ABSTRACT
Authorship. Pepys described the play as ‘made by my Lord Duke o f Newcas tle, but, as everybody says, corrected by Dryden’ (16 August 1667; and 1 January 1668; see also Downes 62-3). It was based on L ’Etourdi by Moliere and L ’Amant Indiscret by Quinault. For the sources and collaboration see Works ix 354-69 and F. H. Moore, SP extra series iv (1967) 27-38. D. was associated with the King’s Company at the Theatre Royal, but since the play was regarded as Newcastle’s, it could be acted by the rival company. It is virtually certain that the Prologue, Epilogue and Songs are by D.
