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FAITHFUL 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 O I THE 
 
 LI F E, 
 
 Amours and Performances, 
 
 OF . 
 
 That juftly Cel ebrated, and moft 
 Eminent A C T R E S S of her Time, 
 
 M rs . Anne Oldfield. 
 
 Interfperfed with feveral other 
 
 Dramatical MEMOIRS. 
 
 H?y Willta.m Egerton, Efq,- 
 
 "The great Pains, which jhe Ladieso/ this Age 
 take to commend Virtue, is fometimes a Jhrewd Sign 
 that they take but- very little to pra&ice i t. And 9 
 the greatest 'Part of thofe Complaints againjl their 
 Neighbours, are owing to the Want of Refle&ion 
 upon Themfelves. Rochefoucault, 
 
 L O N T) O N: 
 Printed in the Year MDCCXXXL 
 [Price 3 s. Stitch'd, 3 s. 6 d. Bound.] 
 
T O 
 
 Mrs. Saunders, 
 
 O F 
 
 Watford in Hertford/hire. 
 
 Ma DAM, 
 
 IN dear RefpecT: to your departed Friend^ 
 I earneftly thefe Pages recommend. 
 Let her true Worth thro' your Prote&ion live, 
 Who know both how to Love, and how to 
 Grieve. 
 
 The Public, in their *Pkafures } daily mount 
 Her Lofs, and Roscius * holds the fatal Urn. 
 Secure will be her everlafting Fame, 
 Since Saunders has embalm'd an Oldfield's 
 Name. 
 
 William Egerton. 
 
 Somerfet-Houfey Feb. 
 i, 1731. 
 
 i 
 
 * Mr. Booth/ 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 CIriticks in Wit, or Life, are hard to Pka/e, 
 4 Few Write to Them, and none can Live to 
 Tkefe. 
 
 Thus ftngs Mr. Pope. However, I will ven- 
 ture to introduce thefe Memoirs of Mrs, 
 Oldpield, with an Observation made by 
 that excellent Critick, in Life, the Duke 
 De Rochefoucault, viz. " All 
 " Diversions which are very entertaining, 
 " are of dangerous Conference $ but of ?\\ 
 that the World hath found out, none 
 " Jhould be more cautioufly ufed than Plays. 
 £ They give fo nice, fo natural a Reprefen- 
 A z <c tation, 
 
ii PREFACE. 
 
 " tation of the Passions, that they really 
 <c beget and infpire them ; and especially 
 f that of Love, 'when it is defcrihed at a 
 <c modeft and a virtuous Paffion. For the 
 " more innocent it appears, to innocent 
 * c Perfons, the more fltll they find themfehes 
 <f difpofed to receive and fuhmit to it. They 
 tc fancy to themfehes a Senfe of Honour, 
 and, at the fame Time, that This is no 
 'way injured hy fo difcreet an AffeUion. 
 c ' Thus People rife from a Play 'with their 
 " Hearts fo full of the SoftnefTes of Love, 
 " and their Judgments fo fatisfied of its 
 £< Innocence, that they are in a perfeU 
 " Vifpofition to take in its fir ft Impreffions 
 " readily, or rather indeed to feek and court 
 <c Occasions of infe&ing fomehody elfe 'with 
 " it j that fo, they may receive the fame 
 i( Pleafures, and the fame Emotions, 'which 
 they have fern fo movingly reprefented 
 upon the Stage. Fortune {continues 
 the Duke) gives out the Parts vje are 
 " to play upon this Stage of the World, 
 " Mindly, and jufi according to her onm 
 cs unaccountable Humour : This is theRea.* 
 t£ fon <why there is fo much ill A&ingj 
 
 " becaufe 
 
 ce 
 
 c; 
 <( 
 <c 
 
PREFACE. iii 
 
 ff becaufe we very feldom hit upon thofe 
 " Chara&ers that are fit for Us ; or to fpeak 
 * f in a more Chriftian Style, 'what we call 
 <e Fortune, is no other than the Provi- 
 " dence of God, which permits thofe Dif- 
 ft orders, for Reafons which we are not able 
 * c to Comprehend. " 
 
 As thefe admirable Sentiments, jujtly 
 point out with what Referve Young People 
 Jhould enjoy the Pleafures of the Theatre ; 
 fo on the other hand, they are admoni/hed to 
 chufe fuch a Sphere of AUion here, as, in 
 every Degree, both becomes amd fits them ; 
 and to have a fironger Reliance on Provi- 
 dence than what is commonly afcribed to 
 Fortune. 
 
 The Perlbn, whom thefe Papers com- 
 memorate, had moft undoubtedly a plentiful 
 Share of the Goods of Fortune 5 but I 
 am aware that fome Pretenders to Sanct- 
 ity, among my Female Readers, will not by 
 any means allow Mrs. OldfieldV Pros- 
 perity to be the Determination of Providence; 
 thd they would All of them he glad of the like 
 Succefs from whatfoever Corner of the 
 Compafs it (hould be Blown. 
 
 Her 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 Her Laft Will and Teftament is a Con* 
 frmation of all that is faid relating to her 
 Private Life \ and being fully fatisfied that 
 in the ConduB of thefe Memoirs, I have 
 acted 'with the Jtri&eft Juflice and Veracity 
 in relation to Mrs. Oldfield'.* Public Cha- 
 racter, in every refpeff, I (hall equally defpife 
 both Cenfures and Threats from what 
 Quarter foever they may proceed. 
 
 I hereby return Thanks in General for the 
 federal Notices 'which have been communi- 
 cated to me$ and in particular to Mrs. 
 Saunders for her obliging Letter concern- 
 ing Mrs. Oldfield'j Deportment in her 
 Sicknefs, and feme other Alls of Juflice 
 done to Mrs. OldfieldV Cbara&er. 
 
 The Two Greek Fragments 3 viz. r . 
 The Lover's Day. z. The Hymn to 
 Sleep, are the Performances of a very 
 tminent Hand vuhom I have not the Liberty to 
 Name} but hope thofe, as voell as fever al 
 more Pieces interfperfed throughout this 
 Work, voill prove acceptable to all my 
 Readers. 
 
 Vale & fruere. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction^ containing fome Oh* 
 fervations on the Ufe and Abufe of the 
 Stage, p. ii. Mr. Cibber j* Character of 
 Mrs. Oldfield as an AUrefs, p. viii. Some 
 Account of her Family, Birth, and coming 
 on the Stage, p. i and 2. Mifs Crofs V Ex- 
 curfion into France, Ibid* Mifs Campion 
 captivates the Duke of D — re, p. 3. Mr* 
 MaynwaringV Amour with Mrs. Oldfield^ 
 p. 4. She [peaks an Epilogue written by 
 Him, p. 5. He alfo writes a Prologue to 
 Camilla, p. 8* Mrs. Oldfield V firfi Repu- 
 tation, acquired by flaying in the Carelefs 
 Husband, p. 9. Her CharaUer as drawn in 
 that Tlay, p. 1 2. She is brought to 'Bed 
 of a Son by Mr. Mayn waring, p. 23. An 
 Arch Jeft of Jo. HainesV on Mifs CrofsV 
 A Abfence^ 
 
ii The. contents: 
 
 Abfence, p. 24. A Char after of Mr. Smith V 
 fine Tragedy of Phaedra and Hyppolitus, 
 p. 25. The Prologue to it written by Mr. 
 Addifon, p. 26. Two fine Speeches of Mrs. 
 Oldfield, who Played Ifmena, p. -27. She 
 [peaks the Epilogue written by Mr. Prior, 
 p. 29. Upon fome Difference's between Mr. 
 Rich, and his Company ; Mrs. Oldfield 
 joins the Haymarket Comedians, p. 31. 
 Matters being adjufled they return again to 
 Drury-Lane, where Mrs. Oldfield is juftly 
 preferred to Mrs. Rogers, in being ajjigned 
 the Tart of Andromache in the Diftreft 
 Mother, p. 3 2. Some Account of that Tra- 
 gedy, Ibid. Prologue to it written by Sir 
 Richard Steele, p. 33. The Epilogue by 
 Mr. Budgell, fpoken by Mrs Oldfield, p. 3 y; 
 Mr. MaynwaringV Sichiefs, p. 37. The late 
 Earl of OxfordV Charge to T)r. Radclifie 
 concerning him, p. 38. His Death, p. 39. 
 He is opened by Mrs. Oldneld'j DireUion, 
 Ibid. A CharaUer of Mr. Maynwaring, 
 p. 41. A Defenfe of his Memory, againfi 
 the vile Calumnies of the Writers of the Ex- 
 aminer, by Mr. Walpole, p. 42. Mr. Mayn- 
 waring'j 1 Funeral, p. 48. A Jhort, but ex- 
 cellent, Effay of that Gentlemanj upon Mo- 
 defty and Juftice, p. 50. Deaths of Mrs. 
 Barrey and Mr. Betterton Epitaph for the 
 latter by Mr. Pope, p. 51. Mrs. Oldfield 
 -Plays Queen Margaret in Humfrey Duke of 
 Gloucefter, and [peaks the Epilogue, p. 52. 
 
The CONTENTS, iii 
 
 ABs Marcia in Cato, p. $6. Verfes written 
 by Mrs. Centlivre in the blank Leaf of Fon- 
 tenelleV Plurality of Worlds lent her to read 
 by Mrs. Oldfield, p. jp. CharaBer of Mrs. 
 Oldfield by Sir Richard Steele, p. 60. She 
 [peaks the Epilogue to the Heroic Daughter, 
 Ibid. Prologue to the Non-Juror, 'By 
 Mr. Rowe, with Mr. Cibber'j- Addr e [s of 
 that Play to his late Mapfiy, p- 62, 63. 
 Mrs. Oldfield AUs Maria in that Comedy 
 and [peaks the Epilogue, p. 6$. The Con- 
 fcious Lovers, by Sir Richard Steele $ the 
 Defign of it, p. 66. Mrs. Oldfield Plays 
 Indiana, p. 67. A genteel Repartee of 
 Mr. Wilks, Ibid. A Song intended for the 
 'Entertainment of Indiana •> and a humo- 
 rous De[cription of Poetry by Mr. Farquhar, 
 p. 6%. Mrs. Percival, alias Mountfort, 
 alias Verbruggen, that Gentlewoman's de- 
 plorable Cafe reprefented, p. 69. She died 
 in Childbed p. 2. 'three Inftances of the 
 Fatality of Duellifts, p. 70, 71. Mrs. 
 Oldfield Plays Jane Shore, Mr. Wilks [peaks 
 the Prologue, 7 2, and She the Epilogue p. 74. 
 A Letter concerning Mrs. Oldfield, and of 
 her being taken Notice of by the late Duke 
 of Bedford, p. 76, 77. 'The Hifiory of the 
 Stage, in Six Letters to Mrs. Oldfield, from 
 p. 78 to 1 12. Mifs CampionV Death and 
 "Burial, with the In[cription on the Monu- 
 ment ereUed to her Memory by the Duke of 
 D — — re 3 p. 113, Bijljop Rennet [everely 
 A 2 Centred 
 
iv The CONTENT S. 
 
 Cenf tired for T re aching his Graces Funeral 
 Sermon, and fufpeUed of writing the In- 
 fcription for Mifs Campion - } this Cafejuftly 
 reprefented, from p. 1 1 6 to 1 20. An Amour 
 between the Dutchefs of Cleveland and 
 Mr. Goodman the Tlayer, Ibid. Mrs, 
 OldfieldV Admirers, in her 'Profejfwn, in- 
 numerable, Ibid. Her regard for "Briga- 
 dier Churchiilj p. 121. Some curious Me- 
 moirs relating to Mr. Wycherley *s Marri- 
 age, his Death, and Laji Will, from 
 p. 121 to 140. Mr. Thomfon\r Character 
 of Mr. Wilks and Mrs. Oldfield, as to their 
 ^Performances in his Sophonisba, p. 141. 
 The laji Time of Her ^laying, Ibid. Her 
 Sichiefs, and decent Deportment to the Time 
 of her Death, p. 1 42, 143. Her Funeral, 
 Lying in State, and Interment in Weft- 
 minfter Abbey > p. 144, 145. A Jocofe Epi- 
 gram and Epitaph on Mrs. Oldfield V being 
 Buried near Secretary Craggs and Mr. Con- 
 greve, p. 146. A faithful Account of her 
 Iffue, &c. p. 147. Soliloquy on her Death} 
 p. 148. Na?nia» Hiftrionicce, A Funeral 
 Oration for Mrs, Oldfield by, a flayer, 
 
 Mr. B e, p. 151. Two Greek Frag- 
 
 ments, viz. 1. The Lover'j- Day. 2. A 
 Hymn to Sleep. Both from Menander. Ad- 
 dreffed to Ophelia, from p. 155 to 167. A 
 ColleUion of Sekd Epilogues fpoken by Mrs. 
 Oldfield, viz. To the Victim. Written by 
 Mr. Cibber, p. 168. — To the Cruel Gift. 
 
 By 
 
The CONTENTS, v 
 
 Sy Mr. Rowe, p. 171. — To Bufiris. %y 
 Dr. Young, p. 173. — To the Drummer, 
 p. 175. — To Provok'd Husband, p. 177. 
 — To Double FaUliood, p» 179. — ToTi- 
 moleon, p. 181. The Stage, a 'Poem by 
 Dr. Reynardfon. Infcribed to Mr. Addifon, 
 p. 184. An exaU Regifter of the Parts 
 Acted by Mrs. Oldfield pom the Time of 
 her coming on the Stage to her Death, p. 205. 
 An Inventory of Mrs. Oldfield V Curiofities, 
 as Statues, Pictures, Medals ; Jewels, &c. 
 p. 108. 
 
 An Appendix, containing, I. A true Copy 
 of the Lafi Will and Tejiament of Arthur 
 Maynwaring, Efy; p. 1 to 4. II. A true 
 Copy of Mrs. OldfieldV Lafi Will and Tef- 
 tament, p. 5 to 8. HI. Her Codicil to the 
 fame, p. 9. IV. Mr. SavageV Epiftk to 
 Mrs. Oldfield. Occafioned by her Playing 
 Cleopatra, &c. p. 11. V. Verfes on Mrs. 
 OldfieldV Death, Mr. Booth / Sichiefs, and 
 the Declenfion of the Stage, p. 14. More 
 Verfes, Epitaphs, &c. p. 17 to 21. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 To the L I F E of 
 
 Mrs. OLDFIELD, 
 
 H E Lofs which the polite Part 
 of the Town has fuftained, in 
 the Death of Mrs. Oldeield, 
 muft be allowed to be irrepar- 
 able j becaufe, in Comedy, as 
 fhe never had, fo fhe has not left her EquaL 
 
 The Stage-Entertainment has lately met 
 with a Brace of rooft violent Ecclefiaftical 
 Antagonifts, * (as violent to the full, as 
 their red - hot- Pr ed ecejflfor, Jeremy Collier, 
 M. A. ) Therefore I think it abfolutely 
 neceflfary, before I enter into any Particu- 
 lars of Mrs. Oldfield's Life, to lay down 
 the Sentiments of fome of the beft Writers 
 relating to the Excellency and Ufe cf Tlra- 
 matical Reprefentations. 
 
 * Mefiieurs Bedford and Law. 
 
 I CANNOT 5 
 
ii Introduction. 
 
 cc I cannot, fays a Writer of eftablijhed 
 cc Merits be of the fame Opinion with my 
 cc Friends and Fellow- Labourers, the Re-r 
 cc formers of Manners, in their Severity to- 
 cc wards Plays, but niuft allow, that a good 
 <c Play, a&ed before a well-bred Audience, 
 cc muft raife very proper Incitements to good 
 cc Behaviour, and be the moft quick and 
 <c moft prevailing Method of giving young 
 cc People a Turn of Senfe and Breeding/' * 
 
 A s to the Players, they indeed are to be 
 pitied, as being obliged to repeat and affume 
 proper Geftures for reprefenting Things, of 
 which their Reafon muft be afhamed, and 
 which they muft difdain their Audience for 
 approving. The Amendment of thefe low 
 Gratifications is only to be made by People 
 of Condition, by encouraging the Repre- 
 fentation of the noble Characters drawn by 
 Shakefpeare and others, from whence it is 
 impoflible to return without ftrong Impref- 
 lions of Honour and Humanity. On thefe 
 Occafions, Diftrefs is laid before us with all 
 its Caufes and Confequences, and our Re- 
 fen tments placed according to the Merit of 
 the Perfons affli&ed : Were Dramas of this 
 Nature more acceptable to the Tafte of the 
 Town, Men who have Genius would bend 
 their Studies to excel in them. How forcible 
 
 * Tatler, N°- 3. Vol. I, 
 
 an 
 
Introduction. ill 
 
 an Effeft this would have on our Minds one 
 needs no more than to obferve how ftrongly 
 we are touched by meer Pi&ures, Who can 
 fee le Srans Pi&ure of the Battle of Poms, 
 without entering into the Chara&er of that 
 fierce gallant Man, and being accordingly 
 fpurred to an Emulation of his Conftancy 
 and Courage ? When he is falling with his 
 Wounds the Features are at the fame time 
 very terrible and languifhing; and there is 
 fnch a ftern Faintnefs diffufed through all 
 his Look, as is apt to move a kind of Hor- 
 ror as well as Pity in the Beholder. This, 
 I fay, is an Effect wrought by meer Lights 
 and Shades ; confider alfo a Reprefentation 
 made by Words only, as in an Account gi- 
 ven by a good Writer : Cat aline in Salluft 
 makes juft fuch a Figure as Torus in le %run. 
 It is faid of him, Catalina vero huge a fuis 
 inter hoftium cadaver a repertus eft ; pau- 
 lulum etiam fpirans^ ferocitatemque animi 
 qttam vims hdbuerat in vultu retinens. 
 <c Cat aline was found killed far from his 
 cc own Men, among the dead Bodies of the 
 cc Enemy : He feemed ftill to breathe, and 
 cc ftill retained in his Face the fame Fierce- 
 cc nefs he had when he was living. — What 
 I would infinuate from all this, is, That if 
 the Painter and the Hiftorian can do thus 
 much in Colours and Language, what may 
 not be performed by an excellent Poet, when 
 the Characters he draws is represented by 
 
 B z the 
 
iv Introductio n. 
 
 the Perfon, the Manner, the Look, and the 
 Motion of an accomplished Player? If a 
 thing painted or related can irrefiftably enter 
 our Hearts, what may not be brought to 
 pafs by feeing generous Things performed 
 before our Eyes ? * 
 
 I am fully convinced that the Impulfes 
 I have received from Theatrical Reprefcn- 
 tations, have a greater Effect, than other- 
 wife would have been wrought in me by the 
 little Occurrences of my private Life. — 
 It is not the Bufinefs of a good Play to make 
 every Man an Heroe ; but it certainly gives 
 Jiim a livelier Senfe of Virtue and Merit than 
 he had when he entered the Theatre, f 
 
 . Monsieur Rapin obferves. That the En- 
 glifh Theatre very much delights in Blood- 
 ilied, which he likewife reprefents as an In- 
 dication of our Tempers. I muft own there 
 is fomething very horrid in the public Ex- 
 ecutions of an Englijh Tragedy, Stabbing 
 and Poifoning, which are performed behind 
 the Scenes in other Nations, muft be done 
 openly among us, to gratify the Audience. 
 I have feen a Player groaning upon a Wheel, 
 fluck with Daggers, impaled alive, calling 
 his Executioners, with a dying Voice, cruel 
 Pogs and Villains ! And all this to pleafe 
 
 * Taller, N°' 8. Vol. I. f TatleR N<>' 99. VoJJI. 
 
 his 
 
Introduction. v 
 
 his judicious Spe&ators, who were won- 
 derfully delighted with feeing a Man in Tor- 
 ment fo well a&ed. The Truth of it is, 
 the Politenefs of our ILngliJh Stage, in re- 
 gard to Decorum, is very extraordinary. We 
 a& Murders to lhew our Intrepidity, and 
 Adulteries to lhew our Gallantry. Both of 
 them are frequent in our moft taking Plays, 
 with this Difference only, That the firft are 
 done in the Sight of the Audience, and the 
 other wrought up to fuch an height upon the 
 Stage 3 that they are almoft put in Execu- 
 tion before the A&ors can get behind the 
 Scenes. I would not have it thought that 
 there is juft Grounds for thofe Confequences 
 which our Enemies draw againft us from 
 thefe Practices ; but methinks one would be 
 forry for any manner of Occafion for fuch 
 Mifreprefentations of us. The Virtues of 
 Tendernefs, Compaflion and Humanity, are 
 thofe by which Men are diftinguilhed from 
 Brutes, as much as by Reafon itfelf ; and it 
 would be the greateft Reproach to a Nation 
 to diftinguifli itfelf from all others by any 
 Defeat in thefe particular Virtues. * 
 
 At Theatrical Reprefentations, every one 
 ihould fhew his Attention, Underftanding, 
 and Virtue. I would undertake to find 
 out all the Perfons of Senfe and Breeding 
 
 * Tatler, N°; Vol. III. 
 
 by 
 
vl Introduction. 
 
 by the Effed of a fingle Sentence, and to 
 diftinguifh a Gentleman as much by his Laugh, 
 as his Bow. When we fee the Footman 
 and his Lord diverted by the fame Jeft, it 
 very much turns to the Diminution of the 
 one, or the Honour of the other. But tho' 
 a Man s Quality may appear in his Under- 
 ftanding and Tafte, the Regard to Virtue 
 ought to be the fame in all Ranks and Con- 
 ditions of Men, however they make a Pro- 
 feffion of it under the Name of Honour, Re- 
 ligion, or Morality. When therefore we 
 fee any thing divert an Audience, either in 
 Tragedy or Comedy, that ftrikes at the Du- 
 ties of civil Life, or expofes what the beft 
 Men in all Ages have looked upon as facred 
 and inviolable, it is the certain Sign of a 
 profligate Race of Men, who have fallen 
 from the Virtue of their Forefathers, and 
 will be contemptible in the Eyes of Pofte- 
 rity. — This brings to my Mind a Paffage in 
 Cicero ^ which I could never read without be- 
 ing in Love with the Virtue of a Roman 
 Audience. He there defcribes the Shouts 
 and Applaufes, which the People gave to the 
 Perfons who a&ed the Parts of 'Pilades and 
 OrefteS) in the nobleft Occafion that a Poet 
 could invent to ftiew Friendfhip in Per- 
 fection. One of them had forfeited his Life 
 by an Action which he had committed $ 
 and as they flood in Judgment before the 
 Tyrant, each of them firove who Ihould be 
 
Introduction. vii 
 
 the Criminal, that he might fave the Life 
 of his Friend* Amidft the Vehemence of 
 each averting himfelf to be the Offender, 
 the 'Roman Audience gave a Thunder of 
 Applaufe, and by that means, as the Author 
 hints, approved in others what they would 
 have done themfelves on the like Occafion, 
 Methinks a People of fo much Virtue were 
 defertfedly placed at the Head of Mankind : 
 But, alas ! Pleafures of this Nature are not 
 frequently to be met with on the Englijh 
 Stage. 
 
 The Athenians, at a Time when they 
 were the moft polite, as well as the moft 
 powerful, Government in the World, made 
 the Care of the Stage one of the chief Parts 
 of the Adminiftration : And I muft confefs, 
 I am aftoniftied at the Spirit of Virtue which 
 appeared in that People, upon fome Ex- 
 preflions in a Scene of a famous Tragedy, 
 an Account of which we have in one of 
 Seme as Epiftles. A covetous Perfon is 
 reprefented fpeaking the common Sentiments 
 of all who are polfeffed with that Vice in 
 the following Soliloquy, which I have trans- 
 lated literally. 
 
 Let me he called a bafe Man, fo 1 am 
 called a rich one. If a Man is rich, who 
 ash if he is good? The Queflion is, How 
 much we have, not from whence, or hy what 
 
 Means y 
 
viii Introduction. 
 
 Means, we have it. Every one has fo much 
 Merit as he hath Wealth. Tor my own 
 Part, let me he rich, 0 ye Gods! or let 
 me dye. The Man dies happily, who dies 
 increasing his Treaftire. There is more 
 Tleafure in the *Po][eJJion of Wealth, than 
 in that of 'Parents, Children, Wife or 
 Friends. 
 
 The Audience were very much provoked 
 by the firft Words of this Speech ; but when 
 the A&or came to the Clofe of it, they could 
 bear no longer. In fhort, the whole Aflfem- 
 bly rofe up at once in the greateft Confterna- 
 tion and Abhorrence. 
 
 From thefe few Obfervations may be feen 
 both the Ufe and Abufe of the Stage. In 
 the Clofe of thefe Memoirs, I lhall confider 
 moft of the Obje&ions which have been 
 brought againft the Englifh Dramatical Per- 
 formances of late Years. 
 
 As to Mrs. Oldfield's Qualifications, as a 
 Player, I lhall give them in the Words of 
 one who muft be allowed to be an excellent 
 Judge of them, viz. 
 
 cc There is no doing Right to Mrs. Old- 
 cc field, fays Mr. Gibber, * without put- 
 
 * In hit Preface to the Provok'd Husband. 
 
 * ting 
 
Introduction. m 
 
 cc ting People in mind of what others, of 
 Cf great Merit, have wanted to come near 
 cc her. It is not enough to fay fhe Here, 
 cc outdid her ufaal Excellence, $ I might 
 cc therefore juftly leave her to the conftant 
 cc Admiration of thofe Spectators^ who have 
 <c the Pleafure of living while fhe is an Ac- 
 cc trefs. But as this is not the only time 
 " fhe has been the Life of what I have 
 cc given the Public, fo perhaps my faying a 
 <c little more of fo memorable an A&refs, may 
 cc give this Play a Chance to be read, when 
 cc the People of this Age ftiall be Anceftors. 
 cc May it therefore give Emulation to our 
 cc SuccefTors of the Stage, to know, that to 
 cc the Ending of the Year 1727, a Co- 
 cc temporary Comedian relates, that Mrs: 
 cc Oldfield was, then, in her higheft Ex- 
 cc cellence of A&ion, happy in all the rarely- 
 cc found Requifites, that meet in one Perfon 
 cc to compleat them for the Stage. She 
 cc was in Stature juft rifing to that Height, 
 <c where the Graceful can only begin to fhew 
 cc itfelf j of a lively Afped:, and a Com- 
 <c mand in her Mien, that like the principal 
 <c Figure in the fineft Paintings firft feizes, 
 c and longeft delights the Eye of the Spec- 
 c tator. Her Voice was Sweet, Strong, 
 c Piercing and Melodious ; her Pronuncia- 
 cc tion Voluble, Diftin£t and Mufical j and 
 
 § In the Char acler of Lady Townly. 
 
 c 
 
 fe her 
 
X 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 cc her Emphafis always placed where the 
 <c Spirit of the Senfe, in her Periods, only 
 cc demanded it. If (he delighted more in the 
 <c higher Comic, than the Tragic Strain, it 
 cc was becaufe the lafl: is too often written in 
 cc a lofty Difregard of Nature. But in Cha- 
 cc ra&ers of modern pra&ifed Life, fhe found 
 cc Occafions to add the particular Air and 
 cc Manner which diftinguifhed the different 
 <c Humours fhe prefented. Whereas in Tra- 
 CC g ec ty 5 ^ e Manner of fpeaking varies, as 
 cc little as the Blank Verfe it is written in. 
 cc She had one peculiar Happinefs from Na- 
 <c ture^ fhe looked and maintained the Agree- 
 cc able at a Time, when other fine Women 
 <c only raife Admirers by their Under (landing, 
 cc The Spectator was always as much inform- 
 cc ed by her Eyes, as by her Elocution; for 
 cc the Look is the only Proof that an A&or 
 cc rightly conceives what he utters, there be- 
 cc ing fcarce an Inftance where the Eyes do 
 cc their Part, that the Elocution is known to 
 cc be faulty. The Qualities fne had acquired^ 
 cc were the Genteel and the Elegant. The 
 <c one in her Jir> and the other in her 
 cc Drefs, never had her Equal on the 
 €C Stage i and the Ornaments fhe herfelf pro- 
 cc vided, (particularly in this Play) feemed 
 cc the Paraphernalia of a Woman of Qua- 
 cc lity. And of that Sort were the Cha- 
 cc ra&ers fhe chiefly excelled in ; but her 
 cc natural good Senfe, and lively Turn of 
 
 cc Conver- 
 
Introduction, xi 
 
 a Converfation made her Way fo eafy to 
 cc Ladies of the higheft Rank, that it is a 
 <c Wonder, if, on the Stage, ftie fometimes 
 cc was, what might have become the fineft 
 <c Woman in real Life to have fupported. 
 
 C. ClBBER. 
 
 Theatre Royal, 
 Jan, 17. 1727-8. 
 
 Mr. Cibber might, with the ftrideft Jus- 
 tice, have purfued the latter Part of Mrs. 
 Oldfield's Charader much farther • which 
 I fliall here conclude in the Words of Mr. 
 Fenton upon a fimilar Occafion. cc f She 
 cc was a Peffbn whom Nature feemed to 
 cc have follicitoufly intended for a Court , and 
 cc Fortune was equally induftrious to accom- 
 cc plifti her Intentions. 
 
 f See His Obfervations on Waller'* Poems, in the CkaraBer of 
 Geo. Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 Of the LIFE of 
 
 Mrs. Anne Oldfield. 
 
 RS. Anne Oldfield was Born in 
 Tall-Mall^ in the Year, 1683. 
 Her Grandfather was a Vintner, 
 but on her Mothers Side She 
 was well Defcehded. Her Fa- 
 
 ther rode in the Guards, and I have heard 
 had a Commiflion under King James before 
 he died. By the free way of his Living, he 
 not only run out his Income, but likewife 
 fpent a very pretty Paternal Eftate. His 
 Daughter was put out to Mrs. Wotton 
 a Sempftrefs in King-ftxzzt Weftminfter, but 
 her Genius for the Stage was predominant, 
 as appeared by her continual reading and re- 
 peating Parts of Plays. Mrs. Oldfield 
 being left in ftrait Circumftances She, and 
 her Daughter, lived for fome time with her 
 
 ; Sifter 
 
z MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Sifter Mrs. Voss, who kept the Mitre Ta- 
 vern in St. James's Market. She Married a 
 Second Husband, one Wood. Her Daughter 
 Mrs. Anne Oldfield was introduced to Mr. 
 Christopher Rich, by the late Sir John 
 Vanbrugh, in the Year 1 699. About which 
 time Mrs. Crofs having made an Excurfion 
 into France^ with a certain Baronet, Mrs* 
 Oldfiilds Jirji Appearance on the Stage 
 was in a Part of Hers, viz. Candiope, in 
 Secret Love: Or, the Maiden Queen j a 
 Tragi- Comedy, written by Mr. Dryden. 
 
 Her Second Appearance was in a more 
 Capital Part, Alinda, in the Pilgrim of 
 Beaumont and Fletcher, in which Sir 
 John Vanbrugh made fome alterations , 
 and Mr. Dryden wrote a MAsauE, to ren- 
 der the Revival of this' Play more agreeable 
 to the Town > together with a New 'Prologue 
 and Epilogue. The Pilgrim was indeed re- 
 vived for the Benefit of Mr. Dryden, Ann. 
 1700, but he dying on the third Night of its 
 Reprefentation, his Son attended the Run of 
 it, and the Advantages accrued to his Fa- 
 mily. About three Years after, upon the 
 Deceafe of that eminent Adtrefs Mrs. Ver- 
 bruggen, who died in Child-bed, Mrs. Old- 
 held fucceeded her in the Part of Lady 
 Lurewellj in the Constant Couple: Or^ 
 a Trip to the Jubilee^ written by Mr. Far- 
 auHAR, which run Fifty two Nights. But 
 
Engraved for the Univerfal Magazine. 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 3 
 
 the Part that rendered Mrs. Oldfield's Ex- 
 cellence chiefly known to the Town, was that 
 of Lady Betty Modijh, in the Careless 
 Husband, a Comedy, written by Mr. Cibber, 
 in the Year 1704. In this Character it was 
 that thofe two Qualities, before obferved by 
 Mr. Cibber, of the Genteel and the Elegant , 
 ftione out in Mrs. Oldfield to their greateft 
 Degree of Perfe&ion ; and the Charadter was 
 fo admirably fuited to the natural and agree- 
 able Manner of Converfation peculiar to 
 Mrs. Oldfield, that almoft every Sen- 
 tence, in the Part, may with Juftice be faid 
 to have been heard from her own Mouth be- 
 fore ftie pronounced it on the Stage. In 
 fliort^ it was not the Part of Lady Betty 
 Modijh, reprefented by Mrs. Oldfield ; but 
 it was the real Mrs. Oldfield, who appeared 
 in the Chara&er of Lady "Betty Modijh. 
 
 The fame Year, the Royal Company of 
 Commedians went down to the Bath^ where, 
 among feveral Plays a&ed by them during the 
 Seafon, Mifs Campion not only by her 
 Action, but her Singing and Dancing, had 
 fo far captivated the mod noble William 
 Duke of Dewnjhire 3 Father of the late 
 Duke, that he took her off the Stage. Of 
 this Amour farther mention will be hereafter 
 made ; becaufe it is intended that thefe Me- 
 moirs lhall not only, with the utmoft Fide- 
 lity, confift of a Recital of the peculiar Ex- 
 cellencies of Mrs. Oldfield, but likewife 
 
 contain 
 
4 
 
 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 contain a fliort digreflionary Hiftory of the 
 Fate and Fortunes of the moft confiderable 
 Adtreffes during the fame Period of Time: 
 an Attempt which I hope will not be lefs 
 ufeful than entertaining to every Reader* 
 
 It is well known that, about this Time, 
 a ftridt Alliance of Friendfhip had com- 
 menced between Arthuk Maynwaring, 
 Efqj and Mrs. Oldfield. Mr. Oldmixon^ 
 who wrote the Life of Mr. Maynwaring^ 
 affures the Public, cc That each of them 
 cc loved with a Paffion, that could hardly 
 cc have been ftronger, had it been both 
 cc Her and His firft Love. m * It was 
 doubtlefs owing, in a great Meafure, to 
 his Inftru&ions, that Mrs. Oldfield be- 
 came fo admirable a Player y for as no bo- 
 dy underftood the AUion of the Stage better 
 than himfelf, fo no body took greater Pleafure 
 than he to fee her excel in it. He wrote fe- 
 veral Prologues and Epilogues for her, and 
 would always hear her rehearfe them in pri- 
 vate, before fhe fpoke them in public • I fhall 
 infert Part of one f to which in the Speaking 
 fhe gave an inimitable Turn of Humour z 
 being an agreeable Difplay of the Manner 
 how the Ladies would Govern under a Fe- 
 minine Monarchy. 
 
 * See Mr. MaynwaringV Life, 8iw, pag. 43, &c. 
 •V The Epilogue to the WifeV Relief:" Or, The Husband'* 
 Cure. A Comedy. Written ly Mr. Charles Johnfon. 
 
 Could 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 5 
 
 Could we a Parliament of Women call, 
 
 Wed vote fuch Statutes as would tame ye all s 
 
 Firfl, we'd refolve, that all thofe Marry M Fellows, 
 
 Should Banifhment endure, who durft be Jealous : 
 
 For tho that curft Difeafe proceeds from Love** foft 
 
 (Paffion, 
 
 Nothing fhould be a Crime, in\Js y but Demonfiraticnl 
 
 Next, that thofe Dull, Uncomfortable-Wights, 
 Who deep all Mornings and who fot a Nights, 
 Should find, when they reel Home with Surfeits cloyd^ 
 'Their tender Wives with better Friends employ d. 
 
 Laflly, the Man that breaks the Marriage-Vow, 
 {If any fuch, in this good Houfe, you know) 
 For the firft Time, fhould fuffer a Divorce 
 
 Adieu thofe tempting Words for Better and for 
 
 ( Worfe, 
 
 The Ladies floould be free again to Wed, 
 And the Falfe Men be naturally dead. 
 
 But hold ! what makes Me impotent ly rant ? 
 The Will we have — ■ but 0 ! the Power we want : 
 And you, vile Husbands when thefe Threats you hear, 
 Will only grow worfe Tyrants than you were. 
 
 Yet have a Care for tho' we cannot make 
 
 Laws for Mankind, we can their Orders break 
 The War, 'tis faid, is drawing to an End ; 
 And not one Woman then can want a Friend. 
 The Brave will All to this dear Town repair, 
 And they were always Guardians of the Fair ; 
 
 D By 
 
6 MEMO IKS of the 
 
 By faithful Service to their Country done, 
 Our Sex'j Favour they have fairly tvon ; 
 And may they JliB have this propitious Doom 
 Conqueft Abroad^ and jufl Returns at Homes 
 
 Thefe are cur TViJhes, — and if any here, 
 "The glorious Character of Soldier bear j 
 I hope their Favour to this Play the/0 flmv 3 
 And pay our Poet what to Us they owe. 
 
 Mr. Ma yn waring s Friends, fome of whom 
 were of the higheft Rank, of both Sexes, 
 often blamed him, nay 5 have had fuch Quar- 
 rels with him concerning this Affair, that 
 even Mrs. Oldfield her felf has frequently 
 reprefented to him, that it was for his Homur 
 and Interefi to break off their Alliance^ which 
 open Franknefs, on her Side, did as he has 
 often confelfed, engage him to her the more 
 firmly 3 and all his Friends at laft, gave over 
 importuning him to leave her. They faw, 
 by her rnoft engaging Manner, that lhe daily, 
 and hourly 3 more and more entangled him in 
 Cupid's Nets, and it muft be allowed that 
 Mr. Ma yn waring is not the only wife 
 Man who has fallen a Victim to Venus. 
 Fie really fuftained a greater W eight of the 
 public Affairs, than fome whofe Pofts more 
 immediately loaded them with the Burthen* 
 His very great Intimacy and Friendship with 
 my Lord Gpdolghin and the Duke of Marl- 
 
 borough* 
 
Life of Mrs. Old field- 7 
 
 horough p who were then at the Head of. the 
 Miniftry, could not but neceffarily involve 
 him in Political Re-fearches, and it was to 
 unbend his Mind that he took Delight to pafs 
 fome Hours with a Woman, whofe Conver- 
 fation was both foft and pleafant, and exa&ly 
 agreeable to his own. It is not to be fup- 
 pofed that two Perfons under fuch an Affec- 
 tionate Alliance could meet without Confum- 
 mation j and all the Quarter that is defired 
 for Mr. Maynwaring's Reputation in this 
 Tranfa&ion of his Life, is, that none but the 
 Innocent would condemn him. For what 
 Mr. Fenton has obferved of the 'Primitive 
 State y may be juftly applied to the Satisfacti- 
 on they enjoyed in each other, 
 
 (Pure from Deceit : , devoid of Fear and Strife, 
 W hile Love was all the penfive Care of Life. 
 
 I t cannot be denied, but this Amour was 
 very expenlive to Mr. Maynwaring, tho* it 
 was not the only erroneous Inftance of his 
 OEconomy. No Man could have a greater 
 Contempt for Money, or abhorred what was 
 mean and fordid more than he did : And it 
 was wholly owing to his Generofity and Neg- 
 ligence of his own Affairs, that after he had 
 fo profit able a Poft, as Auditor of the Impreft, 
 conferred on him, yet he made no Addition 
 to his Fortune. When he fold his Eftate of 
 Jghtfeld in Sbropjhire^ to my Lord Kil- 
 . \ D 2 mptrfa 
 
8 MEMO IKS of the 
 
 marry, there was not, when the Mortgages 
 were paid off, above Four Thoufand Pounds 
 left to be divided between him and his Sifter. 
 The Management of his Domeftic Affairs he 
 gave entirely up tohis Sifter and Servants; and 
 thofe that knew what was the Condu& of his 
 Family at Whitehall, never thought that he 
 would be the richer for his Poft. His Compa- 
 ny was fo much the Delight of the Great, the 
 Fair and the Gay> that he was very little at 
 Home. However, we muft leave him for a 
 while in the Bufinefs of his Poft ; made hap- 
 py, at certain Intervals, by Mrs. Oldfield, in 
 whofe Converfation all his Political Fatigues 
 Were moft agreeably alleviated. 
 
 About this Time, the Englijh Stage met 
 with as much Oppofition as the State. No- 
 thing would go down but Italian Operas, 
 and indeed Mr. Maynwaring, being a Lo- 
 ver of Mufic and a fine Performer himfel£ 
 gave into this Polite Tafte, and wrote the 
 following "Prologue to CAMILLA* 
 
 While Martial Troops, with more than Martial 
 
 (Rage, 
 
 For Auftria thefe, for Bourbon thofe engage; 
 Cover with Blood th 7 unhappy Latian Plains, 
 hifult their Shepherds and opprefs their Swains ; 
 Camilla frighten d from her native Seat, 
 Hither is drivn to beg a fafe Retreat. 
 
 Q may 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 
 
 9 
 
 O may the exifd Nymph a Refuge find ! 
 Such as may eafe the Labours of her Mind ; 
 Hear her, ye Fair, in tuneful Notes complain, 
 Pity her Anguifh, and remove her Pain ; 
 To you her Vindication does belong. 
 To you the Mourner has addrefsd her Song. 
 Let her your Hearts with jufi Compajfim move, 
 By Mufic foftend and endear d by Love; 
 So may your Warriour Lords fuccefsjul Fight, 
 May Honour crown the Day and Love the Night! 
 May Conquefi fiill attend their generous Arms, - 
 Till their Swords grow as fatal as your Charms. 
 
 But let it here be obferved, that tho' 
 Mr. Maykwarings Love of Mufic made 
 him give fome Encouragement to the Italian 
 Operas j yet he was a faft Friend, and vigo- 
 roufly puflied all his Intereft, both for pro- 
 moting and improving the Entertainment of 
 the ILnglifh Theatre, being truly fenfible 
 of this Remark^ 
 
 While Nicolini like a Tyrant Reigns y 
 Nature's* negie&ed, and the Stage in Chains. * 
 
 We muft now return to Mrs. Oldfield, 
 rifing every Seafon in Reputation, from her 
 inimitable Performance, firft acquired under 
 
 ♦^Epilogue to the Carelefi Husband, 
 
 the 
 
io MEMOIRS of the 
 
 the Chara&er of Lady' Hetty Modijh, and in 
 which flie fhined more, than in all the Parts 
 wherein fhe had hitherto appeared* 
 
 The Author of the Careless Husband, 
 thus impartially ftates the Cafe, to his moft 
 Noble Patron the Duke of Argyll, cc The 
 cc beft Gfiticks have long and juftly com- 
 cc plained, that the Coarfenefs of moft Cha- 
 cc racers in our late Comedies have been un- 
 <c fit Entertainments for ^People of Qtiality r , 
 €C efpecially the Ladies : And therefore, fays 
 cc be> I was long in hopes that fome able 
 cc Pen, whofe Expectation did not hang up- 
 cc on the Profits of Succefs, would gene- 
 <c roufly attempt to reform the Town into a 
 cc letter T'afte than the World generally Mr 
 cz lows them : But nothing of that Kind 
 tc having lately appeared, that would give 
 cc me an Opportunity of being wife at ano- 
 cc ther s Expence, I found it impofTible any 
 4& longer to refift the fecret Temptation of 
 cc my Vanity, and fo e en ftruck the firft Blow 
 <c my felf : and the Event has now convinced 
 iC me, that whoever Jlkh clofe to Nature, 
 u cannot eafily write above the Under ft and- 
 CC °f the Galleries, tho at the fame 
 ^ c time hemay pojfibly deferve dpplaafe of 
 \ the Boxes. ■ 
 
 This Tlay^ before its Tryal on the 
 Stage, was examined by -feveral People of 
 
 Quality, 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldpield. h 
 
 Quality, who came into the Duke of Argyll's 
 Opinion of its being a juft, a proper, and di- 
 verting Attempt in Comedy ; but few of them 
 carried the Compliment beyond their private 
 Approbation : <c For, fays Mr. Cibber, when 
 <c I was wifliing for a little farther Hope, 
 cc they ftopt fliort of your Grace s Pene- 
 cc tration, and only wijht me what they 
 cc feemed to fear, and you affured me of, a 
 <c General Succefs. And, if the Dialogue of 
 cc this Comedy > flows with a more eafy Turn 
 <c of Thought and Spirit, than what I have 
 <c ufually produced ; I fhall not yet blame 
 <c fome People for faying it is not my own y 
 <c unlefs they know at the fame Time I owe 
 c moft of it to the many ftollen Obfervations 
 <c I have made from your Grace's manner of 
 <c Converfing. " 
 
 I should not have dwelt fo long on this 
 Play, were it not the Period from whence 
 we may date the Birth of Mrs. Oldfield as 
 an A&refs. And, to demonftrate, how ex- 
 actly the Dramatical- Pencil has delineated 
 her real CharaUer under the imaginary o?ie y 
 of Lady "Betty Modijh^ I fhall, both for the 
 Readers Entertainment and Information, 
 tranfcribe the firft Scene of the fecond Ad of 
 the Play, between Lady Modijh and Lady 
 Eafy i wherein, the Defcriptions given of 
 the Allurements of Drefs, and other capti- 
 vating Charms, of Wit, Raillery, and Con- 
 vention, 
 
iz MEMO IKS of the 
 
 verfation, for which Mrs. Oldfield was fo 
 peculiarly remarkable, make it appear, felf- 
 evident, that none but Jhe could have fat for 
 the Pi&ure. 
 
 I t muft here be noted, that, the Summer 
 before the Appearance of the Careless Hus- 
 band on the Stage, Mr. Maynwaring and 
 Mrs. Oldfield fpent the recefs of a whole 
 long Vacation at Windfor^ the Scene of that 
 Comedy, where they lodged in the Caftle, 
 at the Houfe of Mr. John Sewell Treafurer 
 and Chapter-Clerk to the Dean and College. 
 The Application of this Hint, I fubmit to the 
 Reader s Judgment, and fhall proceed to a 
 Recital of the Interview between the two 
 Ladies abovementioned, mn. 
 
 The Scene LadyB-ETTY Modishs 
 Lodgings at Windfov. 
 
 Enter Lady Betty, and Lady Easy, meeting* 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 O! my Dear I I am overjoy 'd to fee 
 you ! I am flrangely happy to Day ; 
 I have juft received my new Scarf from Lon- 
 don ^ and you moft critically come to give me 
 your Opinion of it. 
 
 Lady 
 
Life of Mrs. OldfielD. 13 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 O! your Servant, Madam 3 I am a very 
 indifferent Judge, you know : What> is it 
 With Sleeves ? 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 O! 'tis impoffible to tell you what it is! — j 
 Tis all Extravagance both in Mode and Fan- 
 cy ; my Dear, I believe there's Six Thou- 
 
 fand Yards of Edging in it Then fuch 
 
 an Enchanting Slope from the Elbow ■» 
 fomething fo New, fo Lively, fo Noble 3 fo 
 
 Coquet and Charming but you lhall 
 
 fee it, my Dear - 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 Indeed I won't, my Dear I am refolv'd 
 to mortifie you for being fo wrongly fond of 
 a Trifle. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 Nay now, my Dear, you are Ill-natur'd. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Why truly, I'm half angry to fee a Wo- 
 man of your Senfe, fo warmly concern 'd in 
 the Care of her Outfide ; for when we have 
 taken our beft Pains about it, 'tis the Beauty 
 of the Mind alone that gives us lafting Value. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 Ah! my Dear, my Dear! you have been 
 a married Woman to a fine purpofe indeed, 
 
 E that 
 
i 4 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 that know fo little of the Tafte of Mankind: 
 Take my Word, a new Fafhion, upon a fine 
 Woman, is often a greater Proof of her Va- 
 lue, than you are aware of. 
 
 Lady Easy* 
 
 That I can't comprehend, for you fee among 
 the Men, nothing's more ridiculous than a 
 new Fafhion, thofe of the firft Senfe are al- 
 ways the laft that come into it. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 That is, becaufe the only Merit of a Man 
 is his Senfe •> but doubtlefs the greateft Value 
 of a Woman is her Beauty ; an homely Wo- 
 man at the Head of a Fafhion, would not be 
 alloyed in it by the Men, and confequently 
 not ifollow'd by the Women : So that to be 
 fuccefsful in one's Fancy, is an evident Sign 
 of one's being admir'd, and I always take Ad- 
 miration for the beft Proof of Beauty, and 
 Beauty certainly is the Source of Power, as 
 Power in all Creatures is the heighth ot 
 Happinefs. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 At this rate you would rather be thought 
 Beautiful than Good, 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 As I had rather Command than Obey: 
 The wifeft homely Woman can't make a Man 
 
 of 
 
Life of Mrs. Ol dpi eld. 15 
 
 of Senfe of a Fool, but the verieft Fool of 
 a Beauty fhall make an Afs of a Statefman 
 fo that, in ihort, I can't fee a Woman of 
 Spirit, has any Bufinefs in this World but to 
 drefs and make the Men like her. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Do you fuppofe this is a Principle the Men 
 of Senfe will admire you for ? 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 I c|o fuppofe, that when I fuffer any Man 
 to like my Perfon, he lhan't dare to find 
 Fault with my Principle. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 But Men of Senfe are not fo eafily humbled. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 The eafieft of any one has Ten thoufand 
 times the Trouble with a Coxcomb. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Nay, that may be ; for I have feen you 
 throw away more good Humour in hopes of 
 z'Jtendrejle from , my Lord Foppington, who 
 loves all Women alike, than wou'd have 
 made my Lord Morelove perfectly happy, 
 who loves only you. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 The Men of Senfe, my Dear, make the 
 beft Fools in the World j their Sincerity and 
 
 E 2 good 
 
ic MEMOIRS of the 
 
 good Breeding throws em fo entirely into 
 one s Power, and gives one fuch an agreeable 
 Thirft of ufing ? em ill 3 to fhew that Power — » 
 'tis impoffible not to quench it. 
 
 Lady Easy, 
 
 But methinks, my Lord Moreloves Man-' 
 ner to you might move any Woman to a 
 kinder Senfe of his Merit. 
 
 Lady Betty 
 
 Ay ! but wou d it not be hard* my Dear 3 
 for a poor weak Woman to have a Man of 
 his Quality and Reputation in her Power, 
 and not let the World fee him there ? Wou ci 
 any Creature fit New drefs'd all Day in her 
 Clofet ? Cou d you bear to have a fweet- 
 fancy 'd Suit, and never fhew it at the Play, 
 qr the Drawing-Room ? 
 
 Lady Easy* 
 
 But one wou'd not ride in ? t, methinks, or 
 harrafs it out, when there's no occafion. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 Pooh ! my Lord Moreloves a meer Indian 
 parnask, one can't wear him out ; 6* my Con- 
 science I muft give him to my Woman at laft, 
 I begin to be known by him : Had not I beft 
 leave him olf, my Dear ? for (poor Soul J I 
 Relieve I have a little fretted him of late. 
 
 Lady 
 
Life of Mrs. Ot dpi eld. if 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Now 'tis to me amazing, how a Man of* 
 his Spirit can bear to he us'd like a Dog for 
 Four or Five Years together — but nothings 
 a Wonder in Love ,- yet pray, when you 
 found you cou'd not like him at firfl^ why did 
 you ever encourage him ? 
 
 Lady Betty* 
 
 Why, what woud you have one do? for 
 my part, I cou'd no more chufe a Man by 
 my Eye, than a Shoe j one muft draw em on 
 a little to fee if they are right to one's Foot. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 But I'd no more fool on, with a Man I 
 coud not like, than Yd wear a Shoe that 
 pifich'd me. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 Ay, but then a poor Wretch tells one, 
 he'll widen em, or do any thing, and is fo 
 civil and filly, that one does not know 
 how to turn fuch a Trifle, as a Pair of Shoes, 
 or an Heart, upon a Fellow s Hands again. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Well ! I confefs you are very happily dif- 
 tinguifli'd among nxoft Women of Fortune, 
 to have a Man of my Lord More/oves Senfe 
 and Quality fo long and honourably in love 
 
 with 
 
i8 MEMOIRS of tfo 
 
 withi yoii: For now-a-days one hardly ever 
 hears of fuch a thing as a Man of Quality, 
 in Love with the Woman he wou'd marry : 
 To be in Love now, is only having a Defigti 
 Upon a Woman, a modifli way of declaring 
 War againft her Virtue, which they generally 
 attack firft, by Toafting up her Vanity. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 Ay, but the World knows that is not the 
 Cafe between my Lord and me. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 Therefore I think you happy. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 Now I don't fee it, I'll fwear I am better 
 pleas'd to know there are a great many foolifli 
 Fellows of Quality that take occafion to toaft 
 me frequently. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 I vow I fliou'd not thank any Gentleman 
 for toafting me, and I have often wonder'd 
 how a Woman of your Spirit cou'd bear 
 a great many other Freedoms I have feen 
 fome Men take with you. 
 
 Lady Betty: 
 
 As how, my Dear? come, pr'ythee be 
 free with me, for you muft know, I love 
 
 dearly 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. i<> 
 
 clearly to hear my Faults — Who is't you 
 have obferv'd to be free with me? 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Why, there's my Lord Foppington ; cou'd 
 any Woman but you, bear to fee him with a 
 refpe&ful Fleer ftare full in her Face, draw 
 
 up his Breath, and cry Gad, you're 
 
 handfome? 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 My Dear, fine Fruit will have Flics about 
 it i but, poor things, they do it no harm: 
 For, if you obferve, People are generally 
 molt apt to chule that, that the Flies have 
 been bufie with, ha ! ha • 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 Thou art a ftrange giddy Creature. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 That may be from fo much Circulation of 
 Thought, my Dear. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 But my Lord Foppingtons married, and 
 one wou'd not fool with him for his Lady's 
 fake j it may make her uneafie, and ■ 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 Poor Creature, her Pride indeed makes her 
 carry it off without taking any Notice of it 
 
 to 
 
zo MEMOIRS of the 
 
 to me y the' I know fhe hates me in lief 
 Heart, and I can't endure malicious People, 
 fo I us 'd to dine there once a Week, purely 
 to give her Dilbrder ; if you had but feen, 
 when my Lord and I fool'd a little* the Crea- 
 ture look'd fo ugly. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 But I fhou d not think my Reputation fafe^ 
 my Lord Foppingtons a Man that talks often 
 of his Amours, but feldom talks of Favours 
 that are refused him. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 Pfhah ! will any thing a Man fays make a 
 Woman lefs agreeable? Will his Talking 
 fpoil one s Complexion, or put one s Hair out 
 of Order ? — — — and for Reputation, look 
 you, my Dear, take it for a Rule, that as a- 
 mongft the lower Rank of People, no Wo- 
 man wants Beauty that has Fortune j fo 
 among People of Fortune, no Woman wants 
 Virtue that has Beauty : But an Eftate and 
 Beauty join'd, is of an unlimited, nay, a 
 Power Pontifical, makes one not only Abfo- 
 lute, but Infallible A fine Woman s ne- 
 ver in the wrong, or if we were, 'tis not the 
 ftrengthof a poor Creature's Reafon that can 
 
 unfetter him — O! how I love to hear a 
 
 Wretch curfe himfelf for loving on, or now 
 and then coming out with a — 
 
 £ Yet 
 
JJfe of Mrs. Oldfield, it 
 
 cc Yet for the Plague of Human Race^ 
 t € This Devil has an Angel's Face* 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 At this rate, I don't fee you allow Repu^ 
 tation to be at all EfTential to a fine Womafy 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 
 Juft as much as Honour to a great Man J 
 Power always is above Scandal : Don't yott 
 hear People fay, theHKing of France owes 
 mod of his Conquefts to breaking his Wor4 ? 
 and wou'd rart the Confederates have a fine 
 time on't, if they Were only to go to War 
 with Reproaches ? Indeed, my Dear, that 
 Jewel Reputation is a very fanciful Bufinefs ; 
 one flhall not fee an homely Creature in Town, 
 but wears it in her Mouth as monftroufly ag 
 the Indians do Bobs at their Lips, and it 
 really becomes em juft alike. 
 
 Lady Easy^ 
 
 Have a Care, my Dear, of trufting too faf to 
 Power alone : For nothing is more ridiculous 
 than the Fall of Pride ; and Woman's Pride 
 at beft may be fufpe&ed to be more a Diftruft 5 
 than a real Contempt of Mankind : For when 
 we have faid all we can, a deferving Husband 
 is certainly our beft Happinefs $ and I don't 
 queftion but my Lord Moreloves Merit, in A 
 little time, will make you think fo too* foi? 
 
 F whatever 
 
iz MEMOIR S of the 
 
 whatever Airs you give your felf to the 
 World, I am fure your Heart don't want 
 good Nature*. 
 
 ZD 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 You are miftaken, I am very ill-natur'd, 
 tho' your good Humour wont let you fee it. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Then to give me a Proof on% let me fee 
 you refufe to go immediately and Dine with 
 me, after I have promis'd Sir Charles to 
 bring you. 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 Pray don't ask me. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 
 Why I 
 
 Lady Betty. 
 Becaufe, to let you fee I hate good Nature^ 
 111 go without asking, that you mayn't have 
 the Malice to fay I did you a Favour. 
 
 Lady Easy. 
 Thou art a mad Creature. , 
 
 [Ex. Arm in Arm* 
 
 I n this CMt-Chat of Lady Betty Modijh^ 
 may be found the fine Raillery of Mrs. Old- 
 field, It was her Wit that made her Com- 
 pany 
 
Life of Mm Oidfield. 23 
 
 pany always acceptable to Perfons of the 
 higheft Rank ; and as to her outward Ap- 
 pearance it w r as comely without Artifice, and 
 her Addrefs engaging without Affe&ation. 
 
 W e muft now return to Mr. Maynwa- 
 ring, who being honoured by Mrs. Old- 
 field with the Birth of a Son ; it was fuch a 
 Rivet to Cupid's Chains, as bound him much 
 fafter to his Venus. However Mr. Mayn- 
 waring m^de .a ferious Application of this 
 natural Incident ; and fet a firm Refolutioa 
 to himfelf of regulating his future Conduft. 
 He reduced all his Expences to ftated Allow- 
 ances, and laid by a considerable Part of the 
 Income of his Auditorfhip, faying, He had 
 heen fuch a Fool as to defpife Money till 
 then, but now he would do as other Men 
 did^ and endeavour to grow Fitch. But this 
 Refolution was formed too late ; for, his Com- 
 pany was fo much the Delight of the Great, 
 the Fair and the Gay 5 that he was very little 
 at Jiome. He drank freely, and as his Wines 
 were generally Champagne and Burgundy r , it 
 was to their corrofive Qualities that he impu- 
 ted the ill State of Health he was fallen in-r 
 to j and has often fpoken with Concern, of 
 the Misfortune it had been to him, that 
 People thought his Converfation fo agree- 
 able, as to expofe him to Intemperance. 
 However, Mrs. Oldfield by her Care, and 
 tender Affection for him, prolonged his Life 
 F 2 fome 
 
1% MEMO IRS o/4 
 
 feme Years ; and her Generofity has beeii 
 fo great, towards his Son, that ihe has, by 
 her Laft Will and Teftament, bequeathed 
 him a Legacy much more than double the 
 Eftate his Father left, befides other Pfovifi- 
 ons made for him. * 
 
 I shall now re fume the Thread of my 
 Dramatical Narrations, viz. 
 
 Upon Mrs, Croft's Excurfion to Taris 3 
 as before mentioned, I remember a jocolfc 
 Diftich in an Epilogtie fpoken by Jo. Haines \> 
 m that OcCafion, viz. 
 
 We're ruin'd quite, tve are not worth one Souffy 
 We've loft the only Touch-Hole of our Uoufe* 
 
 Mrs. Crofs^ laft, belonged to the Theatre in 
 JJncoks- Inn-Fields s and has been dead fome 
 Years* 
 
 Let us next view Mrs. Qldfield in the 
 Tragic-Scene. In Phjedra and Hippolitus, 
 ihe appeared in Company fuitable to her own ? 
 The 'Dramatis Terfon<e, of that excellent 
 Play, confifled but of Four Men and Two 
 Women, viz. Mr. ^Betterton^ Mr. <Booth y 
 Mr. Keeve, Mr, Corey j Mrs. tBarrey and 
 Mrs. Qldfield. 
 
 f See N 0 ' li /to</lL of the Appendix. 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldpield. 25 
 
 Phidra, fays Mr. O/difworth * , is a 
 confummate Tragedy ; and, the Succefs of it 
 was as great, as the moft fanguine Expe&a- 
 tions of the Authors Friends could promife, 
 or forefee. The Number of Nights, and the' 
 common Method of filling the Hoafe^ are not 
 always the fureft Marks of judging what 
 Encouragement a Play meets with : But the , 
 Gencrofity of all the Perfons of a refined 
 Tajfte about Town, was remarkable on this 
 Ocjcafion, And it muft not be forgotten how 
 zealoufly Mr. Addifon efpoufed his Intereft, 
 with all the elegant Judgment and diffufive 
 Good- Nature, for which that accomplifhed 
 Gentleman was fo juftly valued by Mankind. 
 But as to PhjEDRa, ilie has certainly made a 
 finer Figure under Mr. Smith* s Condud, up- 
 on the Englijh Stage, than either at Rome 
 or Athens and if fhe excels the Greek and 
 Latin Phaedra, I need not be put to the 
 trouble of faying (he furpaffes the French one, 
 tho' embellHlied with whatever regular Beau- 
 ties, and moving Softnefs, Racine himfelf 
 could give her. 
 
 The Prologue to this Tragedy was 
 written by Mr. Addifon^ and fpoken by Mr. 
 Wilh. The fine Turn of Raillery it eon- 
 tains againft the Italian Theatre, will I 
 
 * See Hh Charxtierof th? Author ; prsfixeJiQhisWorhs, pag. xiv. 
 
 think 
 
 \ 
 
jgjr M E M O I.RS of the 
 
 think juftify my, tranfcribing it in this Place 
 in Defence of the Englijh one 5 viz. 
 
 hong has a Race of Heroes filVd the Stage, 
 That rant by Note, and thro 1 the Gamut rage • 
 In Songs and Airs exprefs their martial Fire, 
 Combat in Trills, and in a Feuge expire ; 
 While lulTd by Sound, and undijlurVd by Wit, 
 Calm and ferene you indolently Jit ; 
 And from the dull Fatigue of Thinking free. 
 Hear the facetious Fiddles repartee : 
 Our home-fpun Authors mujl forfakethe Field \ 
 And Shakcfpear to the foft Scarlatti yield. 
 
 To your Nezv Tajle the Qoet of this Day 
 Was by a Friend advis'd to form his Flay ; 
 Had Valentini, mujically coy, 
 ShundVh&driLS Arms, andfcom'd the proffer d 
 
 It had not mov'd your Wonder to have feen 
 An Eunuch fly from an enamour' d §h?eev ; 
 How would itpleafe, fhould Jhe in Englifli /peak. 
 And could Hippolitus reply in Greek ? 
 But he, a Stranger to your modijh Way, 
 By your Old Kales mufi fiand or fall to day, 
 And hopes you will your foreign Tajle command, 
 To bear, for once, with what you under fiand. 
 
 I n the Reprefentation of the Play it felf 3 
 who could fit unmoved at a recital of the 
 
 Paflipns, 
 
Life of Mrs. Ol dpi eld. 27 
 
 Paflions of 'Tbefems Queen, or the Princefs 
 Ifmena, for their Hippolttus, when a Barrey 
 and an Oldfield were the Pleaders ? 
 
 And, who was not pierced to the Heart 
 when Ifmena pronounced thefe Lines ? 
 
 Let them be cruel that delight in Mi/chiefs 
 
 Ym of a fofter Mould, poor Phaedra'* Sorrows 
 
 ^Pierce thro* my yielding Heart and wound my 
 
 f Soul. 
 
 For could you think that open gen'rous Youth 
 Could with feign' d Love deceive a jealous Woman ? 
 Could he fo foon grow artful in dijj'embling ? 
 Ah! Without doubt his Thoughts infpird his 
 
 { ( Tongue^ 
 
 And all his Soul rece'mfd a real Love. 
 Perhaps new Graces darted from her Eyes, 
 Perhaps foft Qity charrtfd his yielding Soul y 
 ^Perhaps her Love, perhaps her Kingdom charm d 
 
 f him y 
 
 ^Perhaps—Alas J how many things' might charm 
 
 (him! 
 
 The Care of Ifmena, to preferve Hippo- 
 lit us, and the Refolution Hie forms of Iharing 
 his Fate, is thus inimitably exprelfed, 
 
 0/ hajle away, my Lord, I go y 1 fly 
 Thro' all the Dangers of the hoift'mts Deep. 
 
 When 
 
28 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 When the Wind ' whi/llesthro 9 the crack 9 ling Mafts^ 
 
 When thro 9 the yawning Ship the foaming Sea 
 
 Rolls bubbling in ; then, then Til clafp thee f aft y 
 
 And in if an/porting Love forget my Fear ; 
 
 0 ! I will wander thro 9 the Scythian Gloom, 
 
 0 9 er Ice and Hills of everlajling Snow. 
 
 *there when the horrid Darknep (hall enclofe its 7 
 
 When the bleak Wind pall chill my prSring 
 
 (Limbs, 
 
 Thou ft alt alone f apply the diftant Sun, 
 
 And chear my gazing Eyes, and warm my Heart. 
 
 Alas ! my tender Soul would prink at Death $ 
 
 Shake with its Fmrs, and fink beneath its Qainsy 
 
 In any Catife but this— But now Ym fieeTd, 
 
 And the near Danger lejjens to my Sight. 
 
 l\ow, if I live, 'tis only for Hippolittis, 
 
 And with an equal Joy Yll die to fave him. 
 
 Tes r for his: Sake Yll go a willing Shade, 
 
 'And wait his coming in th 9 Elyfian Fields i 
 
 And there enquire o f each depending Ghoft y 
 
 Of my lov'd Hero's Welfare, Life and Honour, 
 
 That dear Remembrance will improve the Blip 
 
 Add to th 9 Eiylian Joys, and make that Heav'n 
 
 (more happy* 
 
 The Quotations I have here made, are to 
 fhcwthe admirable Di&ion of this Play, and 
 to juftify Mr. Addifoih Cenfure, in the 
 Tatler^ of the want of Tajle in the Ati- 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 19 
 
 Hence, for not encouraging this excellent 
 Tragedy. 
 
 However, Mrs. Oldfield difmiffed 
 them with the following elegant Epilogue 
 written by Mr. Trior. 
 
 Ladies, to-?right your (Pity I implore 
 For one who never troubled you before * 
 An Oxford Man, extremely read in Greek, 
 Whom from Eu*— ripides makes Phaedra /peak } 
 And comes to "Town to let us Moderns know, 
 How Women lov'd two thoufand Tears ago. 
 If that be all, faid T y e'en burn your (Play, 
 I-gad we know all That as well as they : 
 Show us the youthful handfome Charioteer, 
 Firm in his Seat, and running his Carreer ; 
 Our Souls wou y d kindle with as gen'rous Flames, 
 As e'er infpir'd the antient Grecian Dames : 
 Ev'ry Ifmcna wou'd rejign her Breajf, 
 And ev'ry dear Hippolitus be bleji. 
 
 But, as it is, Sis flouncing Flanders Mares 
 Are e'en as good as any Two of theirs , 
 And if Hippolitus can but contrive 
 To buy the gilded Chariot, John can drive* 
 
 Now of the Bujlle you have feen to-day, 
 And fhxdftfs Morals in this Scholars ^lay 5 
 Something, at lajl y in jufiice pond be faid^ 
 But this Hippolitus fo fills one's Head.——* 
 
 G Well! 
 
|o MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Well! Phaedra Uv'd as chajlly as pe cou 9 d f 
 For pe was Father JovcV own Flefb and Bloody 
 Her aukward Love, indeed,, was odly fated y 
 She and her Poly were too near related \ 
 And yet that Scruple had been laid afide, 
 If honefi Thefeus had but fairly dy 9 d : 
 But when he came y what needed he to know, 
 But that all Matters flood in Statu quo : 
 There was no harm, you fee ; or grant there were? 
 She might want Conduct, but he wanted Care. 
 'Twas tn a Husband little lefs than rude, 
 Upon his Wife's Retirement to intrude : 
 Ha pou'd have fent a Night or two before, 
 That he wou'dcome exa$ -at fuch an Hour • 
 The// he had turn' d all Tragedy to "Jejl, 
 Found ev'ry thing contribute to his Rejl ; 
 * The (Picquet Friend difmifs'd, the Coajl all clear r 
 And Spoufe alone, impatient for her Dear. 
 
 But if theft gay Reflections come too late 
 To keep the guilty Phsedra from her Fate, 
 If your more ferious Judgment mujl condemn 
 The dire Effeffs of her unhappy Flame : 
 Tet, ye chafic Matrons, and ye tender Fair f 
 Let Love and Innocence engage your Care \ 
 My fpotlcfs Flames to your Prvtetfion take y 
 And fpare poor Phaedra for Jfmena j fake* 
 
 Mrs. Oldfield gained an univerfal Ap- 
 plaufe by playing, Ifmena y in this Tragedy* 
 
 Ilippolitus 
 
Life of Mrs, Oldpield. 31 
 
 The Chara&er ftiowed her in a Light of 
 Perfection hardly to be expreffedj and in- 
 deed every Part Hie a&ed was a Demon- 
 ftration of her daily Improvement. 
 
 Some Differences arifing between Mr* 
 Rich and his Company, they joined in, with 
 the Company at the Hay-market, Acfting un- 
 der the Licence of Vanbrugb and Congreve^ 
 where Mrs. Carrey and Mrs. ¥>racegirdle> 
 both famous in their Way, had been for fome 
 time 3 - But Mrs. Oldfield's Voice, Figure 
 and Manner of Playing foon made her fhine 
 out, even here, the brightefi Star. Upon 
 the Preference being given to her in the Ee- 
 vefit-tplays, and other Difputes fomented 
 among the Managers, Mrs. *Barrey and Mrs. 
 "Bracegirdle entirely quitted the Bufinefs 
 and left Mrs. Oldfield fole Bmprefs of the 
 Stage. 
 
 The Seafon following, the T^ewlters re- 
 turning to 'Dntry-Lane, made up one com- 
 pleat Company and in the Spring came on 
 Mr. 'Phillips's Tragedy, The Distrest Mo- 
 ther. Mrs. Rogers, an A&refs, who in 
 her Turn, had made a confiderable Figure 
 on the Stage ; was defigned the Part of {An- 
 dromache ^ Hectors Widow, &c. i. e. ) the 
 ^Diftreji Mother. But the Author, as well 
 as his Friends, were foon convinced that 
 Mrs. Oldfield was infinitely the more ac- 
 G 2 compliflned 
 
\% MEMO I R S of the 
 
 compliflied Perfon for fo Capital a Part. Up- 
 on its being given to Her, Mrs. Rogers raifed 
 a Poflfe of Profligates, fond of Tumult and 
 Riot, who made fuch a Commotion in the 
 Houfe, that the Court hearing of it fent four 
 of the Royal Meffengers, and a ftrong Guard, 
 to fupprefs all Diforders. This being effect- 
 ed, the Play was brought upon the Stage 
 and crowned with deferved Succefs. 
 
 As Mr. Smith had introduced a Greek 
 Tragedy upon our Theatre, Mr. Philips was 
 willing to try what Reception would be gi- 
 ven to a French one. Thadra and Hippo- 
 lit as^ is by much the fuperiour Performance, 
 but the T)iftreft Mother by Dramatical 
 Management, to which Mr. Smith was an 
 utter Stranger, greatly exceeded it in the 
 Run, and, to do the Englijh Author Juftice, 
 it is a good modern Play. I fliall here let 
 him fpeak for himfelf^ viz^ 
 
 cc ^ This Tragedy is formed upon an 
 cc Original, which palies for the moft finifli- 
 cc ed Piece in this hind of Writing, that has 
 *• ever been produced in the French Lan- 
 * g ua g e - t It is written in a Stile very dif- 
 u rcrent from what has been ufually pra&ifed 
 f* among us in Poems of this Nature. ■ 
 
 f See his Dedication to tbeDMchefs of MoNTACU. 
 | See his Preface. 
 
 if 
 
Robert wilks Efq^ 
 
 iiiiii 
 
3 2- MEMOIRS of the 
 
 complied Perfon forfo Capital a Part. Up- 
 on its being given to Her, Mrs. Rogers railed 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldpield. 33 
 
 cc If I have been able to keep up to the 
 cc Beauties of Monfieur Racine in my At- 
 cc tempt, and to do him no Prejudice in the 
 cc Liberties I have taken frequently to vary 
 cc from fo great a Poet, I fliall have no Rea- 
 cc fon to be diflfatisfied with the Labour it has 
 " coft me to bring the compleateft of his 
 cc Works upon the Evglijh Stage. 
 
 However, I cannot think it improper, 
 in this Place, to remark, that as full as 
 Mr. 'Philips is of his Elogiums on Monfieur 
 Racine, yet at the fame time Euripides is 
 acknowledged to be the Original Author. 
 So that the Diftreft Mother has two Paflports 
 for her fafe Arrival in Great "Britain. 
 
 The Prologue to this Play was written by 
 Sir 'Richard Steele^ and fpoken by Mr. Wilks. 
 
 Since Fancy of it felf is loofe and vain, 
 <fhe Wife by Rules that airy Power reftrain : 
 *fhey think thofe Writers mad y who at their Eafe 
 Convey this Houfe and Audience where they pleafe ; 
 Who Nature s ftated Diftances confound^ 
 And make this Spot all Soils the Sun goes round : 
 9 7ts nothing) when a fancy d Scene s in view, 
 *Io skip from Co vent-Garden to Peru. 
 
 But Shakefpear^ felf tranfgrefsd ; and fliall each 
 
 (Elf, 
 
 fuach-Pigmy Genius, quote great ShakefpearV 
 
 What 
 
34 MEMOIRS the 
 
 What Critick dares prefcribe what's jufi and fit, 
 Or mark out Limits for fuch boundlefs Wit I 
 Shakefpear could travel thro 3 Earth, Sea and Air, 
 And faint out all the Powers and Wonders there. 
 In barren Defarts He makes Nature fmile, 
 And gives us Feafls in his Enchanted Ifle. 
 
 Our Author does his feeble Force confefs, 
 Nor dares pretend fuch Merit to tranfgrefs ; 
 Does not fuch fhining Gifts of Genius /bare, 
 And therefore makes Propriety his Care. 
 Not only Rules of 'lime and Place preferves, 
 Tour Treat with fiudy d Decency he ferves ; 
 But firives to keep his CharaElers intire, 
 With French Correchefs and with Britifti Fire. 
 
 *fhis Piece prefented in a Foreign Tongue, 
 When France was Glorious, and her Monarch young, 
 A hundred times a crowded Audience drew ; 
 A hundred times repeated, fiiU 'twas new, 
 
 Pyrrhus provok'd, to no wild Rants betray'd, y 
 Refents his generous Ijove fo ill repaid ; ;> 
 Does like a Man refent, a Prince upbraid. * 
 His Sentiments difclofe a Royal Mind, 
 Nor is he known a King from Guards behind. 
 
 Injur d Hermione demands Relief ; 
 But not from heavy Narratives of Grief: 
 Jn confcious Majefly her Pride is jhown ; 
 Born to avenge h$r Wrongs, but not bemoan. 
 
 Andromache 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 35 
 
 Andromache — // in our Author s Lines, 
 As in the great Original {he {bines, 
 Nothing but from Barbarity {he fears. 
 Attend with Silence you 11 applaud with Tears. 
 
 Having before obferved, that, Th&dra 
 and Andromache arc, Both, the Children of 
 Utiripides \ I fhall here obferve, that the 
 kind Entertainment they met with on the 
 EngUJh Stage, was chiefly owing to Mrs. 
 Barrey, and Mrs. Oldfield ; whofe man- 
 ner of fpeaking the very humourous Epi- 
 logue written by Mr. "Bitdgell greatly con- 
 tributed to the Run of the laft Play$ and 
 which whenever revived* the Audience al- 
 ways have infifted on. 
 
 / hope you B own, that with becoming Art 
 fve played my Game, and topp'd the Widow s Part. 
 My Spoufe, poor Man / could not live out the Play, 
 But dyd commodioufly on Wedding-Day : 
 While I, his ReliB, made at one bold Fling 
 My felf a Princefs t and young Sty a King. 
 
 Tou Ladies, who protraB a Lover s Pain, 
 And hear your Servants figh whole Tears in vain ; 
 Which of you all would not on Marriage venture, 
 Might {he fo Joon upon her Jointure enter ? 
 
 'Twas a ftrange Scape! had Pyrrhus Uvd till 
 
 (now, 
 
 1 had been finely hamper d in my Vow, 
 
16 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 To dye by ones own Hand, and fly the Charms 
 Of Love and Life in a young Monarch's Arms! 
 *Twere an hard Fate— —ere I had undergone it 
 1 might have took one Night to think upon it. 
 
 But why, you 11 fay, was all this Grief exprefi 
 For a firfl Husband, laid long fince at Reft ? 
 Why fo much Coldnefs to my kind ProteBor ? 
 . —Ah Ladies! had you known the good Man 
 
 ( Heaor! 
 
 Homer will tell you (or Vm misinform d ) 
 'That, when enragd the Grecian Camp he flormd, 
 To break the ten-fold Barriers of the Gate 
 He threw a Stone of fuch prodigious Weight, 
 As no two Men could lift, not even of thofe, 
 Who in that Age of thundering Mortals rofe : 
 —It would have fpraind a Dozen modern Beaus. 
 
 At length however 1 laid my Weeds afide, 
 And funk the Widow in the well-drefs'd Bride* 
 In you it ftill remains to grace the Play, 
 And blefs with yoy my Coronation- Day : 
 Take then, ye Circles of the Brave and Fair, 
 The Fatherlefs and Widow to your Care. 
 
 I m u s t now relate the melancholy part- 
 ing of two fincere Friends. . Notwithftand- 
 ing Mrs. Oldfield's great Care and Con- 
 cern for Mr. Ma yn waring s Welfare, his 
 Negligence of himfelf brought upon him a 
 violent Relapfe of his former Indifpofition, 
 
 which 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 37 
 
 which daily increafed, infomuch that his 
 Friends began to defpair of his Recovery. 
 
 Such was the Inveteracy of Party-Malic^ 
 at this Time, that, (becaufe Mr. Maynwa- 
 ring was chiefly concerned ih writing the 
 Medley) the Examiner, in one of his Pa- 
 pers, upbraided him, even with his fickty 
 Conftitiition, which howeyef was not owing 
 to any ['Debaucheries , as he had malicioufl^ 
 reprefented. 
 
 Mr. Maynwaring had Lodgings at 
 Mampftead, and rode out every Day 5 hoping 
 for fome Benefit by that moft healthful Ex- 
 ercife. But, upon paying a Vifit to her 
 Grace the Dutch efs of Marlborough, at hei? 
 Seat near St. Albans, he caught fo violent a 
 Gold by walking too late in the Gardens, 
 £md it increafed upon him fo faft, that it was 
 his own Opinion, it would finifti what his 
 former Illnefs had began. His Phyficians^ 
 Sir Samuel Garth and Sir Richard *Black- 
 more, expreffed very fmall Hopes of his Re- 
 covery, which gave the more Caufe of Ap- 
 prehenfion to his Friends, for both thofd 
 Gentlemen were among the firft of* that 
 Number, and as much concerned in Friend- 
 Ihip as Practice, to fave him if poflible. His 
 Relations would have Dr. Radcliffe con^ 
 fulted, and the late Earl of Oxford happen- 
 ing to fee the Doctor before he had been 
 With Mr. Maynwaring, fpoke thus to him— ■ 
 Tray DoUor take Care oj that Gentleman^ 
 
 H &§ 
 
3 8 MEMOIRS of th 
 
 as one of the mofi valuable Live* in Englancf. 
 Indeed Mr. Maynwaring was at laft fo 
 much obliged by that Minifter's good Offices 
 and Civilities, that he declared, if he fhould 
 recover, he would never more draw his 'Pen 
 againfi him. But- it was out of the Power 
 of Phyfic to help him, his inward Decay was 
 fo great. He was thrown into fuch a lan- 
 guishing Condition, that tho' his Diftemper 
 was not then thought to be a Confumption, 
 yet it had ail the Symptoms and Effects pro- 
 duced by one. He was vifited in this his laft 
 Sicknels, by all the great People of both 
 Sexes, who had the Happinefs of his Ac- 
 quaintance, tho' he was able to fee but few 
 of them. And it is to his Glory, that the 
 Greatefi Lady in England, wept often by 
 his Bed-fide, which Tears he mutually re- 
 turned, being fenjible how much he owed to 
 fuch an Illuftrious Mourner, when he was 
 fenfible of little or nothing elfe. He had not 
 Words to exprefs the Tranfport he felt, 
 when he was almoft even in the Agony, to 
 fee himfelf fo far in the good Graces of a 
 Lady of fuch high Rank and Merit, as that 
 his Danger fliould ftrike her Dumb, and 
 leave it to her Eyes to exprefs the Sorrow 
 of her Heart. It is fnppofed he would fain 
 Jiave endeavoured to have broke thro' the 
 Excefs of his Grief, and formed fome Utter- 
 ance for it, but his Sifter remained in the 
 Room. This Emotion of his was the more 
 
 extraordi- 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 
 
 nary, on account of a flight Mifunderfland- 
 ing at that Time, between him and this 
 Great Lady. He had given her fome Caufe 
 of Difguft, but was not confcious to himfelf 
 in what, and it is thought, that his Perplex- 
 ity about it contributed fomewhat to the In- 
 creafe of his Diftemper. He did all in his 
 Power to exprefs his Concern for the un- 
 known Offence, but he was too near Death, 
 and in a few Hours after fhe had left him, he 
 expired in the Arms of his Servant Mr. ^Tho- 
 mas Wood) now Treafurer of the Theatre in 
 Lincolns-lmi Fields, on the 13 th of Novem- 
 ber , 1712, in the Prime of his Age, being 
 but 44 Years old. 
 
 After his Deceafe, a moft fcandalous and 
 falfe Rumour was fpread, chiefly levelled at 
 Mrs. Oldfield, that he died of a Venereal 
 Malady. But to obviate fo ungenerous a 
 Hefle&ion, his Body, by her Diredion, was 
 opened by two Surgeons — Mr. Huffier e and 
 Mr. "Browne j in the Prefence of two Physi- 
 cians, Dr. Heefton and Dr. Weji ; and of his 
 Apothecary Mr. *Bucfaridge. 
 
 These Gentlemen, all, declared, that there 
 was not the leaft Symptom of any thing Ve~ 
 nereal) but that he died of a Confumption. 
 He had in his Life-time, heard the Whim- 
 perings of malicious Rumour, charging him 
 with fuch an Xndifpofition ; but, he once 
 complained very pathetically to Me that he 
 was not confcious of any fuch Difternper, 
 H i confefling 
 
r 4 6 MEM O I R S of the 
 
 ponfefling; at the fame time, that, in the 
 Reign of King William, he had made aqi 
 unfortunate Sally in an Amour, which gave 
 him a flight Taint at Tarts, 1 698, that he was 
 only patcht up there, but afterwards, per- 
 fectly cured at London, fince which Time 
 he had never had any fuch Misfortune. 
 
 It is the Duty of an Hiftorian to fpeak the 
 Truth, as far as it comes to his Knowledge, 
 and £S great a Veneration as I have for Mr* 
 Maynwaring's Memory, I could not avoid 
 mentioning even this Biemifh of it, in Juftice, 
 and to clear up the unju(t Afperfion caft on 
 Mrs. Oldfield. 
 
 It was not long before his Death, that he 
 jnade his Will, all which he wrote with his 
 own Hand, and to which his Apothecary 
 Mr. jBiichridge and his Servant Mr. Wood, 
 were Witneffes when it was executed at 
 Mrs. Old fields Houfe in Southampton 
 Street Covent-Garden. He charged them not 
 to take any Notice of what they knew, 
 which however was little enough, for he in- 
 truded no body with the Secret of his having 
 made Mrs. Oldfield his Executrix, tho' by 
 her Behaviour to him, he could not in Juftice 
 do otherwife on his Son's Account, nor could 
 any Woman better deferve, all that was in 
 his Power to give, of which Truth a his Son 
 is a living Witnefs. 
 
 Notwithstanding the Clamour his Will 
 $iade, after his Deceafe $ himfelf who beft 
 
 knew 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldpield." 41 
 
 knew what he had to leave her, could not 
 imagine fuch a Stir would have been made 
 about fo fmall an Eftate. He was far from 
 dying Rich, leaving very little more than 
 Three Thoufand Pounds behind him, which 
 he divided equally between his Sifter, his 
 Son s Mother, and the Child, who, in Fea^ 
 ture and Vivacity, was very like his Father, 
 Often have I heard Mr. Maynwaring be- 
 moan the Child, and fay, What will become 
 of the "Boy when I am gone. This Anxiety- 
 proceeded from the Little he pofleffed- It 
 is true he had fuch a noble Contempt of the 
 Goods of Fortune, that he never took Cars 
 to make one, nor ever refolved to grow Rich. 
 
 Had I a Talent for Panegyric, I could be 
 proud of this Opportunity to do Juftice to 
 the Memory of a Gentleman, whofe Name 
 would be Immortal, had not his Modefty 
 been as great as his Merit ; had he not con- 
 tented himfelf with the Pleafure of Wri- 
 ting, and refigned the Glory of it to others. 
 As to the Author of the Medley, the Ex- 
 aminer was obliged to allow that he wrote 
 with a T'olerable Spirit , and in a Majierly 
 Style. A Spirit, indeed, which has not ma- 
 ny Equals, and a Style worthy the Imitation 
 or the greateft Matters. His Learning, was 
 without Pedantry,* His Wit, without Af- 
 fectation 5 * His Judgment, without Malice ; 
 His Friendfhip, without Intereft j His Zeal 5 
 without Violence; in a Word^ he was the 
 
4i MEMOIRS of the 
 
 beft Subje#, the beft Friend, the bed Rela- 
 tion, the beft Mafter, the beft Critic, and 
 the beft Political Writer in Great ^Britain. 
 
 Shortly after his Deceafe, was pub- 
 lifhed, a Defenfe of Mr. May waring, In 
 a Letter to a Friend. It was, Mr. Old-* 
 mixon afferts *, fuppofed to be written by the 
 Right Honourable Robert Walpole^ Efq,- 
 and is not unworthy fo good a Hand for its 
 Generosity, Spirit aud Elegance, viz* 
 
 Sin, 
 
 I write to you upon a Circum-ftance, for 
 which it is the Intereft of all Mankind to be 
 concerned. The Public is under the Adrni r 
 niftration of its refpe&ive Minifters and Offi- 
 cers, who are obliged by their Pofts to con- 
 fult the true Welfare of it. But Incidents 
 which happen alike to all, and from which 
 iio Man can be exempt fall ynder every Man s 
 Care, and are to be confidered and laid home 
 to the Bofom of every Man breathing. It is 
 incumbent upon each individual Perfon, for 
 his own fake to defend the Ahfent ; but 
 much more fo to defend the Dead, who are 
 to be abfent for ever. **% have Reafons for 
 thinking I am called to this Duty upon the 
 accidental Perufal of a virulent Libel, f 
 wherein the Author after much Difcourfe 
 
 * See the Pofthumous Works of Mr. Maynwaring, fublijljed hy 
 him, pag. jri. 
 f See the Examiner, February gtb, i^f|. 
 
 aboul 
 
Life of Mrs. OldpiELd. |f 
 
 about hiwfelfy has (alluding to a Gentleman 
 who lately departed this Life) the following 
 Words, viz. " Suppofe I were alfo to tell 
 cc the World, That the moft a&ive Enemy 
 cc againft this *Pape)\ was one who got to be 
 €c poor in the Jacobite Canfe, and then run 
 <c over into Tow defperate Extreams, and 
 <c was refolved at once to grow Rich and 
 cc Honeft in the Caufe of the Whigs. That 
 cc outlived his Works a little too long ; till 
 c * having parted with Religion and Morality^ 
 cc he threw away his Honour in a carelefs 
 <c manner after it, together with his Huma- 
 cc nity and natural Affection to a kind Sifter 5 
 cc his Eftate, Fortune, and even the Vouch- 
 <c ers belonging to his Office : All which 
 cc were beftowed, as Monumental Legacies of 
 " Whig Honefty> on a celebrated ACTRESS, 
 cc who is too much admired upon the Stage 3 
 cc to have any Enquiry made into her Con- 
 5 C duft behind the Curtain. " 
 
 The Perfon here levelled at, (Mn 
 Maynwaring) was, in his younger Days* 
 tinctured with Jacobitijm; an Error no 
 Man ever renounced more heartily^ and with 
 greater Abhorrence of it than he did. He 
 was a Man of great Modefty, and could not 
 exert himfelf in Public Places, or in mixt 
 Company ; but when, in Procefs of time, 
 his Talents grew confpicuous, in fpite of a 
 bafhful Nature, he was invited and courted 
 
 into 
 
44 MEMO IRS of the 
 
 into a Familiarity with Men in the higheft 
 Power, and of the greateft Abilities in 
 the Kingdom, to whom his Converlation 
 was both a Pleafure and a Service* Then 
 it was that his Words and Adtions firft began 
 to manifeft the Principles in which he lived 
 and died. He had the higheft Obligations to 
 that great Minifter, Sidney, Earl of QodoU 
 phin, Lord High Treafurer, and enjoyed by 
 his Favour, an Office for Life. {Auditor of 
 the Impreft) After the Removal of that no- 
 ble Lord from the Treafury, the Examiner 
 thought fit to difparage his Services, by In- 
 finuations and Reflexions, which the Gentle-*' 
 man of whom we are talking, had too much 
 Gratitude to hear without Indignation. This 
 I take to be the Provocation which moved 
 the Examiner to utter this reproachful 
 Language againft him ; among which he falls 
 into the Error of faying, He outlived his 
 Works ; but Works of his which outlive him^ 
 will let us into the Secret of this cruet jBe- 
 haviour. The Medley was often written 
 by (Mr. Mayn waring) this AUive 'Enemy 
 of the Examiner, in which £b many grots 
 Faljhoods of that Writer, were detected, f 
 that he had recourfe to Detrdclion rather 
 than a juft QDefenfe of himfelf, for which hd 
 had been called upon by Mr. Maynwaring 
 in feveral fubfequent Papers. 
 
 * Medley N°* 41, Relating to the AB of Irideriinit^ Set 
 alfo Medley N°* 443 concerning the State Loans, 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldpield. 4^ 
 
 From hence "it appears, that the Exa^ 
 Miner's Treatment of this Gentleman, i$ as 
 juft as it would be in a Felon, to publifli a 
 Libel againft the late Lord Chief Juftice Holt^ 
 for paflmg Sentence upon him to be burnt in 
 the Cheek. The Examiner has Senfe 
 enough, tho' not Grace enough to know.* 
 that to defervd) not to fujfer Punifhme&tj 
 is truly ftiameful; but none but a Man en- 
 raged, as in the fuppofed Cafe of the Felon^ 
 and incapable of Remorfe and Shame, could 
 forget all Regards to the Advantage his Ad- 
 verfary had in the Difpute, all Tendernefs 
 with Relation to a Man's private Affairs^ 
 fo far as to mention the Particulars of the 
 Gentleman's Sifter^ and his Paflion for an 
 Attrefs. This Account with his Sifter 5 I 
 am very fure the Examiner can be no Judge 
 o£ nor any one but the Gentleman himfelf. 
 The Offence his PafTion (for Mrs. Oldfield) 
 gave, to all who efteemed him 5 is to be la- 
 mented but not to be mentioned, with thefe 
 Aggravations, efpeciaily after his Death, and 
 that when he who fpeaks* profelfes himfelf 
 an Enemy. But the Examiner takes upon 
 him to be a Champion for the Churchy and 
 muft not allow fuch Sins to be Venial^ yet at 
 the fame time he iliould have confidered, 
 that the other Party would recriminate^ and 
 have reflected, that thefe are too many of the 
 Examiner's fide> who do not behave them- 
 felves as if they were under Vows of Ghafiity. 
 
 I 1 know 
 
46 W E M 6 IRS of the 
 
 I A k'nW a Jly g^^^^h^^zV- B$e!hdsi 
 Ihii loves a Wench as well as ever did old 
 ^Cowley. ( King Charles II. ) Befides him y 
 tlierfe is another who finds Leifure from his 
 weighty Afl&irs to ftrole among the Stews., or 
 as fame will have it, negle&s his writing now 
 aWdthen, to Toy with the Bufinefs of a Nati- 
 c$? [ Butthis dullFellow, the Examiner, has 
 fiPHttle Senfe of what the impartial World 
 tRMks of him and his Performances, that he 
 gives himfelf an Air of Talking by way of 
 good Humour, In the beginning of the fame 
 Paper, * the pretty Wanton is in a laughing- 
 Vein, and with a very gay Heart rallies us^ 
 for a Curiofity he fuppofes we have to know 
 the Name, TrofeJJion, "Trade, Qttality, Com- 
 plexion, or fieri of the Author of the Exa- 
 mine r. This Author has indeed been very 
 much talked of; a *• Woman, a 2. Divine, and 
 3- Two or Three Gentlemen, have been 
 fufpe&ed, but no Perfon that had any Pre- 
 tenfions to Modefty, Piety, or Integrity,' has 
 been once named on this Occafion. f The 
 Folly of the Fellow is monftrous, to pretend 
 to fpeak Wenching, conlidering how the 
 World is affronted as to this Vice at prefent. 
 It is certain there never has been lewder 
 
 * Viz. The Examiner, of Feb. gtb, ij~h abovementicneJ. 
 
 f It is now well known, that the Perfons concerned in carrying on 
 the Examiner, were i. Mrs. Manley. 2. Dr. Swift. 3. Lord 
 Bolingbroke, Mr. Prior, and Mr. Oldifworth. MeJJtehrs Pope and 
 Arbuthnot often laid their Hands to the fame Plow, ttnd Jome others 
 of their Chn. 
 
 Creatures 
 
Life of Mrs. Oidfield, 4,7 
 
 Creatures than many who are now in Vogue, 
 and I am afraid one or other of them has a 
 Defign upon the celebrated Attrefs above- 
 mentioned, elfe why does he fear to make any 
 Unquiry into her Conduct behind the Cuh~ 
 tain ? If the Whigs do lofe her, they will 
 bear it with the Patience that they have al- 
 ready the Defe&ion of fome Others, tho' of 
 greater Quality, and higher Obligations to be 
 conftant to us but I fpeak this only from ge- 
 neral Rumour ; for I do not believe/^ is gone 
 off, fo far from it, that I am credibly in- 
 formed Jhe has refufed great Sums, becaufe 
 Jhe infifts upon her Lover s voting on our Side • 
 they are, it feems, both ftiil firm to their 
 Honour, but I would lay on the "Woman's 
 Side, were it not that all Wagers relating 
 to Tolitich are forbidden by AU of Tar* 
 liament. 
 
 I am, 
 
 S 1 R, 
 Your \ &c. 
 
 I think my felf obliged to take off the 
 Examiners laft Afperfion on Mr. Mayri- 
 waring ( not fpoken to in the foregoing 
 excellent Defenfe) it is this moft notorious 
 Falihood that,—- He threw away the Vouch* 
 
 I z ers 
 
4 8 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 ers of his Office ^ which I hereby folemnly 
 -declare he never could do, as never having a 
 Voucher in his Cuftody, therefore could not 
 lofe one. This being a Charge always com- 
 mitted by the Auditors to their Officers-, 
 and Mr. Maynwarings Deputies w r ere known 
 to be Men of the moft fcrupulous Care ima- 
 ginable. He himfelf being efteemed by all 
 who knew him, for which I particularly ap- 
 peal to the Cotnmiffioners of the Cufioms^ to 
 be the moft exadr of any Man in all the Af- 
 fairs he undertook. Indeed it was impoffible 
 for it to be otherwife, there not being, in his 
 Time, a Gentleman of better Senfe, more 
 folid Judgment, and quicker Difpatch in 
 Bulinefs, during the Intervals of Wit and 
 Pleafure. 
 
 A true Copy of his I aft W ill and "Tef- 
 tament^ hereunto annexed, fufficiently jufti- 
 jfies the regular and honeft Difpofition of that 
 fmall Fortune whereof he died poffeffed. 
 
 Having thus vindicated the Memory of 
 this excellent Perfon, as well as Mrs. Old- 
 field's Behaviour to him, I fhall not pre- 
 fume to add any thing farther of my own to 
 his Character, but conclude with letting the 
 Reader know that Mr. Maynwaring s Corps 
 was interred in the Church of Chert fey in the 
 County of Surrey where his Grand-Father 
 (Sir Arthur Maynwaring) and his Father 
 {Charles Maynwaring^ Efq;) were likewife 
 buried; an$i where they had heretofore 4 
 
 plentiful 
 
Life of Mrs. O ldfield. 49 
 
 plentiful Eftate and fine Seat. His Obfequies 
 were performed with great Privacy, anfwer- 
 able more to his Modefty than his Merit : 
 He never affected Pomp living, and Thofe 
 who had the Direction of his Funeral took care 
 to fulfil this his laft, Requeft as they had 
 done all others in his Life time, with the ut- 
 moft Juftice and Honour. 
 
 He was Born at Ightfield^ in the County 
 of Salop) Ann. 1668, Obiit 171 2; JEtat. 
 *xliv. Thofe who are defirous to know more 
 Particulars concerning Him, and his Wri- 
 tings, may confult his Life and Pofthumons 
 Works publiflied by Mr. Oldmixon^ in the 
 Year 1715, Svo. 
 
 The Diftrefi Mother feemed now to be 
 the Cafe of Mrs. Oldpield both on, and off, 
 the Stage. For, tho' the c Town- c ±alk was 
 wholly bent upon Mr. Ma ynw a ring's ma- 
 king her Executrix of his Will, it muft fure- 
 ly be acknowledged that Two Thoufand 
 Pounds was no fuch mighty Sum to bring up 
 an Orphan, from Seven Years old, fuitable 
 to the moft ardent Wiflies of his Father 5 
 which, in every refpeft, his Mother has fully 
 accomplifhed. 
 
 I think I cannot clofe the Subject in de- 
 bate more properly, than by applying to ail 
 Jntermedlers^ in Affairs which no ways con- 
 cern them, a fhort Essay of Mr. Maynwa- 
 ring's, in the Medley N° # 33, 
 
 Of 
 
jo MEMOIRS*/ the 
 
 Of Modesty Justice. 
 
 There is a Law mentioned by Plato ? 
 which Jupiter is faid to have ena&ed in his 
 own Name ; ^hat^ 'if any Man appeared 
 plainly to be incapable of Modefty or Juftice, 
 he jhould immediately be knocked o the 
 Head as a common Tejiilence. The Account 
 Plato gives of it is as follows, viz. 
 
 H e is defcribing the firft State of Humau 
 Society : How Mankind built Towns to de- 
 fend themfelves from Beajis y and how, iti a 
 more than brutal manner, they afterwards fell 
 upon one another : And at laft, he fays, Jupi- 
 ter juftly fearing that the whole Race of Man- 
 kind would be deftroyed, ordered Mercury 
 to go to them, and to carry along with him 
 Modejiy and Juftice, as the beft Support and 
 Ornament of their New-built Cities, and 
 the firmeft Bond of their own mutual Friend- 
 fhip. Mercury upon this Occafion asked 
 Jupiter, in what manner he fliould beftow 
 Juftice and Modefty upon Mankind: Whe- 
 ther, faid he, as the Arts are divided, lhall 
 I alfo divide thefe Virtues, which are indeed 
 of two Kinds, and ftiall I give to fome Men 
 one 3 to fome the other j as we fee by Expe- 
 rience, that one skilful Phyfician is fufficient 
 for a great many of the Ignorant, and fo of 
 other Arts and Trofejfwns ? or, fhall I fo 
 divide them among the whole Race of Man- 
 
MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Of M ODE STY Mid TU S T I C E. 
 
 w 
 
 
 ox 
 
 
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 n 
 
 
 Pi 
 
 S< 
 
 fc 
 
 
 m 
 
 
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 Tl 
 
 
 m 
 
 to 
 
 
 iV 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 tl 
 
 - 
 
 ft 
 
 
 J' 
 
 
 ? 
 
 
 tt 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 Ol 
 
 
 01 
 
 
 ri 
 
 
 fc 
 
 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 51 
 
 fund} as that every Jingle Perfon may have a 
 Share in them ? Divide them in that manner * y 
 fays Jupiter, and let all Mankind be Parta- 
 kers of them : For if thefe Virtues were only 
 conveyed to a few> as the Arts and Sciences 
 are given, it would be impoffxble for any Ci- 
 ties to fubfift. Therefore I would have you 
 go farther, and eftablilh a Law in my Name,, 
 ^hat, whoever cannot he made to partake 
 of Modefty and Juftice, Jhall be dejiroyed as 
 ^a T I ague of the Republich 
 
 The Application of this mod excellent 
 Fable, is, that it would be much more com- 
 mendable in all Perfons to have the Modefty 
 of leaving the Adminiftration of Jttjiice to 
 thofe, to whom it peculiarly belongs, and to 
 mind only their own Bufinefi. 
 
 T o return to the Stage. Before this time, 
 Mr* "Betterton and Mrs. Carrey had not 
 only quitted the Theatre but alfo the Stage 
 of Life. I remember a Paflfage in Mr. Pope s 
 Familiar Letters to his Friend Henry 
 Cromwell, Efq; that upon hearing of Mr. 
 SZettertojts Death, he fays, cc He would have 
 <c put over him this Sentence of Tully for an 
 " Epitaph. " 
 
 Vita bene A6l<e jucundijjtma eft Kecordatto. * 
 
 It being, I- prefume, in that Gentleman s 
 Opinion an Univerfal one for all Players. 
 
 A Life mil A&e&h the befl Remembrance* 
 
 The 
 
5* MEMOIRS of the 
 
 The next Capital Part, in which Mrs. 
 Oldfield adorned the "Britijh Theatre, was 
 in that beautiful Tranfition from HeUors 
 Widow, to become a Queen of England. 
 This was in Mr. Thilipss Tragedy of Hum- 
 frey Duke of Glottcefter * 5 wherein flie a&ed 
 Margaret, Queen to King Henry VL and 
 Ipoke the following Epilogue> viz. 
 
 tfhe Bujimfs of an Epilogue they fay^ 
 Is to dejiroy the Moral of the Play : 
 To wipe the Tears of Virtue from your Eyes ; 
 And make you Merry ] , — left you pouldgrow Wife. 
 
 Well I Tou have heard a dijmal 'tale Iown 0 
 
 It, almoft, makes One dread — to lie, alone. 
 Ruffians , and Ghojis, and Murder, and Defpair, 
 May chace more pleajing Vijions from the Fair. 
 Wives can awake their Husbands, in their Fright: 
 But, if poor Damfels be difturb'd by Night ; 
 
 How pall They ( helplefs Creatures J J Lay the 
 
 ( Spright ? 
 
 Forget it all ; — and Beaufort *s Crime forgive : 
 Duke Humfrey was — too Good a Man, to Live. 
 And, yet ; — his Merit rightly underftood^ 
 We, now have Store of Patriots, full as good ! 
 
 Great Souls ; Who, for their Country 9 s-Sake 
 
 ( would be content, 
 Their Spoufes fhould be dooind to Banijhment. 
 
 * Mr. Philips, wrote a Tragedy (between This and The Diftrefll 
 Mother) called The Briton. Bnt x Mrs. Oldfield had no Part 
 in it. 
 
 Since 
 
Life of Mrs. O l d 1 1 e l d. 53 
 
 Since Chronicles have drawn our Duke Jo tame ; 
 Is Eleanor if Jhe furvives, to blame ? 
 A Widow knows the Good, and Bad, of Life : 
 
 And, has it in hsr Choice, to be or not to be, a 
 
 (Wife! 
 
 Virgins, impatient, cannot Jtay to chufe * 
 
 They rifque it all", — not having much to lofe ! — 
 
 1 mean, — fuch Nymphs, as Jigh in rural Shades ^ 
 
 No Midnight Shepherdefs, at Mafquerades : 
 
 Or, fuch ill-fated Maids, as pine in Grottoes ; 
 
 And, never had th y Experience of Ridottoes! 
 
 Where, ( notwithstanding they their Market fmo- 
 
 fther J 
 
 Some gain one Trinket * and forne, lofe another. 
 
 Thefe Novelties, with Grief, confiderate Women 
 
 (fee: 
 
 For,Jhould Italian Modes prevail * pray what are 
 
 (We? 
 
 How oft do Men our tender Spirits vex. 
 By telling us ; We are a trifling Sex ! 
 Tet, — I am told, Qhilofophers maintain ; 
 Nature makes not the fmallefi "thing, in vainy 
 And, let demurejl Prudes fay, what they will 5 
 The Beft of Women, would he Women^ JiilU 
 
 The Reader, I prefume, will eafily per- 
 ceive the Reafon of my mentioning the 2)/- 
 fir eft Mother, next to Phccdra and Hippoli- 
 tus, as being both tranfplanted from Euri- 
 pides i otherwife, according to the Chrono- 
 logy of the Stage, Mr. Jddifons Cat a 
 
 K ftiould 
 
54 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 fhould have preceded all Mr. c Pbilips\ Tra- 
 gedies. I am alfo to acquaint the Publick, 
 that I have been defired, in the Courfe of 
 thefe Memoirs 3 to infert the principal Pro- 
 logues, which have been written by eminent 
 Hands, fpoken by Mr. Wilks j and moft 
 of the Epilogues fpoken by Mrs. Oldfield^ 
 Digreflions equally ufeful and entertaining. 
 
 PROLOGUE to Cato, written hy Mr. 
 Pope, fpoken by Mr. Wilks who acted 
 
 JuBA, 
 
 r~¥*^1 0 wake the Soul by tender Strokes ef Art, 
 
 JL To raife the Genius, and to mend the Heart, 
 To make Mankind in confcious Virtue bold. 
 Live oer each Scene, and Be what they behold : 
 For this the Tragic-Mufe firfl trod the Stage, 
 Commanding Tears to fir earn thro 9 every Age ; 
 T) rants no more their Savage Nature kept, 
 And Foes to Virtue wonder d how they wept. 
 Our Author founs by vulgar Springs to move 
 The Heros Glory, or the Virgin s Love ; 
 In pitying Love we but our Weakness floow i 
 And wild Ambition well deferves its Woe. 
 Here Tears fhaH flow from a more genrous Caufe, 
 Such Tears as Patriots filed for dying Laws : 
 He bids your Breafls with Ancient Ardor rife, 
 And calls forth Roman Drops from Britifh Eyes. 
 Virtue confefs'd tn human Shape he draws, 
 What, Plato Thought, and God-like Cato Was : 
 
 No 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 55 
 
 No common ObjeEl to your Sight difplays, 
 
 But what with Pleafure Heav'n it felf furveys; 
 
 A brave Man ftruggling in the Storms of Fate, 
 
 And greatly falling with a falling State ! 
 
 While Cato gives his little Senate Laws, 
 
 What Bofom beats not in his Country *s Caufe ? 
 
 Who fees him a&, but envies evry Deed ? 
 
 Who hears him groan, and does not wifh to bleed ? 
 
 Evn when proud Gefar 'midft triumphal Cars, 
 
 The Spoils of Nations, and the Pomp of Wars, 
 
 Ignobly vain, and impotently Great, 
 
 Showd Rome her Cato*f Figure drawn in State, 
 
 As her dead Father s reverend Image pafi, 
 
 The Pomp was darken d, and the Day oercafl, 
 
 *lhe Triumph ceased ■ Tears gufh'd from evry Eye, 
 
 The World's great ViElor pafs'd unheeded by ; 
 
 Her Lafl good Man dejeEled Rome adord, 
 
 And honour d Csefar 3 * lefs than Cato'* Sword. 
 
 Britons attend: Be Worth like this approved, 
 And fhow you have the Virtue to be movd, 
 With honefl Scorn the firft farnd Cato viewed 
 Rome learning Arts from Greece, who fhe fubdud ; 
 Our Scene precarioufly fubjtfts too long, 
 On French Tranflation and Italian Song. 
 Dare to have Senfe your felves ; AJfert the Stage, 
 Be juftly warmd with your own Native Rage. 
 Such Plays alone Jhould pleafe a Britifli Ear, 
 As Cato** felf had not difdaind to hear, 
 
 K 2 Mrs. 
 
5 6 MEMOIRS*?/ the 
 
 Mrs, Oldfield a&ed the Part of Martia^ 
 
 and Mrs. Porter fpoke the following Epi- 
 logue written by Sir Samuel Garth, M. D, 
 
 HA T vddfa things we Women do! 
 
 Who woud not liflen when young Lovers woo ? 
 But die a Maid, yet have the Choice of Two ! 
 Ladies are often cruel to their Coft ; 
 To give you Vain, themfelves they punifh moft. 
 Vows of Virginity floould well be weigtid ; 
 Too oft they re canceled, tho in Convents made. 
 Woud you revenge fuch raflo Refolves—*you may : 
 
 Be fpightjid and believe the thing we fay, 
 
 We hate you when you re eafily faid Nay. 
 How needlefs, if you knew us, were your Fears ? 
 Let Love have Eyes y and Beauty will have Ears. 
 Our Hearts are formd as you your f elves woud chufe^ 
 Too proud to ask, too humble to refufe : 
 We give to Merit, and to Wealth we fell 9 , 
 He Jighs ivith mofl Succefs that fettles well. 
 "The Woes of Wedlock with the ^foys we mix j 
 f Tis befl repenting in a Coach and Six. 
 
 Blqme not our ConduEl, fince we but purfue 
 T*hofe lively Leffom we have learn d from you : 
 Tour Breafls no mere the Fire of Beauty warms 9 
 But wicked Wealth ufurps the Powr of Charms ; 
 What Pains to get the gaudy 'Thing you hate, 
 To fwell in Show, and be a Wretch in State ! 
 At Plays you ogle-> at the Ring you Bow ; 
 Even Churches are no SanBuaries now : 
 
 e fhere t 
 
SIR SAMUEL GARTH, M.D. 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 57 
 
 7%ere ? Golden Idols all your Vows receive, 
 
 §he is no Goddefs that has nought to give. 
 
 Oh, may once more the happy Age appear, 
 
 Jtyhen Words were artlefs, and the 'Thoughts fincere ; 
 
 When Gold and Grandeur were unenvyd things, 
 
 And Courts lefs coveted than Groves and Springs. 
 
 Jjove then floall only mourn when Truth complains, 
 
 And Conftancy feel Iran/port in its Chains, 
 
 Sighs with Succefs their own foft Anguijh tell, 
 
 And Eyes Jhall utter what the Lips conceal ; 
 
 Virtue again to its bright Station climb, 
 
 And Beauty fear no Enemy but Time, 
 
 The Fair /hall liften to Defert alone, 
 
 And every Lucia find a Cato'/ Son. 
 
 Mrs. Oldfield became fo univcrfally ac- 
 ceptable to the Town, both in Comedy and 
 Tragedy, that llie was over loaded with 
 Parts ^ and, obliged to quit the lefs confide- 
 rable ones, efpecially in fome Plays, wherein 
 by her Appearance only, in fpeaking an Epi- 
 logue^ fhe kept them alive a little while, but 
 afterwards they were wholly laid afide. 
 
 The Plays, of any Confequence in which 
 Mrs. Oldfield performed Original Capital 
 Parts, I fhall mention as they came upon the 
 Stage i but, the [mall ones fhe a&ed in Modem 
 € Plays y or T'hofe in which Ihe fucceeded in 
 Old ones, I fhall recite in an Alphabetical 
 JLift at the clofe of thefe Memoirs. 
 
 An 
 
58 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 A n agreeable Incident having been com- 
 municated to me, I fhall give it, juft as it 
 came to hand. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 cc The late Mrs. Sufanna Centlivre, (who 
 cc has obliged the Town with the Gamester, 
 <c the Busie Body, and feveral other enter- 
 cc taining Comedies ; ) was fo charmed with 
 cc feeing Mrs. Oldfield play the Part of 
 " Martia in Cato; that ftie having, a 
 cc little while before that Tragedy came on 
 cc the Stage, borrowed of Mrs. Oldeield 
 cc Fontenelles Plurality of Worlds, after 
 cc reading it, returned the Book with the un- 
 cc der written Verfes, in a Blank Leaf thereof ; 
 cc and as the Compliment is genteel, and not 
 <c fulfom, I hope it may, not improperly, be 
 cc thought worthy of a Place in Ophelia s 
 ? Memoirs. 
 
 lam, SIR> 
 
 Whitehall, 
 £*>u.i8, 1730. 
 
 Tour Humble Servant, &c. 
 John Lucas, 
 
 Plurality 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 59 
 
 Plurality of Worlds ! Such Things may be, 
 But I am befl convinced by 'what I fee ; 
 Yet tho Philofophersy^^ Schemes purfue, 
 And fancy 'd Worlds in every Planet view ; 
 They can but guefs at Orbs above the Skies, 
 And darkly paint the Lakes and Hills that rife. 
 
 Now Cupid skiff & in Myfteries profound, 
 Points where more certainty of Worlds abound; 
 Bright Globes, that flrike the Gazer with Surprize, 
 For they are Worlds o/Love and in Ophelia'/ Eyes. 
 
 Mrs, Oldfield having hitherto been parti- 
 cularly confidered but in two Chara&ers in Co- 
 medy 3 - viz. Lady Lurewell in the Trip to the 
 Jubilee, and Lady Setty Modifh in the Care- 
 lefs Husband, I fhall next confider the farther 
 Honour flie has done Mr. Gibber, in fome o- 
 ther of his Performances. It was not only her 
 ,Voice, and Perfon that charmed the Audi- 
 dience, but as the Tatler juftly remarks * 
 whatever Chara&er She reprefented, cc She 
 f was always well dreft : The Make of her 
 cc Mind very much contributed to the Orna- 
 iC ment of her Body. This made every 
 <c Thing look native about her, and her 
 cc Cloaths were fo exa&ly fitted, that they 
 cc appeared as it were Part of her Perfon. 
 <c Her moft elegant Deportment was owing 
 cc to her Manner, and not to her Habit. Her 
 5 Beauty was full of Attraction, but more of 
 
 * N<\zi2, Vol, IV, 
 
 " Al- 
 
So MEMOIRS of ik 
 
 <c Allurement. There was fuch a Compoflire 
 <c in her Looks, and Propriety in her Drefc, 
 <c that you would think it impoffible {he 
 M fliould change the Garb you one Day fee 
 <c her in, for any thing fo becoming, till you 
 <c next Day fee her in another. There was 
 <c no other Myftery in this 3 but that how- 
 cc ever fhe was apparalled, flie was her felf 
 4C the fame : For there is fo immediate a Ra- 
 cc lation between our Thoughts and Geftures, 
 ft that a Woman muft think well, to look 
 cc well." This Pi&ure of Flavia, as drawn 
 by Mr. "Bickerjiaff^ is the 'vera Effigies of the 
 charming Ophelia. 
 
 Mrs. Oldh eld's other, Original Parts in 
 Mr. Gibbers Plays, were, — Mrs. Conquest,* 
 in 'The LadyV Lafi Stake j #r, 'The Wife V 
 liefentment.— — Lucinda, in Ihe Rival 
 Fools : Or, Wit at feveral Weapons. And 
 Ximena, in The Heroick Daughter y the He- 
 roine of that Tragedy, in which Charader 
 Hie fpoke the following Epilogue y viz. 
 
 Well, Sirs! 
 fm come to tell you, that my Fears are over^ 
 I've feen Papa> and have fecurd my Lover : 
 And, troth y fm wholly on our Author s Side, 
 For had, as Corneille made him, Gormaz dyd $ 
 My Fart had ended as it firfi begun, 
 And left me fiill tmmarryd and undone ; 
 Or, what were harder far than both— * a Nun. 
 
 7k* 
 
Life of Mrs. OlD FIELD. 61 
 
 The French, for Form indeed, poflpones the Wedding* 
 But -gives her Hopes within a Tear of Bedding. 
 Time could not tie her Marriage-Knot with Honour, 
 The Father s Death (I ill left the Guilt upon her ; 
 The Frenchman flops her in that forced Regard, 
 The bolder Briton weds her in Reward: 
 He knew your Tafte would ne'er endure their Billing 
 Should be fo long defer/ d, when both were willing ; 
 Tour formal Dons of Spain an Age might wait, 
 But Englifli Appetites are fhorter fet 
 >Tis true, this Difference we indeed difcover, *j 
 That tho like Lyons ' you begin the Lover ; > 
 To do you Right, your Fury foon is over. J 
 Bejide, the Scene thus changd, this Moral bears, 
 That Virtue never of Relief de f pairs. 
 But while true Love is ftill in Plays ill-fated, 
 JVo wonder you gay Sparks of Pleafure hate it ; 
 Bloodfhed dif courages what fioould delight ye, • 
 And from a Wife what little Rubs will fright ye? 
 And Virtue, not conjiderd in the Bride \ 
 How foon you Tawn, and curfe the Knot youve tyd ? 
 How oft the Nymph, whofe pitying Eyes give Quarter ? 
 Finds, in her Captive, floe has caught a Tartar ? 
 While to her Spoufe who once fo high did rate her, 
 She kindly gives Ten Thoufand Pounds to hate her. 
 So, on the other Side, fome fighing Swain, 
 That languifbes in Love whole Tears in vain, 
 Impatient for the Feafl, refolves he 9 11 have her, 
 Aud, in his Anger, vows he'll eat for ever $ 
 
 L ffl 
 
6i M E M O I R S of the 
 
 He thinks of nothing hut the Honey-Moon, 
 
 But little thought he could have dind fo foon : 
 
 Js not this true ? Speak Dearies of the Pit, 
 
 Dont you find too y how horribly you re bit ? 
 
 For the InfiruElion therefore of the Free, 
 
 Our Author turns his juft Cataftrophe : 
 
 Before you wed, let Love be underfiood, 
 
 Refine your thoughts and chace it from the Blood; 
 
 Nor can you then of lafiing Joys defpair, 
 
 For when that Circle holds the Britifti Fair, ^ 
 
 Your Hearts may find Heroic Daughters there. ~ 
 
 Mr. Cibber has given us a frort, and very 
 decent, Defence of the Stage in his Epiftle 
 Dedicatory to the Nonjuror, wherein he 
 thus addreffes his late Majefly, viz. 
 
 cc Your Comedians, Sir, are an unhappy 
 cc Society, whom fome fevere Heads think 
 cc wholly ufelefs, and others dangerous to 
 cc the Young and Innocent : This Comedy is 
 cc therefore an Attempt to remove that Pre- 
 cc judice^ and to fhew what honeft and lau- 
 cc dable Ufes may be made of the 'Theatre^ 
 tc when its Performances keep clofe to the 
 cc true Purpofes of its Inftittition : That it 
 cc may be neceffary to divert the fallen and 
 tc difaffc&ed from bufying their Brains to 
 tz difturb the Happinefs of a Government, 
 cc which, (for want of proper Amufements) 
 a they often enter into Wild and Seditious 
 
 " Schemes 
 
Life of Mrs. Oidfield. 6 3 
 
 a Schemes to reform j and that it may like- 
 <c wife make thofe very Follies^ the Ridicule 
 cc and Diverfion even of thofe that commit- 
 cc ted them. Our Labours have at leaft this 
 <c Glory to boaft, that fince Plays were firft 
 cc exhibited in Eitgland, they were never tc- 
 cc tally fuppreffed., but by thofe very People 
 cc who turned our Church and Conftitution 
 Sz into Irreligion and Anarchy? 
 
 This Comedy was introduced with the 
 following honeft PROLOGUE written 
 by Mr. Row£ 5 and fpoken by Mr. Wilks, 
 viz. 
 
 To-Night, ye Whigs and Tories both be faje 3 
 Nor hope, at one another s Coft,' to laugh : 
 We mean to foufe old Satan, and the Pope, 
 They've no Relations here, nor Friends, we hope. 
 ] A Tool of theirs fupplies the Comic Stage y 
 With ju ft Materials for Satyric Rage : 
 Nor think our Colours may too flrongly paint 
 The ftiff Non-juring Separation- Saint. 
 Good- Breeding neer commands us to be civil 
 To thofe who give the Nation to the Devil ; 
 Who at our fur eft, beft Foundations, ftrike, 
 And hate our Monarch and our Church alike : 
 Our Church, — - which, awd with Reverential Fear % 
 Scarcely the Mufe prefumes to mention here. 
 
 L 2 Long 
 
64 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Long may floe thefe her worft of Foes defy, 
 
 And lift her Mitred Head triumphant to the Sky r 
 
 While theirs — ~ But Satire filently difdains 
 
 To name, what lives not, hut in Madmen s Brains Q 
 
 Like Bawds, each lurking Pafior feeks the Dark 
 
 And fears the jfuftice's enquiring Clerk : 
 
 In clcfe hack Rooms his routed Flocks he rallies. 
 
 And reigns the Patriarch of blind Lanes and Allies : 
 
 'There, fafe, he lets his thundering Cenfures fly, . ^ 
 
 Un-Chriftens, Damns Us, gives our Laws the Lye : ;> 
 
 And Excommunicates Three- Stories high. 
 
 Why, Jince a Land of Liberty they hate, 
 
 Still will they linger in this Free-born State? 
 
 Here, evry Hour, freflo hateful ObjeEls rife. 
 
 Peace and Profperity afftiB their Eyes : 
 
 With Anguifh, Prince and People they furveyl 
 
 Their jufl Obedience and his Righteous Sway. 
 
 Ship off, ye Slaves, and feek fome Pafftve-Lani? 
 
 Wloere Tyrants, after your own Hearts, command : 
 
 To your Trans- Alpine Mafte/s Rule refort % 
 
 And.fill an empty Abdicated Court : 
 
 Turn your Poffeljions here, to ready Rhino, 
 
 And buy ye Lands and LordfJoips at Urbino, 
 
 There were but Two Women in this 
 Comedy — Lady Woodvil^ played by Mrs. 
 Porter, and Maria^ her Daughter, by Mrs; 
 OldfielDj which Part 5 as fhe did every things 
 flie performed to Admiration, and as admira- 
 bly fpoke this Epilogue, 
 
 Hem 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldbield. g$ 
 
 How wildy how frantick, is the vain Ejfay, 
 That builds on modern Politicks a Play ! 
 Methinks to write at all is bold enough. 
 But in a Play, to ft and a Fa&ion, Buff! 
 Not Rome's old Stage prefumd {or Fame's a Fibber} 
 And Moderns to attempt it! well JaidCxbbtil 
 Was't not enough the Criticks might purfue him ! 
 But muft he roufe a Party to undo him ! 
 ihefe Blows I told him on his Play would fall, 
 But he, unmovd, crfd — Blood ! we'll ftand it all. 
 When Priefts turn Traytors, where's the mighty 
 
 (Matter £ 
 
 Since, when has Treafon been exempt from Satire ? 
 
 And floould from Guilt a faBious Clamour rife, 
 
 Such Spite muft fpeak them England'* Enemies : 
 
 But if Old England'* Friends allow \is right, 
 
 Were fure their Powr can chace the Jacobite, 
 
 And put their Malice, like their Troops to flight. 
 
 As for the Criticks, thofe, he owns may teize him, 
 
 Becaufe he never took fuch Pains to pleafe them ; 
 
 In Time, Place, Atiion, Rules, by which old Wits 
 
 Made Plays, as — • Dames do Puddings by Receipts : 
 
 But hopes again evn Rebels cannot fay, 
 
 s Tho vanquifFd, they re infuhed in his Play : 
 
 ]Sfay more — to fet their Caufe in faireft Light, 
 
 He as made a Man of Senfe — a Jacobite! 
 
 (Tho' by our Bard*s good Leave, to take it right, 
 
 His Senfe was foewn, when turn d from Jacobite.) 
 
 N.B. The remaining Verfes defcribe the Char a&eis in the Vhy 
 to which I refer. 
 
 The 
 
66 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 The laft Play in Mr. Cibbers Colle&ion 
 is The Refusal : Or, The Ladies Thilofo- 
 phy y a Comedy, in which Mrs. Oldeield 
 played Sophronia, and ends the Play with 
 thefe Lines, 
 
 In Vain y aga'wft the Force of Nature's Law, 
 Would rigid Morals keep our Hearts in awe * 
 Ml our loft. Labours of the Brain but prove y 
 In Life y there's no Philofophy like Love. 
 
 Sir Richard Steel had the Honour of Mrs. 
 Oldfield's performing Original Parts in all 
 his Plays, viz. I. Lady Chariot , in the Fu- 
 neral. II. The Neice y in the lender tfaf- 
 l?aad. III. Victoria, in the Lying Lover. 
 IV. Indiana, in the Confcious Lovers. 
 
 T o divert an Audience, by an innocent 
 Performance, was the chief Defign of the 
 laft Comedy, who are thus addreifed in the 
 Ciofe of the Prologue. 
 
 Te ModeJl y Wife, and Goody ye Fair, ye Brave y 
 To-Night the Champion of your Virtues fave y 
 Redeem from long Contempt the Comtek Name y 
 And judge Politely for your Country's Fame. 
 
 There happened a very remarkable Inci- 
 dent in the Reprefentation of the Confcious 
 Lover s y which Sir Richard takes particular 
 Notice of in his Preface, and I fhall give it 
 in his own Words, viz % 
 
 " This 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 67 
 
 cc This Comedy was in every Part ex- 
 €c cellently performed • and there needs no 
 cc other Applaufe of the A&ors^ but that 
 cc they excelled according to the Dignity and 
 cc Difficulty of the Chara&er they reprefent- 
 
 cc ed. The Tears which were fhed, on 
 
 cc this Occafion, flowed from Reafon and 
 cc good Senfe, and Men ought not to be 
 cc laughed at for weepings till we are come 
 <c to a more clear Notion of what is to be 
 cc imputed to the Hardnefs of the Head, and 
 <c the Softnefs of the Heart ; and I think it 
 <c was very politely faid of Mr. Wilks to one 
 Cc who told him there was a * General 
 C: weeping for Indiana f — — Til warrant 
 Cc hell fight veer the worfefor that. To be 
 Cc apt to give way to the ImprefEons of Hu- 
 Cc manity, is the Excellence of a right Di£- 
 <c pofition, and the natural working of a 
 
 cc well turned Spirit, The following 
 
 <c Song was defigned for the Entertainment 
 <c of Indiana, but omitted for want of a 
 " Performer j it expreffes the Diftrefs of a 
 H Love-fick Maid, and may be a fit Enter- 
 cc tainment for feme fmall Criticks to examine 
 " whether the PaiHon is juft, or the Diftrefs 
 ? Male or Female. 
 
 * The Honourable brigadier General Charles Churchill, 
 f Mrs. Oldfield^ Part. 
 
 I. From 
 
68 M E M O I R S of the 
 
 I 
 
 From tylace to Wlace forlorn I go. 
 With downcaft Eyes a Jilent Shade ; 
 
 Forbidden to declare my Woe ^ 
 To /peak) till fpoken to, afraid. 
 
 II. 
 
 My inward c Pangs, my fecret Grief 
 
 My foft con/enting Looks betray ; 
 lie loves y but gives me no Relief : 
 
 Why /peaks not he who may ? 
 
 Among the many Apologies for the 
 Stage^ Mrs. Old field always preferred 
 that humorous one given by Mf. Farquhar y 
 in His Difcourfe upon Comedy, viz. 
 
 "■Poetry alone, and chiefly the Drama y 
 cz lies open to the Infulrs of all Pretenders ; 
 cc ftie was one of Nature's eldeft Offsprings 
 cc whence by her Birthright, and plain Sim- 
 <c plicity, fhe pleads a Genuine likenefs to 
 * c her Mother born in the Innocence of 
 cc Time, Hie provided not againft theAlTaults 
 cc of fucceeding Ages ; and, depending alto- 
 cc gether on the generous End of her Inven- 
 cc tion, negledted thofe fecret Supports and 
 cc ferpentine Devices ufed by other Arts, 
 cc that wind themfelves into Practice for 
 cf more fubrile and politick Defigns : Naked 
 ? y foe came into the World \ and it is to be 
 
 ■ c feared^ 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 69 
 cc feared, like its Profeffors, will go Naked 
 
 I have often heard Mrs. Oldfield men- 
 tion the many agreeable Hours fhe had fpent in 
 Mr. Varquhars Company. The Original Parts 
 fhe had in his Plays, were only Two, Sylvia 
 in the Recruiting Officer ^ and Mrs. Sullen in 
 the Stratagem. Moft of his Comedies be- 
 ing written before Mrs. Oldfield s coming on 
 the Stage, and in the Old Parts, as already ob- 
 ferved, fhe fucceeded Mrs.Verbmggen> vvhofe 
 Maiden Name was Tercival, and afterwards 
 Mount fort. Of this Gentlewoman, I am na- 
 turally led into the Relation of one melan- 
 cholly Scene of her Life, in which 1 believe 
 no Parallel can be found either in Ancient or 
 Modern Hiftory. Her Father Mr. Tercival 
 had the Misfortune to be drawn into the Af- 
 faflination Plot again ft King Willi 'am , for 
 this he lay under Sentence of Death, which 
 he received on the fame Night that Lord Mo n 
 hun killed her Husband Mr. Mountfort. Un- 
 der this, almoft infuperable, Affliction ihe 
 was introduced to the good Queen Mary y 
 who being, as fhe was pleafed to fay, (truck 
 to the Heart upon receiving Mrs. Mountfort* s 
 Petition, immediately granted all that was in 
 her Power, a Remilfion of her Fathers Exe- 
 cution for that of Tranfportation. But Fate 
 had fo ordered it that poor Mrs. Mountfort 
 was to lofe both Father and Husband. For 
 as Mr. Tercwal was going Abroad, he was 
 
 M fo 
 
7 o MEMOIRS of the 
 
 fo weakned by his Imprifonment, that he was 
 taken fick on the Road and died at Tortf* 
 mouth. 
 
 The Fatality which happens to the She ci- 
 ders of bloody I have always remarked as a 
 certain Effect of the Divine Vengeance ; and 
 therefore all Gentlemen who are apt to draw 
 their Swords upon the moft trivial Occafions, 
 would do well to eonfider, two or three Ac- 
 cidents I iliall here lay before them. 
 
 I. That they would pleafe to remember 
 Lord Mohuns Cataftrophe ; who, as Mr* 
 Mountfort fell by his Hands,, he fell in the 
 Duel between him and Duke Hamilton y him- 
 felf fending the Challenge. 
 
 II. At a Reprefentation of the Scornful 
 Lady feme Years ago, for the Benefit of 
 Mrs/OiDFiELD j many Perfons of Diftin&ion 
 were behind the Scenes. Among others Beau 
 Feilding came, and being always mighty am- 
 bitious of iliewing h\s K fine Make and Shape , 
 as himfelf ufed vainly to talk, he very clofely 
 prelfed forward upon fome Gentlemen, but in 
 particular, upon one Mr. Fulwood, a Barrifier 
 of Grays-Inn^ an Acquaintance of Mrs. Old- 
 field's ; Mr. Fulwcod being a Gentleman of 
 quick Refentment told Feilding he ufed him 
 rudely, upon which, he laid his Hand upon 
 his Sword, but Mr. Fulwood inftantly drew, 
 and gave Feilding a Wound of twelve Inches 
 deep in the Belly. This putting the Audi- 
 ence into the grcatefi Confternation, Mr. Ful- 
 wood 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 71 
 
 wood was with much Intreafy perfwaded to 
 leave the Place. At length out of Refpeft 
 to Mrs. Oldfield he did fo, and went to the 
 Theatre in Lincolns -Inn- Fields y where the 
 fame Evening the Libertine was ailed. Mr. 
 Ftdwood went into the Pit, and in a very few 
 Minutes caft his Eye upon one Captain Ctifack 
 to whom he had an old Grudge, and there 
 demanded Satisfa&ion of him. Captain Cu- 
 fack without the leaft Hesitation obeyed the 
 Summons. They went into the Fields, and 
 in lefs than Half an Hour, Word was 
 brought into the Houfe 3 that Mr. Fulwood 
 was killed on the Spot, and Captain Cufack 
 had made his Efcape. 
 
 III. The laft Inftance I fhall produce is in 
 the Cafe of the late Lord Chief Juftice 'Pine, 
 of Ireland, who, when he was a Student of 
 Lincolns-lnn^ in thofe Walks, kilid the el- 
 deft Son, of one of the fineft Gentlemen in 
 England^ I beg to be excufed from naming 
 him becaufe he was my near Relation. How- 
 ever, the Weight of "Blood hung fo heavy up- 
 on Mr. Pine, that he declared, he could not 
 live in England, and went over to Ireland, 
 in which Kingdom indeed he made his For- 
 tune, but an over-ruling Power dampt all his 
 Joys, even to the Day of his Death, becaufe 
 the Price of Blood was repaid in his own Fa- 
 mily, his eldeft Son being killed in a Duel |n 
 Ireland. 
 
 M 3 
 
 As 
 
7 z MEMO IKS of the 
 
 As thefe accidental Digrefllons will not 
 be without their Ufe, I hope they will not 
 be judged in this Place impertinent, our 
 Theatres being too often the Scene of Aftions 
 in this Kind. 
 
 But let us now again refume the pleafing 
 Entertainment given by Mrs. Oldfield. In 
 Mr. Rowes Two laft Tragedies * flie was 
 the Victim in Both. And, how flie charmed ; 
 every Spectator muft remember ! To thzjirft 
 of thefe excellent Plays Mr* Wilks fpoke the 
 Prologue ^ and Mrs. Oldfield the Epilogue* 
 But to the fecond^ thofe Offices were per- 
 formed by Mr. Booth and Mrs. Porter^ 
 for which 1 refer to the Play. 
 
 PROLOGUE to Jane Shore. 1 
 
 *TT O Night, if you have brought your good old Tafte a 
 
 ^ Well treat you with a downright Englilh Feafl ; 
 
 A 'Tale, winch told long fince in homely wife, 
 
 Bath never faifd of melting gentle Eyes. 
 
 Let no nice Sir defpife our haplefs Dame, 
 
 Becaufe recording Ballads chaunt her Name; 
 
 Tloofe venerable ancient Song Inditers 
 
 Soard many a Pitch above our Modern Writers 
 
 They caterwaufd in no Romantick Ditty ^ 
 
 Sighing for Philiis% or Clot s Pity. 
 
 * I. The Tragedy of Jane Shore, written in Imitation of 
 Shake/fear's Stile. II. The Tragedy of the Lady Jane Gray. 
 
 7'# 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 73 
 
 Juftly they drew the Fair, and fpoke her Plain, 
 
 And fung her by her Chriflian Name — - 'twas Jane, 
 
 Our Numbers may be more refind than thofe, 
 
 But what wive gaind in Verfe, we've loft in Profe* 
 
 Their Words no fhuffling, double-meaning knew, 
 
 Their Speech was homely y but their Hearts were true* 
 
 In fuch an Age immortal Shakefpear wrote. 
 
 By no quaint Rules, nor hampering Cri ticks taught 
 
 With rough Majeftick Force he movd the Hearty 
 
 And Strength and Nature made amends for Art. 
 
 Our humble Author does his Steps purfue, 
 
 He owns he had the mighty Bard iff View ; 
 
 And in thefe Scenes has made it more his Qare, \ 
 
 To roufe the Pajftons y than to charm the Ear $ 
 
 Tet for thofe gentle Beaus who love the Chime, 
 
 The Ends of A£is ftill jingle into Rhime. 
 
 The Ladies too y he hopes, will not complain, ^ 
 
 Here are fome SubjeEls for a fofter Strain, > 
 
 A Nymph forfaken, and a perjurd Swain. 3 
 
 What mo ft he fears, is, left the Dame^ fhoud frown, y 
 
 The Dames of Wit and Pleafure about Town, r* 
 
 To fee our PiElure drawn, unlike their own. 
 
 But left that Error fhoud provoke to Fury, 
 
 The Hofpitable Hundreds of Old Drury, 
 
 He bid me fay, in our Jane Shored Defence, y 
 
 She do?d about the Charitable Pence, > 
 
 Built Hofpitals, turnd Saint , and dyd long fince. J 
 
 For her Example what foe f er we make it, 
 
 They have their Choice to let alone or take it. 
 
74 MEM OIKS of the 
 
 Tho' few, as I conceive, will think it meet) 
 To weep fo forely, for a Sin fo fweet: 
 Or mourn y or mortify the pleafng Senfe, 
 To rife in Tragedy Wo Jges hence. 
 
 EPILOGUE to Jane ShoreJ 
 
 T7E mo deft Matrons all, ye virtuous Wives, 
 
 Who lead with horrid Husbands, decent Lives ; 
 You, who for all you ate in fuch a taking, 
 To fee your Spoufes Drinking, Gaming, Raking, 
 Tet make a Confcience fill of Cuckold-making. 
 What can we fay your Pardon to obtain, 
 This Matter here was proved againft poor Jane: 
 She never once deny* d it, but in port, 
 Whimper' *d— *and-~ cry* d,— fweet Sir, Vmforry fort. 
 'Twas well he met a kind, good-natur*d Soul y 
 We are not all fo eafy to controul: 
 I fancy one might find in this good Town 
 Some wou y d ha 9 told the Gentleman his own ; 
 Have anfwer d fmart — to what do you pretend, 
 Blockhead— as if I muft n't fee a Friend : 
 Tell me of Hackney-Coaches — Jaunts to th'City— 
 Where Ihou'd I buy my China—Faith, Til fit ye— 
 Our Wife was of a milder, meeker Spirit , 
 
 Ton! — Lords and Mafters/ — was not that fome 
 
 (Merit ? 
 
 JDont you allow it to be virtuous Bearing, 
 When we fubmit thus to your Domineering ? 
 
 Welh 
 
Life (f Mrs. Oldfield. 75 
 
 Well, (Peace be with her, jhe did wrong mofl fureljy 
 But fo do many more that look demurely. 
 Nor Jhoiid our mourning Madam weep alone y 
 There are more ways of Wickednefs than one* 
 If the reforming Stage Jhou'd fall to jhamifig y 
 Ill-nature, Qride, Hypocrify and Gaming ; 
 The ^Poets frequently might move Compa(Jion y 
 And with She-Tragedies 0 'er run the Nation. 
 Then judge the fair Offender with good Nature, 
 And let your 'Fellow-feeling curb your Satire. 
 What if our Neighbours have fome little f ailing f 
 Muji we needs fall to damning and to railing j 
 For her Excufe too, be it underjiood, y 
 That if the Woman was not quite fo good, 
 Her hover was a King, fhe Flejh and Blood. 
 And Jince Jhe'as dearly paid the Jinful Score, 
 Be kind at laft, and pity poor Jane Shore. 
 
 Some Particulars having been communi- 
 cated to me 3 relating to Mrs. Oldfield's com- 
 ing upon the Stage by Mr. Taylor, formerly 
 a Servant to Mx.Rich ; I could wifh they had 
 been fooner tranfmitted, but as the Intentions 
 of the Writer mult be acknowledged an A6t 
 of Friendfhip, I hope the Contents of his 
 Letter will be agreeable to the Public for 
 whofe Ufe it is inferted, 
 
 1 
 
7 G MEM O IKS of the 
 
 To Mr. Egerton, &c. 
 Sir, 
 
 cc I n your Memoirs of Mrs. Oldfield, 
 * c it may not be amifs to infert the following 
 cc Fa&s, on the Truth of which you may 
 cc depend. Her Father, Captain Oldfield not 
 <c only run out all the Military, but likewife 
 cc the Paternal Bounds of his Fortune, having 
 cc a pretty Eftate in Houfes in Tall-Mall. 
 cc It was wholly owing to Captain Far- 
 cc qtihar^ that ever Mrs. Oldfield became 
 cc an A&refs, from the following Incident. 
 <c Dining one Day at her Aunt s, who kept 
 <c the Mitre Tavern in St. James's Market^ 
 cc he heard Wits Nanny reading a Play behind 
 cc the Bar with fo proper an Emphafis, ^and 
 cc fuch agreeable Turns fuitable to each Cha- 
 cc ra&er, that he fwore the Girl was cut out 
 <c for the Stage, to which fhe had before always 
 cc exprefled an Inclination, being very defirous 
 cc to try her Fortune that Way. Her Mo- 
 <c ther, the next Time ilie faw Captain Van- 
 cc brugh^ who had a great Refpeft for the 
 cc Family, told him what was Captain Far- 
 cc quhars Advice, upon which he defired to 
 <c know whether in the Plays flie read, her 
 cc Fancy was moft pleafed with Tragedy 
 cc or Comedy. Mifs being called in, faid 
 
 * Comedy, She having at that Time gone 
 
 * through all Beaumont and Fletchers Co- 
 
 " medics,- 
 
16 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 " mediesj 
 
Life of Mrt. OldSIELd: 77 
 
 <c medies ; and the Play {he was reading 
 " when Captain Farqubar dined there, was, 
 " Tlbe Scornful Lady. Captain Vanbrugh, 
 " fliortly after recommended her to Mr. 
 <c Chriftopber Rich, who took her into the 
 " Houfe, at the Allowance but of Fifteen 
 '! Shillings per Week. However, her agree- 
 " able Figure, and the Sweetnefs of her Voice, 
 <c foon gave her the Preference, in the Opini- 
 <c on of the whole Town, to all our young 
 <c A&reffes, and his Grace the late Duke ot 
 <e Bedford, being pleafed to fpeak to Mr. Rich 
 K in her Favour, he inftantly raifed her Allow- 
 <c ance to Twenty Shillings per Week. Her 
 tc Fame and Salary, at length, rofeto her juft 
 f Merit. Iam, Sir, 
 
 Ntv.z?, 1730. Tour Humble Servant, 
 
 Charles Taylor. 
 
 Having in the foregoing Pages been pretty 
 particular in my Recital of the Capital, Ori- 
 ginal, Parts performed by Mrs. Oldfield in 
 the Plays written fince her coming on the 
 Stage ; I fhall in the other Modern Tlays, 
 wherein flie appeared, content my felf with on- 
 ly naming them in the Lift before mentioned: 
 and, fhall now infert fome excellent Letters 
 to Mrs. Oldfield written a few Years ago, 
 when fhe lived in the Hay-Market, relating 
 
 to the Hiftory of the Stage, &c, 
 
 j>q LET* 
 
7 8 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 LETTER I. 
 To Mrs. OLVF1EL7). 
 
 EVERY Requeft of yours, Madam,, is- 
 a much greater Favour conferred on; 
 me, than is in my Power to return. But, 
 fince you are defirous of feeing the few Col- 
 lections I have made towards A Jhort Hiftory 
 of the Stage, I here freely communicate them 
 in hopes they will afford you at leaft an agree- 
 able Amufement. 
 
 Dramatic Poetry was the firft kind of 
 Writing that appeared among the Athenians ; 
 and I defy, fays Mr. 'Dennis, * the moft skil- 
 ful Man in Antiquity, to name fo much as 
 one Author among the Romans till 'Drama- 
 tic 'Poetry appeared at Rome, introduced 
 by Ltivius Andronicus, above Five hundred 
 Years after the Building of that City. But 
 when their Stage began to be cultivated, im- 
 mediately a Hundred Writers arofe, in Poe- 
 try, Eloquence^ Hiftory, and Philofophy, 
 whofe Fame took an equal Flight with that 
 of the Roman Eagles, and who, tranfmitting 
 their immortal Works to Pofterity, continue 
 the living Glories of that Republic, and the 
 
 * See His Mifcellancous Tra&s, Svo. Lend. 1727. ^j-330. 
 
 only 
 
7 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 79 
 
 only folid Remains of the Roman Greatnefs. 
 As with the Roman Stage, the reft of their 
 Arts were cultivated, and improved propor- 
 tionally ; as with that in the Age of dugu- 
 fins Cdfar^ about Two hundred Years from 
 the Time of JLwius Andronicus^ they reach- 
 ed their utmoft Height fo, with that, they 
 I declined in the Reigns of fucceeding Em- 
 perors* 
 
 For the Trench it is not much above a 
 Century fince Hardy firft appeared among 
 them : And Hardy was the firft who began 
 to reform their Stage, and to recover it from 
 the Confufion in which it lay before him. 
 I And tho I cannot 'fay, that before that Time, 
 the French had no good Writers, yet I may 
 fafely affirm, that they had but One, who 
 was generally efteemed throughout the reft 
 of Europe: But to reckon all who have fince 
 been excellent in Poetry, Eloquence, Hiftory, 
 and Philofophy, would certainly make a very 
 long, and a very Illuftrious Roll. 
 
 Now to come to our felves : It was in 
 the Reign of King Henry VIII. that the 
 5Drama firft grew into Form with us : It 
 was Eftablijhed in the Reign of Queen Eli- 
 zabeth, and Flourished under King James L 
 And tho' I will not prefume to affirm, that 
 before the Reign of King Henry VIII. we 
 had no good Writers, yet I may juftly alfert, 
 that, excepting Chaucer, we had not a 
 firft-rate Writer, in any kind whatever. But 
 
 N 2 im* 
 
8o MEMOIRS of the 
 
 immediately upon the EJiahliJJment pf the 
 T)rama^ Three Prodigies of Wit appeared 
 all at once, as it were fo many Suns, to a- 
 maze the learned World — Spenser — Ba- 
 con and, Raleigh j Men fo extraordinary 
 in their different Ways, that not only Eng- 
 land had never feen the like before , but 
 they almoft continue to this very Day, in 
 Spite of Emulation, in Spite of Time, the 
 greateft of our Poets> Philofophers, and Hi- 
 ftorians. 
 
 From the Time of King James I. the 
 fDrama flouriftied, and the Arts were cul- 
 tivated, till the Beginning of our Inteftine 
 Broils in the Reign of King Charles L 
 When the Dramatic Mufe was banifiied, and 
 all the Arts degraded. For what other Sort 
 of Poets flouriftied in thofe Days? Who were 
 the Infpired, the Celebrated Men ? Why Wi- 
 thers > Try 7/7;, and Vickars^ Fellows whofe 
 Verfes were laborious Libels upon the Art 
 and Thqmfelves. Thefe were the firft-rate 
 Poets, and under them flouriftied a Herd of 
 Scribblers of obfeurer Infamy : Wretches 
 who had not Defert enough to merit even 
 Contempt; whofe Works, like Abortions, 
 never beheld the Light, fhfled in the Dark 
 by their own Friends, as fo many Scandals 
 upon Human Nature, and lamentable Effe&s 
 of that univerfal Confpiracy of Fools againft 
 pght Reafon. And if any one pretends^ 
 that Sir John Denham, Sir William 
 
 P'Avenant 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 8i 
 
 P'Avenant, Mr. Waller and Mr. Cowley 
 ^/rote many of their Verfes in the Time of 
 the Civil Wars ; I anfwer 3 that what, Mr. 
 Waller wrote was but very little : and it is 
 well known the other Three wrote in a 
 Country ( France ) where the Stage and 
 Learning flouriflied. So that nothing confi- 
 derable^ in Poetry, was produced among Us 
 in the Times of the Rebellion except the 
 firjl Tart of that admirable Satire againft the 
 Mufe s mortal Foe Hypocrify * $ which yet 
 neither did, nor durft appear till theRello- 
 ration of the Drama. 
 
 Yp.v fee. Madam, what the Poets were^ 
 who flouriflied in thofe difmal Times • let us 
 now fee what were the Orators ? who were 
 the cried up Preachers ? why Calamy^ Cafe^ 
 Hugh Teters, Manton and Sibbes. But what 
 was produced in the other Sciences, that was 
 worthy of Pofterity ? what in Phiiofophy, 
 Hiftory, and Mathematicks ? what could be 
 expeded, where only Hypocritical Fools 
 were encouraged, whofe abominable Cant- 
 ing was Chriitened Gift, and their Dulnefs 
 Grace ? 
 
 But what Sort of Perfons have flouriflied 
 among Us fince the Reftoration of the *Dra* 
 ma ? Who have fignalized themfelves in the 
 other Kinds of Poetry ? So great is the Niraw 
 
 * The firfl: Part o/Hudibras was not pblifhed by Mr. Bu.ileL 
 till the Teari662 } tho\ he owns, if was Written in the Time of the 
 J*te Wars. 
 
 ber 
 
8i. MEMOIRS a/ the 
 
 ber of Thofe who have wrote politely, that 
 it is comprehensive of all Conditions of Men. 
 How many have been juftly renowned for E- 
 loquence. So many extraordinary Men have 
 diftinguilhed themfelves by Preaching, that 
 to enumerate them would be an endlefs Task. 
 I fliall content my felf, and hope you will 
 join with me Madam, in mentioning only 
 Archbifliop Tillotson and Dr. Sprat Bifhop 
 of Rochefter > fo illuftrious for their different 
 Talents, the one for his extream Politenefs, for 
 his Grace, and his Delicacy j the other for his 
 nervous Force ; and both for their Mafculine 
 Purity. Who among us are famed for Hiftory ? 
 not only the laft of thofe great Prelates, but 
 Dr.BuRNET, Bifliop o£ Salisbury ^hok Hiftory 
 of the Reformation is x fo defervedly celebra- 
 ted by the learned World, wherever Englijh 
 or French is known. What Proficients have 
 tve in Philofophy, and Mathematicks ? Let 
 zWEurope reply, who has Read, and reading 
 admir'd them. Of thefe, I fhall mention but 
 *lwo^ who may be called the Glories of Eng- 
 land, Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Locke ; 
 the one of which had not his Equal in Eu- 
 rope, and neither of them had their Superior. 
 
 Thus have I fhewn You, M#dam, how 
 Poetry, Eloquence, Hiftory, and Philofophy, 
 have Appeared 5 Advanced, Declined, and 
 Vanifhed with the Drama, not only in 
 Greece and Ancient - Italy , but in Modern 
 France and England. So true it is, what 
 
 was 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfibid. 83 
 
 was formerly fo well faid, That, All thofe 
 Arts which reJpeU Humanity, have a cer- 
 tain Alliance, and a mutual 'Dependance, 
 and are defended andfupported by their com- 
 won Confederacy. 
 
 In my next, I lhall lay before You, the 
 State and Progrefs of Dramatic Toetry^ 
 from the Rejiauration to the Revolution, 
 
 1 am 3 Madam, 
 
 Tour moji obliged 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 Wm. Egerton. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 I Hope, Madam, You will allow, that 
 while I am thus pleading in Defence of 
 the St age j I am defending and fupporting 
 Toetry, the beft and the nobleft Kind of 
 Writing. For all other Writers are made 
 by Precept, and formed by Art ; but a Poet 
 prevails by the Force of Nature ; is exci- 
 ted by all that is powerful in Humanity $ and, 
 fometimes, by a Spirit, not his own, is exalted 
 to Divinity. 
 
 It 
 
84 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 If Poetry in other Countries has flouriflbt* 
 ed with the Stage, and been with "That neg- 
 le&ed, what muft become of it here in Eng- 
 land if the Stage is ruined ? Foreign Poets, 
 it is well known, have found both their Pub- 
 lic, and their Private Patrons. They who 
 excelled in Greece, were encouraged by the 
 Athenian State : nay, and by all Greece, a£- 
 fembled at their Olympian, Iftmean, Me- 
 mean, and Pythian Games; Rome had its 
 Scipios 3 its Cjesars and its Maecenases. 
 France had its magnanimous Richlieu, and 
 Its greater LEWIS; but the Prote&ion 
 which Poetry has found in England, has 
 been from the Stage alone. Some few, in- 
 deed of our private Gentlemen, have had 
 Souls large enough, and wanted only Power* 
 But of our Princes, how few have had any 
 Tafte of Arts ! nay, and of Thofe who had 
 any Relifii for the Sciences, fome have had 
 their Heads too full, and the Souls of others 
 have been too narrow ! 
 
 As, then, in maintaining the Caufe of tlje 
 Stage, Madam, I am defending Poetry in 
 general ; in that Defenfe, I am alfo pleading 
 for Eloquence, Hiftory and Philofophy. I 
 am pleading for the reafonable Pleafures of 
 Mankind, the only harmlefs, the only cheap, 
 the only univerfal Pleafures ; the Nourifti- 
 ments of Youth, and the Delights of Age ; 
 the Ornaments of Profperity, and the fureft 
 ban&uaries of Adverfity^ now infolently 
 
 attacked 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 85 
 
 attacked by furious Zeal, too wretchedly blind 
 to fee their Beauties, or difcern their Inno- 
 cence. For, unlefs the Stage be encouraged in 
 England^ Poetry cannot fubfift ; there never 
 was any Man a great Poet, who did not make 
 it his Bufinefs, as well as Pleafure, and folely 
 abandon himfelf to that Amufement. And as 
 fPoetry would be cruflied by the Ruins of the 
 Stage; fo 'Eloquence would be miferably 
 maimed by them 3 - for which, if Action be 
 confeffed the Life of it y the theatre is cer- 
 tainly the beft of Schools j and if Action be 
 not the Life of Demosthenes, and your 
 felf Madam are much miftaken. 
 
 In Eloquence *, I humbly conceive that 
 the Tulpit is fomething concerned, and by 
 Confequence in the Stage ; furely therefore 
 we need not be alliamed to learn from that 
 Place which inftru&ed Cicero, and which 
 formed a Demosthenes and an Oldfield* 
 For I will confidently affert, that if the 
 Stage were arrived to that Degree of Pu- 
 rity, to which in the Space of fome little 
 Time it may eafily be brought, the frequent- 
 ing of our Theatres would advance Reli- 
 gion, and confequently the Happinefs of 
 Mankind. 
 
 Let us now, Madam, take a fliort View 
 of the State and Trogrefs of Dramatic 
 'Poetry when Letters began again to flou- 
 rish, and the Stage to lift up its Head, un- 
 der the Aufpices of King Charles II. 
 
 O That 
 
$6 M E M O I R S of the 
 
 That ingenious Frenchman Monfieur 2)<f 
 Saint Evremond y obferved of England y 
 <c That there is no Nation where the Meft 
 cc have more Courage, where the Women: 
 <c have more Beauty, and where both Sexes 
 u have more Wit. But, fays be 3 it is im- 
 €C polfible that one Nation can have every 
 <c Thing. There is no Country in Europe > 
 u where a good Tafte is fo rare." And this 
 was wrote at a Time, when perhaps the Eng- 
 glijh Tafte was better than ever it was be- 
 fore^ or than ever it has been fince. 
 
 Now it muft, indeed, be confefted, that 
 if we put the Degeneracy of our Tafte in 
 one Scale, we ought to put our Extrava- 
 gance into the other ; for the prefent Sub- 
 scriptions to Mafquerades, Italian Singers, 
 and Mufieians, amounts to a much larger 
 Sum than ever was beftowed upon real 
 Merit. 
 
 England has certainly produced great 
 Men in every Part of Learning, And as to 
 the Poetical- Clafs, the Subjeft of our pre- 
 fent Reprefentation, only be pleafed to hear., 
 Madam, how they have been ufed. 
 
 We have often negle&ed our Native 
 and fineft Geniufes. The great Lord Bacon 
 was fuffer ed to die poor and miferable ; and 
 the great Spenser to ftarveo Ben Johnson, 
 was more than once facrificed to his worth- 
 lefs Rivals. Milton^ who was an Honour 
 to this Nation,, and an Ornament to Human- 
 kind.. 
 
Life of Mrs. Old field. 87 
 
 kind, continued long negle&ed and obfcure* 
 How few of thofe to whom he wrote, had 
 Eyes for his matchlefs Beauties ! How many 
 of them were more blind than He ! 
 
 O n the other Side of Tarvaffus, the ad- 
 mirable Pleafantry of Butler, found ftill 
 worfe Quarter, than the Force, Elevation, 
 and Sublimity of Milton. In fliort, Madam^ 
 Butler was fulfered to Die in a Garret, 
 Otway in an Ale*houfe 5 and poor Nat 
 Lee in the Streets. What did we not lofe 
 In Butler ? He was a whole Species of Poets 
 in One; admirable in a Manner, in which no 
 one elfe has been tolerable a Manner which 
 began and ended in him ; in which he knew 
 no Guide, and has found no Followers. Yet 
 Butler fo extraordinary a Man in his Kind 5 
 was not a greater Matter in railing our 
 Mirth, than Otway in drawing Tears from 
 lis. He had a Faculty in touching the fofter 
 Palfions beyond both Ancients and Moderns, 
 except only Euripides^ yet he who moved 
 our Pity fo ftrongly in the Diftreffes of Mo- 
 nimia^ and of Behidera^ could excite none 
 at all for his own Calamity, but languished 
 in Adverfity unpitied, and died unlamented. 
 Mr. Wycherley fuffered the Reftraint of a 
 Seven Years clofe Imprifonment, while the 
 worthlefs Writers of Farce flourillied ; and 
 that for an inconfiderable Debt, his Merit and 
 Fortune confidered ; and experienced all that 
 Esfenefs in his Relations, Friends and Ac- 
 O z quaintance 
 
88 MEMO IRS of the 
 
 quaintance againft which the Tlain *Deakr 
 had with lb much Warmth inveighed. 
 
 Mr. DrydeNj who had fo many good 
 Qualities, who refined the Language of our 
 Rhyming- Poetry., and improved its Harmo- 
 ny ; who thought often fo finely, fo juftly, 
 fo greatly, fo nobly, who had the Art of 
 Reafoning very ftrongly in very elegant 
 Verfe j and who of all our Rhyming-Poets 
 wrote beyond Comparifon, with moft Force, 
 and with moft Elevation was frequently fa- 
 crificed to his worthlefs Contemporaries, 
 and could never receive Encouragement e- 
 nough to fet him entirely at Eafe. 
 
 Mr. Congre YE, one of the greateft Or- 
 naments of the Comic-Scene, after he had for 
 feveral Years entertained the Town, with 
 that Wit, and Humour, and Art, and Vi- 
 vacity, which are fo becoming of the Comic- 
 Stage, produced at laji a Play ( Ihe Way of 
 the World ) which, befides that it was equal 
 to moft of the former in thofe pleafant Hu- 
 mours which the Laughers fo much require, 
 had fome certain Scenes in it, that were 
 wrote with fo much Grace and Delicacy, 
 that they alone \yere worth an entire Come- 
 dy. What was the Event ? the Play was 
 hiffed by barbarous Fools in the Adting ; and 
 an impertinent Trifle was brought on after 
 it, which was a&ed with vaft Applaufe. This 
 Treatment juftly raifed fo much Indignation 
 in Mr, CoNGRjEVF,- that he quitted the Stage 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 8^ 
 
 In Difdain, and it may almoft be faid, that 3 
 Comedy left it with him. And You, Ma- 
 da m, very well know, that it is our Fond- 
 nefs of introducing whimfical Farces upon 
 the Stage, which has fo long kept Sir John 
 [Vanbrugh s excellent Mufe filent. 
 
 Thus have I reprefented in as fliort a 
 Method as I could, the ungenerous Treat- 
 ment which fo many extraordinary Men have 
 received among us for a Century paft $ and 
 I fee but little Probability of our Amend- 
 ment: For, the Prefent, muft be called the 
 ^Degenerate Age. Where is now the Capa- 
 city and Profoundnefs of Bacon the fine 
 Painting of Spenser, the Force and Subli- 
 mity and Elevation of Milton • the fine 
 Thinking and Elegance and Verification of 
 Dryden ; the Fire and Enthufiafm of Lee ; 
 the Moving, Melting, Tendernefs of Otway ; 
 the Pleafantry of Butler j the Wit and Sa- 
 tire of Wycherley; the Humour of Far- 
 cluhar ; and the Spirit, and Art, and Grace 
 of Congreve ? Thefe Lolfes, Madam, we 
 may Lament but cannot Retrieve ; nor, is 
 our Stage worth beholding but when You 
 are on it, is the real Opinion of 
 
 Tours, &c* 
 
 W. f 4 
 
MEMOIRS of the 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 I Was this Morning, Madam, fo happy, 
 as to be favoured with an Hours Vifit 
 by Sir John Vanbrugh, who tells me that 
 You think me much too rajfo y in cenfuring 
 the prefent Times under the fevere Denomi- 
 nation of the 'Degenerate Age. I am forry 
 You think fo Madam, but I hope one Pofi- 
 tion I fhall here lay down, will convince 
 You that my Aflfertion is not fo rafh as, at 
 firft Sight^ it may appear to be. 
 
 During the Reign of King Charles II. 
 we had no lefs than Eight * Gentlemen all 
 excellent in Dramatic Writing • but, how 
 the Number is now lelTened, I fubmit wholly 
 to your Judgment, and, fhall proceed to the 
 proving thefe Two Things. 
 
 Firft, That the Stage is inflrumental to 
 the Happinefs cf Mankind in general. 
 
 Secondly, That it is more particularly in^ 
 {Irumentai to the Happinefs of Engliftmen. 
 
 It is univerfally acknowledged "that Hap- 
 pinefs confifts in Pleafure, which is, at leaft, 
 the chief and the final Motive to it, if it is 
 
 * The Duke of Buckingham* Sir George Etherege, Dryden, 
 Lee, Otwav, Wycherley, Shadwell, and Crown. 
 
 not 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 5>i 
 
 hot the immediate one. And Providence 
 feems to have fufficiently declared, That Plea- 
 fure was intended for our Spring and Foun- 
 tain of A&ion, when it made it the Incen- 
 tive to thofe very Atls by which we propa- 
 gate our Kind, and preferve Our felves. As 
 if Self- Love, without Pleafure, were infuffi-* 
 cient for either ; for, as that moft judicious 
 French Writer, Monfieur Pascal obferves^ 
 thofe veryPerfons who lay violent Hands upon 
 themfelves, are inftigated by the fecret Plea- 
 fure which they have, from the Thought 
 that they fhall be freed from Pain. But, 
 this muft be confeffed, that all Kinds of Hap- 
 pinefs, is owing to Taj/ion^ and not to Rea- 
 fon. For the Paffions, which are in their 
 Natures fb very troubiefome, are only fo^ 
 becaufe their Motions are always contrary to 
 the Motions of the Will y as Grief, Sorrow^ 
 Shame and Jealoufy. And that which makes 
 fome Paffions in their Natures pleafant, is 
 becaufe they move with the Will ; as Love > 
 Joy, Pity, Hope, Terror^ and fometimes 
 Anger. But this is certain, that no PafEon 
 can move in a full Confent with the Willy 
 unlefs at the fame Time it be approved of by 
 the Under jianding. And no Paflion can be 
 allowed of by the Underftanding, that is not 
 taifed by its true Springs, and augmented by 
 its juft Degrees. Now it is fo very rare to 
 have our Paffions thus raifed, and fo improv- 
 ed> that it is the only Reafon why we are 
 
 fo 
 
<>z MEMO IKS of the 
 
 fo feldom thoroughly and fincerely pleafed. 
 But in the jDrama, the Paflions are falfe and 
 abominable, unlefs they are moved by their 
 true Springs, and raifed by their juft Degrees. 
 ,They are thus moved, and raifed, in every 
 well-wrote 'Tragedy, till they come to as 
 great a Height as Reafon can very well bear. 
 Befides, the very Motion has a Tendency to 
 the fubje&ing them to Reafon, and the very 
 Raifihg purges and moderates them. So that 
 the Paflions are feldom any where fo pleafing, 
 and no where fo fafe, as they are in Tragedy. 
 P?hus have I ftiewn, Madam, that to be Hap- 
 py, is to be pleafed, and to be pleafcd, is to 
 be moved in fuch a Manner, as is allowed of 
 by Reafon ; I have fhewn too, that as Tra- 
 gedy thus moves Us, and pleafes Us, it confe- , 
 quently makes Us happy, which was the firft 
 Thing to be proved, and I now come to the 
 fecondy viz. Thinking Perfons have endea- 
 voured to deduce their Happinefs from 'Rea- 
 fon and not from Taffion. But it is to be ob- 
 ferved that fuch People thro' the Exa&nefs 
 cr Morofenefs of their Judgments, are too 
 fcrupulous in the Allowance of the Paflions ; 
 from whence it proceeds that Things very 
 rarely happen in Life, to raife their Paflions 
 in fuch a Manner as to approve them to 
 their Underftandings, and, confequently to 
 make them move in Confent with their Wills. 
 This it is which makes Splenetick Terfons fo 
 very unhappy, and fo much harder to be 1 
 
 pleafed, 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. <>$ 
 
 pleafed, than Others, which is every Day 
 confirmed by Experience : It is alfo obferved 
 that their Pafllons move for the moft part 
 with a contrary Motion to that of their Wills 
 and fo afflict, inftead of delighting them. It 
 is a general Obfervation, that no Nation in 
 Europe is fo much addicted to the Spleen as 
 the Efiglijh. This is apparent to any Obfer- 
 ver from the reigning Diftemper of the Clime, 
 which is infepardble from the Spleen, as may 
 be perceived by that gloomy and fullen Tem- 
 per, generally fpread throughout this King- 
 dom; and from that natural Difcontentednefs, 
 which makes Us fo uneafy to our felves and 
 to one another. Since therefore the Unglijh 
 are more Splenetick than other People, andj 
 confequently, more Thoughtful and more Re- 
 flecting, and therefore more fcrupulous in 
 allowing their Paflions, Things feidom hap^ 
 pening to move them fo agreeably to their 
 Reafons, as to entertain and pleafe them ; and 
 there being no true and fincere Pleafure, unlefs 
 thefe PalTions are thus moved, nor any Happi-* 
 nefs without Pleafure; it folio ws,* That the 
 Englijh, to be happy, have more need, than o- 
 ther People, of fomething that will raife their 
 Pafllons in fuch a Manner, as fhall be agree- 
 I able to their Reafons, and that by Confequence, 
 they have more need of the Tirama. 
 
 And now, Madam^ after fo much Philofo- 
 phy concerning Happinefs and Pieafure if I 
 am but fo happy, in thefe fmall Difquiiition^ 
 
 P £s 
 
5>4 
 
 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 as to pleafe You, I fhall defire no greatef 
 Happinefs, till I have the Pleafure of pur- 
 fuing this Topic and fubmitting, all 1 have 
 to offer, to your unerring Judgment. 
 
 O U have. Madam, by confirming the 
 
 JL Pofitions laid down in my Laft, height- 
 ened my Happinefs ; tho', to check it again,, 
 you tell me a formidable Author, now upon 
 your Desk, roundly Alferts that, cc the Dra- 
 iC ma makes People unhappy, by nourifliing 
 cc and fomenting thofe Paflions which occa- 
 a fion the Follies and Imprudences from 
 cc whence proceeds all their Misfortunes. 
 c * And not only indulges Love where it is y 
 $ but creates it where it is not." You add ? 
 Madam, that the Author you refer me to, 
 is famous for Criticifm, and gives it as his 
 Opinion that the €C 'Purgation which Arifto- 
 * c tie mentions, is merely Chimerical; and that 
 <sc the more the 'Pajjions in any one are moved^ 
 €c the more obnoxious they are to be moved^ 
 cc and the more unruly they grow." This 
 Writer, Madam, I know is a very celebrated 
 French Gentleman, but by Monfieur T>e St. 
 
 Evrsmond\ 
 
 I am (?c. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 5>j 
 
 Lvremond\ Favour, this Aflertion does not 
 only contradict driftotle, but every Man 5 daily 
 Experience. And all Men of Sen fe, particu- 
 larly, will allow that the oftner they frequent 
 the Theatre, the harder they are to be pleafed, 
 that is, moved ; and when, at length, they 
 happen to be very much touched by a Scene^ 
 we may fafely conclude, That fuch a Scene 
 is very well wrote both for Nature and Art. 
 May it not therefore be very well fuppofed, 
 that a fenfible Perfon will not be over ob- 
 noxious to feel too much Compaffton upon the 
 view of Calamities which happen every Day 
 in the World, when they, and the Perfons 
 to whom they happen, may not fo much as 
 once in an Age, have all the Qualifications 
 that are required extremely to touch him ? 
 * But fince it is urged that the jDraina y 
 and particularly Tragedy manifeftly indulges 
 Love where it f j£ and creates it where it is 
 not ; To this I anfwer, that the Love repre- 
 fented in Tragedy, is Lawful and Regular, 
 or it is not. If it is not, why then in a Play, 
 which is wrote as it fliould be, (for I pretend 
 not to defend the Errors or Corruptions of 
 the Stage) it is ftiewn unfortunate in the 
 Cataftrophe, which is fufficient to make an 
 Audience averfe from engaging in the Excef- 
 fes of that Paflion. But if it is Lawful and 
 Regular, nothing makes a Man happier than 
 Love. I fpeak even of that immediate Plea- 
 fure which attends the Paflion it felf. And 
 
 P 2 as 
 
*>c MEMOIRS of the 
 
 as it certainly makes Him happy for the Pr§-? 
 fent, fo there is no Pafllon, which puts a Man 
 upon things that make Him happier for the 
 Future. For as People have for the moft 
 part, a very high Opinion of the Objed be- 
 loved, it makes them endeavour to become 
 worthy of it, and to increafe in Knowledge 
 and Virtue ; and not only frequently reclaims 
 them from fome grafter Pleafures, of which 
 they were fond before, but breeds in them an 
 utter Deteflation of fome unnatural Vices, 
 which are now too much in Ufe in England. 
 
 Laftly, the Drama^ is fo far from making 
 Men unhappy y that 'Tragedy in its Purity, 
 muft neceftarily make Men Virtuous. Firfi* 
 becaufe it moderates the Pafltons, whofeExcef- 
 fes caufe their Vices,- Secondly, becaufe it 
 inftru&s them in their Duties, both by its Fa- 
 ble, and by its Sentences. But to Conclude, 
 the grand Gbje&ion of moft of the Stage- Ad- 
 verfaries, is, that the Theatre is the propereft 
 Place in the World to meet, or to find a Miftrefs, 
 and that feyeral People go thither on Purpofe. 
 In Anfwer to this, I think it is plain, that if 
 there were no Theatres, People would go to 
 other Places upon the fame Defigns. Tho*, 
 if it be allowed, that fome People go to the 
 Theatre to meet their Miftreffes, yet it is evi- 
 dent that moft go to fee the Play, who if 
 they could not have that Diverfion would, 
 pot improbably, go to other Places, with far 
 W$tT$ Intentions, Thus having I hope Ma- 
 
Life of Mrs. Olbfield. 
 
 dam in your Opinion, fully made appear 
 that the Stage is inftrumental to the Happi- 
 nefs of Mankind, and more particularly of 
 TLngliJhmen ; I ftiall next turn Political Advo-* 
 cate for the Stage, and endeavour to fhew, 
 that, as it contributes to the Happinefs of 
 particular Men, it is alfo conducive to the 
 good of the State. In which attempt, Ma- 
 aam y if I can be but fo happy 3s to merit 
 your Approbation, it will compenfate thp 
 ultimate Wiflie§ of 
 
 Yours &c. 
 
 T. S. I am glad to hear, Madam^ that 
 The Tlain "Dealer is upon Revival; and 
 that you will do us the extreme pleafure of 
 reprefenting Olivia. By expofing Adultery, 
 and making it the immediate Caufe of that 
 Lady's Misfortunes, this excellent Comedy is 
 rendered a moft inftru&ive, and a mod noble 
 Satire, upon the Hypocrify and Villainy of 
 Mankind: Mr. Wycherley being, indeed, al- 
 moft the only modern Writer who has made 
 Comedy inftrudtive in its Fable ; almoft all 
 the reft, being contented to inftruft by their 
 Characters. Many are the extraordinary 
 Qualities which are peculiar to him alone; 
 his Wit, his Penetration, his Satire, his Art, 
 his Characters, and above all, that incompara- 
 ble Vivacity, by which he has happily equal- 
 led the Ancients, and fnrpaffed the Moderns. 
 
5 3 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 TH E Tolitich of the ^Drama^ Madam; 
 will, I hope, appear to be grounded 
 on Reafon and Experience. I fhall, jirfl 
 obferve, that Male-Adminiftration has always 
 its Source from the Paflions or Vices of thofe 
 who Govern. 
 
 The Tajfwns which caufe it are for the 
 moft part ambition, or the immoderate Love 
 of Pleafure. Now as tragedy checks the 
 One, by {hewing the Great Princes of the 
 Earth humbled ; fo it corre&s the Other, by 
 firing the Mind, and railing it to fomething 
 nobler. 
 
 The Vices which caufe the Male-Admini- 
 ftration of Governors, $re either Vices of 
 Weaknefs or Malice^ one caufes them to neg- 
 le&j and the other to opprefs their People, 
 Vices of Weaknefs are Inconfideratenefs, and 
 Effeminacy, Inconftancy and Irrefolution. 
 
 Nothing can be a better Remedy for In- 
 confideratenefs than 'Tragedy > which reminds 
 them of their Duty, and perpetually inftruds 
 them, either by its Fable or by its Sentences^ 
 and fhews them the ill and the fatal confe- 
 quences of irregular Adminiftration ; It raifes 
 the Soul, and gives it that Greatnefs, Cou- 
 rage, Force and Conilancy which are the 
 
 , jQuali- 
 
Life of Mrs. O l d f i e l t>. $9 
 
 Qualifications that make Men defire to com- 
 mand others ; as is evident from Experience* 
 For they who in all Countries, and Ages 3 
 have appeared mod to feel the Power of tra- 
 gedy, have been the moll: deferving and the 
 greateft of Men. ^Eschylus among the Athe- 
 nians was a great Captain as well as a Tragic 
 Poet; and Sophocles was both an able Statef- 
 man and a victorious General. The very grea- 
 teft among the 'Romans were Thofe who ap- 
 peared fo far touched by the 'Drama, as either 
 to write Plays, or build Theatres : Witnefs 
 Scipio, Li£Lius 3 and Lucullus ; the great 
 Pompey, Me can as, Julius and Augustus 
 Casar. 
 
 No Man among the French, has fhewn fo 
 much Capacity, and Greatnefs of Mind as 
 Cardinal Richlieu, nor expreiTed fo much 
 Paflxon for the TDrama; having wrote feveral 
 Plays himfelf, even whilft he was laying the 
 Plan of Univerfal Monarchy. And our Im- 
 mortal Princefs Queen Elizabeth, was fo 
 far charmed with it that She tranflated a 
 whole tragedy from Euripides. 
 
 That Vice of Malice, which chiefly cau- 
 fes Male-Adminiftration, is Cruelty, and cer- 
 tainly nothing is more capable of corre&ing 
 this, thznlragedy; which by diving into the 
 hidden Springs of Nature, and making life of 
 all that is powerful in her, in order to the mo- 
 ving Companion has been always found faf- 
 ficient to foften the moft obdurate Heart. 
 
 I am 
 
ioo MEMOIRS of the 
 
 I am next, Madam> to fhew that the Stage 
 is equally as ufeful to Subje&s, as to Princes ; 
 either as to one another or to animate them 
 againft the common Enemy. Tragedy is ve- 
 ry proper to check the Motions which the 
 Populace may at any time feel to Rebellion 
 or Difobedience, by (topping the very Sources 
 of themj for Tragedy naturally checks their 
 Ambition, by fhewing them the greateft 
 Princes of the Earth humbled, by fetting 
 before their Eyes the uncertainty of Human 
 Grandeur, the fudden Turns of State, and 
 the unhappy Conclufion of Violence or In- 
 juftice. tragedy likewife, diverts their Ap- 
 prehenfion of Grievances, by the Delight 
 which it gives them, discovers the Defigns 
 of their Fa&ious Guides, by opening their 
 Eyes, and inftru&ing them in their Duty by 
 the like Example ; and laftly it difpels their 
 unreafonable Jealoufies ; for People who are 
 melted or terrified with the Sufferings of the 
 Great, are rather apt to feel afecret Pleafure, 
 from the Senfe which they have of being free 
 from the like Calamities, than to torment 
 themfelves with the vain and uncertain Ap- 
 prehenfions of Futurity. 
 
 With relation to one another^ Tragedy di- 
 verts People from their unjuft Defigns, by 
 the Pleafure which it gives them ^ fince no 
 Man w T hile he is eafy Himfelf, is in a Humour 
 to difturb others. And in relation to the 
 common Enemy, nothing more raifes and 
 
 exalts 
 
Life of Mrs. O l t> f i e 1 d. ioi 
 
 exalts their Minds, and fires them with a noble 
 Emulation who fliall beft Perform their Duty* 
 About a Century ago, when Dramatic Poetry 
 flourished in France, they were not only 
 remarkably united, but advanced their Con- 
 ijuefts fo faft that they almoft doubled their 
 Empire. And it is a furprifing Thing to 
 conlider that the Spirit of Dramatic Poetry 
 leaving the French by the Death of Moliere^ 
 Corneille, and Racine, they have fince that 
 Time loft almoft half their former acquired 
 Conquefts. To come home to our felves^ 
 This may be faid to the Advantage of the 4 
 ^Drama in England, That fince it firft be- 
 gan to be cultivated among us, w T e have had 
 our Eyes more open, and found that our 
 Conftitution is but ill defigned for Conqueft; 
 that by being very fortunate, we fliould run 
 the Rifque of becoming very unhappy, and en- 
 danger our Liberties, by extending our Empire. 
 
 Having thus manifefted the Ufefulnefs of 
 the Stage to the Happinefs of Mankind, to 
 Government in General, aiid to the Unglijh 
 nation in Particular, I fihaJi in my next and 
 laft, Madam (refolving to give you no farther 
 Interruption, but hereby return you thanks 
 for the indulgent Hearing you have given me) 
 fully anfwer what has been, or I think is 
 polEble to be, objected againft the Stage either 
 from Authority, Reafon, or Religion, 
 
 I am Yours^C^v 
 Q LET, 
 
2-G 1 
 
 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 IS H A L L firft. Madam, lay before you 
 the Obje&ions againft the Stage, brought 
 from Authority. I ask the whole Legion of 
 Antagonifts whether the Bufinefs of Plays is 
 not to recommend Virtue, to difcountenance 
 Vice, and to bring to condign Punifliment all 
 enormous Crimes ? They muft Anfwer in the 
 Affirmitive, none of them can deny it. I 
 will then iliew how infi^nificant Human Au** 
 thority is againft Human Reafon. 
 
 We are told by Ecclefiafticks, that, Tlato^ 
 Jriftotle, and Cicero, cry out upon licentious 
 Plays* as the Bane of Sobriety and tending 
 to promote Lewdnefs. By licentious Plays^ 
 it is demonflrable that thefe Sages only in- 
 veighed againft the Corruptions of the Stage., 
 and Thofe, Madam, you will I am fure do 
 me the Juftice to acknowledge, I never pre- 
 tended to defend. Livy, I'acitus, and 'Plu- 
 tarch, with a long Bead-roll of Authorities^ 
 are all brought in as Evidence againft Corrup- 
 tion^ for which I fhall never pleads and fo all 
 of them fall to the Ground. 
 
 Mr. Collier in his Book againft the Immo- 
 rality of the Stage, is pleafed to bring Cita- 
 tions from a Popifh Bifhop's ^Decree £ * and 
 
 * The BiShcp of Arm. 
 
 tm 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 103 
 
 the Dutch Gazette^ and Mdfieurs jBedford 
 and Law may if they pleafe join Iffue in fuch 
 irrefragable Vouchers, but I cannot imagine 
 why fuch Trumpery fhotild be cited, and put 
 upon a Level with Philofophers, Councils, 
 Fathers and Hiftorians, unlefs our modern 
 Mafiers of Arts would flily inlinuate that 
 they are of equal Authority. But now to 
 proceed to the Objections brought from Rea- 
 lon and Religion. Thofe brought from Rea- 
 son are j%/r, to prove that the Stage encou- 
 rages IPride^ and Revenge; andexpofes Qiia- 
 iity and the Clergy. As the two firft are 
 General, and the two laft Particular, I fliall 
 fpeak to them all fuccin&ly. 
 
 I. Pride, indifpofes Men for Obedience^ 
 and living Peaceably. But if \ Ambition is meant 
 by 'Pride, the Stage is fo far from encouraging 
 it, that 'tis the Bufinefs of tragedy to dieter 
 Men from it, by fhewing the fall of Princes 
 and States ; or if Tride be made to fignify 
 Vanity 1 or its offspring Affe&ation, 'tis the 
 intent of Comedy to expofe thofe: But if by 
 Prides is meant Pride well regulated, and 
 which is truly called Greatnefs of Mind, or 
 Honour '$ then I muft confefs that the Stage 
 above all Things does encourage it, and by fo 
 doing, provides both for the Happinefs of 
 particular Men and for the Profperity of the 
 Public. 
 
 II. As to the Stages encouraging jR<?- 
 9$me $ it does on the contrary, keep Men from 
 
 Q. 2 reven- 
 
io 4 MEMOIRS of t the 
 
 revenging little In juries, by railing their minds 
 above them. But if it does fometimes fliew 
 its Characters, revenging intolerable Injuries, 
 and confequently punifhing enormous Crimes, 
 yet, by doing that, it deters Men from com- 
 mitting fuch Crimes, and from giving the 
 Occafions of fuch Revenge : So that we may 
 fet the one againft the other. It equally con- 
 cerns the Peace of Mankind, that Men fhould 
 decline the revenging little Injuries which 
 happen every Day, and yet fliould fometimes 
 revenge intolerable ones, which very fcldom 
 happen. That fort of tragedy wherein are 
 the bell: formed Chara&ers, and the beft Con-*- 
 trived Incidents to move CompafTion and Ter- 
 ror, has either no Revenge, or by no means 
 that fort of Revenge, which can encourage 
 the Crime in others. 
 
 III. The expofing (hiality on the Thea-* 
 tre, was very frequent with all the Writers 
 of old Comedy. The Athenian Nobility were 
 not only mentioned by name, but their very 
 Perfons produced by the refemblance of the 
 Vizors the Adlors wore. None of the Ro- 
 man Nobility were fpareJ, if they deferved 
 the Lafhj no not even Perfons of Confular 
 Dignity. But to come to the Reafon of 
 the Thing among ourfelves; If a Lord may 
 not be iliewn a Fool upon the Stage (tho 9 as 
 Mr. Wycherley fays, He proves a Leaden 
 Shilling) I would fain ask what Fools a Co- 
 piic Poet may lawfully lh ew there, ^nd at 
 
 what 
 
Life of Mrs. Old field* 105 
 
 what condition of Men he is obliged to Stop ? 
 Or, whether the Bard may be allowed to dub 
 his Dramatical Coxcombs? may he {hew a 
 Fool a Knight Baronet, or a Knight-Batchel- 
 or ? Or, are they too included in Quality ? 
 muft he be obliged to go no farther than 
 Squire ? And muft Fool and Squire conti- 
 nue to be Terms Synonymous ? whoever will 
 give himfelf the Diverfion to ask oar Stage 
 Antagonifts thefe Queftions, I dare engage 
 that he will find them fufficiently embarraffecfo 
 For, fince the bare Advantage of Perfons of 
 Diftin&ion makes many of them infupportable, 
 why fhould any one endeavour to add to their 
 Vanity, by exempting them from common 
 Cenfure ? 
 
 Befides, fince Follies ought to be expofed, 
 the Follies of the Great are the fitteft, as be- 
 ing moft Confpicuous and moft Contagious. 
 The Follies of the meaner Sort are often the 
 effe&s of Ignorance, and merit Companion 
 rather than Contempt. AfFe&ed Follies are 
 the moft defpicable, and as I have already ob- 
 ferved, Jfftctation is the Child of Vanity >, and 
 Vanity the Child of Quality. 
 
 Laftly, why fhould a Lord be free from 
 Dramatical Cenfure, when he can be correc- 
 ed no where but upon the Stage ? A Commo- 
 ner may be rebuked in Company, but fuch 
 friendly admonition to a Lord, would be in- 
 terpreted Scandal. Toconclude, Folly as well 
 jtSfVke. isPerfonal, and the Satirq of Comedy, 
 
 falls 
 
ictf MEMOIRS of the 
 
 falls not upon the Order of Men out of which 
 the ridiculous Characters are taken, but upon 
 the Perfons of all Orders who are affe&ed 
 with the like Follies* v 
 
 IV. Expofing the Clergy is next to be con- 
 fidered. Here I fhall be Brief It is pretended, 
 that, to affront a Prieft, is to affront the Deity; 
 fo it is to affront a Peafant who is a good 
 Chriftian: Befides, Affronts are always Per- 
 fonal, but a Prieft in a Play is a general Cha^ 
 ra&er; and the bringing an ill, or a ridiculous, 
 one upon the Stage, rather proceeds from our 
 Veneration for Religion, than from any Con- 
 tempt of it# 
 
 Now for the clofing Articles, Reafon and 
 'Religion. It is plain from Hiftory and Experi- 
 ence, that Religion has always flourifhed with 
 the Stage ; for the Jthenians and Romans 
 who moft encouraged it, were the moft religi- 
 ons People in the World. And upon our own 
 Stage, Profligate Chara&ers are always facri- 
 ficed to Dramatical Juftice. Thus %)on John 
 Is deftroyed for his Libertinifm and his Impi- 
 ety ; Timon for his Profufion and Intempe- 
 rance ; Mackbeth for his lawlefs Ambition and 
 Cruelty; Ca ft alio for his Falfhood to his 
 Brother and his Friend ; Jaffeir for his clan- 
 deftine Marraige with the Daughter of his 
 Benefa&or ; and 'Belvidera for her Difobedi- 
 ence. This alfo is remarkable, that the 
 Church and the Hierarchy^ ever fince the 
 Reformation^ have fourijhed with the Stage* 
 
 were 
 
Life of Mrs. O ldjield. 107 
 
 were depofed with it^ and Reft or ed with it y 
 and that they may ftill continue mutually to 
 flour iJJ^ i$my hearty 'Prayer ; to which Ma- 
 dam, I am lure you are fo good a Chriftiaa 
 as to fay Amen. 
 
 !P. S. I hope. Madam, the following 
 Chara&ers of the Plays, of which you were 
 pleafed to ask my Opinion,, will prove Satifr 
 ia&ory. viz. 
 
 the Country Wife. 
 
 In the%)ratnaof this Comedy, the Husband 
 is reprefented to be one of thofe Debauchees 
 who run through the Vices of the Town, and 
 believe, when they think fit, they can marry and 
 fettle at their Eafe. His own Knowledge of 
 the Iniquity of the Age, makes him chufe a 
 Wife wholly ignorant of it, and place his 
 Security in her want of Skill how to abufe 
 Jhim. The Poet, on many eecafions, where 
 the Propriety of the Character will admit of it, 
 infinuates, That there is no Defence againft 
 Vice, but the Contempt of it : And has, in 
 the Natural Ideas of an Untainted Innocent, 
 fhown the gradual Steps to Ruin and Deftruc- 
 tion, which Perfons of Condition run into, 
 without the Help of a good Education how to 
 form their Conduct. The Torment of a Jea- 
 lous Coxcomb, which arifes from his own 
 
 Falfe 
 
ioS MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Falfe Maxims, and the Aggravation of hisPair^ 
 by the very Words in which he fees her In- 
 nocence, makes a very pleafarit and inftru&ive 
 Satire. The Character of Homer, and the 
 defign of it, is a good Reprefentation of the 
 Age, in which that Comedy was written at 
 which Time Love and Wenching were the 
 Bufinefsof Life, and the Gallant Manner of 
 purfuing Women was the beft Recommenda-* 
 tion at Court. To which only it is to be 
 imputed, that a Gentleman of Mr. Wycherleys 
 Character and Senfe, condefcends to reprefent 
 the Infults done to the Honour of the Bed, 
 without juft Reproof, but to have drawn a 
 Man of Probity with Regard to fuehGonfide- 
 rations, had been a Monfter, and a Poet had 
 at that Time difcovered his want of know- 
 ing the Manners of the Court he lived in„ 
 by aVertuous Chara&er in his fine Gentleman^ 
 as he would fliow his Ignorance, by drawing 
 a Vicious One to pleafe the prefent Audience, 35 
 
 II. 
 
 The Alchymist, 
 
 This Comedy is an Example of Sen 
 Johnforis Extenfive Genius and Penetra- 
 tion into the Paflions and Follies of Man- 
 kind. The Scene in the Fourth Aft, where 
 all the cheated People expofe the Man that 
 
 Sec, The Tatler. N°. J, 
 
 would 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. i 09 
 
 would open their Eyes, has fomething in it 
 fo inimitably Excellent, that it is certainly as 
 great a Mafter-piece as has ever appeared by 
 any Hand. The Authors great Addrefs in 
 ihewing Covetoufnefs, the Motive of the 
 Actions of the Turitan^ the Gamefter, the 
 Epicure ) and the 'Trader and that all their 
 Endeavours, how differently foever they feem 
 to tend, center only in that one Point of Gain 5 
 lhews that he had to a great Perfe&ion that 
 Difcernment of Spirit, which conftitutes a 
 Genius for a Comedy. * 
 
 I 1; HL - '11 
 
 Volpone: Or, The Fox. 
 
 In this Play Ben Johnfon has made every 
 Man s Paflion be towards Money, and yet 
 not one of them exprelfes that Defire, or en- 
 deavours to obtain it any way but what is 
 peculiar to him only : One Sacrifices his Wife 5 
 another his ProfefTion, another his Pofterity^ 
 from the fame Motive >• but their Characters 
 are kept fo skilfully apart, that it feems pro^ 
 digious their Difcourfes fhould rife from the 
 Invention of the fame Author, f 
 
 * Tatler, K° 14. Vol, I, f Tatler, N°. 14. Vol. lit 
 
 K IV, 
 
1 10 MEMOIRS ofjh 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Bus i£ Body; 
 
 This Comedy was written by Mrs. Cenf~ 
 livre. The Plot and Incidents of the Play 
 are laid with that fubtilty of Spirit which 
 is peculiar to Females of Wit, and is very 
 feldom well performed by thofe of the o- 
 thcr Sex, in whom Craft in Love is an A£l 
 of Invention, and not as with Women the 
 Effe& of Nature and Inftinft, * 
 
 V, 
 
 The Earl of Bffex. 
 
 There is not one good Line in this Tra- 
 gedy, and yet it is a Play which w r as ne- 
 ver feen without drawing Tears from fome 
 part of the Audience. A remarkable In- 
 ftance, that the Soul is not to be moved by 
 Words, but Things ; for the Incidents in this 
 Drama are laid together fo happily, that 
 the Spedator makes the Play for himfelf, by 
 the Force which the Circumftance has upoii 
 Imagination. Thus in fpight of the moft dry 
 Difcourfes, and Expreflions almoft as ridicu- 
 lous with refped to Propriety, it is impoliible 
 lor one unprejudiced to fee it untouched with 
 
 *TatIer. . N°. i*. Vol. I 
 
 Pity. 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldtieid. ii£ 
 
 Pity. I muft confefs that the Effed is not 
 wrought on fuch as examine why they are 
 pleafed ; but it never fails to appear on thofe 
 who are not too learned in Nature 3 to be 
 moved by her firft Suggeltions. * 
 
 VI. 
 
 Epfem-W ells. 
 
 This Comedy is very juft, and the low 
 part of Human Life reprefented with much. 
 Humour and Wit. t 
 
 VII. 
 
 The Old Batchelol 
 
 Is a Comedy of deferved Reputation, 
 In the Chara&er which gives Name to this 
 Play, there is excellently reprefented the Re- 
 luctance of a battered Debauchee to come 
 into the Tramels of Order and Decency: 
 He neither languifhes nor burns,, but frets 
 for Love. The Gentlemen of more regular 
 Behaviour, are drawn with much Spirit and 
 Wit. and the Drama introduced by the Dia- 
 logue of the firft Scene with uncommon, 
 yet natural Converfation. The Part of 
 Fondlewife is a lively Image of the unfeafona- 
 bJLe Fondnefs of Age and Impotence. § 
 
 * Tatler. N°- 14.. Vol. t. f Tatler. N°. 7. Vol, I. 
 § Tatler, N°. 9 Vol. 1, 
 
 r 2 yiiL 
 
xit MEMO IRS .of the 
 
 VIIL 
 
 The Modern Prophets. 
 
 The 'Drama of this Play is a mqfi: unan- 
 fwerable Satire againft the Spirit of Enthu- 
 Jiafm. Mr, c Darjey had by long Experience 
 obferved. That in Company^ very grave Dif- 
 courfes have been followed by Bawdy j and 
 therefore he has turned the Humour that Way 
 with great Succefs, and taken from his Audi* 
 ence all manner of Superftition^ by the pretty 
 Agitations of Mrs. itichiell^ whom he has 
 made a Lay-Sifter as well as a Trophetefs > 
 by which means jhe carries on the Affairs 
 of both Worlds with great Succefs. * 
 
 The Recruiting Officer. 
 
 The Humour is not hit in the Chara&er of 
 Serjeant Kite^ and if it be not admirably fup- 
 plied by the A£tioft of the Perfon who per- 
 forms that Part 3 the Play cannot be fuppor- 
 ted. f 
 
 X. 
 
 A Trip to the JuhiJee. 
 
 The Dialogue of this Play has fomething 
 too low to bear a Criticifm upon it, but the 
 
 * Tatlcr. N 9 . lie Vol. I. f Tatler. N°. 20. Vol. I, 
 
 Gallantry,, 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 113 
 
 Gallantry 3 the Youth, and Gaiety of a young 
 Man of a plentiful Fortune, is looked upon 
 with as much Indulgence on the Stage, as in 
 real Life, without any of thofe Intermixtures 
 of Wit and Humour, which ufually prepoflefs 
 us in favour of fuch Characters in other 
 Plays. 
 
 Let us now return for the laft Time, to the 
 Theatre. Having already mentioned Mifs 
 Campion's good Fortune, in being honoured 
 with the Friendfhip of the Duke of tDevon- 
 Jhire> I am here to obferve, that, a very fhort 
 time put a Period to her Happinefc. 
 
 Paying fome Vifits, laft Summer, to my 
 Friends in ^ztckinghamjhire^ (as the Monu- 
 ments of the Dead never efcape my Notice) 
 in Latimer s Church in that County, I found 
 Mifs Campion was Buried. She was taken 
 off in her Bloom, by a He&ic-Fever, under 
 which (he languished four Months, being but 
 Nineteen Years of Age. Her Endowments 
 both of Mind and Body, are very elegantly 
 delineated in the following Infcription, upon 
 a very neat Marble Tablature erected to her 
 Memory, in the Church above mentioned, by 
 his Grace William Duke of < Devoi?Jhire. 
 Requiefcit Hie 
 Pars mortalis Marias Annas: Campion, 
 
 Obijt 19 Maij, Anno M.DCC.VL iEtat. 19. 
 Quod fupercfl ex altera parte quaere, 
 Formam Egregiam et miris illecebris ornatum, 
 
 VirtutQ 
 
ii 4 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Virtutes Animi fuperarunt 
 Plebeium genus (fed honeftum) 
 Nobilitate morum decoravit. 
 Supra seta tern Sagax, 
 Supra Sortcm (praefertim egenis) benigna. 
 fnterSccnicosLudos'in quibusaliquandiu verfata efl) 
 Verecunda et intemerata 
 Foil quatuor menfium languorem 
 (a Febri He&ica cofreptum) 
 Intempellivam mortem 
 Forti pectore et Chriftiana Pietate fubivit 
 Humanitate praeditis 
 (Si quid mcntem mortalia tangunt) 
 Flebilis; 
 Amicis heu flebilior ! 
 Dile&iffimis Reliquijs Sacrum , 
 Lapidem hunc ponicuravit, 
 G. D. D, * 
 
 The foregoing Infcription has been thus 
 attempted in Engl(/h 3 viz* 
 
 Mary Anne Campion, 
 Died on the ipth Day of May, \Jo6 y 
 in the 19th Year of her Age. 
 
 Reft fig in Qeace, her Mortal (Party here Lies 1 
 But, her Immortal Soul, a [fumes the Skies. 
 Her lovely Form with ev'ry Grace conjoined 
 lllafirated the Virtues of her Mind 
 
 * i. e. GuKcImus Devonis: Dux. 
 
Life of Mrs. Old fie ld. 115 
 
 Tho meanly Born, her Morals were Jincere, 
 And fuch y as the mojl 'Noble Blood might wear. 
 Her Wifdom far above her Tears did JboWj 
 Above her Fortune did her Bounty flow. 
 Some Tears the Stage her fprightly ASiion gracd r 
 Mojl other s^ in her Condutf^fbe farpafs'd. 
 Four Months a Ling'ring Fevers wajling QainSy 
 Her Breajl with Chrijlian Fortitude fujiains. 
 Her immature Deceafe foft Hearts bewail^ 
 Relentlefs.Grief her loving Friends, aJJ'aiL 
 Sacred to her mojl dear Remains , be't known y 
 His Grace of Devon Confecrates this Stone m 
 
 The Gentleman who favoured me with 
 the Tranflation of Mifs Campion's Infcrip- 
 tion, allures me, that in the Blank Leaf of her 
 Common Prayer-Book, given her by the Duke 
 ef Devonshire) were written the following 
 Twelve remarkable Verfes, from Mr. Dry- 
 den s Conqueft of Granada, which it feems 
 his Grace recommended to her as a Plan of 
 Natural Religion, and of his own Belief in 
 fuch Matters, viz. 
 
 By Reafon Man a Godhead may Difcern^ 
 But how he fhould be worfhifd cannot learn. 
 O Heav'n how dark a Riddle's thy Decree y 
 Which Bounds our Wills y yet feems to leave 'em Free ?' 
 Since thy Fore-knowledge cannot be in vain 
 Our Choice muji be what thou did/} firjl Ordain. 
 
 Thus 
 
n6 MEMOIRSof/^ 
 
 Thus like a Captive in an tJ7e confitfd 
 Man walks at large, a Qrifoner of the Mind. 
 Wills all hisCrimeSywhileHeav'n th'Indiftment draws. 
 And pleading Guilty jujlifies the Laws. 
 None hwws what Fate is for himfelf defigtid, 
 The thought of HumanChance JhouldMake us Kind* 
 
 His Grace of Ttevonjhire did not long fur- 
 vive Mifs Campion, Dying in about a Year 
 after her. This Amour, and the Dukes 
 Political Chara&er, drew upon Dr. White 
 Kennet, late Biiliop of Teterhorow fome 
 very fevere Reflections, on Account of the 
 Sermon he Preached at his Funeral in the 
 Church of All-hallows in T>erby> Sept. 5. 
 1707. I fliall not load thefe Papers with 
 a recital of what has been faid Pro and Con^ 
 by Pamphleteers, but content my felf, and 
 I hope the Reader, in giving a fliort State of 
 the Cafe, as it is very handfomely drawn up 
 with regard to the Memories both of the 
 Spiritual and Temporal Peer by the Writer 
 
 of Biflhop Rennet's Life. * cc a growing 
 
 cc Set of People, were difpofed to diflike 
 <c every thing he wrote or did: For the 
 <c Times were now come, when Parties judged 
 cc of Actions and Writings, not by the Merit 
 cc of the Performances, but by the Affe&ion 
 €C or Prejudice they bore to the name of the 
 cc Authors of them. He was now ftampt 
 
 * See Biftiop Kenneth Life, Printed in Q£hvo, 1730. pag. 
 35, & Seq. 
 
 for 
 
Life of Mrs. OldpieLD. 117 
 
 for a Whig-Writer ; which was as bad as the 
 being a Republican, and a 'Presbyterian; 
 and that was worfe than the being a Tapifi. 
 Many of our beft Prelates and Divines have 
 fuffered under the fame Prejudices of Malice 
 and Ignorance • when their Political Writings 
 have offended, then the Party run down all 
 their other Performances whatfoever. When 
 once Angry, they catch at new Caufes, and 
 freflier pretences of being more Angry ; like 
 Children and other People of no Command 
 upon themfelves, they are fcratching of a new 
 Wound, becaufe of an Itching in the old 
 Sore. 
 
 It was under this Difadvantage that Doc- 
 ter Kennet was called to preach a Ftmerat 
 Sermon for the Duke of ^De^onjhire, from 
 which he excufed himfelf, as a Stranger to 
 that noble Family, and till then utterly un- 
 known to them. But it appeared that a Re- 
 verend Prelate had recommended him to that 
 Duty, and had undertaken to give him fuch 
 Inftru&ions, as might enable him to fpeak 
 with Truth ard proper Obfervations of that 
 Great Man. Upon this Encouragement, he 
 complied with the importunate Requeft, and 
 upon a fliort Warning, amidft the NeceHlty of 
 asking many Queftions, and making many Vi- 
 fits, he drew up a ferious Sermon, and attended 
 the very folemn Funeral to c Derb\\ delivering 
 the Sermon before a very full Audience of the 
 neighbouring Gentry, who could beft Judge 
 
 S of 
 
1 1 8 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 of the Character given of that noble Peer j 
 and in the fame Evening, one of them at 
 Table, in the Name of the Reft, thanked the 
 Preacher, and told him, that they in that 
 Country,, had been Witneflfes of the Truth of 
 the moft material Things he had fo well 
 fpoken of the Late Duke : And it was by 
 their Report, and the concurrent Teftimony 
 of that Part of the Family that attended thofe 
 Obfequies, that his late Grace the Duke 
 o£ < Devonfhire> a Peer of great Prudence and 
 Probity, generoufly approved of that laft 
 Office, and defired the Dodor to publifli the 
 Sermon • to which he fubmitted with the lefs 
 Fear of Offence, becaufe all he faid relating 
 to his Life, was either fuggefted or allowed 
 by the then Bifliop of Samm> who was inti- 
 mately acquainted with his Graces Condud j 
 and all that he Obferved concerning his Sick- 
 nefs and Death, was communicated to him by 
 the Eye-Witnefs, and faithful Judge of them, 
 the then Lord Bifhop of Ely. Upon their 
 Authority, and Approbation, the Dottor 
 published his Sermon, and confirmed the main 
 Subject of it, by cafting in fome Hiftorical 
 Colie&ions relating to the Defcent and Pro- 
 grefs of that Noble Family, to which he 
 made a modeft Dedication to the late 
 Duke j which he (who would have defpifed 
 Flattery, and abhorred Faifhood) was fo well 
 pleafed with, that he had a Refped and Favour 
 for the Do&or, and fhewed it in a very kind 
 
 Manner* 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. iij? 
 
 Manner, by recommending him to the Queen, 
 for the Deanery of Peterborough^ foon after 
 Vacant by the Death of Dr. Freeman^ which 
 we may fuppofe was the more eafily obtained 
 of her Majefty, as being her Chaplain in Ordi- 
 nary, by the Recommendation of the Lord 
 Archbifhop of Canterbury and the Earl of 
 Godolphin. This Preferment, tho' not fo 
 much to be envied, raifed the fiercer Spite 
 and Malice of the Party againft him : Libels 
 and peevifli Sermons pointed at him. They 
 got young Men to tune the Oxford Pulpit, 
 and let out their Univerfity Prefs tothe prin- 
 ting, or reprinting a Sorry Libel * of poor 
 John Dmton\ againft the deceafed Duke and 
 his Funeral Preacher ; Some faid that, he had 
 covered all the Vices of that great Man, 
 which was fo far from being true, that he 
 
 plainly intimated them. — cc That this 
 
 <c was the true Bottom of all the Clamour 
 cc againft Dean Kennet^ both then and after- 
 cc wards, is evident from the many violent 
 " Pamphlets and Libels publilhed againft 
 <c him." And, it is meerly to Ihew the inve- 
 teracy of Prejudice on all Occafions, and of 
 Party Malice in fome, that the Reader has 
 been troubled with this DigrelTion ; but, with 
 candid Minds it will have its due Weight and 
 Ufe. For, as to the Dean s palliating all 
 the Duke's Vices, thereby inhnuating, that 
 he was privy to his Grace s Amour with Mifs 
 
 * The Hazard of a Death-Bed Repentance. 
 
 S z Campion 1 
 
no MEMO IKS of the 
 
 Campion ; and alfo that he was the Author 
 of her Monumental Infcription $ cc Thefe Ca- 
 u lumnies he was fo little concerned in, that 
 cc he has often faid, he had never before heard 
 u of them." The Intrigue he was wholly a 
 Stranger to, and as to the Infcription it is well 
 known to be the Performance of his Graces 
 own elegant Pen* 
 
 We have been lately told, by a noted State- 
 Writer ^ that," Perfons who move in a Supe- 
 cc rior Orb, will not be mewed up ; nor be 
 <c barred thofe Pleafures, which every Inferior 
 " Ptrfon thinks he has a right to purfue". * 
 
 Mrs. Manley tells us, in her Life, that the 
 Dutchefs of Cleveland's Favourite, and the on- 
 ly Man ilie loved, was Mr. Goodman the Play- 
 er ; tho' lhe had the Power of Captivating 
 Princes. And, tho' as Sir Samuel Garth 
 Sings, f the Stage is a Spot, 
 
 Where ^Purple Emperors in Buskins treacly 
 jlnd rule imaginary Worlds for Bread \ 
 
 Yet, many are the Inftances of real Monarchs, 
 and Perfons of the firji Diftindion, who have 
 felt the Power of Beauty from the Stage, and 
 fallen willing ViOilms to a Theatrical Venus* 
 The Admirers of Mrs. Oldfield may juftly 
 be faid to be innumerable, as her Performance 
 on the Stage was allowed to be inimitable. But 
 to point out the Perfons who fhared the efteem 
 
 * See Obfervatipns on the Writings of the Craft/man. 
 f See The Diipenfary, a Poem, 
 
 of 
 
Life of Mn. Oldfield. izi 
 
 of her private Friendship, is not the intent of 
 thefe Papers as I have publickly declared* 
 The Gentleman who has Lived with her fince 
 the Death of Mr. Maynwaring made it his 
 fole Bufinefs and Delight to place her in the 
 fame rank of Reputation, (to which her own 
 natural Deportment greatly contributed,) with 
 Perfons of the beft Condition, and the men- 
 tion fhe has made of him, in her Will, fuffici- 
 ently confirms her juft Value for him. 
 
 Among the other Dramatical Memoirs, 
 herein recited, Mr. Wycherky having been 
 mentioned on Account of his moft excellent 
 Writings ; I think my felf in Juftice to his 
 Memory (as well as to the Gentleman * who 
 married his Widow) to fet the Affair of his 
 Marrying, juft at the Eve of his Death, 
 (as Major Tack well exprefifes it) in a true 
 Light. 
 
 It muft be acknowledged that poor Mr. 
 Wycherley was incapable*, as he told the Lady ? 
 of rendering her due "Benevolence ; but he 
 was very unwilling to be rendered incapable 
 of paying his Debts (through his Nephew s 
 ungenerous Treatment of him) when he knew 
 what was in his Power ; fo that it muft em- 
 halm his Memory, with the greateft Honour, 
 when it is known, that Juftice was the only 
 Motive of his changing his Condition. 
 
 * Ca$t, Shrimpton. 
 
 But 
 
i % ft MEMOIRSo/ /fe 
 
 But I will no longer detain the Reader, 
 from A True State of the Cafe^ as it was fent 
 to the Gentleman to whom it is Addreffed, 
 and by whom it was to me communicated. 
 
 To Mr. Des M****. 
 
 S I Ky 
 
 I Am very apt to believe you have heard 
 feme Circumftances relating to Mr. 
 W ycherley s Marriage^ feveral Perfons 
 having been fo induftrious to vilify me on this 
 Account, therefore, notwithftanding Dr. 
 
 M ris kind Recommendations, I iliall 
 
 make bold to trouble you with the fhorteft 
 State of the Matter I can draw up, before I 
 offer to ask the Favour which I am to hope 
 for, from the Doctor s Intereft with you. 
 
 It may be neceffary, Sir, to acquaint you, 
 that I was the neareft Relation Mr. Wycherley 
 had living by his Mother s Side : That for a 
 Year and half before his Death he confided 
 in me as a particular Friend, and as one who 
 never flipt any Opportunity of ferving him to 
 my Power. It happened about fix or feven 
 Weeks before his Death he was under great 
 Straits for Money, and Arretted on an Ex- 
 ecution for about 30/. which was profecuted 
 at the Suit of one "Barnes^ formerly his Ser- 
 vant, on pretence of W^ges in Arrear, which 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 115 
 
 Mr. Wycherky had really paid him, but mif- 
 laid the Receipts, which fince his Death have 
 come to hand. On his being in Cuflody he 
 failed not to follicit his moit intimate Ac- 
 quaintance, and fuch as were beft able to 
 ferve him, for a fupply to releafe him, but 
 all in vain : His Uneaflnefs under this Ca- 
 lamity joined with the Refpeft I had for the 
 Man, engaged me to borrow 30 /. and fet 
 him at Liberty. The Refbniments which he 
 entertained of this Profecution exafperated 
 him fo, that he then foiemnly' vowed to pur- 
 fue his Refolutions and former Intentions of 
 Marrying, faying, That the Villain his Ne- 
 phew was at the bottom of it, on purpofe to 
 di£ire{s him : Thereupon he renewed his Ad- 
 dreffes to Mrs. E. Jachfon^ as likewife to ano- 
 ther Gentlewoman about the fame time, for 
 he told me he would Marry tho' it were on 
 his Death Bed, which indeed he afterwards 
 did ; but though he was very weak about the 
 time of his Marriage, (not in his Under- 
 flanding, as our Adverfaries have endea- 
 voured to reprefent him;) yet none, I be- 
 lieve, looked upon him under immediate 
 Danger of Death, but only languishing un- 
 der his Years and ill Circumftances, and fa- 
 tigued with the Gravel. 
 
 I rnuft inform you likewife, Sir, that while 
 he was in Confinement, and complaining 
 of the ill Ufage of his Friends, he, with 
 the utmoft Vehemence, importuned me to 
 
 take 
 
iz 4 M E M O I R S of thg 
 
 take a Journey for him into Shropjhire^ and 
 ailed ged that his Nephew, whom he ftill 
 called Villain, and ever named with Terms of 
 Reproach, had combined with his Tenants to 
 diftrefs him by keeping back his Rents, and 
 indeed I found he did fo, when I got into the 
 Country. The Reafon I have to mention 
 this Circumftance is, that my Adverfaries 
 have malieioufly fuggefted in their Bill that I 
 by Artifice and Application, prevailed on 
 Mr. Wycherky to let me go down into Salop, 
 obtained a Letter of Attorney from him, re- 
 ceived to the Amount of 100/. from his 
 Tenants, and that when I came up again, I 
 concealed the having received any Money for 
 him, applied the fame to my own Ufe, and 
 kept him in Diftrefs on purpofe to force him^ 
 for his Support, to Marry. 
 
 Thefe Allegations are fo far from Truth, 
 that I received not above Forty and odd 
 Pounds in all, good Part Mr. Wycherky had 
 taken up himfelf, as appeared by his Receipts^ 
 and at iealt One Hundred and Fifty Pounds 
 were demanded by the Mortgagees on the 
 Eftate for an Arrear of Interefr, and to whom 
 Mr. Wycherky had configned the Profits of fe- 
 veral of his Lands for Satisfaction for the 
 fame : For though the Mortgagees had agreed 
 with Mr. Wycherky to take his Arrear by a 
 Proportion of 30/. Half Yearly above their 
 growing Intereu, yet the Nephew worked 
 them up to infill on the whole Arrear at 
 
 oncej 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 125 
 
 once, or to enter on the Eftate : And they 
 being prevailed on to make fuch a Demand 
 was the great Occafion of Mr. Wycherkys 
 being in want for Money to fupport hfm; 
 Out of that fmall Sum I could receive for 
 him, I had his exprefs Order to repay the 
 30 /. which I procured to be advanced to re- 
 leafe him from Confinement, and a like Or- 
 der to pay above 4 /. to one Mr. jBaldwine$ 
 in Salop ; fo that with my own Expences of 
 the Journey, I had but a Very fcanty Sur- 
 plus to pay to Mr. Wycherley at my Return* 
 jtfis Money falling thus fliort, and no Pofll- 
 bility of a Supply till the next Half Year 
 Ihould come round, befet as he was with 111- 
 nefs and Necefllty, I doubt not but he re- 
 lumed his Refolutions of Marriage, with ljiore 
 Hafte than perhaps he would have done with 
 a fuller Purfe, and more hale Conftitution. 
 
 That he married is certain • and it is as 
 certain that this Action of his has been differ- 
 ently cotiftrued. That Part of the Town who 
 were fomewhat intimate with his Intentions, 
 have been fatisfied he married to revenge him- 
 felf on a difobliging Nephew, to make himfelf 
 "tafy in his Circumftances, and to die in a 
 Capacity of leaving no Debts behind him. 
 The other Part, who have looked upon it 
 as ftrange for a Gentleman of his Years to 
 marry a young Lady, have been told a Story, 
 that he was grown delirious, had a Power 
 of making a Jointure, and fo bv Force and 
 
 T Fraud 
 
H6 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Fraud was worked up to a Marriage. I muCt 
 here take Notice, Sir, that our Adverfaries 
 in their Bill have been pleafed to make me 
 the Inftrument and Agent in bringing this 
 about, that X threatened him into it with a 
 particular Defign of getting an Eftate out of 
 him^ and marrying his ^idow, as, they fug- 
 geft, I had beforehand contracted with her to 
 do : Nay, they go farther in their Scandal, 
 for by an unfupported Charge they fay 5 I was 
 actually married to her before flie married 
 Mr. Wycherk)\ and that I married her again 
 a fecond time fome Months after his De- 
 ceafe. 
 
 As their Allegations ftand, Sir, you muft 
 obferve, that I was defignedly active in this 
 Affair, and that Mr. Wycherley proceeded but 
 as an antiquated Invalid, come to a fecon4 
 State of Childhood, and fo to be influenced 
 by Menaces and Perfiiafions. 
 
 I have been forced to put in a large An- 
 fwer. Sir, to their numerous and infamous, 
 Charges, in which I have positively denied 
 any fuch Defigns on his Eftate, any fuch 
 Actings by me to marry him againft his Will 
 and Inclinations, and any fuch previous Con- 
 trad or Combination with the Lady. They 
 have indeed by their WitnefTes endeavoured 
 to fix all thefe Imputations on me, I fliall beg 
 leave in the proper Place to remark a little 
 on the Evidence and the Nature of their De* 
 pofitions, and fhall only add here in my De- 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 127 
 
 fence, that I folemnly declare, however they 
 have gone about to falfify my Anfwer, I cannot 
 charge either my Memory or Confcience with 
 any one wilful Untruth, or Mifreprefentation 
 of Fa&s throughout the whole. 
 
 But befides, Sir, I have alfo proved in my 
 Cafe, that Mr. Wycherley was of found 
 Mind and Underftanding, by the Teftimony 
 of Gentlemen of moft undoubted Reputation^ 
 that it was his prior Defign and Refolution 
 to marry for the Reafons I have before hint- 
 ed, and that he took the neceffary Steps in it 
 himfelf, without that Leading or Compulfion 
 which is fuggefted ; I hope the making his 
 Will muft be deemed the faireft collateral 
 Proof that can be 3 that he neither had a 
 Wife impofed upon him or againft his Incli- 
 nations. His Will bears Date on the very 
 Day he died, and the twelfth from his Mar- 
 riage : * He fent for his own Friend to draw 
 it when I was not near his Lodgings, gave 
 the Inftru&ions himfel£ approved it when 
 drawn, and therein leaves me Executor in 
 Truft for his dearly and well beloved Wife 
 Elizabeth Wycherley^ as he therein (tiles her.f 
 It is fufficiently attefted that Mr. Wycherley 
 was fully compos mentis when he ordered and 
 figned his Will ; and as he was fo, I appeal 
 to you 3 Sir 3 whether it can be fuppofed, if 
 
 * Mr. Wycherley Died 1 715, Mtzt. 79. He lies interred in the 
 Vault of Covent Garden Church, 
 f Sep his Will hereunto annexed. 
 
 T 3 Mr , 
 
12.8 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Mr. Wycherky thought I had impofed on him 
 in his Marriage, or had a Defign on his 
 Eftate, he would have conftituted me of all 
 Men in the World his Executor ? Or, if he 
 were not pleafed with what he had done, 
 that he would take the Pains, in his dying 
 Minutes, of his own meer Motion, to make 
 a Will, w r hich could ferve only to confirm 
 his Marriage, and exprefs his kind Intentions 
 ( to the Lady whom he had taken. 
 
 Mr. Wycherky dying in about two Hours 
 after the Signing his Will, on a Saturday, a 
 mighty Clamour was raifed againft me, by my 
 Adverfaries, for concealing his Death till af- 
 ter the Poft was gone out that Night - y this is 
 a Fad which I have made no Scruple to ad- 
 mit, and think, for the following Reafons, 
 I did but my Duty in keeping the fame private : 
 When I came to Vifit Mr. Wycherky \ the Fri- 
 day Night before his Death, I found him and 
 his Wife fitting clofe together, and thinking 
 they might be bufy, I offered to retire, but 
 he called me back, and faid, Coufin, ft ay, I 
 had juft fent for you, and fo pray fit down. 
 I doubt I have brought this poor Lady into 
 Trouble, for I find I am not a Man for this 
 World i and as I have always had a Con- 
 fidence in you, and found you my Friend, I 
 muft beg you to continue your Friendfhip to 
 
 my Wife ; for there is a Fellow, one A y, 
 
 a Counfel, who has combined with my Ne- 
 phew to difirefs me 3 on purpofe to force me 
 
 to 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. i z<> 
 
 to an AU of Parliament , for Sale of my 
 JBjfiate^ or to alter my Father s Settlement^ 
 contrary to my Inclinations : And 1 know 
 when I am dead they will give my Wife all 
 the ^ifttirbance they can. As I was named 
 one of the Truftees in the Settlement on the 
 Lady, which w 7 as done at the Requeft of the 
 Lady's Mother, who meant it as a Compli- 
 ment to Mr. Wycherley^ knowing I was a 
 Relation of his, I looked on this Difcourfe 
 of Mr. Wycherleys as a warrantable Reafon 
 for concealing his Death, till I could let out 
 for Shropjbire, to enter on the Eftate, in 
 right of the Jointrefs, and prevent the Ne- 
 phew from any prior Combinations with the 
 Tenants to her Prejudice : And for that only 
 Reafon did I defire his Deceafe fliould be 
 kept fecret for that Day. 
 
 After the Tenants had, with fome Scruples, 
 Attorned to the Jointrefs, the firft Step Mr. 
 A—~y took was to vilify her, and prevent 
 them from paying any of the Rents. It was 
 given out by him that flie was a Woman of 
 no Family or Reputation, a Drelfer to the 
 Play-hotifes, or fomething no better ; and 
 though flie had got a fort of pretended Join- 
 ture, yet he would fet it afide, for flie had im- 
 pofed on the poor old Man, and paffed for a 
 Fortune, though flie had not a Farthing of 
 her own : Thefe Infinuations, Sir, I allure 
 you, are falfe and fcandalous ; flie is one of 
 the Daughters and CoheirelTes of Mr. Jof* 
 
 Jackfon^ 
 
130 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Jachforty a Gentleman late of Hertingford- 
 bury^ as the late Lord Chancellour Cowper 
 very well knew, her Family having the 
 Honour for feveral Years of being very con- 
 verfant in his Houfe^ her Fortune, at the 
 time of her Marriage with Mr. Wycherky^ 
 did really amount to iooo /. which would all 
 have come into his Pocket had he lived, and 
 190/. part thereof, was actually paid to him 
 in his Life time, as we have fworn in our 
 Anfwer; and could as eafily have proved, 
 fiad not our Counfel advifed, that the Ne- 
 phew was not intitled to an Account of her 
 Fortune, or the Applications thereof. When 
 I went to ask Mr. A'*- i -~y for what Reafons 
 he defamed the Lady, by fuch Reports as 
 aforefaid, he replied, it was the Account he 
 had of her j but if it were not fo, Lawyers 
 had a Liberty to fay any thing that promo- 
 ted their Client s Intereft ; yet, notwithftand- 
 ing he had fo great a Value for his Client, 
 if the Widow would take 1500/. and refign 
 her Jointure, fhe fhould have it, rather than 
 go to Law with her ; but if Hie would not 
 accept of that, ftie fhould have nothing. She 
 being thus threatened, Sir, I had reafon to 
 apprehend her Jointure was to be contefted, 
 and as I had obliged my felf by Promife to 
 Mr. Wycherley to ferve her to the utmoft of 
 my Power, as well as being bound to it by 
 fuffering my felf to be a Truftee ; I knew by 
 a due Application to her Affairs, I muft con- 
 
 fequently 
 
Life of Mrs. OldfieldT 151 
 
 fequently negled my own Intereft, (for I was 
 then endeavouring to obtain a Company, being 
 hut a Captain on the Half Pay) and confider- 
 ing 5 as (he was fo young, Ihe would probably 
 marry again, and then I did not know whom 
 I might have been ferving : I then began my 
 Addreffes to her, and in about three Months 
 after Mr. Wycherkys Death prevailed on her 
 to marry me. 
 
 Immediately upon my Marriage with her 
 
 Mr. A y was no lefs liberal in throwing 
 
 Dirt at me, ailed gin g, I was a common Barber, 
 was married to her before ihe was married to 
 Mr. TVycherley^ and that we had contrived 
 together to impofe on the poor old Poet to 
 get an Eftate to ourfelves, which, with a 
 great many other infamous Allegations, were 
 drawn up, and put into Mr. Wycherkys^ the 
 Nephew's Crofs-Bill, who afterwards like- 
 wife by Reference made them a Part of his 
 Anfwer to our Original Bill, and defired they 
 might be taken as fuch, charging all the 
 Subftance thereof to be Faft and Truth. 
 
 It may not be improper to inform you, Sir, 
 what Pains they have likewife taken to 
 make us go round about for the Recovery of 
 our Right ; Part of the Jointure being in- 
 cumbered with a Mortgage for 1000 /. they 
 prevailed with the Mortgagee not to join 
 with us in an Eje&ment, fo as to try our 
 Right at Common Law, but gave out, that 
 if they could get us into Chancery they would 
 
 then 
 
1 3 % MEMOIRS of the 
 
 then make it coft us Money enough, and we 
 fliould be glad to take any thing at laft • this 
 neceffitated us to bring our Bill againft the 
 Nephew (the Heir) and the Mortgagee. The 
 Nephew filed a long and abufive Crofs-Bill, 
 and though We have been driving the Caufe 
 forward, as faft as we could, for near two 
 Years, yet, by artificial Delays, they have 
 kept it from a Hearing till laft Term ^ and 
 though we put in a full Anfwer, they ex- 
 cepted : And though, to fave time, we fub- 
 mitted to put in a farther Anfwer, we had 
 no fooner done the fame, but they got an 
 Order to amend their Bill, and exhibited 
 another of 1 27 Sheets long, not 13 of which 
 vary either in Subftance or the very Words 
 from their firft Bill. 
 
 I will beg leave now, Sir, to add a Word 
 in relation to their Evidence by whom they 
 have attempted to fupport their Plea of 
 Equity, and then muft haften to beg your 
 Pardon for burthen ing you with fo long a 
 Detail. 
 
 Though we proved every Part of what we 
 were ad vifed, made our Cafe good by the Dc- 
 pofitions of Perfons whofe Characters and Re- 
 putations are unqueftionable, they have not 
 ftuck to overthrow, if hard Swearing may do 
 it, every Point that Ihould be effential to us : 
 They fwear they believe Mr. Wycherley de- 
 lirious, and non Corypos^ though we prove 
 his Sanity by his Phyficians Dr. Mead, Sir 
 
Life of Mrs. OldfxeId. 133 
 
 yohn Shadwell> and others as competent 
 Judges. They fwear, it . was againft his Incli*- 
 nations to marry, and a dired Force upon him ; 
 though we prove by the Minifier, who dif- 
 courfed him firft privately, that he knew 
 what he did, and a&ed in the Affair fponta- 
 neoufly : And tho' we prove, beyond Con-^ 
 tradi&ion, that he had a prior Defign of 
 marrying, and had employed Friends of his 
 in carrying on a Treaty of Marriage for him. 
 
 I muft not expatiate too far on this Head^ 
 but go on to inform you by what Perfons, on 
 their Side, all their Calumnies arc fupported, 
 The only Witneffes they could rake up for 
 this Task were a Man Servant, and a hireling 
 Nurfe ; both made • ferviceable, I may dare 
 affirm to you, from their Refentments to us ; 
 the Man Servant, who continued to live with 
 the Widow fome Months after Mr. Wycher- 
 leys Death, was turned away for being caught 
 in Bed with the Maid ; and the Nurfe piqued 
 being balked of her Expectations of Mourn- 
 ing, of which fhe made a Demand upon 
 Mr. Wycherkys Death j I muft tell you in 
 general, Sir, that their Depofitions appear 
 plainly to be concerted for them, and their 
 Story is told in Terms which you would be 
 convinced neither of them underftood : And 
 befides that, as my Lord Chancellor * ex- 
 cellently obferved, People frequently falfified 
 
 * The Earl of Macclesfield. 
 
 u 
 
 them- 
 
i j4 MEMOIR S of the 
 
 themfelves by fwearing too much. I hope 
 their Teftimonies muft be judged of lefs Va- 
 lidity, if not to amount to wilful Perjury > 
 when their Depofitions positively contradict 
 one another. I will trouble you, Sir, but with 
 two or three Inftances of this kind, to allure 
 you I have not made fuch a Conftru&ion 
 without Caufe. 
 
 Tirfty The Man Servant fwears, that the 
 better to carry on my Defign on Mr. Wycher* 
 ky> I came continually to his Lodgings at 
 Mrs. Watkins^s^ carried him out, made him 
 drunk, and intoxicated him with Liquors 
 from time to time, (of which he often com- 
 plained to the faid Mrs. Wathins) and perfua- 
 ded him to remove from that Lodgings it 
 being too publick for my Defign s on him ; 
 but when Mrs. Waikins herfelf comes to be 
 examined, fhe fwears fiie never faw me, or 
 heard of my Name till Mr. Wycherkys laft 
 Sicknefs, at which time he lodged at another 
 Houfe, and had done fo for fome Months. 
 
 Secondly > The Man fwears, that when 
 Mr. Wycherley was to be married, the Mi- 
 nifter not being come for that purpofe, I was 
 very uneafy ; and when he informed me the 
 Dinner 1 had befpoke was ready, that I re- 
 plied, I could not eat a Bit till the Marriage 
 was over : $ut when the Nurfe comes to be 
 examined^ fhe fays ? fhe cannot particularly 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 135 
 
 depofe on what Day of the Month the Mar- 
 riage was, but that the Ceremony thereof 
 was performed in the Forenoon* 
 
 And 'Thirdly To trouble you Sir, with no 
 more of their Inconfiftencies, the Nurfe f wears 
 I had an a&ual Defign to get Mr. Wycherky 
 married, that I might marry the Lady after 
 his Deceafe, for that I my felf told her I had 
 fuch a Defign. This I doubt not, Sir, but 
 you will look upon as a furprizing Piece of 
 Evidence, that I fhould have the Policy to 
 carry on a Scheme of fuch a Nature, and 
 the Shallownefs to confefs that Policy to a 
 Perfon in whom I could repofe no Confidence^ 
 and with whom I had no other Acquaintance 
 than feeing her as a Nurfe to Mr. Wycherley : 
 I am perfuaded the Wifdom of my Lord 
 Chancellor will foon induce him to believe 
 that fuch Witneffes muft either be wrought 
 to fwear hard, or be Perfons whofe common 
 Senfe is mifguided by their little Honefty. 
 
 I have at laft, Sir, I think, run thro' all 
 the Circumftances of my Cafe, without fet- 
 ting any falfe Glofs upon it, or amufing you 
 with what is not ftri&ly true : Permit me 
 now to make that Requeft which, from Dr. 
 M *ns Recommendations, and the Cha- 
 racter I have from him, and others, of your 
 Goodnefs, I am perfuaded will be granted 
 me. Our Papers all lye now before my £ord 
 U 2 Chan* 
 
i 3 6 MEMO IRS of the 
 
 Chancellor, who, on the Hearing, was fo 
 tender of the Heir at Law, and fo ftartled at 
 the feeming Strength of their Depofitions, 
 that he would not make his Decree without 
 taking the trouble of reading over all the 
 Pleadings. I am fo well affured of his Lord- 
 Hiips Integrity and deep Judgment, that I 
 have no Apprehenfions of the Strength of my 
 Cafe ; but I am fenfible that the Turn which 
 Gentlemen of your Parts can give to fuch a 
 Cafe, upon a proper Opportunity, never is 
 of inconsiderable Service. If you will vouch- 
 safe to fpeak . in our Favour, and move his 
 Lordfliip to difpatch our Affair, in Compaf- 
 fion to a diftreffed Family who have been 
 forced to fpend almoft all they have in purfuit 
 of their juft Right, I fhall receive the Obli- 
 gation with the greateft Senfc of Gratitude, 
 and be ready to approve my felf, as I ought^ 
 tfcd yet unknown to you, 
 
 % : SIR, - • ^| 
 
 Tour mqft obliged \ 
 Humble Servant 
 
 Tho. Shrimpton. 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 137 
 
 A True Copy of Mr. WycherleyV Laft 
 Will and Teflament. 
 
 'K the Name of GOT> Amen. I WiU 
 
 x Ham Wycherle% of the Parifli of St. Taul 
 Covent-Garden, in the County of Middle- 
 fex, Efq; being Infirm of Body, but of good 
 and perfed Memory, praifed be GOD, do 
 make and ordain this my Laft Will and Tes- 
 tament, in Manner and Form following, mz. 
 Firft, and Principally, I commend my Soul 
 into the Hands of Almighty GOD, hoping 
 through the Merits and Mediation of my Blef- 
 fed Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, 
 to inherit Eternal Life ; My Body I commit 
 to the Earth to be decently Buried, in Chri- 
 ftian Burial ; * at the Difcretion of my Ex- 
 ecutor, herein after Named, in certain Ex- 
 pectation of a Joyful Refurre&ion at the laft 
 Day. And, in refped of my Worldly Ef- 
 tate, I difpofe thereof as followeth (that is 
 to fay) Imprimis^ I Order and Direct, that, 
 Ml the Juji and Lawful 'Debts which I 
 fioall owe at the time of my jDeceafe^ jhall^ 
 with the Charges of my Tuner al^ he in the 
 firft place duly c Paid :> and T)ifcharged. All 
 the reft and refidue of all and fingular my 
 Eftate, Ready Money, Plate, Jewels, Goods, 
 
 * Mr. Wycherley died a Rommfi, 
 
 and 
 
138 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 and Chattels whatfoever, (my Debts, Fune- 
 ral Expences, Trobat of this my Will, and 
 all other necejjary Charges relating to the 
 due Adminiftrationof my Eft ate, being firft 
 IP aid and Difcharged) I give and bequeath 
 unto my Dear and well beloved Wife ELI- 
 ZABETH WTCHERLET; and of 
 this my Laft Will and Teftament I do here- 
 by make and appoint my loving Kinfman 
 THOMAS SHRIMPTON ofthefaid 
 Parifh of St. Taul Covent Garden, Efq s fole 
 Executor, hereby revoking and making void 
 all former Wills by me made, and declaring 
 this Teftament to be my True and Laft Will. 
 In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto fet my 
 Hand and Seal the One and Thirtieth Day of 
 December, Anno Domini 1 7 1 5 j and in the 
 Second Year of the Reign of our Soveraign 
 Lord GEORGE, dec. 
 
 William Wycherley. 
 
 Signed, Sealed, Published, and Declared 
 by the Teftator, William Wycherley, as, and 
 for, his Laft Will and Teftament, in the Pre- 
 fence of Us, who have attefted the fame as 
 Witnefles thereto, in his Prefence. 
 
 Chriftopher Metcalfe. 
 Amos Feme. 
 Rob. Hodfon. 
 
 The 
 
Life of Mrs. Old field. 132 
 
 The foregoing Cafe of Mr. Wycherleys 
 Executor, and the unjuft litigious Ufage he 
 met with, is, I think, a fufficient Memento 
 for all Perfons whatever, who have any Ef- 
 feds to leave behind them, how prudently 
 circumfped they ought to be in fettling their 
 Affairs before their Deceafe. Tho' notwith- 
 ftanding, all the Care and Caution imagina- 
 ble, where there is a Fellow, who wears a 
 Corinthian-Forehead^ fuch a one as Capt* 
 Shrimpton had to do with, a Man of Honour 
 will find it very difficult to get out of his 
 Clutches. Mr. Otway in his Tragedy of 
 Venice Preferved^ has defcribed the Mifery 
 of a Man, whofe Effeds are in the Hands of 
 the Law, with great Spirit. The Bitternefs 
 of being the Scorn and Laughter of bafe 
 Minds, the Anguilh of being infulted by 
 'Men. hardened beyond the Senfe of Shame 
 or Pity, and the Injury of a Man s Fortune 
 being wafted, under the Pretence of Juftice, 
 are excellently aggravated in the following 
 Speech of Pierre to Jajfeir. 
 
 I pafsd this very Moment by Thy Doors , 
 And found them guarded by a Troop of Villains ; 
 The Sons of Public Rapine were Dejlroying. 
 They told me, by the Sentence of the Law, 
 They had CommiJJion to feize all thy "Fortune. 
 Here, flood a Ruffian with a horrid Face, 
 Lording it o'er a Wile of majjy Qlate, 
 
 Tumbled 
 
1 4 o -MEMOIRS*/ the 
 
 Fumbled into a Heap for (Public Sale. 
 
 £T 'here , was Another making Villanous Jejls 
 
 jit thy Undoing : He had ta'en PoJJeJfion 
 
 Of all thy ancient moji Domejlic Ornaments ; 
 
 Rich Hangings intermixed and wrought with Gold j 
 
 tfhe very Bed y which on thy Wedding-Night 
 
 Received c Thee to the Arms of Belvidera ! 
 
 The Scene of all thy jfoys, was violated 
 
 By the coarfe Hands of filthy Dungeon Villains^ 
 
 And thrown amongji the common Lumber. 
 
 I lliall put an End to this juft Complaint 
 by acquainting the Reader, that the Lord 
 Chancellor Macclesfield was pleafed to 
 make a Decree in favour of Capt. Shrimpton* 
 
 We are now come to the lafi: Original Parti 
 of Mrs. Oldfield. James Thomfon^ an in- 
 genious Scots Gentleman ("Author of The Sea- 
 sons) in the Preface to his Tragedy ofSoPHo- 
 nisba, thus delivers himfelf, cc I cannot con- 
 cc elude without owning my Obligations to 
 cc thofe concerned in the Representation. They 
 6 ■ have indeed done me more than Juftice. 
 cc Whatever was defigned as amiable and enga- 
 <c grins; in Masinissa fhines out in Mr. Wilks s 
 4 Action. Mrs. Oldfield in the Character 
 u of Sophonisba, has excelled what 3 even 
 <c in the Fondneis of an Author, I could ei- 
 " ther wifli or imagine. The Grace, Dig- 
 nity, 
 
Life of Mrs. Old£ ield. 141 
 
 <c nity, and happy Variety of her A&ion have 
 cc been univerfaily applauded, and are truly 
 cc admirable. 15 
 
 Sophonisba was the lafi Original Cha* 
 ra&er in which lhe appeared on the Stage 3 
 But, the I aft time of her Performance was on 
 Tuefday the 28th Day of Jpril, 1750, 
 when Sir John Vanbmgtis excellent Come- 
 dy, The Trovolid Wife was afted for the Be- 
 nefit of Mr. Charke^ wherein fhe a£ted the 
 Part of Lady "Brute. 
 
 I have been affured by feme of Mrs. Olb- 
 held's mod intimate Female-Friends, that 
 ihe had for fome Years languifhed under a 
 very declining State of Health, tho' not from 
 any Caufe which Malice may fuggeft. The 
 natural Cheerfulnefs of her Temper made 
 her ward off every Attack with the greateft 
 Alacrity. Yet, many times, when ihe has 
 been playing a Part, and received the univer- 
 fai Applaufe of an Audience, the Tears have 
 fallen from her Cheeks with the Anguifh of 
 Pain fhe felt, fuch was her Willingnefs to 
 oblige in her Profeflion. 
 
 Upon the very Approach of her laft 111- 
 nefs, lhe moft earneilly feqttefted her Phyfi- 
 cians not to flatter her, but to give her their 
 Opinions freely, what they thought of her 
 Cafe. And when they told her, they feared 
 the fatality of it ; fhe replied, without the 
 leaft Shock, or Emotion, She acqniefced in 
 the Lot Trovidence had afftgned her and 
 
 X hoped 
 
i±% MEMOIRS of the 
 
 hoped $e Jhould bear her afflictions pat ^ 
 ently. , 
 
 Having this previous Notice of her Change, 
 fhe fet her Hoafe in Orcter^ and made fuch 
 an equitable Diftribution of her Eftate as is 
 in every refped: highly commendable. 
 
 Her moil intimate and dear Friend, Mrs. 
 Saunders^ attended her almpft from the Begin- 
 ning to the End of her melancholy Six Months 
 Languifhment This Gentlewoman was 
 brought upon the Stage through the Recom- 
 mendation of Mrs. OldfielDj and in a moft 
 agreeable Manner entertained the Town 
 for feme Years r being efteemed 3 in her Style 
 of *P layings one of the moft eminent Actref- 
 fes, The~ Violence of an Afthmatical Indif- 
 pofition obliged her to leave the Stage. She 
 retired to Watford in HertfordJJoire^ about 
 fifteen Miles from London^ .where fhe now 
 Ikes j and from whence, upon my writing ta 
 her, fhe has been pleafed to favour me with 
 the following Letter^ viz. 
 
 Watford^ Dec. 2$, 1730* 
 
 To William Egerton, E% 
 Sir, 
 
 I Received yours concerning Mrs. Old- 
 field ; whofe Memory 5 I hope, will ne- 
 ver be forgotten by any that had the Plea- 
 lure of being known to her* 
 
 The 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 145 
 
 The Account I can give of her Behaviour, 
 during the Time of her Sicknefs, is but fliorc 
 tho' ftridly true. 
 
 Her Funeral I never heard her once men- 
 tion, but ChriJUan Fortitude lhe had fuffici- 
 ent ; for tho' fhe had no THeft? (he did 
 the Office of one to the Lafk. 
 
 When her l^iffolution drew nigb^ and the 
 Lamp of Life waxed dim ; Die then ex- 
 prelfed her felf in broken Words and pious 
 Meditations, in the moft moving and Jirongefi 
 Manner you can imagine. 
 
 It may be juftly faid 5 fiie Trayed without 
 ceafing. She was all Goodnefs. The beft: 
 of Daughters, the beft of Mothers, and the 
 beft of Friends. O ! that I had Words to 
 found forth her Praife, but that, Sir> is a 
 Task you have taken in hand, and I do not 
 doubt your doing Juftice to her Memory. 
 
 As to my own time on the Stage, to the 
 beft of my Remembrance, I came into the 
 Houfe in the Year 1702, and my Hi State of 
 Health obliged me to quit it in 1720. 
 
 A Copy of Mrs. Oldfield's Pi&ure is at 
 your Service, and I fhall gladly accept of 
 that excellent Copy you are about to draw 
 of her • it will give vaft Pleafure to, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Tour my humble Servant , 
 
 X z M. Saunders* 
 
144 MEMO IRS 
 
 Mrs. Oldfteld was at length releafed from 
 her Earthly Bonds, expiring very early . on 
 Friday Morning, OUober 23. 1730. 
 
 As the Nicety of Drefs was her Delight 
 when Living, fhe was as nicely dreffed after 
 her Deceafe $ being by Mrs. Saunders's Di^ 
 region thus laid in her Coffin. She had on, 
 a very fine $r^/x-Lace-Head ; a Holland 
 Shift with Tucker, and double Ruffles of the 
 lame Lace ; a Pair of New Kid-Gloves, and 
 her Body wrapped up in a Winding Sheet. 
 
 On her Coffin, was this Infcription, 
 
 ANNE OLDFIELD, 
 /Etatis 47. 
 
 On *ttiefday the 27th of OUober, the 
 Corps was carried from her Houfe, in Grofve- 
 nor Street, to the Jerufalem-Qhzmbev Weft- 
 minfter, where it lay in State, and about 
 Eleven o' Clock was conveyed to the Abbey : 
 The Pall being fupported by the Lord De- 
 laware Lord Harvey, the Right Honour- 
 able George !Bubb Doddington ; Charles 
 Hedges, E% Walter Carey, Efq; and Capt. 
 Elliot. 
 
 Her eldeft Son Arthur Maynwaring, Efq; 
 was Chief Mourner. The Funeral Service 
 was performed by the Reverend Dr. Barker, 
 Senior Prebendary, then Refident. 
 
 Here 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldpield. 145 
 
 *5 Here I think my felf obliged to expofe the 
 Infolence of that Weekly Libeller, the Grub- 
 Jfreet-]ouma\iR. 
 
 In his 44th Numb, Tihiirfday Novemb. 
 
 he fays, ■ " A Place hating been allow- 
 
 <c ed the celebrated Mrs. Oldfield, in Weft- 
 cc minfter Abbey $ 1 hdpe, that on the fine 
 cc Monument , which is to be ereUed to het 
 cc Memory > the Inscription will partial- 
 cc larly mention the Christian, as well as 
 cc Moral Virtues of that Lady?'' This 
 wretched Sneer can only affeft the Writer of 
 it ; and I wifli when he comes to die that a 
 Teftimony as ample, and fincere, of his Chri- 
 fiian Virtues, may be produced, as Mrs* 
 Saunders has given of Mrs. Oldjields ; and, 
 as for her Moral Virtues , her Laft Will and 
 T!eflament is a Demonftration of her Juftice. 
 
 Some Folks, it feems, much more Scrupu- 
 lous than ConJcientious y would have laid hold 
 on an obfolete Topijh Canon ; which Ordains, 
 that no Stage-Players Jhould be buried in 
 Churches. But I have been allured by Dr. 
 barker himfelf that he Buried Mrs. Old- 
 field very willingly, and with the greateft 
 Satisfaction. 
 
 The Place of her Interment is towards the 
 Weft-End of the South-lie, (near the Monu- 
 ments of Secretary Craggs and Mr. Congreve) 
 hard by the Confiftory^ox Spiritual-Court. 
 
 Taking 
 
i 4 £ MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Taking Occafion 3 from thefe Thre? emi- 
 nent Perfons having never been married^ a 
 certain Gentleman^ well known at Weftmin-* 
 fier y was very innocently Witty ; and threw 
 down thefe Verfes, written with a Pencil, 
 upon Mrs. Old fi eld s Grave after the Ce- 
 remony, was over, viz* 
 
 Jf Penance in the Biftiop's Court be fear'd y 
 Congrevc^/^Craggs andOldhcldzvill be fcard 
 To find that at the Refurre&ion Day, 
 They've All fo neat the Consistory lay. 
 
 The following Epitaph is fuppofed to come 
 from the fame Hand. 
 
 HIC JACET, 
 ( cito jacet hie ) 
 
 OLDFIELD. .' 
 The 
 
 Brighteft A&refs 
 ^Britain c er did Y I E L D. 
 
 In Warts diverting her chief Talent lay. 
 Wherein a Thoufand Charms Jhe did difplay* 
 Would ev'ry one in this degen'rate Age y 
 Whiljl ABing here a Wart on Life's Short St age y 
 hike her Exert y purfuing Nature's Laws,' 
 They'd meet at their lajl Exit like Applaufe. 
 
 As 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 147 
 
 As to the Variety of Mrs. Oldfield s 
 Amour cc fuch infamous Reports arife, from 
 * her being more lovely than the reft of her 
 <c Sex> flie was envied by fuch malicious 
 " Wretches ; but all who knew her will 
 cc confirm this Truth, that, fhe was never 
 cc guilty of any bafe or ungenerous Action. M 
 
 Such is fhe Character I have had com- 
 municated to me by a Gentlewoman whofb 
 Veracity is unqueftionable ; and whom, I am 
 not afhamed to own, I have with great Satis- 
 faction confulted upon the prefent Occafion. 
 She thus, farther proceeds, 
 
 " Mrs. Oldfield, like a prudent and juft 
 <c Parent, has equitably divided her Eftate 
 cc between her Two Sons, and only Chil- 
 cc dren, Maynwaring and Churchill; 
 cc For, w;as I brought on my Oath I would 
 <c fwear fhe had no other ; and, as to Love 
 €C Affairs^ I do aifure you, I know of none^ 
 <c but, with the Fathers of the Gentlemen 
 cc herein mentioned. As to the Caufe of 
 <c her Death, it cannot fall within the Bounds 
 cc of Cenfure ; for the Surgeons when fhe 
 cc was opened, made no other Report, than 
 cc what had been before reported by the Phy- 
 <c ficians ; "and it was a Malady known by 
 €C every body to be incident to our Sex al- 
 cc though we were Veftals. Thefe are ail 
 cc the Particulars I can relate either of Mrs. 
 <c Oldfield s Publick or Private Behaviour* 
 cc I have thrown in my Mite towards her 
 " y indication, tho 1 the Occafion for it 
 
 5 gives 
 
i4?" MEMOIRS of the 
 
 cc gives me a great deal of Uneafinefs • but 
 ct they who cannot ferve a Friend without a 
 cc View of Intereft ought to be defpifed. " 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 I Was refolved to fee the laft Office done to 
 a Wonxan, whom I had very much ad- 
 mired, and from vvhofe Aftfon I had received 
 more ftrong ImprefHons of what is great and 
 noble in human Nature, than from the 
 Arguments of the moft iblid Philofophers, 
 or the Defer iptions of the moft charming 
 Poets I had ever read. As the rude and un- 
 taught Multitude are no way wrought upon 
 more effe&ually than by feeing public Punifh- 
 ments and Executions ; fo Men of Letters and 
 Education feel their Humanity moft forcibly 
 exercifed, when they attend the Obfequies of 
 thofe who had arrived at any Perfe&ion in 
 liberal Accompliftiments. Theatrical- A dion 
 is to be efteemed as fuch, except it be object- 
 ed, that we cannot call that an Art which 
 cannot be attained by Art. Voice, Nature, 
 Motion, and other Gifts, muft be very boun- 
 tifully beftowed by Nature, or Labour and 
 Induftry will but pufh the unhappy Endea- 
 vonrer, in that Way, the farther off his 
 Willies. 
 
 Such an A&refs as Mrs. Oldfield ought to 
 be recorded with the fame Refpeft as Roscius 
 
 among 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 14? 
 
 among the Romans. That celebrated 
 
 Player ufed frequently to fay, as Cicero re- 
 ports, — The TerfeUion of an JUor is only 
 to become what he is doing* Young People > 
 who are too unattentive to receive Le&ures, 
 are irrefiftably taken with Performances. 
 Hence is it, that I extremely lament the little 
 Relifh the Gentry of this Nation have at pre- 
 fent, for the juft and noble Reprefentations 
 in fome of our Tragedies. 
 
 The Italian Opera, the ^Beggars OperaJ 
 and other fuch like Farcical, and gewgau 
 Pantomime Entertainments, which are of late 
 introduced, can leave no Trace behind them \ 
 that can be of Service beyond the prefent 
 Moment. To Sing and to Dance, are Ac- 
 complifliments very few have any thoughts of 
 praftifingj but to fpeak Juftly and move 
 Gracefully, is what every one thinks they do^ 
 or wifli they did. 
 
 I have hardly ,a Notion, that any Female 
 Performer of Antiquity could furpafs the 
 Action of Mrs. Oldfield in any of the Oc- 
 cafions in which flie has appeared on our 
 Stage. The wonderful Agony in which fhe 
 was feen in the 'DiJIreft Mother $ the? 
 Mixture of Love that intruded upon her 
 Mind in the Part of Ifmena * were Perform 
 mances inimitable, but by her alone 1 
 
 When I faw her Corps approaching the 
 Abbey, the Gloom of the Churchy and the 
 
 * See Ph&dra and Htfpofouu 
 
 Y faint 
 
1 5 o MEMOIR S of the 
 
 faint Lights before the ProcefTion, contribu- 
 ted to the melancholy Difpofition I was in j 
 and I began to be extremely afflicted that An- 
 thony and Cleopatra ever had any Difference ; 
 that Anna 3Zullen and Jam Shore were fo 
 unfortunate ; and the Fall of Lady Jane 
 Gray ftruck me to the Heart. 
 
 The Occurrence of thefe Incidents, in my 
 Memory, who look upon all human Diftin&i- 
 ons to be meerly Scenical, raifed my Senti- 
 ments above the Emptinefs jof all Sublunary 
 Perfe&iofi and Grandeur in general $ and I 
 could not but regret, that the Sacred Heads 
 which lie buried in the Neighbourhood of 
 this little Portion of Earth in which my de- 
 parted Friend is depofited, are returned to 
 Duft as well as She, and that there is no Dif- 
 ference in the Grave between the imaginary 
 and the real Queen. This made me fay of 
 human Life it felf with Shahfpeare^ 
 
 To Morrow, to Morrow, and to Morrow, 
 
 Creeps in a Jlealing Qace from Day to Day, 
 So the lajl Moment of recorded Time ! 
 And all our Yefterdays have lighted Fools 
 To their eternal Night ! Out, out port Candle! 
 Life's but a walking Shadow, a poor Player 
 That Jlruts, and frets, his Hour upon the Stage^ 
 And then is heard no more. 
 
 Macbeth, 
 
JJfe of Mrs. Oldfiel£>. 151 
 
 Ntenia Hiftriomcx. 
 
 A 
 
 Funeral Oration 
 
 FOR 
 
 Mrs. OLD FIELD. 
 
 By a Player. 
 
 guts Defiderio fit pudor aut Modus 
 Tarn Chart Capitis. 
 
 H o r. Od. Lib. 1. 
 
 AT this fad Solemnity with a real Grief 
 and a melancholy Pleafure I aflift, for 
 who is it muft not grieve for fuch a Lofs ? 
 and yet I joy that I am ordained to pay this 
 laft^ this mourning Duty to her*, whofe Worth 
 claims all the Orator can fay. But what 
 Wor ds 3 alas I fliall exprefs her Merit, what 
 Y £ Terms 
 
i 5 z MEMOIRS// the 
 
 Terms our Grief ? Here Oratory is at a Stand, 
 Rhetorick lofes its Force, and both filently 
 conkfs their Incapacity to celebrate the one, 
 or fufficiently defcribe the other. The Pomp 
 and Pageantry of Sorrow, the filent Procef- 
 fion, the Sable Hearfe, and the mourning 
 Friends give but a faint Idea of the Woe due 
 to her Deceafe, or the Reverence owing to 
 her Memory. Then let Oratory be filent. 
 Rhetoric be dumb ; let the Pomp and Page- 
 antry of Sorrow, the Silent Proceffion, the 
 Sabie Hearfe, and the mourning Feinds pafs 
 unregarded by, for nothing but her Fame, 
 her loud founding Fame can fpeak her, no- 
 thing but the Memory of her Excellence can 
 juftly inform u$ of what a Treafure the ga- 
 ping Grave is about to rob us. 
 
 But who fhall mourn in more Bitternefs of 
 Anguifti than the Children of that forlorn 
 Theatre, where once Ihe flood the chief Sup*- 
 port and Beauty of the Stage, where Ihe 
 taught Virtue in fuch perfuafive Accents^ 
 that the Hearers have been with Immitation 
 fired, and wifhed they fo could Adt that fo 
 they may Inflruft, and fo inftru&ing be 
 adored like her. The Stage was at firfi de- 
 figned, (and never more ftrid than now) to 
 eradicate Vice, and inculcate and incourage 
 the r Principles of Virtue. The Man of Ho- 
 nour and Religion had his Reward, the Vil- 
 lain the Wages of his Demerit, Lewdnefs in 
 the Proffc'tute was puniflul, Chafiity in the 
 
 Matron 
 
 i 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 155 
 
 Matron applauded, with an Intent to cherilh 
 in the Audience a Love oi the reprefented 
 Virtues, and a Deteftation of the oppofite 
 Vices j and if the Intent of the Stage de- 
 ferves (as certainly it does) fo much Applaufe, 
 how muft they be refpe&ed who execute its 
 Defign ? Greatly, then to the .dear departed 
 Admiration be facred all the Lawrels of the 
 Stage. What hardened Heart wept not with 
 Andromache ? What Mother did ftie not in- , 
 ftrudt ii> Maternal Love when Jftyanaxs 
 Danger wrings her Soul? What Woman 
 fo loft in a Crowd of Cards, and good Com- 
 pany which the Repentance of my Lady 
 
 iwnly could not teach to reform ? What 
 Coquet fo abandoned to her Folly whom the 
 ridiculous Behaviour of Lady Betty Modijh 
 could not make deteft her Vanity ? What 
 Character did lhe appear in private or pub- 
 lick Life which flie could not make Amia- 
 ble ? On the Stage fo eafy did the Poets 
 Language flow from her, it might well be 
 taken for her own Sentiments and in private . 
 all ftie fpoke, all fli&did, carry 'd that agree- 
 able Air, that every thing fat upon her with 
 the fame genteel Negled, her Cloaths did ; 
 unaffe&ed Gay, but politley Neat. 
 
 In fhort, flie was the unexampled Pro- 
 dud: of an Age, and who, as flie immitated 
 none in her excellent Performance, fo by 
 none can fhe be immitated ; for as far as Na- 
 ture exceeds Art, fo far did ftie excell all the 
 
 / . Women 
 
i 5 4 MEMOIRS of the, &c. 
 
 iWomen of her Time ; and fo far will her 
 Memory triumph over all that are to eome 
 after. She was indeed a Phoenix in her Way, 
 folitariiy excellent j but, alas ! the Quality of 
 the Phoenix attends her not, for from her 
 Aflies no Succeffor can fpring ; for as Die was 
 Second to none, quando ullam inveniemus 
 par em? fo by none can flie be Seconded. 
 To conclude, Candid Auditory, as flie trod 
 the Theatrical, fo do you the Worldly Stage, 
 that when like her you muft make yaur Exit^ 
 it may be with the Approbation of Heaven 
 and Plaudits of Men. 
 
 OPHELIA: 
 
O P H ELI A: 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 Lovers Day, 
 
 Taken From 
 The Original Greek of Menander? 
 
To the Reader 
 
 MEnander I take to be the Father of 
 this excellent Poetical Fragment. I 
 found it in a very antient Colle&ion of the 
 *Poet(£ Gr<eci> immediately after an Epigram 
 of His, under this Title, t? mem. It has in the 
 Original many Beauties by me inimitable, and 
 excels in the two moft delightful Fountains 
 of Longinus s Sublime, viz. n*9w x) Etnm^ 
 ^Defcription and Tajfion. I have ftuck as 
 clofe to the Original as poffibly I could, and 
 have made but one Alteration, viz. The 
 Name of the Grecian Lady was Thestylis* 
 which I have changed to Ophelia ; not only 
 becaufe it runs fmoother in our Englijh Ver- 
 ification, but for another Reafon which I 
 flatter my felf will be obvious to every Reader, 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 157 
 
 MORNING. 
 
 L 
 
 FRom the Windows of the Eaft, 
 Scarce the grey-ey*d Morning peeps, 
 All Nature yet feems lull'd to Reft, 
 And Silence ftill its Empire keeps. 
 
 it 
 
 But now the Early Swallow Sings, 
 
 Mattins to the riling Day, 
 Whilft his * Wayward Road he Wings 
 
 Thro' the Liquid azure Way. 
 
 IIL 
 
 The Sun juft glimmers o'er the Hills, 
 Unfelt by the inferiour Lawn ; 
 
 Wanly fporting on the Rills, 
 Faintly gilds the gloury Dawn, 
 
 * In the Greek it is KQyrjnv afov, 
 
 IV. Not 
 
158 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 iv. ■ 
 
 Not yet with Gufts the River Heaves, 
 No Winds yet ruftle thro' the Trees ; 
 
 The Zephyrs rock upon the Leaves, 
 And Sleeping breathe a gentle Breeze. 
 
 V. 
 
 Not yet the Wontlings of the Flocks 
 From their Fleecy Mothers rife, 
 
 Or waken in the neighb'ring Rocks 
 Slumb'ring Eccho with their Cries. 
 
 VI. 
 
 All Nature refts, (or feems to reft) 
 And dreams it's daily Cares away, 
 
 But I with fell Defpair oppreft 
 Outwatch the Night, outrife the Day* 
 
 VIL 
 
 The Dews in pearly Globules fall 
 Down to the Trefles of my Hair, 
 
 O Force of Sympathy ! Each Ball 
 Seems to imitate a Tear, 
 
 VIIL 
 
 O Imitation mu^h too faint ! 
 
 Weak Refemblance of .my Pain ! 
 What but my wretched Self can paint 
 
 Within my felf what I fuftain ? 
 
 IX. Happy 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. ijs> 
 
 IX. 
 
 Happy Mortal ! that Poflefs 
 
 All the Joys I had in View, 
 Wretch ! How foon may She exprefs 
 
 The fame Difdain and Slight to you* 
 
 X. 
 
 Believe her to be ever kind, 
 
 Ever Fair, and ever Young, 
 Believe all Heaven is Confined 
 
 To her Face and to her Tongue. 
 
 XL 
 
 Hear her fpeak, — believe whole Days 
 
 Orpheus ftrikes the Golden Lyre ; 
 Believe when you behold her Face 
 
 'Tis Heaven, 'tis all you can defireo 
 
 XIL 
 
 Believe all ju'ft, and then relign 
 
 Each Care, let ev'ry Grief be ftrange, 
 
 Nought can prove her not Divine 
 But her ftrong Defire to Change. 
 
 XIIL 
 
 May you Love, and may She Change, 
 May ihe Change again, and Love,; 
 
 Ever reftlefs may the Range, 
 Ever Like, and ever Rove. 
 
 Z 2 XIV. Unen- 
 
i6o MEMOIRS of the 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Unenjoying, unenjoy'd, 
 
 May She like the common Sua 
 Smile on AH, but All avoid, 
 
 All avoiding be Undone. 
 
 May each Gazer view with Pain, 
 From each Gazer- may She fly ; 
 
 May every Stripling doat in vain, 
 Defpairing Love, defpairing Dye, 
 
 NOOK 
 
Life of Mrs. Old field. 161 
 
 NOON. 
 
 i. 
 
 DEck'd in all his Strength of Light, 
 In the South the Noontide-Sun 
 Shines, whofe Clima&eric Light 
 Tells us half the Day is done. 
 
 II. 
 
 Half the Day is done ! and why 
 Are not half my Sorrows done ? 
 
 My Griefs have their JLternity, 
 Never Ending, ftili Begun. 
 
 III. 
 
 The Steed whole Large-diftended Veins, 
 The Meridian's Rays inflame, 
 
 Has his Cure, and Hacks his Pains 
 Drench'd in the refrelhing Stream. 
 
 IV. Happy 
 
id MEMOIRS of the 
 
 IV. 
 
 Happy Bcaft ! whofe greateft Pain . 
 
 The refrefhing Stream can cool, 
 "Wretched Man ! that feek'ft in vain 
 
 Med'cine for thy Love-lick SouL 
 
 V. 
 
 The ftately Bull, Lord of the Herd, 
 Uncurft by conftant Paflion roves ; 
 
 By ev ry She is lov'd and fear'd, 
 Whilft He but for a Moment loves. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Prudent Brute ! did He adore, 
 
 Did he languifh, pine and ligh, 
 Each humble, doating She before 
 
 Wou'd Ipurn his Flame, and bid him dye. 
 
 VII. 
 
 The bleating Flock oppreft by Heat, 
 Flies to the Covert of the Grove ; 
 
 But how alas ! fhall I abate 
 The burning Fever of my Love ? 
 
 VIIL 
 
 If in the lilent verdant Scene 
 
 By Solitude I feek Relief, 
 Far from alleviating my Pain, 
 
 It's Obje&s but augment my Grie£ 
 
 IX. How 
 
Lffe of Mrs. O l d J I e l d. i C 5 
 
 IX. 
 
 How oft have I," O murd'rous Thought ! 
 
 Amidft thofe Nature-woven Bowers 
 The Spring-born infant Bloomers fought, 
 
 And cropt the Aromatic Flow'rs ? 
 
 X. 
 
 How oft ftretchM ou the Mofly Bed, 
 By Nature taught, by Love inlpir'd, 
 
 Made Garlands for O p h e l i a's Head 
 Of Flow'rs Ophelia moft admir'd ? 
 
 XL 
 
 In vain the Lilly fought to vie 
 
 With her much brighter Face; 
 The Rofe too loft its Scarlet Dye, 
 
 When near her Cheek took Place. 
 
 XII. 
 
 The Violet boafted not its Blue 
 
 When feated near her azure Eye ; 
 Her Hair overcame the Dazy's Hue, 
 
 What ! can I lofe, and not Dye ? 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Witnefs you dear, you confcious Grove, 
 
 Now Confidant of my Defpair, 
 How oft Ophel i a own'd her Love, 
 
 And fay how perjur'd is the Fair. 
 
 XIV. Has 
 
1*4 MEMO IKS of the 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Has She not in your Hearing faid, 
 She'd leave the World for Thy r sis fake ; 
 
 But O you Grove ! O Faithlefs Maid ! 
 Thefe Vows were only made to break. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Ye Purling Brooks, ye Silver Streams, 
 Ye once Spe&ators of my Joy, 
 
 Ye heard us breathe our mutual Flames, 
 And yet She's falfe, and I muft dye I 
 
 XVI. 
 
 When ye have heard Ophel i a's Voice, 
 Have ye not llowly crept along, 
 
 Hufli'd all your gently-bubling Noife, 
 Loft in Attention to her Song ? 
 
 XVII. 
 
 In fmooth Meanders fought Delay, 
 And prefs'd to the harmonious Shore; 
 
 And when by Torrents fore'd away, 
 Murmur'd the Sounds you heard before f 
 
 XVIIL 
 
 ,But now ye Streams, ye gurgling Floods, 
 Swell with my Tears, and waft my Sighs, 
 
 And murmur to the margined Woods 
 Ophelia's falfe, and Thyrsis dyes. 
 
 XIX. And 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. \C$ 
 
 XIX. 
 
 And if beneath the Willow Shade 
 
 Supine the fair Ophelia lies, 
 Whifper around the trembling Glade 
 
 Ophelia's Falfe, and Thyrsis Dyes. 
 
 XX* 
 
 But fay that with his faultring Tongue, 
 Expiring Thvrsis bid you tell^ 
 
 He loves her 'Spite of all his Wrong, 
 Alexis ne'er can love fo well. 
 
 I EVENING. 
 
 x. 
 
 SOftly falls the Evening Shower 
 To refrefh the Thirfty Plain, 
 To call to Life each drooping Flower, 
 And bid it Bloom and Live again. 
 
 Cuetera defunt. ■ X 
 
 AN 
 
i66 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 • AN 
 
 Hymn to Sleep. 
 
 Sj the fame Greek Author. 
 
 I. 
 
 COme gentle Deity, around my Head 
 DifRife your Slumbers, and your Poppies 
 lhcd 
 
 About my anxious Bed. 
 
 Quickly approach, 'tis time to" reft, 
 
 Day-light and Sorrow have too long oppreft 
 
 My panting, heaving, throbbing Breaft. 
 
 Why fly you ftiil ? Still muft I call in vain? 
 
 Still will you thus my Pray'rs defpife ? 
 
 Have not Ophelia's Eyes 
 
 Enough alarm'd my Soul, enough difturb cl my 
 Brain ? 
 
 IL Thanks 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfteld. iCj 
 
 II. 
 
 Thanks gentle God ; 
 
 My Soul is huiVd, my Cares begin to nod 
 
 Obedient to thy Rod. 
 
 Now Morpheus fliow thy gentle Art ; 
 
 With pleafing Fancies calm my Heart, 
 
 Bring my Ophelia to my View, 
 
 Make her feem kind as I am true ; 
 
 Let ev'ry Grate 
 
 Adorn her Face, 
 
 Teach her to yield, teach me to fue : 
 
 Plant us in fbme kind rural BowV, 
 
 Far from uneafy Pomp, far from ungrateful 
 Pow'r. 
 
 And to compleat my Blifs, 
 
 Grant me but this mighty This ; 
 
 That an eternal Lethargy may o'er my Senfes 
 creep, 
 
 That ever Ihe may be my Dream, that ever I may 
 fleep. 
 
 A a a 
 
 A 
 
i6S M E M O I R S of th 
 
 A 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 O F 
 
 EPILOGUES 
 
 Spoken By 
 
 Mrs. OLD FIELD. 
 
 EPILOGUE to the Victim. Written 
 by Mr. Cibber. Spoken by MrSo Oldfield 
 zs a Ghost. 
 
 CRiticks, a Truce: 'T\s true, I juft now ZtyV; 
 What then ! why now I walk, and fo you're 
 fatisfi'd. 
 
 For Form, I cou'd have Meal'd my Face, and ) 
 
 chofe / 
 
 In Peals of Thunder thro* the Stage to" ve rofe, \ 
 But Troth ! Fd rather fpoil the Jeft, than daub ( 
 
 my Cf oaths* ) 
 
 A 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 1G9 
 
 A Hole but two Foot wide ! Sure Bays muft doatj 
 
 I'm ribb'd with nine Yards round of Whale-bone 
 Petticoat, 
 
 Befide, my own Way (take my Word's) as good, 
 I fhall pleafe fall as well in Flefh and Blood ; 
 Thus having fairly told you my Condition, 
 I now proceed to tell you my Commiffion. 
 
 Know then, a friendly Shade from Realms below. 
 To you, that live, I'm fent a ^TlempOy . 
 To warn both Sexes to reform their Lives, 
 As Lovers, Husbands, Virgins, or as Wives : 
 For when I tell your Punilhment referv'd, 
 You'll rue the Hour that e'er from Truth you 
 
 fwerv'd. 
 As for Example ■ 
 
 We'ave got a Prude, You've feen that Box adorn, 
 Who with her Lover's Merit rais'd her Scorn. 
 And now (to fhew to what her Ghoft is fated) 
 She'as nine plump Daughters by the Man Hie hated. 
 Coquets, and Beaus innumerable fwarm, 
 But they (dear Souls) do very little Harm. 
 Living and Dead the fame ; the happy Elves 
 Unrivall'd, ftiil love nothing but theinfelves. 
 Juft as with you, in ten Days after billing, 
 Bright Goddefs proves a Fury ; Swain a Villain. 
 In ev'ry other State we differ far, 
 'Twere endlefs to be fo particular. 
 Therefore in grofs, 'tis proper you fnou'd know, 
 AH Vices are revers'd with us Below. 
 
 Young 
 
i 7 o MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Young Heirs are Sharpers there ; late Sharpers, 
 Cullies, 
 
 Our Soldiers Stock-jobb, and our Cits are Bullies. 
 
 Our Rakes turn Puritans, our Courtiers Quakers, 
 
 And Aldermen mofl furious Cuckold-makers. 
 
 Merit's fo fure to thrive in our dark Nation, 
 
 And to relieve Diftrefs fo much the Fafliion, ( 
 
 Ev'n States-Men's Hearts are raov'd by foftt 
 
 Compaffion. J 
 
 Our Priefts are humble, and our Lawyers honeft, 
 
 Our Great Men — Pay fuch Debts*— you'd be 
 aftonifh'd ! 
 
 Poets you'll own much better pafs their Time, 
 For all our Bills of Calh are drawn in Rhime, 
 Kach Bard's a Banker thpre, and Fancy coins 
 Our Standard Bullion in immortal Lines ; 
 But iince while here this Paffive Author muf| 
 His Mufe's Value to your Judgment truft; 
 If on Poetic Fame too fall he draws, 
 Pay him at leaft Subfiftance in Applaule. 
 
 EPI~ 
 
JJfe of Mrs. Oldfieid* 171 
 
 EPILOGUE to The Cruel Gift. 
 Written by Mr. Rowe. 
 
 WE11, — 'twas a narrow Scape my Lover 
 made ; 
 
 That Cup and Mejfage -I was fore afraid — 
 
 Was that a ^Prefent for a new made Widow y 
 
 All in her difmal Dumps, like doleful D i d o i 
 
 When One peep'd in— and hop'd for fomething 
 good, 
 
 There was-— ah ! Gad J a nafty Heart and Blood. 
 If the old Man had fliew'd himfelf a Father, 
 His Bowl ftiou'd have inclos'd a Cordial rather, 
 Something to chear me up amidft my Trance, 
 1/ Eaa de Barbade—— or comfortable Wants J 
 He thought he paid it off with being frnart, 
 And to be witty, cry'd, he'ad fent the Heart. 
 I cou'd have told his Gravity, moreover, 
 Were I our Sex's Secrets to difcover, 
 >Tis what we never look for in a Lover. 
 Let but the Bridegroom prudently provide 
 All other Matters fitting for a Bride y * 
 So he make good tho Jewels and the Jointure, 
 To mifs the Heart, does feldom difappoint hen 
 
 Faith, 
 
i 7 z MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Faith, for the Falhion Hearts of late ate 
 made in, * 
 
 They are the vilelt Baubles we can trade in. 
 Where are the tough brave Britons to be found 
 With Hearts of Oak, fo much of Old renown'd? 
 How many worthy Gentlemen of late, 
 Swore to be true to Mother-dhurch and State ; 
 When their falfe Hearts were fecretly maintaining 
 Yon trim King PEPIN, at Avignon reigning? 
 Shame on the canting Crew of Soul-Infurers ; 
 That Tyburn-Tribe of Speech-making Nonjurors, 
 Who in new fangled Terms old Trap's explaining^ 
 Teach honeft Engh[h-Men y damn'd Double mean- 
 ing. 
 
 O ! wou'd you loft Integrity reftore, 
 And boaft that Faith your plain Fore-Fathers bore ; 
 What furcr Pattern can you hope to find 
 Than that dear Pledge your Monarch left behind ! 
 See how his Looks his honeft Heart explain, 
 And fpeak the Bleffings of his Future Reign / 
 In his each Feature, Truth and Candour trace, 
 And read Qlain Dealing written in his Face. 
 
 * This Epilogue was fpokeo the Winter after' the Prejlon- 
 RebelliQn, 
 
 epi- 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 173 
 
 EPILOGUE to Busiris. 
 By Dr. Young. 
 
 THE Race ofCriticks,dull judicious Rogues, 
 To Mournful Plays deny Brisk Epilogues. 
 Each gentle Swain and tender Nymph, fay they, 
 From a fad Tale, ftiou'd go in Tears away. 
 
 From hence quite Home fhou'd Streams of Sor- 
 row flied, 
 
 And drown'd in Grief Ileal Supperlefs to Bed. 
 
 This Doctrine is fo grave, the Sparks won't , 
 bear it, 
 
 They love to go in Humour to their Claret. 
 
 The Cit who owns a little Fun worth buying, 
 
 Holds half a Crown too much to pay for crying. 
 
 Befides, who knows without thefe healing Arts, 
 
 But love might turn your Heads, and break your 
 Hearts ; ♦ 
 
 And the poor Author, by imagined Woes, 
 
 Might People Bedlam with our Belles and Beaus ! 
 
 Hence I, who lately bid adieu to Pleafure, 
 
 RobbM of my Spoufe, and my dear Virgin- 
 Treafure; 
 
 I, whom you faw defpairing breath my laft, 
 Am free and cafy, as if nought had paft. 
 Again put on my Airs, and play my Fan, 
 And fear no more that dreadful Creature, Man- 
 
 B b But 
 
i 7 4 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 *But whence does this malicious Mirth begin ? 
 
 I know, you feeafts, ye reckon it no Sin* 
 
 *Tis ftrange that Grimes the fame, in different 
 Plays, 
 
 Should move our Horror, and our Laughter raife : 
 
 Love's Joy fecure the Comic A6tor tries, 
 
 But if he's wicked in Blank Verfe, he dies. 
 
 The Farce, where Wives prove frail, ftill takes 
 the belt, 
 
 And the poor Cuckold is a Handing Jeft : 
 But our grave Bard, a virtuous Son of Is is, 
 Counts a bold Stroke in Love, among the Vices** 
 In Blood and Wounds a guilty Land he dips ye, 
 And waftes an Empire for One Ravilh'd Gyply* 
 
 What mufty Morals fill an Oxford Head, 
 To Notions of Pedantic Virtue bred : 
 There each ftiff Don at Gallantry exclaims, 
 And calls fine Men and Ladies filthy Names. 
 They tell you Rakes and Jilts corrupt a Nation, 
 — — Such is the Prejudice of Education? 
 
 You, who know better Things ,wiil fure approve 
 
 Thefe Scenes which Ihew the boundlefs Pow'r of 
 Love. 
 
 Let when they will th' Italian Things appear, 
 This Play we trufl: fhall throng an Audience here. 
 Bold Myron's Paffion up to Frenzy wrought, 
 Would ill be warbled thro' an Eunuch's Throat. 
 His Part, at lead, his Part requires a Man, 
 Let N i cot ini ad it if he can« 
 
 EPI- 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 175 
 
 EPILOGUE to the Drummer. 
 
 # TP O Night the Poet's Advocate I ftand, 
 
 JL And he deferves the Favour at my hand, 
 
 Who in my Equipage their caufe debating, 
 
 Has placed two Lovers, and a third in waiting. 
 
 If both the firft ftiou'd from their Duty fwerve 
 
 There's one behind the Wainfcot in referve* 
 
 In his next Play, if I would take this Trouble > 
 
 He promis'd me to make the Number double. 
 
 In troth 'twas fpoke like an obliging Creature, 
 
 For tho' 'tis fimple— -^yet it Ihews good Nature. 
 
 My Help thus ask'd, I coudn't chufe bu£ 
 grant it, 
 
 And really I thought the Play wou ? d want it. 
 
 Void as it is of all the ufual Arts, 
 
 To warm your Fancies, and to fteal your Hearts, 
 
 No Court-Intrigue, or City-Cuckoldom, 
 
 No Song, no Dance, noMufick — but a Drum 
 
 No fmutty Thought in doubtful Phrafe expreft, 
 
 And Gentlemen, if fo, pray where's the Jell ? 
 
 When we wou'd raife your Mirth, you hardly 
 know 
 
 Whether in Stridnefs you fhou'd laugh or no* 
 But turn upon the Ladies in the Pit, 
 And if they redden, you are fure 'tis Wit. 
 
 B k % Footed 
 
176. MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Prote& him then, ye Fair Ones : For the Fair 
 
 Of all Conditions are his equal Care. 
 
 He draws a Widow, who of blamelcfs Carriage 
 
 True to her Jointure, hates a Second Marriage* 
 
 And to improve a virtuous Wife's Delights, 
 
 Out of one Man contrives two Wedding Nights: 
 
 Nay, to oblige the Sex in every State, 
 
 A Nymph of Five and Forty finds her Mate. 
 
 Too long has Marriage in this taftlefs Age, 
 With Ill-bred Raillery fupply'd the Stage : 
 No little Scribbler is of Wit fo bare, 
 But has his Fling at the poor wedded Pair j 
 Our Author deals not in conceits fo ftale, 
 For Aiou'd th' Example of his Play prevail, 
 No Man need blufh. tho* true to Marriage Vows, 
 Nor be a Jeft, tho' he fliou'd love his Spoufe. 
 Thus has he done you Britijh Conforts Right, 
 Whofe Husbands, lhou $ d they pry like mine to 
 Night, 
 
 Would never find you in your Conduct Slipping, 
 Tho' they ttirn'd Conjurers to take you Tripping* 
 
Life of Mrs. 
 
 Oldfield. 177 
 
 EPILOGUE to the Provokd 
 Husband. 
 
 MEthinks I hear fbme powder'd Criticks fay 
 a Damn it ! this Wife-reform'd has 
 ipoiFd the Way ! 
 
 u The Coxcomb fliou'd have drawn her more } 
 in fafhion, / 
 
 u Have gratify'd her fofter Inclination, \ 
 
 u Have tipped her a Gallant, and clinch'd the I 
 Provocation. } 
 
 But there our Bard ftopt lliort ; for 'twere 
 uncivil 
 
 To have made a modern Belle, all o'er a Devil ! 
 
 He hop'd, in Honour of the Sex, the Age 
 
 Would bear one mended Woman on the Stage. 
 
 From whence you fee, by common Senfe's Rules, 
 
 Wives might be govern'd, were not Husbands 
 Fools. 
 
 Whatever by Nature, Dames are prone to do, 
 They feldom ftray, but when they govern you. 
 When the wild Wife perceives her Deary tame, 
 No wonder then (he plays him all the Game. 
 But Men of Senfe meet rarely that Difafter, 
 Women take Pride, where Merit is their Matter. 
 
 Nay, 
 
i 7 8 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Nay, flie that with a weak Man wifely lives, 
 Will feem t* obey the due Commands flie gives, 
 Happy Obedience is no more a Wonder, 
 i When Men are Men, and keep 'em kindly under. 
 But modern Confortsare fuch high-bred Creatures, 
 Tiiey think a Husband's Power degrades their 
 Features. 
 
 That nothing more proclaims a reigning Beauty, 
 
 Than that flie never was reproach'd with Duty : 
 
 And that the greateft Blefling Heav'n e'er fent 
 
 Is in a Spoufe incurious and content. 
 
 To give fuch Dames a different caffc of Thought, 
 
 By calling home the Mind thefe Scenes were 
 wrought. 
 
 If with a Hand too rude the Task is done, -y 
 
 We hope the Scheme by Lady Grace laid down, f 
 
 Will all fuch Freedom with the Sex attone. } 
 
 That Virtue there unfoil'd by modifli Art, 
 
 Throws out Attraction for a Manlfs Heart. 
 
 You, you then, Ladies, whofe unqueftion'd 
 Lives 
 
 Give you the foremoft Fame of happy Wives^ 
 Protedt, for its Attempt, this helplefs Play j 
 Nor leave it to the vulgar Tafte, a Prey : 
 Appear the frequent Champions of its Caufe^ 
 Dired the Croud^ and give your felves Applaufe. 
 
 EPI~ 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 179 
 
 EPILOGUE to Double Faljhood. 
 By Shakespeare. 
 
 WEU, Heaven defend us from thefe ancient 
 Plays, 
 
 Thefe Moral Bards of good Queen Befs's Days ! 
 
 They write from Virtue's Laws, and think no 
 further ; 
 
 But draw a Rape as dreadful as a Murther. 
 You modern Wits, more deeply vers'd in 
 Nature, 
 
 Can tip the Wink, to tell us, you know better; 
 Aswhoftiould fay- — " Tis no fuch killing 
 
 Matter. — — ) 
 ic We've heard old Stories told, and yet ne'er 
 
 wonder'd, 
 
 ic Of many a Prude, that has endur'd a Hundred : 
 " And Viol ante grieves, or we're miftaken— , 
 a Not, becaufe raviih'd ; but becaufe— forfaken— 
 Had this been written to the Modern Stage, 
 Her Manners had been copy'd from the Age. 
 Then, tho' Ihe had been once a little wrong, 
 She ftill had had the Grace to've held her Tongue; 
 And after all, with down^caft Looks been led 
 Like any Virgin to the Bridal Bed. 
 
 There 
 
i8o MEMOIRS©/^ 
 
 There, if the good Manqueftion'd her Mif-doing, 
 
 She'd Hop him ftiort " Pray who made you 
 
 fo knowing? 
 
 u What, doubt my Virtue ! —What's your bafe 
 Intention ? 
 
 < c Sir, that's a Point above your Comprehenfion, 
 Well, Heav'n be prais'd, the Virtue of our Times 
 Secures us from our Got hick Grandfires Crimes. 
 Rapes, Magick, new Opinions, which before 
 Have fill'd our Chronicles, are now no more : 
 And this Reforming Age may juftly boaft, 
 That dreadful Sin Polygamy is loft* 
 So far from multiplying Wives, 'tis known 
 Our Husbands find, they've Work enough with 
 one. 
 
 Then, as for Rapes, thofe dangerous Days are 
 paft ; 
 
 Our dapper Sparks are feldom in fuch hafte. 
 In Shakespeare's Age the Unglijb Youth infpir'd ; 
 Lov'd, as they fought, by him and Beauty fir'd. 
 'Tis yours to crown the Bard, whofe Magick 
 Strain 
 
 Cou'd charm the Heroes of that glorious Reign* 
 Which humbled to the Duft the Pride of Spain* 
 
 EPI- 
 
Life of Mrs. Old field. 181 
 
 EPILOGUE to Timoleon. 
 
 WE11, Sirs ; whoever may take our Author's 
 Part, 
 
 For Me— 'I own I hate him at my Heart. 
 
 What ! Ihock the Ladies with his odious Rapes, 
 
 And draw the Virtuous into filthy Scrapes ! 
 
 To fuch vile Licenfe, now, bold Bards are grown ? 
 
 That Women fcarce can call their Own—— their, 
 Own ! 
 
 Well, poor Cleone had a rav nous Lover, 
 A piteous Conflict ; thank her Stars — 'tis over. 
 Nay, frown not Ladies ; make the Cafe your own 3 
 What cou'd lhe do ? Eh ! — What wou'd you 
 have done ? 
 
 Not have confented, fure ! " Ye Powers for- 
 bid it, 
 
 No, 
 
 As Macbeth fays — you cannot fay fie did it. 
 
 Yet when from Friends removed, all Ears at"j 
 Diftance, 
 
 A ftrong Gallant, much Love, and no Affiftance, > 
 
 Who cou'd have blam'd the Do&rine then of I 
 NON-RESISTANCE? * J 
 
 C c Well, 
 
i8i MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Well, 'twas a fprightly Age, that fame of 
 Greece ! ) 
 
 *Twere hard if copying thence fhou'd fail to > 
 pfeafe ; ( 
 
 A Ravifher, determin'dy make3 a fine Diftrefs*-' 
 
 Your jolly Greeks (as old Hiftorians tell us) 
 
 Were ever held a Race of charming Fellows. 
 
 Their manly Paflions knew t* enhance the Joy, 
 
 And fav'd Coquets the Pain of being Coy. 
 
 Say what we will, that Man's our Darling ftifl, 
 
 Who bravely dares to pleafe us — 'gainlt our Wilk 
 
 2f$ut our tame Breed of Lovers does fo dwindle, 
 
 Our Sparks with Shape fo fmall, and Legs fo/ 
 fpindle, \ 
 
 Are forc'd to ufe all Helps to make their PafA 
 lions kindle. <4j 
 
 Poor callow Youths juft fent abroad from weaning, 
 
 Are always blundering round about the Meanings 
 
 They rnuft have Balls, AfFemblees, Mafquerade > 
 
 To make their lazy Love a long laborious Trade* 
 
 Dear modifri Ideots to lofe Time in Chat, 
 
 When Each well knows what T'other wou-d be at, 
 
 But hold 
 
 Methinks this feems all foreign to the Play, 
 Why, as to that, Fve only this to fay, 
 Ladies, to you our Bard refigns his Caufe, 
 His utmoft Glory is your kind Applaufe, 
 Do you approve ? Then every Night appear, 
 And view your Likenefs in E u ne s i a here* 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield, 185 
 
 IN the Year 171 3. The late ingenious 
 Dr. Reynardfon, Addreflfed a very pretty 
 Poem to Mr. Addifon^ called T^he Stage, 
 which I think cannot be better, nor more 
 properly, prefer ved, than in this Place, and 
 therefore I have taken the Liberty to reprint 
 it. The Author acquaints us that it was 
 written the preceding Summer, upon the 
 following Occafion ; cc The Spectator s Ac- 
 u count of the Diftreft Mother had raised 
 <c the Author's Expectation to fo high a Pitch, 
 <c that he made an Excuriion from College, 
 cc to fee that Tragedy A&ed, and upon his 
 c ' Return, was commanded by the <Dean to 
 cc write upon the Art, Rife, and Trogrefs of 
 cc the Englifh Stage which how well he 
 cc Jhas performed, is fubmitted to the Judg- 
 cc ment of that worthy Gentleman, to whom 
 u C it is infcribed* 
 
 C c 2 
 
 1 
 
 THE 
 
x84 MEMO IRS of the 
 
 THE 
 
 STAG E. 
 
 Since all the Din of War begins to ceafe, 
 And Britain's harrafs'd Sons expedfc a Peace* 
 Since now her prudent Senators defign 
 To change their Laurels for the Gallic Vine, 
 To view leis horrid Scenes of Death prepare, 
 The painted Terrors of a Theatre ; 
 Where Mars ftill rages in the Poet's Lines, 
 
 Where the fwoln Flood ftill reeks in warlike 
 Rhimcs, 
 
 Where Cannons but in loud Defcriptions roas, 
 
 Nor wave inEcchoes frightful to the Shoar; 
 
 Where the fhrill Trumpet's Clangor charms the^) 
 Ear, / 
 
 And beauteous Circles without trembling hear r 
 The loud-mouth'd Thunder of a fancied War A 
 If by an unfeigned Wound fome Hero dies, 
 Love fhoots the guilty Darts from their too 
 killing Eyes. 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 185 
 
 Nigh * where, as when on Nafeby's fatal Plains, 
 His brazen Steed the Royal Martyr reins, 
 A Covent once (if we may credit Fame, 
 And ftill the Garden keeps its antient Name) 
 A Covent once there flood, a Structure made 
 To lhun the World, where how the World is 
 play'd ; 
 
 How decently 'twas built, what Sins t' attone, 
 What Order ftlPd the Place, is yet unknown. 
 Perhaps the Spot where now ftands Poweil's 
 Stage, 
 
 Where Punch chaftifes Spoufe with prompted 
 Rage, 
 
 Was then fome Friar's Cell> where all unfeen 
 
 The pious Father fed his facred Spleen ; 
 
 Nor Fiends nor Witches then were known to fly, 
 
 Whilft Priefts and Holy-Water were fo nigh. 
 
 No Lovers there in Rhime rehears cl their Moan, 
 
 But if a Sigh was heard 'twas Penitence alone. 
 
 At length the World broke in, and now the 
 Play'r 
 
 Attracts the Beau, the Critic, and the Fair ; 
 
 Even in the Place which once the Monk poflefs'd 
 
 (Strange Shift of Scenes) fat f Domini ck's 
 thejeft. 
 
 Sweet is the Flourilh when the Curtain draws, 
 Sweet is the crouded Theatre's Applaufe ; 
 Sweet are the Strains when billing Lovers parle, 
 But rough the Cat-call and the Critick's Snarle. 
 
 * Charing-crofs. f The Spanifh Fryar, a Play. 
 
 Rough 
 
It* MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Rough was the Language, unadorn'd the Stage, 
 
 And mean his Hero's Drefs in Sh akespe a b/s Age : 
 
 No fcepter'd Kings in Royal Robes were feen, 
 
 Scarce could their Guards defend their tinfel'd 
 Queen, 
 
 Scarce could the Houfe contain the lift'ning Shoal, 
 
 Scarce had the mimick-Thunder, room to roll ; 
 
 But then Wives, Subje&s, Friends, 'tis fung, 
 were true, 
 
 And Beaus (if fuch in England were) were few* 
 Rare were their Follies : This the Moderns found^ 
 And prudently, fince Sots and Knaves abound, 
 Since Crimes enlarge, and Fopperies prevail, 
 Enlarg'd the Stage, which ought to be their Flail. 
 Now foars the Theatre, a ftately Pile, 
 It felf an Emblem of the Tragick Stile, 
 Firm to its Bafe, yet lofty to the Sight, 
 Lofty, yet each way equal to its Height, 
 Plain as the Shepherd-Nymph in RulTet Weeds, 
 Yet graceful as the A&refTes it breeds j 
 Each meaneft Objed props the main Defign, 
 Art, Nature, Ufe, and Ornament combine. 
 
 Here wreath'd Apollo with his heav nlyLyrQ 
 Inflames the Mufes with Poetick Fire, 
 Their tuneful Strains the jocund Mufes flng, 
 And tributary Bards their Incenfe bring; 
 
 The God with pleafing Looks, and Crowns of 
 
 Baysy 
 
 Smiles on their Labours, and rewards their Lays, 
 
 Here 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldheld. 187 
 
 Here have I feen (and O the pleating Sight !) 
 Love, Hate, and Fury in their trueft Light ; 
 Here, when his Crimes in Publick glar'd I've feen 
 The bluftiing Letcher curfe the babling Scene, 
 Whilft He whom confcious Innocence fecures, 
 Unlels when Virtue wrongs or Scorn endures, 
 Smiles unconcern'd, as Socrates is faid 
 To'a ve fat at Athens when the * Clouds were play 'd . 
 Sometimes the Tragick Mufe Deftru&ion breathes, 
 And ftrews th* Embattled Scene with Bloodlefs 
 Deaths ; 
 
 Sometimes a merrier Garb^the Drama wears, 
 And ev'ry Vice and ev'ry Folly fnears. 
 
 His Judgment Great, and Great mull be his Graft 
 That undertakes to make his Audience laugh \ 
 >Tis not a nat'rai Ninny muft be fhown, 
 Expofe the Coxbomb, not the Simpleton. 
 The barb'rous Wretch that toils to ridicule 
 An honeft, harmlefs, unconceited Fool, 
 As well, with Hamlet in the Play, might Have 
 To prove a Villain is an errant Knave. 
 When Shadwell gives his § Ideot Clown a Mifs, 
 Gorg'd with the naufeous Afs true Criticks hifs, 
 Hifs, and with reafon bid the fcrib'ling Nify 
 Go read \ Quintilian demovendo rifu* 
 
 * The Clouds, a Play in Ariftophanes, where Socrates is through- 
 out ' fatyrized, at which, when reprefented, He was prejhtt, and 
 Jhewed not the lea ft Concern. 
 
 § Young Hartford in his Lancafhire Witches. 
 
 f Stulta reprehendere facillimum eft, nam ex fe funt ridicula, 
 fed rem urbanam facit aliqua ex nobis adje&io, Quintilian. 
 
 Nothing 
 
i 88 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Nothing can more provoke a righteous Spleen 
 
 Like that of Collier, than an impious Scene. 
 
 In Spain their martyr'd Saints (a Sight pre- 
 poft'rous) 
 
 Kneel on the Stage, and fing their *Pater Nojters. 
 
 This Error claims the contrary Extreme, 
 
 Religion is for Plays too great a Theme, 
 
 A Theme that asks a more refjpe&ed Coat, 
 
 A Tongue that does not only move by Rote. 
 
 Let thofe who dare attempt the Tragic Mufe 
 
 Some Standard Author for their Pattern chufe, 
 
 The Man whom Nature reconciles with Art, 
 
 Who knows each Pais, and Folding of the Heart, 
 
 That tyranizes o'er the Soul, is he : 
 
 Such Shakespear was, fuch Addison will be. 
 
 Such Shakespear was indeed; for who can 
 guard 
 
 His inmoftSoul, when Shakespear plies it hard? 
 
 Can he who has a Child, an only Child, 
 
 As Hotspur headftrong, and as Falstaff wild, 
 
 See Bolingbroke in anguifh for his Son, 
 
 See the King's Sorrows, and forget his own ? 
 
 And can that Child fee Lear's good old Age 
 
 All dropping wet come frantic on the Stage ; 
 
 Or hear that impious Pair his Daughter's play'd, 
 
 Yet not his own Ingratitude upbraid ? 
 
 He muft, he muft, 'tis Shakespear reprimands, 
 
 What Guilt fo bold his pious Pen wjthftands ? 
 
 All 
 
Lift of Mrs. Oldfield. *8<> 
 
 All hail, Immortal Bard, thy'Mufe difarms 
 Each Vice, and even when a Slattern charms, 
 Thou can'ft celeftial Sentiments exprefs, 
 Or Negromantic Rites in all their Horrors drefs. 
 So the fam'd God of Eloquence (who CmiVd 
 On thy great Birth, and chofe thee for his Child) 
 In either Region's Language did excel, 
 At once th* Interpreter of Heaven and Hell. 
 
 Immortal Bard, all hail ! may ev'ry Spring 
 Around thy Tomb the Nymphs of Avon bring ; 
 Around, you grateful Nymphs, around him tread, 
 Record his Beauties, and bemoan him dead. 
 
 AH hail, Immortal Bard^ TheerWitlings damn* 
 For Errors fcarce enough to prove thee Man : 
 Errors there are, for who fo partial fees 
 The Prince of c Playivright$ in his Pe r i c l e s? 
 But when the Youthful Dam * to Rapture fwelfe 
 At the fad Tale his poifon'd Father tells ; 
 When CiESAR triumphs, when his Murderers plot. 
 When Hecate deceives the valiant Scot y 
 "When Fairies round the Ring, when Spirits fly, 
 Compelled by Magic from their native Sky, 
 I know him then, I know the Mufe's Shrine, 
 'Tis He himfelf, 'tis Shakespear, 'tis Divine, 
 
 None may attempt the next great Poet's Fame„ 
 
 Whilft Denham's Numbers blazon Johnson's 
 Name; 
 
 'Twas he firft methodized the Mufe's Rage, 
 To him we owe Corredtnefs on the Stage ; 
 
 f H,m!et, 
 
 Pd By 
 
i5>o MEMOIRS of the 
 
 By tracing Johnsons Himorifts * and Lays, 
 Even blundering Shadwell now and then can 
 pleafe. 
 
 ApoIlo thus to bend his Bow, 'tis faid 
 Upon a fenfelefe Stone his Lyre he laid ; 
 Th' infe&ious Harmony the Marble caught, 
 His Inftrument a new one ftrait begot ; 
 The Stone when ftruck on, imitating Hill, 
 In feeble Sounds the Matter Godhead's Skill. 
 
 Shadwell perhaps may coaft along the Shore, 
 But fears the dangerous Ocean to explore. 
 Johnson alone with Wit and Judgment braves 
 The rifing Storm, and quells the raging Waves j 
 Here diftant twinkling Beauties rarely meet, 
 There's a bright Galaxy of dazling Wit. 
 
 But like the Graces moving hand in hand 
 
 Fletcher and Beaumont next the Crown 
 command, 
 
 The firft too far prefuming on his Wit, 
 
 His lavifh Lays luxuriantly writ ; 
 
 Whilft Beaumont modelled every darling 
 Thought, 
 
 And interposed his beautifying Blot ; 
 
 Taught him to manage the Qierian Steed, 
 
 Or curb him clofe, or urge his utmolt Speed. 
 
 Minerva thus to rout the Thracian God, 
 
 la the fame Chariot with Ty tides rode, 
 
 * Eveiy Man In, and OuT i of his Humour, 
 
 She 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 191 
 
 She wields the Whip, his forward Courage chides. 
 His fiery felf and fiery Courfers guides, 
 Now checks their hafte, now thunders o'er the 
 Plain, 
 
 The Hcroe darts the Spear, the Goddefs rules the 
 Rein. 
 
 Fletcher when fir'd with a poetic Heat, 
 Was ever rambling after Rant and Wit, 
 'Twas then his Friend all fortify 'd with Rules, 
 Show'd him the Scene could tickle none but Fools 0 
 Convinc'd, amaz'd, the guilty Poet flood, 
 And bluiVd himfelf fliould ever think it good* 
 
 So Bacchus, when he drove his conq'ring Gar 
 O'er Sun-burnt Climes, and urg'd the Indian War, 
 Soon as the gen'rous Grape had reached his Head, 
 His Troops to many a ralh Adventure led j 
 Silenus faw the Fault, by his Advice 
 The God atiay'd his Rage, and cooi'd his Gup 
 with Ice. 
 
 Long felt the Drama aa inglorious Dearth, 
 
 Nor wept the Tragic Mufe, nor fmil'd the Co- 
 mic Mirth. 
 
 At length his Lyre harmonious Dryden ftrung, 
 Exceli'd in Both > and Both alternate fung. 
 At firft indeed he made his Heroes rant, 
 Or quibled Folly in his Wild Gallant: 
 But, as in Mafic when the Artift long 
 Has try'd each Note, and dwelt upon the Song, 
 The Strings become familiar to his Hand, 
 ground his Lute the Graces take their Stand ; 
 
 D d % He 
 
192. M E M O I R S of the 
 
 He rifes in his Skill, the Croud controuls, 
 And robs his rgvifh'd Audience of their Souls. 
 Our Author fo, when perfed in his Art, 
 Alarm'd the brave and feiz'd the Fair one's Heart. 
 
 So Nature's Workmanfhip, in Paint difplay'd, 
 By mellowing time more beautiful is made. 
 So Nature's felf^ whom he fo well could paint, 
 A6ts as at firft Ihe fuffer'd fomeReftraint: 
 The tender Babe of lefs than Pigmy iize, 
 Wrapt up and jellying in the Cradle lies. 
 By juft Degrees his little Limbs dilate, 
 By juft Degrees improves his growing State, 
 At length he ftretches to his utmoft Span, 
 And looks, and ftalks, that lordly Creature, Man- 
 But what fo potent Charm, what Chain fo 
 ftrong, 
 
 Can curb or lilence the malicious Tongue^ w 
 Superior Merit on the Laureat drew, 
 A Bl AdKMoRE, MiLBouRtf, and a Montague, 
 Angred at laft he threw his Pencil down, 
 Nor ftrove again to pleafe a thanklefs Town. 
 Wrapt in the Prophets Robe arofe his Friend, 
 Congreve alene, the Heroe's Bow could bend,, 
 Congreve his fecond-felf, his Congreve rofe, 
 And foars like Dryden, and like Dryden flows. 
 
 Thus did Achilles from the Dufty Plain 
 Laden with Bays and Injuries abftain ; 
 But when Patroclt/s to the Battle went 
 His Golden Panoply the Heroe lent; 
 
 And 
 
Life of Mrs. OldfJeld, ipj 
 
 And him fo well the mighty Arms became, 
 
 So like Achilles all his graceful Frame, 
 
 Both Hofts aghaft the raging War fuipend, 
 
 And none butPHOEBus knows him from hisFriend. 
 
 Thy Comic Mufe, and truft me, Congreve, I 
 
 With greater Truth than * Forejight Prophecy, 
 
 Far as thy Ben can fail, or Waters flow, 
 
 Receiv'd withPraife thy Comic Mufe fliall go ; 
 
 Blefs her, ye Lovers, for from her the Fair 
 
 Have learnt to prize the Conftant in Defpair, 
 
 No more your Sighs, no more your Tears are 
 fcorn'd, 
 
 But Love for Love fhall ever be returned. 
 
 Some know the Sock and fome the Buskin's Pace, 
 
 But Congreve treads in both with equal Grace; 
 
 When drefs'd in widdpw'd Weeds his Mufe ap- 
 pears, 
 
 Wfyo can refufe the Mourning Bride his Tears? 
 
 So when Adonis dy'd, her Grief became 
 
 Well as her former Mirth, the Laughter-loving 
 Dame. 
 
 Long would the Labour be, and vain the Toil 
 To fing the Mafter-ftrokes of Otway s Stile, 
 Even the moll Loyal muft Pierre commend, 
 Nor can his Orphan ever want a Friend, 
 
 Read Eth'rege, you that would appear 
 genteel, 
 
 The Friend, the Father, and theMiftrefs, Steele: 
 
 * An illiterate Old Felhiv, pretW'Mg to under fond Apology. 
 See-j Loye for Love, 
 
 How 
 
i5>4 MEMO IRS of the 
 Howfoft the^cene where Cibuer paints the Beau ! 
 How manly Wycherley ! how moving Rowe! 
 The Lays how ftrong, how paffionate the Page ! 
 WhenG k a nvx 1 1 z^Jgamemnan mounts the Stage! 
 Mow loud the Din when his Magicians fight ! 
 When good * Urgavda battles for her Knight, 
 Spirits of Air with Damons dire engage, 
 Loud Thunder burfts in Voilies, Light nin gs rage, ( 
 
 Shoots the blue ghaftly Gleam acrofs the dark-f 
 ned Stage. j 
 
 And thou, O Addison, no more detain 
 
 The Free-born f Cato, ftruggling in his Chain; 
 
 'Tis Liberty he loves, difclofe thy vaft Defign, 
 
 And let us fee that every Mufe is thine. 
 
 And now the I/is proudly rsars her Head, 
 
 See o'er her flow'ry Lawn* the Goddefe tread, 
 
 Thee, Heliconian Deity, I know, 
 
 Accept the Vcrfe thy Streams have taught to flow. 
 
 But hark ! fhe claims aloud the Laurel Wreath, 
 
 To bind the Temples of her darling Smith, 
 
 Alas ! to bind his Temples, he's no more, 
 
 But wanders iilent on the Stygian Shore ; 
 
 Long fince the promised Bard in all his Pride, 
 
 In blooming Beauty, like his Pk.edra dy'd. 
 
 O were the Youth, the Youth fo long deplor'd^ 
 
 Like his Hippolitus to Life reflor'd, 
 
 £ * His Frinfh Enchanters. 
 
 •h ji Tngzfa written by Mr. Addifbn, it kzel not then been &&eL 
 
 Myriads 
 
Life of Mrs. OtDPiELt). 19$ 
 
 Myriads of Heroes flaould with him revive, 
 
 And in his labour-d Lays triumphant live. 
 
 But hold ! To fing fuch wondrous Poet's Praife 
 requires 
 
 A Genius great as Addison's or theirs, 
 
 Do thou, my Mufc, defcribe the bright Abodes,- 
 
 Of Wits, of Cits, of Griticks, Beaus, and Bawds>* 
 
 Of Venal Emperors, and earthling Gods. 
 
 Low lays the Tribe, commanded by the Box, 
 
 That damn a Play, or fign it Orthodox, 
 
 The Pit they fill, the Pit where Punks patrol, 
 
 Thefe look a luring Leer, and thofe a gloomy 
 Seoul; 
 
 Footman and Prentice bawl in upper , Air, 
 
 Bright in the Middle fits enthron'd the Fair. 
 
 But neither Footman's Ideot Laugh can pleafe, 
 
 Nor wounds the fiercer Critick's envious Hifs ; 
 
 Deign but, you Circles of the Fair, to fmile, 
 
 Well is the Poet paid for all his l^Sour'd Stile. 
 
 Now turn, and fee where loaden with her 
 Freight, 
 
 AD'amfel ftends, an Otangef-wetich She's hight; 
 See ! how her Charge hs$gs dangling by the Rim > 
 See! how the Balls blulh o'er the Basket-brim ; 
 But little thofe fhe minds, the cunning Belle 
 Has other Fiih to fry, and other Fruit to fell : 
 See ! how flxe whifpers yonder youthful Peer, 
 See! how hefmilcs, and lends n greedy Ear. 
 
 At 
 
10 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 At length 'tis done, the Note o'er Orange wrapt 
 Has reach'd the Box, and lyes in Lady's Lap ; 
 Such Atalanta was, fuch golden Fruit 
 Gaind the fair Murd'refs in the hot Purfuit. 
 Poor pretty Proftitute, thou kind Relief 
 To longing L#dy, and to Gallant's Grief ; 
 May that foft Hand which both the Boxes know* 
 Plump as thy Orange in their Service grow, 
 Still vend thy Fruit, ftill give the Billet right, 
 So may both Colours in thy Checks unite, 
 The Fruit's Vermillion, and the Billet's white. 
 
 But hark, a Fight ! by fbme brisk Spark indited. 
 It is decreed the Ladies mull be frighted. 
 I hear the Soldiers and the Clarions roar> 
 And fee the Battle enters at the Door, 
 Some two diftinguilh'd Chiefs decide the Caufe, 
 Who like true Heroes bleed to gain Applaufe. 
 Porters in red with brandilh'd Whwyard vie, 
 Fight as good Friends, and for their Living die > 
 Here fome the Sabre s blunted Terrors weild > 
 There Javelins fplinter on the Sun-bright Shield, 
 Their Foils clafh horrible, their Faulchions Jar, 
 A harmlefs Hubbub, and a pointlefs War; 
 Each Chief fubmits to what his Roll decrees, 
 Or conquers bravely, or as bravely dies. 
 Mean while with Throats expanfive, Vifage 
 grum, 
 
 Legions of Stentors trumpet, lhout and drum, 
 Sound an Alarm, retreat, rout, rally, overcome, 
 
 So 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfiud. 197 
 
 So have I feen, when Cuftard was the Prize, 
 
 Whole Troops of Trencher-men, and Trainbands 
 rile, 
 
 Like more than Men with formidable Pride, 
 
 Charge to the promised Dinner up Cheapfide y 
 
 Prefent their Pieces, Pop, Huzza around, 
 
 And fliake themfelves, and lhake the fmoakinjg 
 Ground. J 
 
 Say whence their Armour, whence the Cask ) 
 enchased, / 
 
 With beamy Gems, the Cuirafs richly lac'd, f 
 The waving Plumage, and the burnifh'd Creft?\ 
 
 Say whence the Coat of Mail, the tempered ] 
 Spear, ( 
 
 Say whence theHeroe's Helm, the King's Tyar, p 
 
 And whence* in goary Robes afialTufd Spe&res j 
 glare ? ] 
 High o'er the Stage there lies a rambling 
 Frame, 
 
 Which Men a Garret vile, but Playrs the Tire- 
 Room name j 
 
 Here all their Stores (a "merry Medley) fleep, 
 
 Without Diftin&ion hudled in a Heap. 
 Hung on the felf fame Peg, in Union reft 
 
 Young Tarquin's Trowfers, and Lucretia's 
 Veil, 
 
 Whilft without pulling Coifs Roxana lays 
 Clofe by Statvra's Petticoat her Stays ; 
 Hard by a Quart of bottled Light ning lies, 
 A Bowl of double Ufe, and monftrous Size ; 
 
 E e Now 1 - 
 
i£>8 MEMO IKS of the 
 
 Now rolls it high, and rumbles in its Speed, 
 
 Now drowns the weaker Crack of Muftard-feed ; 
 
 So the true Thunder all array'd in Smoak, 
 
 Launched from the Skies now rives the knotted 
 Oak, 
 
 And fometimes nought the Drunkard's Pray'rs 
 avail, 
 
 And fometimes condefcends to fower Ale. 
 
 Near thefe lets up a Dragon-drawn Calafh, 
 
 There a Ghoft's Doublet delicately flafh'd, 
 
 Bleeds from the mangled Breaft, and gapes a 
 frightful Galh, 
 
 In Crimfon wrought the fanguine Floods abound > 
 
 And feem to gutter from the ftreaming Wound. 
 
 Here Iris bends her various painted Arch, 
 
 There artificial Clouds in fullen Order march, 
 
 Here Hands a Crown upon a Rack, and there 
 
 A Witch's Broomitick by great Hectors Spear; 
 
 Here ftands a Throne, and there the Cy nick's 
 Tub, 
 
 Here Bullock's Cudgel, there Alcides' Club. 
 Beads, Plumes, and Spangles, inConfuiion rife, 
 Whilft Rocks of Cornifh Diamonds reach the Skies. 
 Crefts, Corflets, ail the Pomp of Battle join, 
 In one Effulgence, one promifcuous fhine. 
 
 Hence all the Drama's Decorations rife, 
 Hence Gods defcend Majeftic from the Skies, 
 Hence Playhoufe Chiefs to grace fome antiqueTale* 
 Buckle their coward Limbs, in warlike Mail. 
 
 With 
 
Life of Mrs. OlDField. 199 
 
 With what an Air from this their Magazine 
 
 Equip t, old Better ton adorn'd the Scene ? 
 
 Old Betterton, on whofe Seraphick Tongue, 
 
 Mirth, Majefty* and fluent Satire hung; 
 
 He by Religion a Tragedian made, 
 
 Play'd virtuous Parts, and liv'd the Parts he play'd* 
 
 He flourifVd long* and long deliberate Fate* 
 
 Spar'd him in Pity to the Tragic State. 
 
 At length he fell, decayed the Stages Pride^ 
 
 The Laureat fickenM, and the Poet dy'd ; 
 
 For if the firfl: a Piece confummate drew, 
 
 From him each graceful Stroke receiv'd its due* 
 
 Nor could the laft fo bad a Scene indite, 
 
 But his judicious A&ion let it right; 
 
 Still at the worft or bell of Plays, the Town 
 
 With Pleafure liften'd to their Betterton. 
 
 So in the Senate, be it to declare, 
 
 A well concerted Peace, or dreadful War ; 
 
 The fame Delight and Satisfaction's lhown 
 
 By Anna's Peers, when Anna mounts the 
 Throne. 
 
 With other Looks, yet fcarce inferior Grace, 
 
 Nokes trod the Stage, and lliambled in his pace, 
 
 Pleafant Buffoon ! to what an artful Screw 
 
 His wither'd Chaps the merry Whorefon dfew^ 
 
 What Pencil can defcribe his grotelque Mein, > 
 
 TheCuckold's Iheaking Leer, theNon-^Con Grin , 
 
 The Wire^hung Limbs, fui>k Eyes, and pecked 
 Chin. 
 
 £ e % Thu* 
 
icq MEMOIRS cf the 
 
 Thus furniiVd, thus defbrm'd, thus bent with Age f 
 
 With feeble Steps he limp'd acrofs the Stage, 
 
 There drawling Nonfenfe from his haggard Jaws, 
 
 I)ifpeird the Spleen whichBE tterton had caus'd. 
 
 In Homer thus the Slave and Hera charms, 
 
 Thersites pleafes, but Achilles warms. 
 
 Still may you live. Immortal A&ors, crown'd^ 
 
 Still may your Praife from Pole to Pole refound^ 
 
 For itili you live, in Uuft the Vulgar lie, 
 
 But never muffc Theatric Heroes die; 
 
 Secure of Fame the Stroke of Fate they brave, 
 
 As if by often ading Death, they'ad tearn'd to 
 mock the Grave. 
 
 Whilffi Shakesfear's, Dryden's, Rowers and 
 Otway's Name, 
 
 Are fung > and flouriili in the. Book of Fame ; 
 
 Barrey and Bracegtrdle fhall fhare their Praife^ 
 
 And live for ever in the Poets Lays. 
 
 Here would I fix, here now my Fancy raife, 
 
 •And ranfack Waller to compleat their Praife ; 
 
 Lowell forbids, and with a haughty Tone 
 
 Frowning, demands to have his Merits kno^n ? 
 
 And great they are, and worthy to befung, 
 
 But O ! ftill dwelling on their Owner's Tongue; 
 
 Big as the Voice of War he mouths his Roll, 
 
 Each Accent twangs majeftically full. 
 
 When Alexander dies, he gives the Fair, 
 
 Tortures &s great as thofc hefeems to bear; 
 
 When 
 
Life of Mr*. Oldfield. 201 
 
 When Oedipus rends forth his Eyes with Tears^ 
 
 Each forrowing Beauty almoft puts out hers ; 
 
 When by Hermione's Difdain undone, 
 
 Diftra&ion feizes Agamemnon's Son ; 
 
 With artful rattling Wheeze, he draws his Breathy 
 
 Seems in the very Agonies of Death; 
 
 He foams, he ftares, he ftorms a madding Note, 
 
 And all the Fury thunders in his Throat* 
 
 A Godlike Air, Quick Eye, and Accent fmooth, 
 With all the Manly Graces fhine in Booth. 
 
 Bleifs'd with an awful Port and lordly Mein, 
 The pleased Spectator dreads a King in Keene* 
 
 Not fo in airy Wilks, with chearful Grace, 
 
 The carelefs Rake fits fparkling in his Face, 
 
 Others there are, whofe Voice and Gefture claim 
 
 In pompous Verfe a never-dying Fame. 
 
 Others there are, but how Ihould we defcribe 
 
 The various Beauties of the diftant Tribe ; 
 
 We hop'd alas ! we hop'd a nearer View, * 
 
 And farther, farther ftill our Willies flew ; 
 
 But ah I thofe Hopes arc o'er, and Grieve to fay 
 
 Superior Gravity has gain'd the Day. 
 
 Yet tax not us, Tragedians, tax not thofe 
 
 Who never can be real Merit s Foes; 
 
 We grudge you neither Refuge nor Applaufe, 
 
 'Tis you your felves forbid, your felvesyour Ab- 
 fence caufe. 
 
 * The Players lafl Stynmer <wzn expected to £lay at Oxford, hnt 
 tiler f order d away, 
 
 The 
 
jiot MEMOIRS of the 
 
 The fatal Caufe is fatal Excellence^ 
 
 *Tis your own Santlow baniflies you hence, 
 
 For ftiould flie with her, all her Beauties bring, 
 
 Nothing but , her each youthful Tongue would 
 ling, 
 
 Learning left fair would fhine, and every Mufe 
 
 For brighter Beauties fcorn'd her Lover lofe \ 
 
 Should Oldfield then, the bright-ey'd Old~ 
 field join, 
 
 Her complicated Charms, her Form divine; 
 
 Should flie, like He&or's Widow, as of late, 
 
 Mourn her * Astyanax's double Fate, 
 
 All, all would love her like Achilles' Son, 
 
 All would like him be ta'en, all like him undone. 
 
 'Tis faid young \ Ammon, when returned from 
 War, 
 
 Was with an Eunuch's Adlion ta'en fo far, 
 
 That Spight of Royalty he leaped for Joy, 
 
 Leap'd from his Throne, and kifs'd the fervile 
 Boy. 
 
 O ! could he but have feen upon the Stage, 
 Oldfield in the forfaken Loveit rage ; 
 Struck with the Sight, the Son of Lybian Jove, 
 From Admiration foon had rofe to Love ; 
 A warmer Kifs had giv'n the nuptial Sign, 
 And all Statyra's Conqueror been thine. 
 
 * Her Part in the Diftrefs'd Mother, 
 f Plutarch m the Life of Alexander* 
 
 And 
 
Life of Mrs. Old field. 105 
 
 And yet with all their Beauties, all their Care, 
 
 Nor Santlow, Wilks, nor Oldfield pleafc 
 the Fair. 
 
 Blefs'd with their Praife, Italian Songfters thrive, 
 
 A Beaver-Race that geld themfelves to live. 
 
 Strange Force of Whimfy ! that the Fair ihould 
 prize 
 
 A warbling Vagabond whom all defpife. 
 Even to themfelves of old an Eunuch feem'd, 
 Worfe than a Beaft, tho' now fo much efteem'd ; 
 So Frogs by Frenchmen are as Dainties ftew'd, 
 And what was Egypt's Hague is France's Food. 
 
 How odd the Fancy, how abfurd the Sight ! 
 To fee That Hercules, * who in one Night 
 Full fifty Dames in heat of Blood contented, 
 Now by a faplefs Gelding reprefented • 
 With greater Juftice from the Lydian Queen, 
 Since dwindled from a Man he learn'd to fpin* 
 
 For loftier Lays, and nobler Chiefs than thefe, 
 Th* ingenious \ Builder rais'd his Edifice ; 
 The Architect, whofe every Work proclaims 
 The Terence and Vitruvius of his Times; 
 The Builder — but a nobler Stru&ure's Praife, 
 A nobler Architect commands my Lays, 
 A Qrwcefsy who by righteous Arms abroad, 
 At home by fifty Temples rais'd to God, 
 At once the French and Stygian Tyrant braves, 
 At once the Chriftian and the Subjed faves. 
 
 * A New Opera fo cctlVd. 
 
 I Vanbrugh UuiUer pf the Hay-market Vlayhoufe. 
 
 IuLUS* 
 
 \ 
 
io 4 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 I ii l u s' Niggard Son to raife his Trqy y 
 The Gods and great Alcides did employ; 
 That done, ungrateful grew, nor would defray 
 His Hero and the hireling Powers their Pay; 
 But our more pious Princefe, who no left 
 From Heaven and Marlbro' has deriv'd Succefs, 
 By giving Bleinheim and thefe Piles, has given 
 Their juft Rewards t' her Hercules and Heaven. 
 
 K B. Since the Writing of this Poem, the 
 Public have been deprived of thefe Five ce- 
 lebrated Players, viz. Mr- Betterton, Mr* 
 tycwett, Mr. Keem y Mrs. Barry, and Mrs, 
 Qhipeld ; all of the Theatre Royal 
 
 7be 
 
Life of Mrs, Oldpield. 2.05 
 
 The following L 1 s T of <what Plays Mrs. 
 Oldfield ABed in, from her frji 
 coming on the Stage, and the Principal 
 Parts [he ABed, w communicated to 
 me hy Mr. P e r v i l, Property-Man, 
 of the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. 
 
 N. B. This Mark f denotes the Principal Parts, 
 
 TRAGEDIES- 
 
 ALL for Love. (Cleopatra.) 
 Anna Bullen. t 
 Aurenge Zebe (Indamora.) 
 Busiris. (Mandane.) 
 Caxo (Marcia.) 
 Cesar in jEgypt- (Cleopatra.) 
 Cruel Gift. (Leonora.) 
 Diftreft Mother. (Jndromache.) f 
 Earl of EJJex. (Countefs of Rutland.) 
 Fair Penitent, t 
 Generous Conqueroun 
 Heroick Daughter, f 
 
 Humfrey Duke of Gloucefter (the Qyeen.) 
 
 Jane Shore, f 
 
 Jane Gray, t 
 
 Indian Emperor. (Cydaria.) 
 
 Ifland 
 
toe MEM OIKS of the 
 
 Ifland Princefs. 
 
 Maiden Queen. (Candiope.) 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots, f 
 
 Mithridates. (Sejnandra.) 
 
 Oroonoko. (Imoinda.) 
 
 Perolla and Izadora. f 
 
 Ph/edra and Hippolitus. Qlfmena.) 
 
 Royal Convert. 
 
 Siege of Damafcus. 
 
 Sophonisba. t 
 
 Spartan Dame. ■ « 
 
 Tamerlane. QArpaJia.) 
 Timoleon. In this Play flie only fpoke 
 the "Epilogue. 
 
 Troiiajs and Cressida. f* 
 Victim. (JEriphik.) 
 Virgin Prophetefs. (Helen.) 
 
 COMEDIES. 
 
 Amorous Widow. (Mrs. SrittkJ) 
 Artifice. 
 
 A Woman keeps a Secret. 
 Baflet Table. 
 
 Carelefs Husband. (Lady Betty ModiJh.J 
 Chances, (jConftantia,') 
 Comical Lovers. 
 Committee. (Ruth.") 
 Confcious Lovers, t {Indiana?) 
 Sir Courtly Nice. 
 
 Drum, 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldpieid. zoj 
 
 Drummer, f 
 Falfe Count. 
 
 Funeral. (Lady Chariot.) 
 
 Humours of Oxford. 
 
 Humourous Lieutenant (Crflia.) 
 
 Lady's Philofophy. 
 
 Love in a Tub. (Widow.) 
 
 Love s laft Shift. (Hilaria.) 
 
 Love makes a Man {Angelica!) 
 
 Love for Love. ^Angelica!) 
 
 Love at firft Sight. 
 
 Love in feveral Masks* 
 
 Lying Lover. (Victoria.) 
 
 Man of Mode. (Mrs. Loveit.) 
 
 Modifii Citizen. 
 
 Non Juror. (Maria.) 
 
 Old Batchelor. (Ldtitia.) 
 
 Pilgrim. (Alinda, the Page.) 
 
 Perplex 'd Lovers. 
 
 Platonick Lady. 
 
 Provok'd Wife. (Lady "Brute) 
 
 Provok'd Husband. (Lady Townly) 
 
 Recruiting Officer. (Sylvia) 
 
 Relapfe. (Berinthia) 
 
 Rival Fools. (Lucinda) 
 
 Rule a Wife and have a Wife. (EJiifania) 
 
 Scornful Lady, t 
 
 Sick Lady's Cure. (Lady Dainty) 
 
 Silent Woman, f 
 
 Spanifli Fryar (Elvira) 
 
 Ff 2 
 
 Squire 
 
io8 MEMOIRS of the 
 
 'Squire of dlfatia. 
 
 Stratagem (Mrs. Sullen) 
 
 Tender Husband. CBiddy) 
 
 Three Hours after Marriage. 
 
 Trip to the Jubilee (Lady Lurewelt) 
 
 Twin Rivals. 
 
 Way of the World {Melifont) 
 Wife's Refentment. (Mrs. Conquefl) 
 Relief. 
 
 Wit without Money (the )Vidow) 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield^ 205) 
 
 Mrs. Oldfield having bequeathed her 
 Dwelling- Houfe and Furniture to her Son 
 Churchill, and dire&ed her Executors to turn 
 and convert all her Eftate and Effects into 
 ready Money with all convenient Speed, I 
 thought it would not prove unacceptable to 
 my Readers to give them an Inventory of fome 
 of her niceft Curiofities, &c becaufe it may 
 in a great meafure confirm the Delicacy of her 
 T'afte, and fhew her Judgment in a few Parti- 
 culars foreign to her Profeflion, wherein lhe 
 was truly a Non 'Pareil. 
 
 Medals, Statues, Pictures, 
 Jewels, Sec. 
 
 Fifty Two Silver Medals. 
 Seventy One Gold Counters. 
 
 STATUES. 
 
 Two Marble Buftoes. 
 
 Her Son Churchill in Marble. 
 
 The Earl of Strafford, a whole Length, 
 finely carved in Ivory, by Mr. Gibbons. 
 
 A Dog curioufly performed in Marble. 
 
 The Judgment of Taris, a IBaffo Relievo, 
 in Ivory. 
 
 A Venus in Brafs. 
 
 Several fine Heads in Agate Onyx, for Seals. 
 A Parcel of Silver Roman Medals. 
 A Five Guinea Piece ef K. George II. A 
 
 Two 
 
aio MEMOIRS of the 
 
 Two Guinea One ditto, with Twenty Six 
 different Pieces of Gold. 
 
 Two Gold Snuff-Boxes ; one fet with Bril- 
 liants and Rubies. 
 
 PICTU RE S, 
 
 The E. of Effex, by Holbein. 
 
 %radjhaws Head, By Cooper. 
 
 A fine Hiftory Piece, by Ricci. 
 
 Several Landscapes and Battle-Pieces. 
 
 A Sea Triumph, by an Italian Mafter. 
 
 Two Dutch Sea Ports, by 'Brugbill. ' 
 
 Venus and Adonis, by Luca Jordanoi 
 
 A View of Plymouth, by 2)' ' Ancres. 
 
 The Royal Family of Stuart, after 
 Vandyke. 
 
 Anna Mullens Head. 
 
 The Holy Family, after Raphael. 
 
 A fine Flower- Piece. 
 
 King George I. by Kneller. 
 
 A Madona with Angels, by Muratti; 
 with fome other very neat fmall Paintings in 
 Oil, and India Pictures. 
 
 Three Gold Watches, two Repeaters, one 
 by Hubert, one by Toy, and another finely 
 chafed. 
 
 A Gold Equipage finely chafed. " 
 
 A Gold Smelling Bottle. 
 
 Six Gold Stay-Buckles and Tags. 
 
 Several very fine Sets of China, Japan'd 
 and Gilt, with a large Quantity of the richeft 
 Old China. 
 
 Two 
 
Life of Mrs. Oldfield. itt 
 
 Two very fine Antique V afes. 
 
 Fine India Chelts, Cabinets, &c. 
 
 Three Gold Medals of Q. Anne and their 
 prefcnt Majefties. 
 
 A Roman Wolf, Antique. 
 
 A Gold Repeating Watch and Chain, en- 
 riched with 'Brilliant s 3 Rubies, and Lapis 
 Lazuli, 
 
 Two fine Pieces of Tapiftry, after 7 enters. 
 Tables of Marble, Agate, an&Jafper. 
 A curious French Repeating Clock by 
 Delander. 
 
 A fine Riding Equipage embroidered with 
 Silver. 
 
 A Set of wrought Drefling Plate. 
 
 JEWELS. 
 
 A Necklace with 57, Garnets, and a Dia- 
 mond in each. 
 
 A fine large Pearl Necklace. 
 
 A Seed Pearl Necklace. 
 
 A large Brilliant Ring. 
 
 A Brilliant weighing 1 1 i Grains. 
 
 A Diamond Necklace, containing 34 Bril- 
 liants. 
 
 Two Seals fet with brilliants and Lapis 
 Lazuli. 
 
 Five Brilliant Crochets. 
 
 A Pair of Brilliant Ear Rings, containing 
 8 large and 1 2 fmall Diamonds. 
 
 A Pair of Brilliant Ear- Rings with Eme- 
 rald Drops. 
 
 A Pair 
 
ziz MEMOIRS, &C 
 
 A Pair of Brilliant Ear-Rings with three 
 Drops each. 
 
 A Crofs with exceeding fine Emeralds, fet 
 with fmall Brilliants* 
 
 Five Diamond Crochets. 
 
 A Diamond Buckle with Rofes. 
 
 Another, with 24 Brilliants. 
 
 A Locket fet with Pearl. 
 
 Thirteen Brilliants unfet. 
 
 A very fine Yellow Brilliant Ring. 
 
 A fmall enamelled Brilliant Ring and Four 
 others. 
 
 A Pair of Ruby Night-Ear-Rings fet in 
 Gold. 
 
 A Pair of large Garnet Ear-Rings and 
 Drops. 
 
 A Crofs and Couland of the fame. 
 An enamelled Pi&ure of the prefent King 
 of France. 
 
 Another, of a Nobleman^ on Gold. 
 
 Befides thefe Curiofit ies, lhe had a pretty 
 Colledion of Books, in French and Engliflj $ a 
 large Quantity of Plate j Beds and Chairs of 
 Damask, Chints and Needle- Work ; Fine 
 Tapeftry; PiercmdChimney-Glaffes, Sconces, 
 Branches and Luftres ; Carpets of the niceft 
 Sorts ; in iliort, the whole Furniture of her 
 Houfe was adjufted in the moft elegant and 
 fafhionable Manner. 
 
 AP PEN- 
 
APPENDIX. N°. I. 
 
 A 
 
 True COPY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Lafl: Will and Testament 
 
 o f \ 
 Arthur Maynivaring, E%, 
 
 E Regro Curia Trerogat. Cantuar. Extract 
 & tfyz Bame of #ob, Amen. I 
 
 Arthur Maynwaring> of the Pa- 
 rifli of St. Martins in the Fields^ 
 in the County of Middkfex, be- 
 -- -~ ing of perfed Mind and found 
 Memory (praifed be God) do make and de- 
 clare this my laft Will and Teftament in Man-t 
 tier following, (that is to fay) 
 
 A Brfi, 
 
APPENDIX. W. I. 
 
 Firfi) I recommend my Soul into the 
 Hands of God 5 and my Body I commit to the 
 Earth , to be decently buried according 
 to the Difcretion of my Executrix herein 
 after-mentioned. And as touching the Di- 
 ftribution of my Temporal Eftate, I do WiH 
 and Difpofe of the fame as followeth. 
 
 Imprimis^ I give and bequeath unto tny 
 Sifter Grifel Maynwaring, One Thoufand 
 Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain? 
 to be paid, by my Executrix, within Six 
 Months after my Deceafe. And all the Reft^ 
 Refidue and Remainder of my Eftate, both 
 Real and Perfonal, that I fhall be polfeffed 
 of, or any ways entituled unto, at the Time 
 of my Deceafe, I do give, devife and be- 
 queath the fame unto Mrs* Anne Oldfield? 
 now living in new South ampt on-ftr eet , in the 
 Parilh of St. Paul's Ccvent Garden, and to 
 her Son commonly called Arthur Maynwa- 
 ring, otherwife called Arthut Oldfield^ to 
 be equally divided between them the faid 
 Anne and Arthur. But, in cafe the faid Ar- 
 thur fhall depart this Life before he attains 
 the Age of Twenty One Years, then I do 
 bequeath the Moiety or Share of him the 
 faid Arthur, to her the laid Anne Oldfield. 
 And I do hereby nominate and appoint her 
 the faid Anne Oldfield, to be Executrix of 
 this my laft Will and Teftament, hereby re- 
 voking all former and other Wills by me at 
 any Time heretofore made. In Witflefs where- 
 
m fe APPENDIX. 5 
 
 of I have hereunto fet my Hand and Seal, the 
 Twenty Seventh Day of September, in the 
 Eleventh Year of the Reign of our Soveraign 
 Lady Anne, by the Grace of God, Queen of 
 Great "Britain, &c> and in the Year of our 
 Lord 171 2. 
 
 A. Maynwaring. 
 
 Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Declared and 
 Publifhed by the faid A. M. in the Prefence 
 of us who have fubfcribed our Names as 
 t Witnefifes thereto in his Prefence. 
 
 Owen Swiny, 
 JVrn. Buckeridge, 
 i € Tho. Wood. 
 
 PRobatum Londini, &e* coramVenli Viro 
 Henrici Penrice, Legtim fDore Surr. 
 'Brehonorandi viri Doni Caroli Hedges, 
 MiUtis Jjegum etiam Dorif. Cnru Tr<ero- 
 gat.'Cantuar. Magri. Cuftodis five Commif- 
 larii ultime conftituti decimo tertio die men- 
 fis Decembris, Anno T)ni 171 2. Juramento 
 Anna? Oldrield Executricis in diUo Tefta- 
 mento nominat. cui Commiffa fait Adminiftra- 
 tio omnium & fingul. honor, jur. & Cred* 
 dicti defunUi de bene, &c. Jurat lata prius 
 fententia T)iffinitiva pro valor e & vali di- 
 late diUi Tejii prout ex affls Curu liquet. 
 
 Linthwaite Farrant, Regijtrar* 
 T>eputat. AJ[umpt. 
 A 2 N°, 
 
4 
 
 a p p e n p i x. n°. ir: 
 
 m 11 
 
 A 
 
 True COPY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 JLaft Will and Testament 
 
 Mrs, Anne Oldfield. 
 
 E Regiflro Curia Trarog. Cant. Extract. 
 & t\yt $ame of «£>ob, Amen. I 
 
 June Oilfield, of the Parifh of 
 St. George Hanover Square, in 
 the County of Middle/ex, be- 
 ing of found and difpofing Mind 
 and Memory, do make and ordain my laft 
 jWill and Teftament as follows. 
 
 Firft) I hereby ratify and confirm theDif- 
 pofition I have made by Deed, by me duly 
 executed, of the Houfe in which I now in- 
 ' ' habit 
 
INK II. APPENDIX. 
 
 5 
 
 habit and dwell, in Gropvenor-ftreet> in the 
 Pariih of St. George Hanover Square^ in the 
 County of Middlefex, for the Benefit of my 
 Son Charles Churchill. But, in cafe my 
 faid Son Charles Churchill (hall depart this 
 Life under the Age of One and Twenty 
 Years, without having any Efue living at his 
 Death, then and in fuch cafe I give and de- 
 vife the faid Houfe for all the Refidue and 
 Remainder of my Term therein, as fliall be 
 then remaining and unexpired, unto my Son 
 Arthur Maynwaring^m cafe he be then living. 
 But if the faid Arthur Maynwaring be then 
 dead., then to the Honourable Brigadier Ge- 
 neral Charles Churchill. 
 
 Item,) I hereby will and direct my Executors 
 herein afternamed, to turn and convert all my 
 Eftate and Effe&s that I lhall leave behind me 
 at my Death (except my faid Houfe in Grofoe- 
 ttor-ftreet, and fome fmall Trifles that I may 
 direft to be given away ; and except what is 
 already placed out in the Funds, or on other 
 Publick Securities ) into ready Money, with 
 all convenient Speed. And that the Money 
 arifing from fuch the Sale of my faid Eftate, 
 be placed out at Intereft, on Government 
 and other good Security, at the Difcretion 
 of my faid Executors., whom I hereby di- 
 rect to pay all my juft Debts in the firft 
 Place ; and after my Debts paid, and the 
 Expences of my Funeral defrayed, I hereby 
 give and bequeath the following Legacies to 
 
 which 
 
APPENDIX. N°. II. 
 
 which I fubje£t my whole Eftate, and which 
 I dired my Executors to pay accordingly, 
 ( that is to fay ) I will and direct my Execu- 
 tors to pay the Intereft, or Produce, of Five 
 Thoi^faod Pounds to my Son Arthur Mayn- 
 waring^ by half Yearly Payments, the firft 
 Payment to commence from the Day of my 
 Death , mt'i %g fliali attain the Age of 
 Thirty Years, if fie fh^il fo long live* And 
 upon his attaining that Age, then I dkejft, 
 that fhf Sum of Five Thoufand Poainds be 
 paid; out of my JEfete to the faid Arthur 
 Maynwarings $q be at his own Difpofal. But 
 in cafe he lhaildye before he attains that Age, 
 then I give and bequeath the faid Sum of 
 five- Thpyfarid Pounds to my Son Charles 
 Chur chilly if he be living a| fuch the Death 
 of the fai<j Arthur Mapmaritig. But if my 
 laid Son 'Chirks Churchill ibe thoa likewife 
 dead, then, and in fech cafe, I give and be- 
 queath the faid Sum of Five Thonfaod 
 Pound? to the Konoi^ble brigadier General 
 Charles Churchill^ his Executors and Ad- 
 mini&ratorf. 
 
 Itm^ I give and bequeath to my Mother 
 Mrs. Jmi0 {Jl^field^ the Sum of Teaa Guineas 
 in Money 5 to be paid to her immediately af- 
 ter my Deceafe. And I alfo give/ and be- 
 queath to my faid Mother Mrs. Anne 01dfield y 
 the Sum of Sixty Pounds per Annum \ -for her 
 life, to be paid her by my Executors Quar- 
 terly, at four equal Payments in the Year $ the 
 
 firft 
 
NvIL APPENDIX | 
 
 firft Payment to be made on the Quarter-Day 
 next following the Day of my Death. 
 
 Item, I give and bequeath to my Aunt 
 Jane Gourlaw, Ten Guineas in Money^ to 
 be paid her immediately after my Deceafa 
 And in cafe my faid Aunt Jane Gourlaw 
 fhali furvive my faid Mother Anne Oldfield^ 
 then, and in fuch cafe, but not otherwife 5 I 
 give and bequeath unto my faid Aunt, Jane 
 Gourlaw, the yearly Sum or Annuity of 
 Thirty Pounds per Annum, for her Life; the 
 faid Yearly Sum, or Annuity, to be paid to her 
 Quarterly, by Four even Payments in the 
 Year ; the firft Payment thereof to begirt 
 and commence from the Quarter- Day that 
 fhall next happen from the Death of my faid 
 Mother. 
 
 Item, I give and bequeath unto Mrs- Marga- 
 ret Saunders , the Yearly Sum or Annuity of 
 Ten Pounds per Annum, to be paid her during 
 her Life, by Four Quarterly Payments $ the 
 firft Payment thereof to be made on the Quar- 
 ter-Day next following the Day of my Death* 
 
 Item, My Will is, that what ihail remain 
 of the clear Yearly Produce of my Eftate^ 
 after Payment of my faid Debts and Lega- 
 cies, fliall from Time to Time be put out at 
 Intereft by my Executors, and added to the 
 Bulk of my Eftate, by way of Increale there- 
 of. And immediately upon, and from, and 
 after, the Deaths of the faid Anne Oldfeld 
 my Mother, the faid Jane Gourlaw my 
 
APPENDIX. N°. ft 
 
 Aunt, and the faid Margaret Saunders, and 
 the Death of the Survivor of them } I Will 
 and Direft that my whole Eftate, not herein- 
 before by me difpofed o£ and that fliali theri 
 remain, be divided into Three equal Parts or 
 Shares, Two Parts, or Shares thereof, to go 
 and be paid to my faid Son Arthur Mayn- 
 waring , and the remaining Third Part 
 or Share thereof to my faid Son Charles 
 Churchill. But in cafe my Sons Arthur 
 Maynwaring and Charles Churchill, Both,o£ 
 either of them, fhould be then dead, then the 
 Share or Shares of him or them that is, or 
 are, fo dead, to go and be paid to the faid 
 Brigadier General Charles Churchill, his Ex* 
 ecutors and Adminiftrators. And I do here- 
 by nominate and appoint the Honourable John 
 Harvey, Efq; commonly called Lord Har- 
 vey, John Hedges of Finchley, in the Coun- 
 ty of Middlefex, Efq; and the Honourable 
 Brigadier General Charles Churchill , and 
 the Survivors and Survivor of them, to be 
 Executors of this my laft Will. And I do 
 hereby revoke all former and other Wills by 
 me at any Time heretofore made ; and do 
 hereby publilh and declare this to be my laft 
 Will and Teftament. In Witnefs whereof I 
 have hereunto fet my Hand and Seal this 
 Twenty Seventh Day of June, in the Fourth 
 Year of King George the Second, Anno Dom* 
 1730. 
 
 Anne Oldfeld. 
 
 Signed^ 
 
N°. Ill- APPENDIX. 
 
 Signed, Sealed, Publifhed ahcf Declared by 
 the faid Teftatrix, as and fftr the laft Will 
 and Teftament of the faid Teftatrix Anne 
 OJdfeld, in our Prefence who have fubfcrib- 
 ed our Names as Witnefles thereto, in the 
 Prefence of the faid Teftatrix. 
 
 Wm- Elliot, 
 Amy Cooke, 
 Francis Hardcaftle* 
 
 n°. in. 
 
 A Codicil to my laft WILL, hat* 
 ing Date the 1 5 th Day of Sept. 1730, 
 
 I DO hereby give and bequeath to my 
 Aunt Jane Gourlaw^ the Yearly Sum 
 or Annuity of Ten Pounds, to be paid her 
 during the Life of my Mother Anne Oldfield y 
 to commence from the Day of my Death 3 
 and to determine upon the Death of my Mo- 
 ther Anne Oldfield; when, the faid Annuity 
 of Ten Pounds per Annum fliall revert and 
 go back to my Executors, for the Ufe and 
 Purpofes dire&ed in my Will. And I do 
 hereby in all other Things, ratify and con- 
 firm my faid laft Will. In Witnefs whereof 
 
 B I have 
 
to APPENDIX. N°. IIL 
 
 I have hereunto fet my Hand and Seal, this 
 15th Day of September, 1730. 
 
 Anne Oldfield. 
 
 Signed and Sealed in the Pretence of us^ 
 
 Amy Cooke, 
 
 Mary Hillfly, her Mark.' 
 
 PRobatum Londini (cum Codicille annexe) 
 fecundo die menfis Novembris, Anno 
 <JJom. 1730. Coram Venli Viro Johanne 
 Audley, Legtim ^Dre Surr. &c. Juramentis 
 Hon. Johannis Harvey, Arm. communiter meat 
 ^Domini Harvey, Johannis Hedges, Arm. & 
 Hon. Caroli Churchill, Arm. Extorum, &c, 
 quibus, &c. de bene, drc. Jurat. 
 
 Linthwaite Farrant, Kegifirati 
 Deputat. Affumpt. 
 
 N 9 . 
 
N°. IV. A P P E N D I X. 
 
 N°. IV. 
 
 A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 T O 
 
 Mrs. OLD FIELD, 
 
 BY. 
 
 Mr. SAVAGE, Son of the late Earl 
 Rivers. Occafioned by her Playing 
 Cleopatra in All for Love. 
 
 HILE to your Charms unequal Verje I 
 raife y 
 
 Aw'd, 1 admire ; and tremble as I praife. 
 Here Art and Genius new Refinement 
 need, 
 
 Lift'ningy they gaze ; and as they gaze recede I 
 Can Art y or Genius , or their Powrs combind, 
 $ut from corporeal Organs, sketch the Mind ? 
 
 mm 
 
iz APPENDIX. N°. IV, 
 
 j^to Sound embody d can with Shape furprize^ 
 TheMufe may emulate your Voice and Eyes. 
 
 Mark rival Arts, Perfections Point purfue ! 
 Each rivals Each, but to excel in Ton ! 
 T^he Bufte and Medal bear the meaning Face, 
 And the proud Statue adds the Pofture'j" Grace ! 
 Imag'd at length, the buryd Heroine, known, 
 Still ft ems to wound, to fmile, or frown in Stone ! 
 As Art woud Art, or Metal Stone furpafs ; 
 Her Soul Jirikes, gleaming, thro 9 Corinthian Brafs ! 
 Serene, the Saint in fmiling Silver foines, 
 And Cherubs weep in Gold o'er fainted Shrines! 
 If long-lofi Forms from Raphael'; Pencil glow, 
 Wondrous in Warmth the mimic Colours flow ! 
 Each Look, each Attitude, new Grace difplays 9 
 Tour: Voice and Motion Life and Mujtc raife. 
 
 'Thus Cleopatra in your Charms refnes ; 
 She lives, fhe fpeaks, with Force improvd fhe /bines J 
 Fair, and nwrefair, you evry Grace tranfmit ; 
 Love, Learning, Beauty, Elegance and Wit. 
 Caefar, the World's unriyafd Mafter, fird % 
 In her Imperial Soul, his own admird l 
 Philippic Victor wore her winning Chain, 
 And felt not Empire* s Lofs in Beauty s Gain. 
 Coud the pale Heroes your bright Influence know^ 
 Or catch the Silver Accents as they flow, 
 Drawn from dark Reft by your enchanting Strain ^ 
 Each Shade were ktrd to Life and Lwve again. 
 
H°. IV. APPEN D I X. 13 
 
 /tu*tf Infpirer ! were each Annul known. 
 What living Greatnefs floines there not your own ? 
 if the grievdMufe by fome lovd Emprefs rofe, 
 New Strength, new Grace, it to your Influence owes ! 
 If Powr by War diflinguifffd Height reveals, 
 Tour nobler Pride the Wounds of Fortune heals! 
 Then coud an Empire** Caufe demand your Care, 
 "The Soul, that juftly thinks, woud greatly dare. 
 
 Long has feign'd Venus mock* d the Mufes Praife, 
 You dart, divine Ophelia ! genuine Rays! 
 Warm thro thofe Eyes enlivening Raptures roll ! 
 Sweet thro 9 each ftriking Feature flreams your Soul ! 
 The Soul^ bright Meanings heighten Beauty's Fires 2 
 Your Looks, your Thoughts, your Deeds, each Grace inf fires. 
 
 Know then, if rank* d with Monarchs, here you fiand t 
 What Fate declines, you from the Mufe demand ! 
 Each Grace that /bone of Old in each famd Fair, 
 Or may in Modern Dames Refinement wear ; 
 Whatever juft, emulative Thoughts purfue, 
 Is all confirm'd, is all ador'd in You ! 
 If Godlike Bofoms pant for Powr to blefs 3 
 If 'tis a Monarch's Glory to vedrefs ; 
 In confcious Majeflyyou flnne ferene, 
 In Thought a Heroine, and in AB a Queen, 
 
>4 
 
 APPENDIX. N°. V. 
 
 VERSES 
 
 O N 
 
 Mrs. OldfieWs Death, 
 
 Mr. BOO ri^sSicknefs; 
 
 AND 
 
 The D eclension of the S T A G E. 
 
 Amho fiorentes jEtatibtis 
 
 Et cantare Tares, & refpndere farati. 
 
 Vikg. 
 
 1LD FIELD ! the Second Barry 
 
 of the Jge ! 
 Who gave a Luftre to the Britiih St age ^ 
 Is feen no more from Her Meridian Height y 
 Cafi down alas ! by unrelenting Fate J 
 Her mighty Lofs, and Booth by Sicknefs worn, 
 Apollo, and the 'tuneful Sifters mourn! 
 
 When 
 
N°- V. APPENDIX. t s 
 
 When willTwo such adorn the future Scene ! 
 
 In Anthony's awd Cleopatra's Mien 
 
 Appear'd the Warriour God, and Beauty'j 
 Queen! 
 
 In Bvtb'j the Gifts of ^Bounteous Nature fhone ; 
 While jealous Art, fcotning to be out don ft, 
 Finijh'd what Nature had fo well begun. 
 Who cou'd unmov'd her lovely Form furvey ! 
 IVhen Dull Ventidius fummofi y d him away } 
 Om Look of her might well command his Stay t 
 Majejlick I Amiable ! the Roman turn'd. 
 While in his Bofom Love and Glory burn'd y 
 And rijing in her Charms^ the fair ./Egyptian 
 mourned. 
 
 Alternate Mufick flow' d from either Tongue: 
 Mujick J far fwecter than Cuzzoki'j Song / 
 For thus pronounc'd \ the Poet's Eloquence, 
 Affetts the Soul ! while Song but charms the 
 Senfe. 
 
 All faw, and heard, and own'd the vafi Delight * 
 While Hearing gave new Pleafure to the Sight I * 
 E'en Silence Jlowly rats' d her awful Head, 
 ■ And leaving her Dark Empire o'er the Dead, 
 The melting Sounds in her pleas' d Looks confefs'd 
 And wifh'd for ever to be fo difplac'd. 
 The Tragic Mufe rejoie'd ■ 1 ■ 
 How warmly did their mutual PaJJtons rife ? 
 Affion met Aftion ; Eyes encounter d Eyes j 
 
 * Dryden's All for Love. 
 
 C Gracs 
 
16 APPENDIX. N«-V. 
 
 Grace anfwerd Grace ; and Both performed fo well) 
 Vainly they Jlrove each other to excel ; 
 Equal in ev'ry ^art^fo match 9 d the whole, 
 That Both feem'd animated hy one Soul ! 
 
 Wild air * in Gaitfy has all furpafi*, 
 But the Gay Wild air cannot always lafi : 
 Jlnd He, who Peerkfs in the Coxcomb §fiands, 
 Who in low Life the Characters commands, 
 Both far advancdin Tears, as in Renown, 
 Mufi foon take Leave of the Capricious Toivn, 
 And lay their long defpotic Empire down. 
 
 A Gleam of Hope the Fate of Booth attends ; 
 On Booth alone the Britifh Stage depends. 
 It's firji firong Millar fail' d, when OLDFIELIX \ 
 fell! 
 
 Booth mufi uphold its lafi ! The doleful Knell 
 That tolls his Death, ( defer the fatal Hour, 
 Gracious Hygeia ! Health-refiorwg (Power ! J 
 (Prefages Ruin to the Tragic Scene ; 
 It (inks ! it falls ! never to rife again. 
 
 f In the fame Age Three Female Players Born, 
 Did the fam 3 d Britifti Theatre adorn : 
 Bar re y in fiately Tragedy furpafi : 
 Mount fort in Comedy : In Both the lafi : 
 Nature, whofe ^Pozver coifd no farther go, 
 To make an OLDFIELD joyn'd the other 
 two 
 
 * Mr: Wi!ks: § Mr. Cibber. 
 
 f Parodic of Dryden's Epigram on Mdton., 
 
 ON 
 
ON THE 
 
 DEATH 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs. OLD FIELD. 
 
 LE T nothing now upon the Stage appear. 
 But what demands a Sigh, deferves a Tear ! 
 All Comic- Art muji mock the Afior's Toil,, 
 For where's the Face, that wou'fl not blufh to fmile ? 
 Mourn then Ton Stage ! in Emblems ft be feen ! 
 Mourn, like a Kingdom, that has loft its Queen ! 
 Mourn for thy Beauty, that is fled and gone / 
 Mourn for thy Lofs of Glory and Renown/ 
 Mourn, like a Lamp, with an extinguifb'd Flame! 
 Mourn, like a Bafts, that has loft its Fame ! 
 Mourn, as fbu Jhou'd, for thy bleft ABrefs Death y 
 What was thy Life, but thy faw*d Old fielm 
 Breath ? 
 
 TO 
 
j 8 APPENDIX. 
 
 • • • t ' 
 
 TO THE 
 
 MEMORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs. Anne Oldfield. 
 
 STAY PaJJenger a while relaxant fee, 
 What Beauty is, and what thy Self (halt be. 
 How foon the fair eft Lilly will decay ; 
 And warmeft Beings, are the coldejl Clay, 
 Tyrannick Death ! at thy Approach we f all y 
 And thou , regardlefs, lay'Jl thine Hands on all 
 From Infancy, to Youth, to riper Years, 
 From Man mature, to Age's flaxen Hairs f 
 ST he ViSlor and the ViSfim equal laid, 
 With him that drove th$ Plough, and us'd the Spad^ 
 
 But here !* — -the Mirror of the Engliftx Stage, 
 ("Not worn by Troubles, nor oercmne by 4g^) 
 Yields her to Death's fupremer tPow'r, a Slave, 
 And frozen lies imprifotid in the Grave : 
 Jujl at the Autumn of her Years cut down, 
 And e'er her Beauty fades, her Life is gone. 
 
 tim I 
 
Appendix. lf> 
 
 Here f here the poor Remains of Oldfield 
 lay, 
 
 Gay was the Pit, whenever Jhe was gay , 
 Coquets would blufh, and jfilts would Envy bear y 
 To fee themfelvesfo well performed in her\ 
 JVhile ev'ry Air, our Admiration draws, 
 And ev'ry Exit, ecchdd with Applaufe: 
 But when our Scottish Mary was her Part, 
 Or Mar^ti a Jighing for her Juba'j Hearp^ 
 Or when enthrall 'd with Sophonisba'j Cares, 
 The Stage h&came a Sea of briny Tears. 
 
 Several 
 
to APPENDIX. 
 
 Several ingenious Epitaphs having been 
 made for Mrs* Olbhe-ld, the following were 
 tranfinitted to me by my kind Correfpondents ; 
 and I do not doubt but they will be accep- 
 table to my Readers. 
 
 Hicjusta requiefcity 
 ( L Tot inter Poetamm laudata Nomina^ 
 ANNA OLDFIELD. 
 '"Nee ipfa minore laude digna^ 
 
 £hf ipp# qti<z eorum dpera 
 In Scenam qtioties prodivit 7 
 Illuftravit Jemper^ £3 nohilitavit ; 
 Itlimquam ingenium idem ad partes diverfjfimas 
 Habilius fuit. 
 It a tantetty at ad Jingulas 7 • 
 Non Fa£ia y fed Nat a ejfe videretur. 
 In 'fragocdiis 
 Forma fplendoXy oris dignitas, incejfus majeftas. 
 
 Tanta wcis faavitate temperahantur^ 
 TJt nemo ejjet tarn agrejlis, tarn darns Spectator, 
 ®)uin in admirationein totus raperetur. 
 In Comocdia autem 
 Tanta vis y tarn venujla hilaritas y tarn curiofa 
 felicitas. 
 
 TJt neque fiifficerent fpeBando oculi y 
 Neque plaudendo tnanus. 
 
 j4notfaf* 
 
2,1 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Another. 
 
 Exit Anna Oldfield. 
 
 yam mea peraffa eft, 
 Mox vejira ageter Fabula : 
 Vos Valkte fc? Plaudite. 
 
 Another. 
 
 Here lies the Body of ANNE OLDFIELD, 
 the moft celebrated A6trefs not only of her 
 own Time, but of any other. 
 
 Fafliion'd alike by Nature and by Art 
 To pleafe, engage, and int'reft ev'ry Heart, 
 In Public Life, by. all who Saw, approv'd; 
 In Private Life, by alt who Knew her, lov'd. 
 
 Another. 
 
 Reader obferve, I once was like to thee : 
 Thence learn how fhortly thou'lt refemble me, 
 Spend cautioufly the Time allow'd by Heaven, 
 Two Births, one only Mortal Life, is given. 
 
 FINIS.