h neither Fletcher
nor Suckling had ever thought; and therefore to put the last hand to
it, he designed the counterpart to Shakespear's plot, namely, that of
a man who had never seen a woman, that by this means, these two
characters of innocence and love might the more illustrate and commend
each other. This excellent contrivance he was pleased to communicate
to me, and to defire my assistance in it. I confess that from the
first moment it so pleased me, that I never wrote any thing with so
much delight. I might likewise do him that justice to acknowledge that
my writing received daily amendments, and that is the reason why it is
not so faulty, as the rest that I have done, without the help or
correction of so judicious a friend. The comical parts of the sailors
were also of his invention and Writing, as may easily be discovered
from the stile.'

This great man died at his house in little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, April
17, 1668, aged 63, and two days afterwards was interred in
Westminster-Abbey. On his gravestone is inscribed, in imitation of Ben
Johnson's short epitaph,

O RARE SIR WILLIAM DAVENANT!

It may not be amiss to observe, that his remains rest very near the
place out of which those of Mr. Thomas May, who had been formerly his
rival for the bays, and the Parliament's historian, were removed, by
order of the ministry. As to the family our author left behind him,
some account of it will be given in the life of his son Dr. Charles
Davenant, who succeeded him as manager of the theatre. Sir William's
works entire were published by his widow 1673, and dedicated to James
Duke of York.

After many storms of adversity, our author spent the evening of his
days in ease and serenity. He had the happiness of being loved by
people of all denominations, and died lamented by every worthy good
man. As a poet, unnumbered evidences may be produced in his favour.
Amongst these Mr. Dryden is the foremost, for when his testimony can
be given in support of poetical merit, we reckon all other evidence
superfluous, and without his, all other evidences deficient. In his
words then we shall sum up Davenant's character as a poet, and a man
of genius.

'I found him, (says he) in his preface to the Tempest, of so quick a
fancy, that nothing was proposed to him on which he could not quickly
produce a thought extreamly pleasant and surprizing, and these first
thoughts of his, contrary to the old Latin proverb, were n