THE BRITISH THEATRE; OR, A COLLECTION OF PLAYS, WHICH ARE ACTED AT THE THEATRES ROYAL, DRURY LANE, COVENT GARDEN, AND HAYMARKET. PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS FROM THE PROMPT BOOKS. WITH BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL REMARKS, BY MRS, INCHBALD. PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER ROW. OR, THE ROMAN MATRON; A HISTORICAL PLAY, IN FIVE ACTS; BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN. PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS FROM THE PROMPT BOOK. WITH REMARKS BY MRS. INCHBALD LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1 Endish 4-25-42 REMARKS. This play comprehends a period of about four years; and the whole story is exactly followed, and many of the principal speeches exactly copied, from the life of Coriolanus in Plutarch. Dr. Johnson says, "the tragedy of Coriolanus is one of the most amusing of our author's performances." To those persons, who do not prefer a love tale to every other dramatic subject, this opinion. must appear just; for the hero and heroine of the drama are both so inimitably drawn, that it is impossible not to feel the deepest interest in all their conflicts. The vices and virtues of Coriolanus are blended, by the poet's hand, with the nicest observance of filial similitude, as well as of filial piety. He possesses, in his military character, all the fire, courage, and ambition of his mother-and, as a politician, all the woman's vanity, and petty pride. Yet no one can be offended with this spoiled child for his humours, as he retains a most grateful sense of that maternal tenderness which inspired his thirst of fame; though it possibly had impeded the philosophical strength of |