* * * * *

BARTON HOLYDAY.

Barton Holyday, an old Student of Christ-Church in Oxford, who besides his Translation of Juvenal with elaborate Notes, writ several other things in English Verse, rather learned than elegant; and particularly a Comedy, called The Marriage of the Arts:  Out of which, to shew you his fluent (but too Satyrical Style) take these Verses made by him to be spoken by Pocta, as an Execration against Women.

  O Women, Witches, Fayries, Devils,
  The impure extract of a world of Evils;
  Natures great Errour, the Obliquity
  Of the Gods Wisdom; and th’Anomaly
  From all that’s good; Ile curse you all below
  The Center, and if I could, then further throw
  Your cursed heads, and if any should gain
  A place in Heaven, Ile rhyme ’em down again
  To a worse Ruine, _&c._

* * * * *

CYRIL TURNER.

Cyril Turner was one who got a Name amongst the Poets, by writing of two old Tragedies, the Athei’st’s Tragedy, and the Revenger’s Tragedy; which two Tragedies, saith one,

  His Fame unto that Pitch so only raised,
  As not to be despised, nor too much prais’d.

* * * * *

THOMAS MIDLETON.

Thomas Midleton was one who by his Industry added very much to the English Stage, being a copious Writer of Dramatick Poetry.  He was Contemporary with Johnson and Fletcher and tho’ not of equal Repute with them, yet were well accepted of those times such Plays as he wrote; namely, Blurt Mr. Constable, the chaste Maid in Cheapside, Your fine Gallants, Family of Love, More Dissemblers than Women, the Game at Chess, the Mayor of Quinborough, a mad world my Masters, Michaelmas Term, No Wit like a womans, the Roaring Girl, any thing for a quiet Life, the Phenix and a new Trick to catch the old one, Comedies; The world toss’d at Tennis, and the Inner Temple, Masques; and Women beware Women, a Tragedy.  Besides what, he was an Associate with William Rowley in several Comedies and Tragi-Comedies; as, the Spanish Gypsies, the Changeling, the Old Law, the fair Quarrel, the Widow:  Of all which, his Michaelmas Term is highly applauded both for the plot and neatness of the style.

* * * * *

WILLIAM ROWLEY.

William Rowley was likewise a great Benefactor to the English Stage, not only in those Plays mentioned before with Thomas Midleton, but also what he wrote alone; as, A Woman never vext a Comedy; A Match at Midnight, and All’s lost by Lust, Tragedies; and joyn’d with Webster, two Comedies, The Thracian wonder, and A Cure for a Cuckold, with Shakespere, The Birth of Merlin, a Tragi-Comedy; and The Travels of the three English Brothers, a History, wherein he was joyn’d with Day and Wilkins.