Note 136 — THE ART OF PAINTING;

“Otway,” says Pope, “has written but two tragedies, out of six, that are pathetic. I believe he did it without much design, as Lillo has done in his ‘Barnwell.’ It is a talent of nature, rather than an effect of judgment, to write so movingly.”—Spence’s Anecdotes, quoted by Malone. Dryden, at an early period, is said to have set no high value upon Otway in other respects, while he allowed he excelled him in the art of affecting the passions.