A 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. 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 If that thou think'st these lines thy worth can raise, Nor can I think thy judgment is so ill To seek for bays from such a barren quill. 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 Nor seek I fame for thee, when thine own pen 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 Highly enlighten'd by thy muse's rage; Yet all so couch'd that they adorn'd the stage. HUM. HOWOrth. Of the Lover's Melancholy. 'Tis not the language, nor the fore-placed rhymes Ο φιλος.* To my Friend the Author (of 'Tis Pity she's a Whore.) Adorn'd with beauty, such as might restore * 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. |