ated, been some cause of alienation on the part of this nobleman. Yet, whatever it was, it did no discredit to Massinger, who writes as one that had given no just cause of offence. Fortunately for him, he found a better patron in the younger than the elder brother. What pecuniary reward he received, does not appear ; but it must have been considerable, or he would not, when speaking of his obligations, have said, at a subsequent period: — : " Mine being more Than they could owe, who since or heretofore But no advantage that he derived from this nobleman was sufficient to render unnecessary his writing for the stage. Yet he had no liking for the profession: he was, as he truly said, compelled to remain in it, when his inclination was averse from it. He wrote with great facility; - his pieces generally amounting to two every year. In the whole, the number amounted to thirty-eight, of which more than half have perished. It might have been supposed that a writer so prolific, and evidently so popular, would require no individual patron. Such, however, was not the fact. Successful dramas were then much less profitable than we should suppose. Whether sold at once to the managers, or acted for the author's benefit, one seldom, if ever, brought ✓ more than 20l., and in general it was less. If we estimate the two dramas annually at 80l., we shall not be below the truth: But he might, if the managers gave consent, publish them after they had been acted. The usual price of a drama from the booksellers was, in Shakespear's time, 20 nobles, or somewhat less than 71. From 1616 to 1640, when Massinger died, it might be a little more; but it certainly never exceeded 10l. Add the dedication fee, which was 40s., and we shall per* By the death of his elder brother without male issue, Montgomery lod to the title and estates of Pembroke. disconsolate brother, accompanied by his servant, Gazet, and his confessor, Francisco, goes in search of her, with the intention of redeeming her if she can be snatched from the lust of her owner. To lull suspicion, no less than for his own security, he assumes the disguise of a merchant, and opens a shop, while Francisco inquires after the lost Paulina. After some time, the father returns, and Vitelli eagerly says: "O welcome, sir! stay of my steps in this life, "Fran. You give too much to fortune and your passions, O'er which a wise man, if religious, triumphs. That name fools worship; and those tyrants, which We arm against our better part, our reason, May add, but never take from our afflictions. "Vitel. Sir, as I am a sinful man, I cannot But like one suffer. "Fran. I exact not from you A fortitude insensible of calamity, To which the saints themselves have bow'd, and shown Were daily taught you, bear your constancy's trial, With curses in your mouth, tears in your eyes? - "Vitel. I am school'd, sir, And will hereafter, to my utmost strength, "Fran. So shall you find me "Vitel. Dear sir, what is it? "Fran. By the command of Asambeg, the viceroy, The site owalls with honbanoupon and prido Were, in another name, to play the pander " Fran. Do but give me hearing, With some fit means to see her; which perform'd, "Vitel. You have charm'd me, sir, And I obey in all things: pray you, pardon "Fran. And excuse it. Be cheerful, man; for know that good intents The character of Francisco is a noble one. " Pious, sagacious, charitable, disinterested, and without ostentation." he soon obtains a claim on our attention, His are indeed lessons of wisdom, no less than of virtue. The next scene introduces us to Donusa, the beautiful niece of Amurath, who is in Tunis, to receive her lover, the basha of Aleppo. She is a true misbeliever. Though innocent in deed, she is not so in thought : she is also capricious, haughty, overbearing. She just condescends to glance at the basha kneeling at her feet; lulu nooson to hope; and in a |