The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Thomas May
A Gentleman of a good Family in Sussex, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; he was some Years a Fellow-Commoner of Sidney-College in Cambridge, whence removing to London, and the Court, he grew to an Intimacy with Endymion Porter, Esq; and others; but disgusted with the little Encouragement he met with, which is indeed no Place for Reward of Merit, he retired. In the Year 1652. he died suddenly, being Five and Fifty Years Old, and lies buried in the West Side of the North Isle of Westminster-Abby, near Mr. Cambden. But now to his Plays.
Agrippina, Empress of Rome, her Tragedy, 12mo. 1639. In the first Act of this Play, the Printer committed an Error, by printing some few Pages twice over. Plot, see Tacitus, Suetonius, and Petronius Arbiter.
Antigone, the Thebane Princess, her Tragedy, 8vo. 1631. Dedicated to the most Worthily Honoured Endymion Porter, Esq; Plot from Sophocles's Antigone, and Seneca's Thebais; see also Statius's Thebais.
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, her Tragedy, 12mo. 1639. Acted some Years before printed, and dedicated to the accomplish'd Sir Kenelm Digby. Plot from Appian de Bellis Civ. L. Florus, Lib. 4. Suetonius in vit. August. and Plutarchus in Vit. M. Antonii. he has also made bold with Calimachus's Epig. on Timon, &c.
The Heir, a Tragi-Comedy, 4 to. 1633. Acted by the Company of Revels. This was accounted an ingenious and modest Play, and much commended by Mr. Thomas Carew, who has a Copy of Verses to that purpose, printed with the Play.
The Old Couple, a Comedy, 4 to. 1651. This Play has been formerly in repute, and the chief Design of it seems to be against Coveteousness.
Two of the above Plays, (viz.) Agrippina and Antigone, are usually bound together in a small Volume, 12 mo. This Author has publish’d a Translation of Lucan’s Pharsalia, 8 vo. 1635. and Virgil’s Georgicks, with Annotations, 1622. also a History of the late Civil Wars in England, which he calls, A Breviary.