dicted them: I hope at the same to recover more health, according to my age. Remember me to poor Harry, whose prayers I earnestly desire. My Virgil succeeds in the world beyond its desert or my expectation. You know the profits might have been more; but neither my conscience nor my honour would suffer me to take them but I can never repent of my constancy, since I am thoroughly persuaded of the justice of the cause for which I suffer. It has pleased God to raise up many friends to me amongst my enemies, though they who ought to have been my friends are negligent of me. I am called to dinner, and cannot go on with this letter, which I desire you to excuse, and am your most affectionate father, JOHN DRYDEN. JOHN DRYDEN TO JACOB TONSON. [Dec. 1697.] MR. TONSON, You were no sooner gone, but I felt in my pocket, and found my Lady Chudleigh's verses; which this afternoon I gave Mr. Walsh to read in the Coffeehouse. His opinion is the same with mine, that they are better than any which are printed before the book: so thinks also Mr. Wycherly. I have them by me; but do not send them, till I hear from my Lord Clifford, whether my lady will put her name to them or not: therefore I desire they may be printed last of all the copies, and of all the book. I have also written this day to Mr. Chetwood, and let him know that the book is immediately going to the press again. the surgeon's answer, my letter to my son. greatest consequence in the world: for you know how I love Charles, and therefore I write to you with all the earnestness of a father, that you will procure Mr. Francia to enclose it in his packet this week for a week lost may be my son's ruin; whom I intend to send for next summer, without his brother, as I have written him word: and if it please God that I must die of over study, I cannot spend my life better than in saving his. I value not any price for a double letter let me know it, and it shall be paid for I dare not trust it by the post: being satisfied by experience, that Ferrand will do by this as he did by two letters which I sent my sons, about my dedicating to the king of which they received neither. If you cannot go yourself, then send a note to Signior Francia, as earnestly as you can write it, to beg that it may go this day, I mean Friday. I need not tell you how much herein you will oblige your friend and servant, which I have enclosed in This is a business of the : J. D. JOHN DRYDEN TO MRS. STEWARD. MADAM, Nov. 23, 1698. To take acknowledgments of favours for favours done you, is only yours. I am always on the receiving hand; and you who have been pleased to be troubled so long with my bad company, instead of forgiving, which is all I could expect, will turn it to a kindness on my side. If your |