letter
to Fleetwood Shepherd esquire. Mr. Rymer sent one of his books as a
present to Mr. Dryden, who in the blank leaves before the beginning,
and after the end of the book, made several remarks, as if he intended
to publish an answer to that critic, and his opinion of the work
was this[4]; "My judgment (says he) of this piece, is, that it is
extremely learned, but the author seems better acquainted with the
Greek, than the English poets; that all writers ought to study this
critic as the best account I have seen of the ancients; that the model
of tragedy he has here given is extremely correct, but that it is not
the only model of tragedy, because it is too much circumscribed in the
plot, characters, &c. And lastly, that we may be taught here justly to
admire and imitate the ancients, without giving them the preference,
with this author, in prejudice to our own country."

Some of Beaumont and Fletcher's plays were printed in quarto during
the lives of their authors; and in the year 1645 twenty years after
Fletcher's death, there was published in folio a collection of their
plays which had not been printed before, amounting to between thirty
and forty. At the beginning of this volume are inserted a great number
of commendatory verses, written by the most eminent wits of that age.
This collection was published by Mr. Shirley after shutting up the
Theatres, and dedicated to the earl of Pembroke by ten of the most
famous actors. In 1679 there was an edition of all their plays
published in folio. Another edition in 1711 by Tonson in seven volumes
8vo. containing all the verses in praise of the authors, and supplying
a large omission of part of the last act of Thierry and Theodoret.
There was also another edition in 1751. The plays of our authors are
as follow,

1. Beggars Bush, a Comedy, acted with applause.

2. Bonduca, a Tragedy; the plot from Tacitus's Annals, b. xiv.
Milton's History of England, b. ii. This play has been twice revived.

3. The Bloody Brother, or Rollo Duke of Normandy, a Tragedy, acted
at the Theatre at Dorset-Garden. The plot is taken from Herodian's
History, b. iv.

4. Captain, a Comedy.

5. Chances, a Comedy; this was revived by Villiers duke of Buckingham
with great applause.

6. The Coronation, a Tragi-Comedy, claimed by Mr. Shirley as his.

7. The Coxcomb, a Comedy.

8. Cupid's Revenge, a Tragedy.

9. The Custom of the Country, a Tragi-Comedy; the plot taken from
Malispini's Novels,