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LIST

OF

FORD'S PLAYS.

1. THE LOVER'S MELANCHOLY, T. C. Acted at the Blackfriars and the Globe, 24th November, 1628. Printed 1629.

2. "TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE, T. Printed 1633. Acted at the Phoenix.

3. THE WITCH OF EDMONTON, T. By Rowley, Dekkar, Ford, &c. Printed 1658. Probably acted soon after 1622. Acted at the Cockpit, and at Court.

4. THE SUN'S DARLING, M. Acted in March, 1623-24, at the Cockpit. Printed 1657.

5. THE BROKEN HEART, T. Printed 1633. Acted at the Blackfriars.

6. LOVE'S SACRIFICE, T. Printed 1633. Acted at the Phoenix.

7. PERKIN WARBECK, H. T. Printed 16S4. Acted at the Phoenix.

8. THE FANCIES, CHASTE AND NOBLE, C. Printed 1638. Acted at the Phoenix.

9. THE LADY'S TRIAL, T. C. Acted at the Cockpit in May, 1638. Printed 1639.

10. BEAUTY IN A TRANCE, T. Entered on the Stationers' books, September 9th, 1653, but not printed. Destroyed by Mr. Warburton's servant.

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15. A LATE MURTHER OF THE SONNE UPON THE MOFord and Webster.

THER.

16. THE BRISTOWE MERCHANT. Ford and Decker.

These are given from the researches of Mr. G. Chalmers. For other pieces attributed to our author, see p. xiii.

COMMENDATORY VERSES ON FORD.

To my Honour'd Friend, Master JOHN FORD, on his
Lover's Melancholy.

If that thou think'st these lines thy worth can raise,
Thou dost mistake: my liking is no praise;

Nor can I think thy judgment is so ill

To seek for bays from such a barren quill.
Let your true critic, that can judge and mend,
Allow thy scenes and style: I, as a friend
That knows thy worth, do only stick my name
To show my love, not to advance thy fame.

GEORGE DONNE.*

* GEORGE DONNE.] Mr. Weber felicitates the poet on the success of this drama, which had the good fortune, he says, to be recommended to the public by "the celebrated Dr. Donne"! That any one, who pretended to the slightest acquaintance with the writers of Ford's time, should be so incomprehensibly ignorant of their style and manner as to attribute this feeble doggerel to John Donne, the dean of St. Paul's-but I dare not trust myself with the subject.

At the moment when this unfortunate blunderer supposes Dr. Donne anxious to ply his barren quill and stick his name here, purely "to shew his love," that great man was fallen into a dangerous sickness, (which eventually carried him off,) and was pressing forward with the zeal of a martyr, and the purity of a saint, to the crown that was set before him.

GEORGE Donne seems to have been a constant attendant at the theatres. He was apparently a kind-hearted, friendly man, who had his little modicum of praise ready upon all occasions. He has verses to Jonson, Massinger, and others.

To his worthy Friend the Author (of The Lover's Melancholy) Master JOHN FORD.

I WRITE not to thy play: I'll not begin

To throw a censure upon what hath been

By th' best approved: it can nor fear, nor want
The rage, or liking of the ignorant.

Nor seek I fame for thee, when thine own pen
Hath forced a praise long since, from knowing men.
I speak my thoughts, and wish unto the stage
A glory from thy studies; that the age
May be indebted to thee, for reprieve
Of purer language, and that spite may grieve
To see itself outdone. When thou art read,
The theatre may hope arts are not dead,
Though long conceal'd; that poet-apes may fear
To vent their weakness, mend, or quite forbear.
This I dare promise; and keep this in store;
As thou hast done enough, thou canst do more.
WILLIAM SINGLETON.*

To the Author (of the Lover's Melancholy) Master JOHN FORD.

BLACK choler, reason's overflowing spring,

Where thirsty lovers drink, or any thing,

Passion, the restless current of dull plaints

Affords their thoughts, who deem lost beauties saints;

* In a copy of verses prefixed to Massinger's Emperor of the East, Singleton calls himself "the friend and kinsman" of that poet. I know nothing more of him. It will be time enough to speak of his immediate follower, Hum. Howorth, when I know what he means. It must be admitted, that Mr. Weber has placed Dr. Donne at the head of a most illustrious quartetto.

Here their best lectures read, collect, and see
Various conditions of humanity,

Highly enlighten'd by thy muse's rage;

Yet all so couch'd that they adorn'd the stage.
Shun Phocion's blushes thou; for sure to please
It is no sin, then what is thy disease?
Judgment's applause? effeminated smiles?
Study's delight? thy wit mistrust beguiles:
Establish'd fame will thy physician be,
(Write but again) to cure thy jealousy.

HUM. HOWOrth.

Of the Lover's Melancholy.

'Tis not the language, nor the fore-placed rhymes
Of friends, that shall commend to after-times
The Lover's Melancholy: its own worth
Without a borrow'd phrase shall set it forth.

Ο φιλος.*

To my Friend the Author (of 'Tis Pity she's a Whore.)
WITH admiration I beheld this Whore,

Adorn'd with beauty, such as might restore
(If ever being, as thy muse hath famed)
Her Giovanni, in his love unblamed:
The ready Graces lent their willing aid;
Pallas herself now play'd the chambermaid,

* Macklin, with a degree of learning which quite perplexes Mr. Malone, has daringly (but happily) ventured to put these profound symbols into English characters, and subscribe the quatrain Philos. Mr. Malone thinks he must have had the assistance of some learned friend.

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