complete gentleman; his very enemies, if he have now any left, will
give him this character, at least if they knew him so thoroughly as I
did.--His death seized him suddenly, but he could not be unprepared,
since to my certain knowledge he never took a dose of opium, but he
solemnly recommended himself to God by prayer.'

When some persons urged to the then lord chamberlain, that there were
authors who had better pretensions to the Laurel; his lordship replied,
'He did not pretend to say how great a poet Shadwell might be, but was
sure he was an honest man.'

Besides his dramatic works, he wrote several other pieces of poetry; the
chief of which are his congratulatory poem on the Prince of Orange's
coming to England; another on queen Mary; his translation of the 10th
Satire of Juvenal, &c. Shadwell in his Comedies imitated Ben Johnson,
and proposed him as his model of excellence, with what degree of success
we shall not take upon us to determine, but proceed to give an account
of his plays.

1. The Sullen Lovers, or the Impertinent, a Comedy; acted at the duke's
theatre, dedicated to William duke of Newcastle: the dedication is dated
September 1st, 1668.

2. The Humorist, a Comedy; acted by his royal highest servants,
dedicated to Margaret duchess of Newcastle.

3. The Royal Shepherdess, a Tragi-Comedy; acted by the duke of York's
servants, printed at London 1669, in quarto. This play was originally
written by Mr. Fountain of Devonshire, but altered throughout by Mr.
Shadwell.