The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Mrs. Catharine Trother
Mrs. Catharine Trother.
THis Lady, by her Parents, is of Scotch Extraction, tho' born and bred in England; admirable for two things rarely found together, Wit and Beauty; and with these a Penetration very uncommon in the Sex. She discovers in her Conversation, a Fineness and Nicety of Reasoning on the highest Metaphysical Subjects; nor is she less entertaining on the more Gay and Conversible. She has already given us two Plays, which challenge our Admiration, we like the first, but are transported with the last; there is the Chastity of her Person, and the Tenderness of her Mind in both; the Passions are natural and moving, the stile just and familiar, and adapted to the Subject; if there be not the Sublime, 'tis because there was no room for it, not because she had not Fire and Genius enough to write it. What I say will be secur'd from the Imputation of Flattery, by what she has writ; and 'tis the Brevity I have propos'd my self in this Undertaking, that confines me to this little, and obliges me to proceed to her Plays.
Agnes de Castro, a Tragedy, 4 to. 1696. acted at the Theatre Royal, and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, &c. This Play met with good Success. 'Tis built on a Novel of the same Title, written Originally in French, by a French Lady, and translated into English by Mrs. Behn.
Fatal Friendship, a Tragedy, as it is acted at the new Theatre in Little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1698. and dedicated to her Royal Highness the Princess of Denmark. I need say nothing of this Play, the Town has prevented my Approbation; and I can only add, that I think it deserv'd the Applause it met with, which every Play that has the Advantage of being Clapt, cannot get from the severer and abler Judges.