[ [265] Powell seems to have been at Lincoln's Inn Fields for two seasons, those of 1702 and 1703, and for part of a third, 1703-4. He returned to Drury Lane about June, 1704. For the arbitrary conduct of the Lord Chamberlain, in allowing him to desert to Lincoln's Inn Fields (or the Haymarket), but arresting him when he deserted back again to Drury Lane, see after, in Chap. X.
[ [266] Cibber is here somewhat in the position of Satan reproving sin, if Davies's statements ("Dram. Misc.," iii. 480) are accurate. He says:—
"This attention to the gaming-table would not, we may be assured, render him [Cibber] fitter for his business of the stage. After many an unlucky run at Tom's Coffee-house [in Russell Street], he has arrived at the playhouse in great tranquillity; and then, humming over an opera-tune, he has walked on the stage not well prepared in the part he was to act. Cibber should not have reprehended Powell so severely for neglect and imperfect representation: I have seen him at fault where it was least expected; in parts which he had acted a hundred times, and particularly in Sir Courtly Nice; but Colley dexterously supplied the deficiency of his memory by prolonging his ceremonious bow to the lady, and drawling out 'Your humble servant, madam,' to an extraordinary length; then taking a pinch of snuff, and strutting deliberately across the stage, he has gravely asked the prompter, what is next?"
[ [267] "The Laureat," p. 45: "I have known him (Wilks) lay a Wager and win it, that he wou'd repeat the Part of Truewitt in the Silent Woman, which consists of thirty Lengths of Paper, as they call 'em, (that is, one Quarter of a Sheet on both Sides to a Length) without misplacing a single Word, or missing an (and) or an (or)."
[ [268] Alexander in "The Rival Queens."
[ [269] In "The Man of the Mode; or, Sir Fopling Flutter."
[ [270] Produced at Lincoln's Inn Fields, 29th January, 1728.
[ [271] "Love in a Riddle." A Pastoral. Produced at Drury Lane, 7th January, 1729.
| Arcas | Mr. Mills. |
| Ægon | Mr. Harper. |
| Amyntas | Mr. Williams. |
| Iphis | Mrs. Thurmond. |
| Philautus, a conceited Corinthian courtier | Mr. Cibber. |
| Corydon | Mr. Griffin. |
| Cimon | Mr. Miller. |
| Mopsus | Mr. Oates. |
| Damon | Mr. Ray. |
| Ianthe, daughter to Arcas | Mrs. Cibber. |
| Pastora, daughter to Ægon | Mrs. Lindar. |
| Phillida, daughter to Corydon | Mrs. Raftor. |
Mrs. Raftor (at this time Miss was not generally used) was afterwards the famous Mrs. Clive. Chetwood, in his "History of the Stage," 1749 (p. 128), says: "I remember the first night of Love in a Riddle (which was murder'd in the same Year) a Pastoral Opera wrote by the Laureat, which the Hydra-headed Multitude resolv'd to worry without hearing, a Custom with Authors of Merit, when Miss Raftor came on in the part of Phillida, the monstrous Roar subsided. A Person in the Stage-Box, next to my Post, called out to his Companion in the following elegant Style—'Zounds! Tom! take Care! or this charming little Devil will save all.'" Chetwood's "Post" was that of Prompter.