The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Abraham Cowley
This eminent Author was Born in London, 1618. at Ten Years Old (whilst he was a Westminster Schollar) he writ the Tragical Story of Pyramus and Thisbe; at Twelve that of Constantia and Philetus. By Thirteen he had published several Poetical Pieces. From a Boy he was very Studious, and his Chance lighting on Spencer's Fairy Queen, rous'd his Inclinations to Poetry, which never forsook him till he Died. Whoever would read a just Account of his Life, will find it admirably writ by the present Bishop of Rochester. He Died of a Stoppage in his Breast and Throat, having lain Ill a Fortnight; and was Buried the 30th of August, 1667. in Westminster-Abbey, next Chaucer, and near Spencer and Drayton, with a neat Marble Monument erected (as the Inscription informs us) to him, by the late Duke of Buckingham. He has publish'd Three English Plays, of which in their Order.
Cutter of Coleman-Street, a Comedy, 4to. 1663. This Play was Represented at the Duke's Theatre in Salisbury-Court, with good Applause; yet met with Opposition by some few, who at that time envied the Author for his Loyalty to his Prince, but was afterwards Acted with universal Applause, it being a revis'd Comedy, and much alter'd and enlarg'd from that Mr. Cowly had about Ten Years before hastily drawn up, under the Name of the
Guardian, a Comedy, 4to. 1650. Acted several times privately during the Prohibition of the Stage; as also at Cambridge before Prince Charles, and after the Restauration publickly Acted at Dublin with good Applause.
Love's Riddle, a Pastoral Comedy, 4to. 1633. This Play was written in the Author's Youth, whilst a King's Schollar at Westminster, first printed with his Poetical Blossoms; and since that, in the Second Volume of his Works.
In any of his Plays he cannot be taxed with borrowing from any other.
The Works of this admirable Author are eminent enough to the Ingenious, so needless to be here characteriz'd. He left Two Volumes in Folio, Verse and Prose, also a Volume in 8vo. Entituled, Poemata Latina. It is a great Pity he liv'd not to finish that incomparable Epick Poem of Davideis, being only Four Books of the Troubles of David; which he design'd to extend in all, to Twelve. For his Life and Works I refer you further, to Dr. Sprat, Bishop of Rochester's Account thereof.