The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Nahum Tate
T
Nahum Tate, Esq;
Our present Poet Laureat, a Person of great Probity of Manners, Learning, and good Nature: His Birth and Education (as I have been told) he owes to the Kingdom of Ireland: He has, for several Years, had the Patronage of the present Earl of Dorset, and has Merit to deserve more than he has met with from others: He is guilty of Modesty, of which few of his Profession know much; and it is the noisy pushing Man in Poetry, as well as other things, that prevails with Fame as well as Fortune. But now to his Drammatick Composures.
Brutus of Alba, an Opera, 4to. 1678. acted at the Duke's Theatre; it is dedicated to the Right Honourable, Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. Plot from Virgil's Æneids, Book 4.
The Cuckold's Haven; or, An Alderman no Conjurer, a Farce, 4to. 1685. acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-Garden; and dedicated to Col. Edmund Ashton. Plot from Eastward Hoe, and The Devil's an Ass.
A Duke and no Duke, a Farce, 4to. 1685. acted by their Majesties Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Sir John Hewyt. In this Play are divers Songs set to Musick with thorough Basses for the Theorbo or Bass-Viol. Plot from Trappolin supposed a Prince.
The Ingratitude of a Common-Wealth; or, The Fall of Caius Martius Coriolanus; a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1682. acted at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Charles, Lord Herbert, Marquess of Worcester. Part of this Play borrowed from Shakespear's Coriolanus.
The Island Princess, a Tragi-Comedy, 4 to. 1687. and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Henry, Lord Walgrave. Reviv’d with Alterations from Fletcher.
The Loyal General, a Tragedy, 4 to. 1680. acted at the Duke’s Theatre; and is dedicated to Edward Taylor, Esq;
Lear, King of England, and his Three Daughters; an Historical Play, 4 to. 1687. acted at the Duke’s Theatre; it is Dedicated to Thomas Boteler, Esq; and reviv’d with Alterations from Shakespear; and now call’d, The Ancient History of King Lear, &c.
Richard the Third; or, The Sicilian Usurper; a History, 4 to. 1681. acted at the Theatre Royal, and dedicated to George Raynsford, Esq; with a Prefatory Epistle in Vindication of the Author by Reason of the Prohibition of this Play on the Stage, Reviv’d from Shakespear.
This our Author has publish’d divers Poems on several Occasions, some of them printed 8 vo. one Volume whereof are all his own, another Volume by several Hands.