The Fair Circassian: a Dramatic Performance. Done from the Original by a Gentleman Commoner of Oxford. to Which Are Added, Several Occasional Poems, by the Same Author

The Fair Circassian: A Dramatic Performance. Done From The Original By A Gentleman Commoner Of Oxford. To Which Are Added, Several Occasional Poems, By The Same Author — Samuel Croxall. This work presents a dramatized narrative centered around a courtly romance inspired by Solomon’s rhetoric, dedicated to a Circassian beauty named Saphira. The principal piece, The Fair Circassian, is a verse drama where a lover-poet envisions the loves of a royal court, featuring choruses, songs, and dialogues from a female character expressing her feelings for her beloved. The translation notes and Preface provide insights into the author, a Gentleman-Commoner of Oxford who died young, with the text published posthumously and accompanied by editorial notes, including a detailed Preface discussing the muse's likely identity and the piece's origins, along with a dedication to Saphira. Additionally, the volume includes Occasional Poems by the same author, such as the Midsummer Wish, Sylvia, and other pastoral and erotic poems, many set against classical or Arcadian backdrops. This edition captures early 18th-century tastes, blending classical allusion, lyrical ornamentation, and romantic fantasy.