24. Alfred in disguise of a miniftrel difcovers the Danes negligence, fets on with a mighty flaughter; about the fame time the Devonshire men rout Hubba and flay him. A Heroical poem may be founded fomewhere in Alfred's reign, efpecially at his iffuing out of Edelingfey on the Danes, whofe actions are well like thofe of Ulyffes. 25. Altheftan expofing his brother Edwin to the fea, and repenting. 26. Edgar flaying Ethelwold for falfe play in wooing, wherein may be fet out his pride, luft, which he thought to clofe by favoring Monks and building Monafteries: alfo the difpofition of woman in Elfrida toward her husband. 27. Swane befieging London, and Ethelred repuls'd by the Lon doners. 32. Hardiknute dying in his cups, an example to riot. 33. Edward Confeffor's divorcing and imprifoning his noble wife Editha, Godwin's daughter; wherein is fhowed his over-affection to ftrangers the cause of Godwin's infurrection, wherein Godwin's forbearance of battel prais'd, and the English moderation on both fides magnified. His flackness to redress the corrupt Clergy, and fuperftitious pretence of chastity. ABRAM from Morea, or Is AAC redeem'd. The Oeconomy may be thus. The fifth or fixth day after Abraham's departure, Eleazer Abram's fteward, first alone, and then with the Chorus, difcourfe of Abraham's ftrange voyage, their mistress forrow and perplexity acompanied with frightful dreams; and tell the manner of his rifing by night, taking his fervants and his fon with him. Next may come forth Sarah herself; after the Chorus, or Ifmael, or Agar; next some shepherd or company of merchants paffing through the mount in the time that Abram was in the midwork, relate to Sarah what they faw. Hence lamentation, fears, wonders; the matter in the mean while divulg'd. Aner or Efchcol, or Mamre Abram's confederates come to the houfe of Abram to be more certain, or to bring news; in the mean while difcourfing as the world would, of fuch an tion divers ways, bewailing the fate of fo noble a man faln from his reputation, either through divine juftice, or fuperftition, or coveting ac to to do fome notable act through zeal. At length a fervant fent from Abram relates the truth; and laft he himself comes with a great train of Melchizedec, whofe fhep herds being fecret eye-witneffes of all paffages had related to their mafter, and he conducted his friend Abraham home with joy. BAPTISTES. The Scene, the Court, Beginning from the morning of Jan Herod's birth-day. Herod by fome Counsellor perfuaded * on his birth-day to releafe John Baptift, purposes it, caufes him to be fent for to the court from prifon. The Queen hears of it, takes occafion to pafs where he is, on purpose, that under pretence of reconciling to him, or feeking to draw a kind retraction from him of his cenfure on the marriage; to which end fhe fends a courtier before to found whether he might be perfuaded to mitigate his fentence, which not finding, the herfelf craftily aflays, and on his conftancy founds an accufation to Herod of a contumacious affront on fuch a day be fore many peers, prepares the king to fome paffion, and at laft by her daughter's dancing effects it. There may prologize the Spirit of Philip, Herod's brother. It may also be thought, that Herod had well bedew'd himself with wine, which made him grant the eafier to his wives daughter. Some of his difciples alfo, as to congratulate his liberty, may be brought in, with whom after certain command of his death many compaffioning words of his difciples, bewailing his youth cut off in his glorious courfe, he telling them his work is done, and wishing them to follow Chrift his master. SODOM. The title, Cupid's funeral pile. The Scene before Lot's gate. The Chorus confifts of Lot's fhepherds comn to the city about! fome affairs await in the evening their mafter's return from his evening walk toward the citygates. He brings with him two young men or youths of noble form. After likely difcourfes prepares for their entertainment. By then fupper is ended, the gallantry of the town pafs by in proceffion with mufic and fong to the temple of Venus Urania or Peor, and underftanding of two noble ftrangers arriv'd, they send two of their choiceft youth with the priest to invite them to their city folemnities, it being an honor that their city had decreed to all fair perfonages, as being facred to their Goddefs. The Angels being askt by the prieft whence they are, fay they are of Salem; the priest inveighs against the ftrict reign of Melchizedec. Lot, that knows their * Or elfe the Queen may plot under pretence of begging for his liberty, to feek s to draw him into a fnare by his freedom of speech, he faith are the flames of true love, and tells the King, who falls down with terror, his juft fuffering, as alfo Athane's, i. e. Gener, Lot's fon in law, for defpifing the continual admonitions of Lot: then calling to the thunders, lightnings, and fires, he bids them hear the call and command of God to come and deftroy a godlefs nation: he brings them down with fome fhort warning to other nations to take heed. Chrift born. Herod maffacring, or Rachel drift, anfwers thwartly at laft, of which notice given to the whole affembly, they haften thither, tax him of prefumption, fingularity, breach of city-cuftoms; in fine, after violence, the Chorus of fhepherds prepare refiftance in their master's defense, calling the reft of the ferviture; but being forc'd to give back, the Angels open the door, rescue Lot, discover themfelves, warn him to gather his friends and fons in law out of the city. He goes and returns, as having met with fome incredulous. Some other friend or fon in law out of the way, when Lot came to his houfe, overtakes him to know his bufinefs. Here is dif puted of incredulity of divine judgments, and fuch like matter: at laft is defcribed the parting from the city; the Chorus depart with their mafter; the Angels do the deed with all dreadful execution; the King and Nobles of the city may come forth, and ferve to fet out the terror; a Chorus of Angels concluding, and the Angels relating the event of Lot's journey and of his wife. The firft Chorus beginning, may relate the courfe of the city each evening every by command from God, and withal one with mistress or Ganymed, expreffing his defire to fee and gitterning along the ftreets, or fo- know more concerning this excellacing on the banks of Jordan, or lent new creature, Man. The .8 down the stream. At the prieft's Angel Gabriel, as by his name figinviting the Angels to the folemni- nifying a prince of power, tracing. ty, the Angels pitying their beauty Paradife with a more free office, may difpute of love, and how it paffes by the ftation of the Chodiffers from luft, seeking to win rus, and defired by them relates them. In the laft fcene, to the what he knew of Man, as the creKing and Nobles, when the fierce ation of Eve, with their love and thunders begin aloft, the Angel marriage. After this Lucifer ap appears all girt with flames, which pears after his overthrow, bemoans ADAM UNPARADIS POW T n The Angel Gabriel either defcending or entring, fhowing fince this globe was created, his frequency as much on Earth, as Heaven: defcribes Paradife. Next the Chorus fhewing the reafon of his coming to keep his watch in Paradife after Lucifer's rebellion, himself, himfelf, feeks revenge on Man. The Chorus prepare refiftance at his first approach. At last, after difcourfe of enmity on either fide, he departs; whereat the Chorus fings of the battel, and victory in Heaven against him and his ac complices; as before, after the firft Act, was fung a hymn of the creation. Here again may appear Lucifer relating and infulting in what he had done to the deftruction of Man. Man next, and Eve, having by this time been feduc'd by the ferpent appears confufedly cover'd with leaves. Confcience in a fhape accufes him, Juftice cites him to the place, whither Jehovah call'd for him. In the mean while the Chorus entertains the ftage, and is informed by fome Angel the manner of his fall. Here the Chorus bewails Adam's fall. Adam then and Eve return, accuse one another, but especially Adam lays the blame to his wife, is ftubborn in his offenfe. Juftice appears; reasons with him, convinces him. The Chorus admonisheth Adam, and bids him beware Lucifer's example of impenitence. The Angel is fent to banish them out of Paradife; but before caufes to pafs before his eyes in fhapes a Mask of all the evils of this life and world. He is humbled, relents, defpairs; at laft appears Mercy, comforts him, promifes the Meffiah; then calls in Faith, Hope, and Charity; inftructs him; he repents, gives God the glory, fubmits to his penalty. The Chorus briefly concludes. Compare this with the former draught. Scotch Stories, or rather British of the North parts. ATHIRCO flain by Natholochus, whofe daughter he had ravifht, and this Natholochus ufurping thereon the kingdom, feeks to flay the kindred of Athirco, who fcape him and confpire against him. He fends to a witch to know the event. The witch tells the meffenger, that he is the man fhall flay Natholochus : he detests it, but in his journey home changes his mind, and performs it. Scotch Chron. English, p. 68, 69. DUFFE and DoNWALD, a strange story of withcraft, and murder discover'd and reveng❜d. Scotch Story, 149, &c. HAIE, the Plowman, who with his two fons that were at plough running to the battel that was between the Scots and Danes in the next field, ftaid the flight of his countrymen, renew'd the battel, and caus'd the victory, &c. Scotch Story, p. 155. KENNETH, who having privily poison'd Malcolm Duffe, that his own fon might succeed, is flain by Fenella. Scotch Hift. p. 157, 158, &c. MACBETH, beginning at the arrival of Malcolm at Mackduffe. The matter of Duncan may be exprefs'd by the appearing of his ghost. MOABITIDES OF PHINEAS. The Epitafis whereof may lie in the contention, first between the father of Zimri and Eleazer, whether he [ought] to have flain his fon |