4. The Virtuoso, a Comedy; acted at the duke's theatre, printed at
London 1676, in quarto, dedicated to the duke of Newcastle.

Mr. Langbaine observes, that no body will deny this play its due
applause; at least I know, says he, that the university of Oxford, who
may be allowed competent judges of comedy, especially such characters as
Sir Nicholas Gimcrack, and Sir Formal Trifle, applauded it. And as no
man ever undertook to discover the frailties of such pretenders to this
kind of knowledge before Mr. Shadwell, so none since Johnson's time,
ever drew so many different characters of humour, and with such success.

5. Pysche, a Tragedy; acted at the duke's theatre, printed in London
1675 in 4to, and dedicated to the duke of Monmouth. In the preface he
tell us, that this play was written in five weeks.

6. The Libertine, a Tragedy; acted by his royal highness's servants,
printed in London 1676, in quarto, and dedicated to the duke of
Newcastle. In the preface Mr. Shadwell observes, that the story from
which he took the hint of this play, is famous all over Spain, Italy,
and France. It was first used in a Spanish play, the Spaniards having a
tradition of such a vicious Spaniard, as is represented in this play;
from them the Italian comedians took it; the French borrowed it from
them, and four several plays have been made upon the story.

7. Epsom Wells, a comedy; acted at the duke's theatre; printed at London
1676, in 4to, and dedicated to the duke of Newcastle. Mr. Langbaine
says, that this is so diverting and so true a comedy, that even
foreigners, who are not in general kind to the wit of our nation, have
extremely commended it.