Bristol, and author of an excellent ode on Divine Vengeance. 87. Nigh where, &c.] Charing-Cross. ibid. Perhaps the spot where now stands Powell's stage,] Under the Piazzas of Covent-Garden. See Specta tor, No. 14. ibid. Spanish Fryar. -fat Dominic's the jest.] Dryden's 89. T' have sat at Athens when the Clouds were play'd.] The Clouds,' a play of Aristophanes, where Socrates is throughout satirised, at which, when represented, he was present, and shewed not the least con cern. ibid. When Shadwell gives his ideot clown a miss,] Young Hartford, in his Láncashire Witches.' ibid. Go read Quintilian de movendo risu.] Stulta reprehendere facillimum est, nam ex se sunt ridicula, sed rem urbanam facit aliqua ex nobis adjectio. 95. When good Urganda battles for her knight,] His British Enchanters. 96. The free-born Cato, &c.] Though Cato at this time was neither published, nor completed, yet four acts of it had been submitted to the inspection of Friends. 99. Here Bullock's cudgel] Bullock was celebrated in low comedy, and particularly for the parts of testy old men. 100. He, by Religion a Tragedian made, Play'd virtuous parts, and liv'd the parts he play'd.] Such is the universal attestation to the character of Betterton. Perhaps the Author had an eye in this passage to the story of Genest. See the next Epistle. 100. 101. The Laureat sicken'd, -] Colley Cibber. Nokes trod the stage, &c.] Of this performer some idea may be formed from the following extract: "Nokes was an actor of a quite different genius from any I have ever read, heard of, or seen, since or before his time; and yet his general excellence may be comprehended in one article, viz. a plain and palpable simplicity of nature. His person was of the middle size, his voice clear and audible; his natural countenance grave and sober; but the moment he spoke, the settled seriousness of his features was utterly discharged, and a dry, drolling, laughing levity took such full possession of him, that I can only refer the idea of him to your imagination. In some of his low characters that became it, he had a shuffling shamble in his gait, with so contented an ignorance in his aspect, and an aukward absurdity in his gesture, that had you not known him, you would not have believed that naturally he could have had a grain of common sense. Cibber's Apology, p. 118. ibid. Barry-Bracegirdle-Powell.] See Cibber's Apology, p. 132, 141, 166. 102. The pleas'd spectator dreads a king in Keene.] Theophilus Keene, not a first rate performer, though praised by many for the majesty of his performance. ibid. We hop'd, alas! we hop'd a nearer view,] The Players, at this time expected at Oxford, were for bidden to come. They, however, went thither again after Cato was brought on the stage. 103. Should Oldfield then, &c.] Afterwards Mrs. Booth, who lived till January 15, 1773. The characters for which she is here celebrated are Andromache, in Philips's Distressed Mother;' and Loveit, in Etherege's 'Man of Mode.' ibid. 'Tis said young Ammon, &c.] See Plutarch's Life of Alexander.' 104. To see that Hercules, &c.] A new Opera, so called. ibid. The Terence and Vitruvius of his times;] Sir John Vanbrugh. EPISTLE IX. Page 106. This ingenious and sprightly writer was son of Dr. Pierson Lloyd, second master, for many years, of Westminster School; where, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was eminently distinguished, for his poetical powers, and his eccentric conduct. Between him and the celebrated Charles Churchill a most cordial attachment subsisted. The generosity of the latter frequently relieved the former's distresses, whilst his death was accelerated by the death of his friend. Poor Lloyd made his exit in the Fleet Prison on the 15th of December 1764. Mr. Wilkes, to whom he was well known has portrayed him, as "mild and affable in private life, of gentle manners, and very engaging in conversation. He was an excellent scholar, and an easy, natural poet. His peculiar excellence was the dressing up an old thought in a new, neat, and trim manner. He was contented to scamper round the foot of Parnassus on his little Welch poney, which seems never to have tired. He left the fury of the winged steed, and the daring heights of the mountain, to the sublime genius of his friend Churchill." An imperfect collection of Mr. Lloyd's poetical works, was published by Dr. Kendrick in two volumes, 1774. EPISTLE X. Page 118. a FORRESTER-] This Lady, who is frequently and ill-naturedly mentioned by Swift, was Maid of Honor to Queen Anne, and in 1701 married at the age of thirteen, to Sir George Downing. The Bridegroom, being only two years older than the Bride, set out on his travels, in the interval of which both contracting a dislike to each other, joined, on his return, to obtain a divorce.This Lady must have been very accomplished to have deserved half the compliments lavished upon her. In the British Court,' she is thus described: "But see the sacred marks of beauty shine " 'Tis difficult for wit, or words, t' express "Which pleases most, her looks, her air, her dress." 120. A SUNDERLAND the coldest writer warms,] Anne, second daughter to the Duke of Marlborough. -The coldest writer has been understood to allude to Dr. Watts, who in handing this Lady, when at Tunbridge, into her coach, left in her hand some animated stanzas. This reference, however, is altogether ideal, for the Epistle was written prior to the Doctor's gallantry. ibid. -bright MONTHERMER] Mary, youngest daughter to the Duke, married John Duke of Montagu, and Marquis of Monthermer. This Lady was also greatly celebrated, by the wits of the time. -BRIDGEWATER ibid. -] Elizabeth, married to the Earl of Bridgewater, was the third daughter of the Duke of Marlborough. 121. GODOLPHIN Duke's eldest daughter. ibid. BOLTON -] Henrietta, the -] Lady Henrietta Crofts, daughter of the Duke of Monmouth. -] Lady Elizabeth 122. -SEYMOURPercy, only surviving daughter and sole heiress of Josceline Earl of Northumberland, in her own right Baroness Percy, Lucy, Poynings, Fitz-Payne, Brian, and Latimer, was thrice a wife, and twice a widow before she was sixteen, being first married to the Earl of Ogle, only son and heir of Henry Duke of New |
