The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Samuel Daniel
A Gentleman that flourish'd in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. he was born near Taunton in Somersetshire, and was entred Commoner of St. Mary Magdalen-Hall, Oxon., 1581. in the 19th Year of his Age; from whence, after Three Years Study, his Merit, and his Brother-in-law, Florio, prefer'd him to be one of the Grooms of Queen Ann. Most of his Plays he writ at a little Retreat from London: weary of the World, he at last retired into Wiltshire or Somersetshire, and there turn'd Farmer, living in those Parts till he was near Eighty Years Old, to whose Memory a Monument was erected in the Parish-Church, at the Charge of the Lady Ann Clifford (to whom he had been Tutor) afterwards Countess of Pembrook, Dorset, and Montgomery. Besides his excellent History of England, Printed in Folio, and continued by Trussel, he left behind him several Poetical Pieces, among them Five Dramatick, of which in their Order:
Cleopatra, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1611. and 4to. 1622. Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Countess of Pembrook: The last Edition is much amended, and far excels the first. For the Story see Plutarch's Lives of Pompey and Anthony; Florus, lib. 4. c. 11. Appian de Bel. Civil. lib. 5. but chiefly, Otway's Translation of a French Book called, The History of the Three Triumvirates, 8vo. 1686. This Play was much esteemed in its time.
Hymen's Triumph, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1623. This was presented at the Queen's Court, at the Nuptials of the Lord Roxborough, and Dedicated in Verse to the most excellent Majesty of the Highest Born Princess, Ann of Denmark, Queen of England, &c.
Philotas, his Tragedy, 4to. 1623, and Dedicated to King Charles the First, when he was Prince. This was the first Play our Author writ, and then esteemed, tho' at first met with some Opposition, the Reason you may find by his Apology, at the End of the Play; where he handsomly acquits himself from the Imputation cast on him. Plot from Plutarch's Life of Alexander; Quint. Curt. Book 6., &c.
Queen's Arcadia, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1623. This Play was presented to the Queen and her Ladies, by the University of Oxon. in Christ Church Colledge, 1605. Dedicated to the Queen's Majesty. Act. 1. Scene 2. of Carinus and Amintas, resemble Quinault's Philene, and Daphnis, in his Comedy Sans Comedie, and Scene 4. Act 2. and the 7th Scene of the same Act, are very like Randolph's Amintas.
Vision of the Twelve Goddesses, a Masque, 4to. 1623. Presented by the Queen and her Ladies at Hampton Court, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Lucy, Countess of Bedford, and because this was first publish'd imperfect, the Author soon after publish'd it from his own Copy to prevent its suffering for the Future.