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did not forget him, but I thought his own sorrows were too fresh upon him to receive a present of that nature. For my Lord Roscommon's Essay, I am of your opinion, that you should reprint it, and that you may safely venture on a thousand more. In my verses before it, pray let the printer mend his error, and let the line stand thus:

That here his conquering ancestors were nursed.

Charles his copy is all true. The other faults my Lord Roscommon will mend in the book, or Mr. Chetwood for him, if my lord be gone for Ireland; of which pray send me word.

Your opinion of the Miscellanies is likewise mine I will for once lay by the Religio Laici till another time. But I must also add, that since we are to have nothing but new, I am resolved we will have nothing but good, whomever we may disoblige. You will have of mine four odes of Horace, which I have already translated; another small translation of forty lines from Lucretius; the whole story of Nisus and Euryalus, both in the fifth and ninth of Virgil's Eneids and I care not who translates them beside me; for let him be friend or foe, I will please myself, and not give off in consideration of any man. There will be forty lines more of Virgil in another place, to answer those of Lucretius I mean those very lines which Montague has compared in those two poets; and Homer shall sleep on for me,-I will not now meddle with him. And for the act which remains of the opera, I believe I shall have no leisure to

mind it, after I have done what I proposed: for my business here is to unweary myself, after my studies, not to drudge.

I am very glad you have paid Mr. Jones, because he has carried himself so gentlemanlike to me; and, if ever it lies in my power, I will requite it. I desire to know whether the Duke's House are making clothes and putting things in readiness for the singing opera, to be played immediately after Michaelmas. For the actors

in the two plays which are to be acted of mine this winter, I had spoken with Mr. Betterton by chance at the coffeehouse the afternoon before I came away; and I believe that the persons were all agreed on, to be just the same as you mentioned; Octavia was to be Mrs. Butler, in case Mrs. Cooke went not on the stage and I know not whether Mrs. Percival, who is a comedian, will do well for Benzayda.

I came hither for health, and had a kind of hectic fever for a fortnight of the time: I am now much better. Poor Jack is not yet recovered of an intermitting fever, of which this is the twelfth day; but he mends, and now begins to eat flesh to add to this, my man, with overcare of him, is fallen ill too, of the same distemper ; so that I am deep in doctors, 'pothecaries, and nurses: but though many in this country fall sick of fevers, few or none die. Your friend, Charles, continues well. If you have any extraordinary news, I should be glad to hear it. I will answer Mr. Butler's letter next week; for it requires no haste. I am yours,

JOHN DRYDEN.

JOHN DRYDEN TO JACOB TONSON.

MR. TONSON, August 30 [1693]. I AM much ashamed of myself, that I am so much behind with you in kindness. Above all things I am sensible of your good nature, in bearing me company to this place, wherein, besides the cost, you must needs neglect your own business; but I will endeavour to make you some amends; and therefore I desire you to command me something for your service. I am sure you thought my Lord Radcliffe * would have done something: I guessed more truly that he could not; but I was too far engaged to desist; though I was tempted to it, by the melancholic prospect I had of it. I have translated six hundred lines of Ovid; but I believe I shall not compass his seven hundred and seventy-two lines under nine hundred more of mine. This time I cannot write to my wife, because he who is to carry my letter to Oundle, will not stay till I can write another. Pray, sir, let her know that I am well; and for fear the few damsons should be all gone, desire her to buy me a sieve full, to preserve whole, and not in mash.

I intend to come up at least a week before Michaelmas; for Sir Matthew is gone abroad, I suspect a wooing, and his caleche is gone with him: so that I have been but thrice at Tichmarsh, of which you were with me once. disappointment makes the place wearisome to me, which otherwise would be pleasant.

* To whom the third Miscellany is dedicated.

This

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by which a lover declares his passion. This last at first confesses esteem, yet owns no passion but admiration. But as soon as he is animated by one kind expression, his look, his style, and his very soul are altered. But as sovereign beauties know very well, that he who confesses he esteems and admires them, implies that he loves them, or is inclined to love them; a person of Mr. Dryden's exalted genius can discern very well, that when we esteem him highly, 'tis respect restrains us if we say no more. For where great esteem is without affection, 'tis often attended with envy, if not with hate; which passions detract even when they commend, and silence is their highest panegyric. 'Tis indeed impossible, that I should refuse to love a man who has so often given me all the pleasure that the most insatiable mind can desire: when at any time I have been dejected by disappointments, or tormented by cruel passions, the recourse to your verses has calmed my soul, or raised it to transports which made it contemn tranquillity. But though you have so often given me all the pleasure I was able to bear, I have reason to complain of you on this account, that you have confined my delight to a narrow compass. Suckling, Cowley, and Denham, who formerly ravished me in every part of them, now appear tasteless to me in most; and Waller himself, with all his gallantry, and all that admirable art of his turns, appears three quarters prose to me. Thus 'tis plain, that your Muse has done me an injury; but she has made me amends for it. For she is like those 'extraordinary women, who, besides the regularity of

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