The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland | Page 9

the defects of this work, he plays upon the
word _translate_: To have committed no faults in this translation, says
he, would have been to translate myself, and put off man. Wood calls
this despicable pun, an elegant turn.
7. Satires of Juvenal illustrated with Notes, Oxon. folio 1673. At the
end of which is the Fourth Edition of Persius, before mentioned.
8. Odes of Horace, Lond. 1652; this Translation Wood says, is so near
that of Sir Thomas Hawkins, printed 1638, or that of Hawkins so near
this, that to whom to ascribe it he is in doubt.
Dr. Holyday, who according to the same author was highly conceited of
his own worth, especially in his younger Days, but who seems not to
have much reason for being so, died at a Village called Eisley on the 2d
day of October 1661, and was three days after buried at the foot of
Bishop King's monument, under the south wall of the [a]isle joining on
the south side to the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, near the remains
of William Cartwright, and Jo. Gregory.
Footnotes: 1. Athen. Oxon. 259. Ed. 1721. 2. Wood ubi supra. 3. Athen.
Oxon. p. 260.

* * * * *

THOMAS NABBES.
A writer, in the reign of Charles I, whom we may reckon, says
Langbaine, among poets of the third rate, but who in strict justice
cannot rise above a fifth. He was patronized by Sir John Suckling. He
has seven plays and masks extant, besides other poems, which Mr.
Langbaine says, are entirely his own, and that he has had recourse to no
preceding author for assistance, and in this respect deserves pardon if
not applause from the critic. This he avers in his prologue to
Covent-Garden.
He justifies that 'tis no borrowed strain, From the invention of another's
brain. Nor did he steal the fancy. 'Tis the fame He first intended by the
proper name. 'Twas not a toil of years: few weeks brought forth, This
rugged issue, might have been more worth, If he had lick'd it more. Nor
doth he raise From the ambition of authentic plays, Matter or words to
height, nor bundle up Conceits at taverns, where the wits do sup; His
muse is solitary, and alone Doth practise her low speculation.
The reader from the above specimen may see what a poet he was; but
as he was in some degree of esteem in his time, we thought it improper
to omit him.
The following are his plays;
1. The Bride, a Comedy; acted in the Year 1638 at a private House in
Drury-Lane by their Majesty's Servants, printed 4to. 1640.
2. Covent Garden, a Comedy; acted in the Year 1632.
3. Hannibal and Scipio, an Historical Tragedy, acted in the year 1635.
4. Microcosmus, a Moral Masque, represented at a private house in
Salisbury Court, printed 1637.

5. Spring's Glory, Vindicating Love by Temperance, against the Tenet,
Sine Cerere & Baccho friget Venus; moralized in a Masque. With other
Poems, Epigrams, Elegies, and Epithalamiums of the author's, printed
in 4to, London, 1638. At the end of these poems is a piece called A
Presentation, intended for the Prince's Birth day, May 29, 1638,
annually celebrated.
6. Tottenham-Court, a Comedy, acted in the year 1633, at a private
house in Salisbury Court, printed in 4to. 1638.
7. Unfortunate Lovers, a Tragedy, never acted, printed in 4to. London,
1640.
Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley, according to their old custom, have
ascribed two other anonymous plays to our author: The Woman Hater
Arraigned, a Comedy, and Charles the First, a Tragedy, which
Langbaine has shewn not to be his.
* * * * *

JAMES SHIRLEY,
A very voluminous dramatic author, was born in the city of London,
and: was descended from the Shirleys in Suffex or Warwickshire; he
was educated in grammar learning in Merchant Taylors school, and
transplanted thence to St. John's College, but in what station he lived
there, we don't find.
Dr. William Laud, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, presiding over
that house, conceived a great affection for our author, and was willing
to cherish and improve those promising abilities early discoverable in
him. Mr. Shirley had always an inclination to enter into holy orders, but,
for a very particular reason, was discouraged from attempting it by Dr.
Laud; this reason to some may appear whimsical and ridiculous, but
has certainly much weight and force in it.
Shirley had unfortunately a large mole upon his left cheek, which much

disfigured him, and gave him a very forbidding appearance. Laud
observed very justly, that an audience can scarce help conceiving a
prejudice against a man whose appearance shocks them, and were he to
preach with the tongue of an angel, that prejudice could never be
surmounted; besides the