mr. John Tateham is the Introduction to the Mask, at the Entry whereof the Reader will find an Explanation of the Design alluding to the Four Seasons of the Year.
8. "Tis Pity she"s a Wh.o.r.e, a Tragedy, printed in 4to. Mr.
Langbaine says, that this equals if not exceeds any of our author"s performances, and were to be commended did not he paint the incestuous love between Giovanni, and his Sister Annabella, in too beautiful colours. I have not been able to ascertain the year in which this author died; but imagine from circ.u.mstances, that it must have been some time before the Restoration, and before the Year 1657, for the Sun"s Darling, written between him and Decker was published in 1657, which Mr. Langbaine says, was after their Decease.
THOMAS MIDDLETON
Lived in the reign of King Charles I. he was cotemporary with Johnson, Fletcher, Maslinger and Rowley, in whose friendship he is said to have shared, and though he fell much short of the two former, yet being joined with them in writing plays, he arrived at some reputation. He joined with Fletcher and Johnson in a play called The Widow, and the highest honour that is known of this poet, is, his being admitted to make a triumvirate with two such great men: he joined with Ma.s.singer and Rowley in writing the Old Law; he was likewise a.s.sisted by Rowley in writing three plays[1]. We have not been able to find any particulars of this man"s life, further than his friendship and connection already mentioned, owing to his obscurity, as he was never considered as a genius, concerning which the world thought themselves interested to preserve any particulars.
His dramatic works are,
1. The Five Gallants, acted at the Black Fryars.
2. Blur, Mr. Constable, or the Spaniard"s Night Walk, a Comedy, acted by the Children of St. Paul"s School, 1602.
3. The Phaenix, a Tragedy, acted by the Children of St. Paul"s, and also before his Majesty, 1607; the story is taken from a Spanish Novel, called the Force of Love.
4. The Family of Love, a Comedy, acted by the children of his Majesty"s Revels, 1608.
5. The Roaring Girl, or Moll Cutpurse, acted by the Prince"s Players, 1611; part of this play was writ by Mr. Decker.
6. A Trick to catch the Old One, a Comedy, acted both at St. Paul"s and Black Fryars before their Majesties, with success, 1616.
7. The Triumphs of Love and Antiquity, a Masque, performed at the Confirmation of Sir William c.o.kain, General of his Majesty"s Forces, and Lord Mayor of the city of London, 1619.
8. The Chaste Maid of Cheapside, a pleasant Comedy, acted by the Lady Elizabeth"s servants, 1620.
9. The World toss"d at Tennis, a Masque, presented by the Prince"s servants, 1620.
10. The Fair Quarrel, a Comedy, acted in the year 1622, Mr. Rowley a.s.sisted in the composing this Play.
11. The Inner Temple Masque, a Masque of Heroes, represented by the Gentlemen of the Inner-Temple, 1640.
12. The Changeling, a Tragedy, acted at a private house in Drury Lane, and Salisbury Court, with applause, 1653, Mr. Rowley joined in writing this play; for the plot see the story of Alsemero, and Beatrice Joanna in Reynolds"s G.o.d"s Revenge against Murder.
13. The Old Law, or a New Way to Please You, a Comedy, acted before the King and Queen in Salisbury Court, printed 1656. Ma.s.senger and Rowley a.s.sisted in this Play.
14. No Wit, No Help like a Woman"s, a Comedy, acted in the year 1657.
15. Women, beware Women, a Tragedy, 1657. This Play is founded on a Romance called Hyppolito and Isabella.
16. More Dissemblers besides Women, a Comedy, acted 1657.
17. The Spanish Gypsies, a Comedy, acted with applause, both at the private house in Drury Lane, and Salisbury Court, 1660; in this Play he was a.s.sisted by Mr. Rowley. Part of it is borrowed from a Spanish Novel called the Force of Blood, written originally by Cervantes.
18. The Mayor of Queenborough, a Comedy, acted by his Majesty"s servants, 1661. For the plot see the Reign of Vartigas, by Stow and Speed.
19. Any Thing for a Quiet Life, acted at the Globe on the Bank Side.
This is a game between the Church of England, and that of Rome, wherein the former gains the victory.
20. Michaelmas Term, a Comedy; it is uncertain whether this play was ever acted.
21. A Mad World, my Masters, a Comedy, often acted at a private house in Salisbury Court with applause.
[Footnote 1: Langbaine"s Lives of the Poets, p. 370.]
End of the First VOLUME.