Middleton's London comedies of his early period, 1604-1614, have, throughout the course of English dramatic criticism, inspired curiously diverse comments.
The early comedy of Middleton is as light, rancid, and entertaining as anything in Elizabethan drama. It is irresponsible rather than immoral, and does not exactly recommend, or approve of, the trickeries and debaucheries which it represents, in a life-like way, under improbable conditions. . . . . His aim is at effect, and he rarely fails in his aim. . . . .1