D'URFEY, THOMAS, was born in Devonshire, but the exact time of his birth is uncertain. He was designed for the law, but quitted that profession for poetry. His dramas had remarkable success in the days of Charles II., but were soon aftewarda banished from the stage on account of their outrageous indecency, and at present scarcely their names are known, except to the students of English dramatic history. Much of his fame was owing to his songs and satirical odes, which have a good deal of vivacity, and which he is said to have him self sung in a lively and agreeable manner. He is represented in the 'Guardian' as being on such terms of intimacy with Charles H., that the king would sometimes lean on his shoulder and hum tunes with him : he was also a favourite at most convivial parties, and was so much celebrated for his qualities as a good companion, that it was considered a kind of honour to have been in his company. He how
ever outlived his reputation, probably outlived also his convivial powers, and was reduced to such distress in the latter part of his life, that he applied to the managers of the theatre, who performed for his benefit one of his comedies, and Addison wrote a kind-hearted paper in the 'Guardian' to procure him a full house. The profits which were acquired seem to have been sufficient to render his last days comparatively easy, if any judgment is to be founded on his poems of this period, which are written with liveliness. He died in 1723, and was buried in St. James's, Westminster.
A collection of D'Urfey's poems, entitled 'Pills to purge Melan choly,' is extremely rare, and aella for a high price. It is much esteemed by those bibliographers who think licentious works valuable if they are but scarce.