Waldron, Francis Godolphin; E. & S. Harding [Editor]; Harding, Silvester [Oth.]; Harding, Edward [Oth.]; Edwards, James [Oth.]; Lunn, William Henry [Oth.]; Moltino, A. [Oth.]; Hatchard, John [Oth.]: The Biographical Mirrour, Comprising A Series Of Ancient And Modern English Portraits, Of Eminent And Distinguished Persons, From Original Pictures And Drawings (Band 1) (London: Published by S. and E. Harding, 1795)

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governor to lord Beauchamp, only fon of Algernon Seymour, earl of Hertford, late duke of Somerlet. Dur-
ing his attendance on that noble youth, he employed fame of his leilure hours in adapting Milton’s
“ Mafque at Ludlow caftle” to the ftage, by a judicious infertion of feveral longs and paffages leleft d from
other of Milton’s works, as well as of feveral fongs and other elegant additions of his own, fuited co the
charafters, and to the manner of the original author, he rendered it a very acceptable prefent t > the public ;
and it Hill continues one of the moft favourite dramatic entertainments, under the title of “ Comus, a
Mafque,” being fet to mufic by Dr. Arne. Befides this, it had the advantage of being at frit performed by
Mr. Quin in the charafter of Comus, and by Mrs. Cibber in that of the lady.
Biographical Dictionary, 8vo. 1784, V. 4, P. 288.
In 1738, this mafque [Comus} was adapted to the llage by Mr. Dalton, by dividing it into feenes and
afts, & introducing fame vocal mufic. This indeed was at firft thought an attempt which would never
anfwer in the fuccefs, as it was imagined that the town would not tafte Milton’s beauties, or at lead
would think it too heavy an entertainment for a whole evening, to hear only fine poetical fentiments &
moral inftruftions. But the event was the very reverfe. Every night it was performed the audience
received it with the utmoft fatisfaftion & delight, & were no where more attentive than in thofe feenes
where there are fuch excellent leffons of morality.
Mr. Dalton's prologue begins thus:
Our Jledfaji bard, to bis o-ivn genius true,
Still bad his muje Fit Audience Find, Th o’ Few.
Peck’s Memoirs of Milton, 4to. 1740. P. 21,

Comus. A Mafque, by Dr. Dalton. Afted at Drury-Lane. Svo. 1738. This piece is a very ju-
dicious alteration of Milton’s Mafque at Ludlow-Callie. It met with great applaufe on its firft
appearance; &c.
Biographia Dramatica. Svo. 1782. V. 2 P. 62.

Thefe extrafts from three books of general correftnefs are produced together, to coimteraft whatever effeft
Mr. Shenftone’s faftidioufnefs may have on thofe who too-implicitly adopt the opinions of others; and to
reftify feme miftakes in Stage-Hiftory contained therein.
Dr, Dalton’s “ COMUS, a Mafque. [Notv adapted to the Stage)” was produced at leaf! fo early as
1735 ; a copy of it, with that date, ftiled “ The Second Edition. London: Printed for W. Feales,”
&c. being in the pofTeifion of the compiler of thefe anecdotes.; which agrees verbatim with other copies in his
poffeffion, dated 1738, excepting the names of the performers, which are in the differently-dated copies as
follows.

I735-
1738.
Comus
Mr. Hujbands.
Mr. Quin.
The Lady
Mrs. Vincent.
Mrs. Cibber.
The Brothers
\ Mr. Mibward.
rMr. Milliard.
tMr. Thurmond,
1 Mr. Cibber.
Firft Spirit
Mr. Mills.
Mr. Mills
Second Spirit
Mr. Hill.
Mr. Hill.
Eu PHR0SYNE
Mrs. Thurmond.
Mrs. Clive.
Sabrina
Mrs. Hunt.
Mrs. Arne.
Attendant Spirits, |
f Mr. Pack.
f Mr. Beard.
Bacchanals,
) Mrs. Spiller.
J Mrs. Clive.
Paftoral Charafters,
) Mrs. 'Jones, and
1 Mrs. Arne, and
and other Vocal Parts. |
L others.
others.