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I have written more than I needed to you on this subject; for I dare say you justify me to yourself. As for that which I first intended for the principal subject of this letter, which is my friend's passion and design of marriage, on better consideration I have changed my mind: for having had the honour to see my dear friend Wycherly's letter to him on that occasion, I find nothing to be added or amended. But as well as I love Mr. Wycherly, I confess I love myself so well that I will not show how much I am inferior to him in wit and judgment, by undertaking any thing after him. There is Moses and the Prophets in his council. Jupiter and Juno, as the poets tell us, made Tiresias their umpire in a merry dispute, which fell out in heaven betwixt them. Tiresias, you know, had been of both sexes, and therefore was a proper judge; our friend Mr. Wycherly is full as competent an arbitrator: he has been a batchelor, and married man, and is now a widower. Virgil says of Ceneus:—

Nunc vir, nunc fœmina, Ceneus,

Rursus et in veterem fato revoluta figuram.

Yet I suppose he will not give any large commendations to his middle state; nor, as the sailor said, will be fond after a shipwreck to put to sea again. If my friend will adventure after this, I can but wish him a good wind, as being his, and, my dear Mr. Dennis, your most affectionate and most faithful servant,

JOHN DRYDEN.

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countess of Macclesfield gave her money to Will. Plowden before Christmas; but he remembered it not, and paid it not in. Mr. Aston tells me my Lord Derby expects but one book. I find my Lord Chesterfield and my Lord Petre are both left out; but my Lady Macclesfield must have a place, if I can possibly: and Will. Plowden shall pay you in three guineas, if I can obtain so much favour from you: I desire neither excuses nor reasons from you; for I am but too well satisfied already. The notes and prefaces shall be short; because, you shall get the more by saving paper.

JOHN DRYDEN TO JACOB TONSON.

SIR, Friday forenoon. [Feb. 1695-6?] I RECEIVED your letter very kindly, because indeed I expected none; but thought you as very a tradesman as Bentley, who has cursed our Virgil so heartily. I shall lose enough by your bill upon Mr. Knight; for after having taken it all in silver, and not in half crowns neither, but shillings and sixpences, none of the money will go; for which reason I have sent it all back again, and as the less loss will receive it in guineas at twenty-nine shillings each. 'Tis troublesome to be a loser, but it was my own fault to accept it this way, which I did to avoid more trouble.

I am not sorry that you will not allow any thing towards the notes; for to make them good * Richard Bentley, a bookseller and printer. VOL. V.

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silver by me, I desire my Lord Derby's money, deducting your own. And let it be good, if you desire to oblige me, who am not your enemy, and may be your friend,

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