her place-Severino enters with a light Iölante prays that, if she has not been guilty of any crime, her nose may be restored-Severino, on finding her face whole, is reconciled to her-Massinger has here shown great want of judgment-the cutting off of Calipso's nose is an unpleasant incident, and one that must be very awkward in representation-the supposed miracle is ridiculous-in Boccace-Day 7 Novel 8-a similar story is told in a more probable manner-Adorio, on taking off Mirtilla's mask, is much disappointed at finding he has carried off the maid instead of the mistress-Mirtilla is violently in love with Adorio-he slights her-Calista finds Adorio asleep with his head in Mirtilla's lap-she renounces her love to Adorio, and gives her hand to Caldoro-the King of Naples, having heard much of Severino's justice in the distribution of the booty taken by the banditti, determines to be an eye witness of it-he disguises himself, and is brought by the banditti, with most of the other characters, before Severino-Laval turns out to be Iölante's brother, who was supposed to have been killed-Severino is pardoned-Adorio, finding Mirtilla to be by birth a gentlewoman, marries her-this is on the whole a good play-Durazzo is the best characterthe Guardian was acted at Black Friars.

16. Very Woman, or the Prince of Tarent-this play was licensed in 1634, but not printed till 1655

it had been acted at Black Friars-Don Antonio, the Prince of Tarent, is in love with Almira, the daughter of the Viceroy of Sicily-she is in love with Don Cardenes, the son of the Duke of Messina - Pedro, the Viceroy's son, and Leonora, the Duke's

niece, are mutually in love-Almira not only treats Antonio with contempt, but declares that of all mankind she loaths him the most-Pedro and Antonio are great friends-Pedro requests Almira to allow Antonio to take leave of her in person—she refuses -Cardenes insults Antonio-they fight-Cardenes is apparently killed-Antonio makes his escape-Almira mourns for Cardenes as his widow-Antonio is taken at sea by a Turkish pirate—he is brought back to Sicily, and sold for a slave to Cuculo-he is dressed as a Turk-Pedro and Almira do not know him-Borachia, the wife of Cuculo, is governess to Almira and Leonora-she refuses Pedro admission to Leonora-he applies to Antonio-Antonio promises his assistance, and recommends Pedro to send 2 or 3 bottles of strong wine-Borachia gets drunk-Almira now falls violently in love with Antonio-some pirates attempt to carry off Almira and Leonora Antonio rescues them-Cardenes recovers from his wounds- a physician not only cures his body but his mind-at the conclusion Antonio resumes his former shape-Cardenes requests Antonio to forgive his rude behaviour-he resigns Almira to him-Antonio and Pedro are united to Almira and Leonora this is on the whole a good play, but the main circumstance of the plot is improbableObstinate Lady 1657.

17. Bashful Lover-see C. G. May 30 1798.

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18. Old Law-the scene lies in Epire-the Duke makes a law, that all old men of 80, and all old women of 60 should be put to death-Simonides pretends to be sorry for the approaching death of his father, Creon, but is really impatient to have the law

executed-Cleanthes is distressed at the thoughts of losing his father, Leonides-Cleanthes, with the assistance of his wife, Hippolita, conceals Leonides in a remote lodge-he passes over the stage with a funeral procession, as if his father had died a natural death-Lysander is not quite 80-his young wife, Eugenia, is very desirous of being a widow-but she plays the hypocrite so well, that Hippolita believes her to be sincere, and tells her the device by which she and her husband had preserved Leonides-Eugenia admits the addresses of Simonides and other suitors-Cleanthes reproaches her sharply for her conduct-Simonides by her desire informs the Duke that Leonides is concealed-Leonides is discovered, and Cleanthes is sent to prison-in the last act it appears that the law had been executed in pretence only-all the old men are brought in alive-Cleanthes and Hippolita are rewarded-but Simonides and Eugenia are not sufficiently punished-in the 3rd act, Gnotho, the clown, bribes the clerk of the parish to alter the register, and make his wife a year older than she really is the plot of this C. is absurd, but the play on the whole is not a bad one-it was acted at Salisbury House, but not printed till 1656— it is said to have been written by Massinger, Middleton, and Rowley in conjunction-Gifford attributes the greater part of it to Middleton and Rowley.

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Gifford says" the Restoration did little for Massinger the Bondman and the Roman Actor "were at length brought forward by Betterton, who probably conceived them to be favourable to his "fine powers of declamation-we are told by Downes "that he gained great applause in them-I can find

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"but two more of Massinger's plays which were acted "in the period immediately following the Restora"tion, the Virgin Martyr and the Renegado-I have "indeed some idea that the Old Law should be add"ed to the scanty list-but having mislaid my memo"randum, I cannot affirm it."

Pepys saw the Bondman March 1 1661-and the Virgin Martyr Feb. 27 1668-Gifford may be correct as to the revival of the Roman Actor and the Renegado, but it would have been a satisfaction to one, if he had told us from whence he gained his information-Downes does not mention the Roman Actor, nor the Renegado-and Langbaine does not speak of any one of Massinger's plays as revived after the Restoration.

D. L. 1805-1806.

Sept. 14. Country Girl. Miss Peggy Mrs. Jordan.

17. Spoil'd Child, by Miss Fisher.

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19. Wonder. Don Pedro Mathews: Gibby Dormer, 1st app. : Flora Mrs. Dormer, 1st app:rest as before.

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21. Henry 4th. Falstaff S. Kemble: Hotspur

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Elliston King Wroughton: Prince of Wales = H. Siddons, 1st app. there: Prince John Tokely: Francis Collins: Carriers Mathews and Wewitzer: Lady Percy Mrs. Powell: Mrs. Quickly = Mrs. Sparks with Lying Valet, by Collins.

24. Romeo and Juliet, by Elliston and Mrs. H. Siddons, her 1st app. there. Oct. 1. Merry Wives.

3. Soldier's Daughter.

1st time

Falstaff S. Kemble.

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Mrs. Malfort Mrs. H. Siddons, 1st time:

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with Of Age To-Morrow. Baron Piffleberg thews, 1st time.

7. H. Siddons acted Romeo, 1st time.

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8. Belle's Stratagem. Sir G. Touchwood H. Siddons.

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9. Not acted 10 years, Constant Couple. Sir Harry Wildair Elliston, 1st time: Col. Standard = Barrymore, 1st time: Beau Clincher Bannister : Alderman Smuggler Dowton, 1st time: Clincher Jun. = Collins, 1st time: Lady Lurewell = Mrs. Powell: Angelica = Miss Mellon, 1st time :-with Wedding Day. Sir Adam Contest Cherry: Lady Contest Mrs. Jordan:-The Constant Couple was acted about 4 times it was to have been performed on Saturday the 5th, but the play was changedon the 7th one of the newspapers abused Elliston, &c. for having acted very badly-a striking proof of what little dependance is to be placed on newspaper criticisms.

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10. Jealous Wife. Lady Freelove Mrs. Sparks, 1st time.

11. Othello. Othello Elliston, 1st time: (that is at D. L.) Iago Barrymore Cassio =

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