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not; those fine creatures, as your author, Count Gabalis, assures us, have a mind to be christened, and since you do me the favour to desire a name from me, take that of Corinna, if you please; I mean not the lady with whom Ovid was in love, but the famous Theban poetress, who overcame Pindar five times, as historians tell us. I would have called you Sappho, but that I hear you are handsomer. Since you find I am not altogether a stranger to you, be pleased to make me happier, by a better knowledge of you; and instead of so many unjust praises which you give me, think me only worthy of being, madam, your most humble servant and admirer,

JOHN DRYDEN.

JOHN DRYDEN TO MRS. ELIZABETH

THOMAS, JUN.

[Nov. 1699. MADAM, THE great desire which I observe in you to write well, and those good parts which God Almighty and Nature have bestowed on you, make me not to doubt, that by application to study, and the reading of the best authors, you may be absolute mistress of poetry. 'Tis an unprofitable art to those who profess it; but you, who write only for your diversion, may pass your hours with pleasure in it, and without prejudice; always avoiding (as I know you will) the licence which Mrs. Behn* allowed herself, of writing loosely,

* Mrs. Thomas had mentioned, in her letter to Dryden, that in her verses she had made Mrs. Behn her model. She meant, she says, to imitate only her numbers.

and giving, if I may have leave to say so, some scandal to the modesty of her sex. I confess I am the last man who ought, in justice, to arraign her, who have been myself too much a libertine in most of my poems; which I should be well contented I had time either to purge, or to see them fairly burned. But this I need not say to you, who are too well born, and too well principled, to fall into that mire.

In the mean time, I would advise you not to trust too much to Virgil's Pastorals; for as excellent as they are, yet Theocritus is far before him, both in softness of thought, and simplicity of expression. Mr. Creech has translated that Greek poet, which I have not read in English. If you have any considerable faults, they consist chiefly in the choice of words, and the placing them so as to make the verse run smoothly; but I am at present so taken up with my own studies, that I have not leisure to descend to particulars; being, in the mean time, the fair Corinna's most humble and most faithful servant,

JOHN DRYDEN.

P. S. I keep your two copies, till you want

them, and are pleased to send for them.

JOHN DRYDEN TO MRS. STEWARD.

MADAM, Thursday, Dec. the 14th, 1699. WHEN I have either too much business, or want of health to write to you, I count my time is lost, or at least my conscience accuses me that I spend it ill. At this time my head is full of cares, and my body ill at ease. My book (the Fables) is printing, and my bookseller makes no haste. I had last night at bed time an unwelcome fit of vomiting; and my son, Charles, lies sick upon his bed with the colic, which has been violent upon him for almost a week. With all this, I cannot but remember that you accused me of barbarity, I hope, in jest only, for mistaking one sheriff for another, which proceeded from my want of hearing well. I am heartily sorry that a chargeable office (the shrievalty) is fallen on my cousin Steward. But my cousin Dryden comforts me, that it must have come one time or other, like the small pox; and better have it young than old. I hope it will leave no great marks behind it, and that your fortune will no more feel it, than your beauty by the addition of a year's wearing. My cousin, your mother, was here yesterday, to see my wife, though I had not the happiness to be at home. Both the Iphigenias have been played with bad success; and being both acted against the other in the same week, clashed together, like two rotten ships which could not endure the shock, and sunk to rights. The king's proclamation against vice

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prorogue them for yesterday I heard that both he and the lords have given up the cause, and the house of commons have gained an entire victory; though, under the rose, I am of opinion that much of the confidence is abated on either side, and that whensoever they meet next, it will give that house a further occasion of encroaching on the prerogative and the lords; for they who bear the purse will rule. The parliament being risen, my cousin Dryden will immediately be with you, and, I believe, return his thanks in person. All this while I am lame at home, and have not stirred abroad this month at least. Neither my wife nor Charles are well, but have entrusted their service in my hand. I humbly add my own to the unwilling high sheriff, and wish him fairly at an end of his trouble.

The latter end of last week, I had the honour of a visit from my cousin, your mother, and my cousin Dorothy, with which I was much comforted. Within this month there will be played for my profit an old play of Fletcher's, called the Pilgrim, corrected by my good friend Mr. Vanbrugh; to which I have added a new Masque, and am to write a new prologue and epilogue. Southern's tragedy, The Revolt of Capua, will be played at Betterton's house within this fortnight. I am out with that company; and therefore, if I can help it, will not read it before 'tis acted, though the author much desires I should. Do not think I will refuse a present from fair hands, for I am resolved to save my bacon *. I

* See the letter dated Candlemas Day, 1698.

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