favour of Mrs. White of Bownanhall, Gloucestershire. Those preserved at Knowles were examined at the request of a noble friend, and the contents appeared unfit for publication. Dryden's translations of Fresnoy's Art of Painting, and of the Life of Xavier, are inserted without abridgment, for reasons which are elsewhere alleged.[3] From the version of Maimbourg's "History of the League," there is an extract given, which may be advantageously read along with the Duke of Guise, and the Vindication of that play. The prefaces and dedications are, of course, prefixed to the pieces to which they belong; but those who mean to study them with reference to theatrical criticism, will do well to follow the order recommended by Mr. Malone.[4]

Several pieces published in Derrick's edition of Dryden's poetry, being obviously spurious, are here published separately from his authentic poetry, and with a suitable note of suspicion prefixed to each. They might indeed have been altogether discarded without diminishing the value of the work. Some account might be here given of the various editions of Dryden's poems; but notices of this kind have been liberally scattered through the Life and preliminary matter.

Upon the whole, it is hoped, that as the following is the first complete edition of the Works of Dryden, it will be found, in accuracy of text and copiousness of illustration, not altogether unworthy of the time, labour, and expense which have been ungrudgingly bestowed upon an object so important to English literature.

FOOTNOTES

[1] The octavo edition of the "Annus Mirabilis" did not fall into my hands till the volume containing it was printed off. It contains two important variations: as, stanza 4, the year, read THEIR year; stanza 53, their main, read MEN; both of which the reader is requested to correct. Also an erratum in verse 104, line 2, where the word fortune should be VIRTUE.

[2] By the hands of Mrs. Jackson, who has honoured me with a note, stating, that they are mentioned in Butler's "Tour through Italy;" that after Butler's death, the translations passed into the hands of the celebrated Dr. Alban, whence they were transferred to those of the present possessor.

[3] Vol. i. p. 283; vol. xvii.

[4] Which is, the Essay of Dramatic Poesy, the Defence of that Essay, the Preface to the Mock Astrologer, the Essay on Heroic Plays, the Defence of the Epilogue to the Second Part of the Conquest of Granada, the Grounds of Criticism in Tragedy, and the Answer to Rymer.

CONTENTS

OF

VOLUME FIRST.

The Life of John Dryden

SECT. I. Preliminary remarks on the Poetry of England before the Civil
Wars—The Life of Dryden from his Birth till the Restoration—His Early
Poems, including the Annus Mirabilis

SECT. II. Revival of the Drama at the Restoration—Heroic Plays—
Comedies of Intrigue—Commencement of Dryden's Dramatic Career—The Wild
Gallant—Rival Ladies—Indian Queen and Emperor—Dryden's Marriage—
Essay on Dramatic Poetry, and subsequent Controversy with Sir Robert
Howard—The Maiden Queen—The Tempest—Sir Martin Mar-all—The Mock
Astrologer—The Royal Martyr—The two Parts of the Conquest of Granada—
Dryden's situation at this period

SECT. III. Heroic Plays—The Rehearsal—Marriage à la Mode—The
Assignation—Controversy with Clifford—with Leigh—with Ravenscroft—
Massacre of Amboyna—State of Innocence

SECT. IV. Dryden's controversy with Settle—with Rochester—He is
assaulted in Rose Street—Aureng-Zebe—Dryden meditates an Epic Poem—
All for Love—Limberham—Oedipus—Troilus and Cressida—The Spanish
Friar—Dryden supposed to be in opposition to the Court

SECT. V. Dryden engages in Politics—Absalom and Achitophel, Part First —The Medal—MacFlecknoe—Absalom and Achitophel, Part Second—The Duke of Guise

SECT. VI. Threnodia Augustalis—Albion and Albanius—Dryden becomes a
Catholic—The Controversy of Dryden with Stillingfleet—The Hind and
Panther—Life of St. Francis Xavier—Consequences of the Revolution to
Dryden—Don Sebastian—King Arthur—Cleomenes—Love Triumphant

SECT. VII. State of Dryden's Connections in Society after the
Revolution—Juvenal and Persius—Smaller Pieces—Eleanora—Third
Miscellany—Virgil—Ode to St. Cecilia—Dispute with Milbourne—with
Blackmore—Fables—The Author's Death and Funeral—His Private
Character—Notices of his Family

SECT. VIII. The State of Dryden's Reputation at his Death, and
afterwards—The general Character of his Mind—His Merit as a Dramatist
—As a Lyrical Poet—As a Satirist—As a Narrative Poet—As a
Philosophical and Miscellaneous Poet—As a Translator—As a Prose
Author—As a Critic

THE LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN.

VOL. I.

THE LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN.

* * * * *

SECTION I.

Preliminary Remarks on the Poetry of England before the Civil Wars— The Life of Dryden from his Birth till the Restoration—His early Poems, including the "Annus Mirabilis."

The Life of Dryden may be said to comprehend a history of the Literature of England, and its changes, during nearly half a century. While his great contemporary Milton was in silence and secrecy laying the foundation of that immortal fame, which no poet has so highly deserved Dryden's labours were ever in the eye of the public; and he maintained, from the time of the Restoration till his death, in 1700, a decided and acknowledged superiority over all the poets of his age. As he wrote from necessity, he was obliged to pay a certain deference to the public opinion; for he, whose bread depends upon the success of his volume, is compelled to study popularity; but, on the other hand, his better judgment was often directed to improve that of his readers; so that he alternately influenced and stooped to the national taste of the day. If, therefore, we would know the gradual changes which took place in our poetry during the above period, we have only to consult the writings of an author, who produced yearly some new performance allowed to be most excellent in the particular style which was fashionable for the time. It is the object of this memoir to connect, with the account of Dryden's life and publications such a general view of the literature of the time, as may enable the reader to estimate how far the age was indebted to the poet, and how far the poet was influenced by the taste and manners of the age. A few preliminary remarks on the literature of the earlier part of the seventeenth century will form a necessary introduction to this biographical memoir.

[1]When James I. ascended the throne of England he came to rule a court and people, as much distinguished for literature as for commerce and arms. Shakespeare was in the zenith of his reputation, and England possessed other poets inferior to Shakespeare alone; or, indeed, the higher order of whose plays may claim to be ranked above the inferior dramas ascribed to him. Among these we may reckon Massinger, who approached to Shakespeare in dignity; Beaumont and Fletcher, who surpassed him in drawing female characters, and those of polite and courtly life; and Jonson, who attempted to supply, by depth of learning, and laboured accuracy of character, the want of that flow of imagination, which nature had denied to him.