ed every art to promote his
interest. Before the appearance of the play a whole Spectator, none
indeed of the best, was devoted to its praise; while it yet continued to
be acted, another Spectator was written to tell what impression it made
upon Sir Roger, and on the first night a select audience, says Pope, was
called together to applaud it. It was concluded with the most successful
Epilogue that was ever yet spoken on the English theatre. The three
first nights it was recited twice, and not only continued to be demanded
through the run, as it is termed, of the play, but whenever it is
recalled to the stage, where by peculiar fortune, though a copy from the
French, it yet keeps its place, the Epilogue is still expected, and is
still spoken.

The propriety of Epilogues in general, and consequently of this,
was questioned by a correspondent of the Spectator, whose letter was
undoubtedly admitted for the sake of the answer, which soon followed,
written with much zeal and acrimony. The attack and the defence equally
contributed to stimulate curiosity and continue attention. It may be
discovered in the defence that Prior's Epilogue to Phaedra had a little
excited jealousy, and something of Prior's plan may be discovered in
the performance of his rival. Of this distinguished Epilogue the reputed
author was the wretched Budgell, whom Addison used to denominate "the
man who calls me cousin;" and when he was asked how such a silly fellow
could write so well, replied, "The Epilogue was quite another thing when
I saw it first." It was known in Tonson's family, and told to Garrick,
that Addison was himself the author of it, and that, when it had been
at first printed with his name, he came early in the morning, before the
copies were distributed, and ordered it to be given to Budgell, that
it might add weight to the solicitation which he was then making for a
place.

Philips was now high in the ranks of literature. His play was applauded;
his translations from Sappho had been published in the Spectator; he was
an important and distinguished associate of clubs, witty and poetical;
and nothing was wanting to his happiness but that he should be sure of
its continuance. The work which had procured him the first notice from
the public was his "Six Pastorals," which, flattering the imagination
with Arcadian scenes, probably found many readers, and might have long
passed as a pleasing amusement had they not been unhappily too much
comm