Languages & literature > Abridgement of lectures on rhetoric

DRAMATIC POETRY.
19 S
After the reftoration of Charles II. the licerttioufiiefsT
which polluted the court and nation, feized upon come¬
dy. The rake became the predominant charafter.
Ridicule was thrown upon chaftity and fobriety. At
the end of the play indeed the rake becomes a fobdr
man ; but through the performance lie is a fine gentle¬
man, and exhibits a picture of the pleafurable enjoy¬
ments of life. This fpirit of comedy had the worft ef-
fedt on youth of both fexes, and continued to the days
of George IL-
In the comedies of Dryden there are many ftrokes
of genius ; but he is ha fly and carelefs. As his objedt
was to pleafe, he followed the current of the times, and
gave way to indelicacy and licentioufnefs. His inde¬
cency was at times fo grofs, as to occafion a prohibi¬
tion of his plays on-the ftage.
After Dryden flourilhed Cibber, Vanburgh, Far-
quhar, and Congreve, Cibber has fprightlinefs and a
pert vivacity ; but his incidents are fo forced and un¬
natural, that his performances have all funk into obfcu-
rity, excepting The Carelefs Hu (band and The Provok¬
ed Hufband. Of thefe the firft is remarkable for the
eafy politenefs of the dialogue j and it is tolerably moral
in its condudh The latter, in which Cibber was aflift-
ed by Vanburgh, is perhaps the bed comedy in the
Englilh language ; and even to this it may be objcdt-
ed, that it has a double plot. Its charadters however
are natural, and it abounds with fine painting and hap¬
py ftrokes of humor.