ites
Stiling me Caesar, or great Alexander,
Licking my feet,--&c.

Mr. Langbaine ascribes to Brewer the two following plays,

Country Girl, a Comedy, often acted with applause, printed in 4to.
1647. This play has been revived since the Restoration, under the
title of Country Innocence, or the Chamber-maid turned Quaker.

Love-sick King, an English Tragical History, with the Life and Death
of Cartesmunda, the Fair Nun of Winchester; printed in 4to. London,
1655; this play was likewise revived 1680, and acted by the name of
the Perjured Nun. The historical part of the plot is founded upon the
Invasion of the Danes, in the reign of King Ethelred and Alfred.

This last play of Anthony Brewer's, is one of the best irregular
plays, next to those of Shakespear, which are in our language. The
story, which is extremely interesting, is conducted, not so much with
art, as spirit; the characters are animated, and the scene busy.
Canutus King of Denmark, after having gained the city of Winchester,
by the villainy of a native, orders all to be put to the sword, and at
last enters the Cloister, raging with the thirst of blood, and panting
for destruction; he meets Cartesmunda, whose beauty stops his ruffian
violence, and melts him, as it were, into a human creature. The
language of this play is as modern, and the verses as musical as those
of Rowe; fire and elevation run through it, and there are many strokes
of the most melting tenderness. Cartesmunda, the Fair Nun of
Winchester, inspires the King with a passion for her, and after a long
struggle between honour and love, she at last yields to the tyrant,
and for the sake of Canutus breaks her vestal vows. Upon hearing that
the enemy was about to enter the Cloister, Cartesmunda breaks out into
the following beautiful exclamation:

The raging foe pursues, defend us Heaven!
Take virgin tears, the balm of martyr'd saints
As tribute due, to thy tribunal throne;
With thy right hand keep us from rage and murder;
Let not our danger fright us, but our sins;
Misfortunes touch our bodies, not our souls.

When Canutus advances, and first sees Cartesmunda, his speech is
poetical, and conceived in the true spirit of Tragedy.

Ha! who holds my conquering hand? what power unknown,
By magic thus transforms me to a statue,
Senseless of all the faculties of life?
My blood runs back, I have no power to strike;
Call in our guards and bid 'em all give o'er.
Sheath u