Though they in number as in sense excel.—P. [435].
This unfortunate opera was imitated from the French of Moliere, and finished, as Shadwell assures us, in the space of five weeks. The author having no talents for poetry, and no ear for versification, "Psyche" is one of the most contemptible of the frivolous dramatic class to which it belongs. It was, however, got up with extreme magnificence, and received much applause on its first appearance, in 1675. To justify the censure of Dryden, it is only necessary to quote a few of the verses, taken at random as a specimen, of what he afterwards calls "Prince Nicander's vein:"
Nicander. Madam, I to this solitude am come,
Humbly from you to hear my latest doom.
Psyche. The first command which I did give,
Was, that you should not see me here;
The next command you will receive,
Much harsher will to you appear.
Nic. How long, fair Psyche, shall I sigh in vain?
How long of scorn and cruelty complain?