[_The
superscription
has not been preserved.
Dryden - Complete
Haveing no 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,
JOHN DRYDEN.
Let me heare from you as speedily as you can.
LETTER XVIII.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
May 26th, [1696. ]
Send word, if you please, Sir, what is the most you will give for my
sonn’s play, that I may take the fairest chapman, as I am bound to do
for his benefit; and if you have any silver which will go, my wife will
be glad of it. I lost thirty shillings or more by the last payment of
fifty pounds, w^ch you made at Mr Knights.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
Sir Ro: Howard[117] writt me word, that if I cou’d make any advantage
by being paid in clipp’d money, he woud change it in the Exchequer.
LETTER XIX.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, Thursday Morning, [f. Aug. 1696. ]
I had yesterday morning two watches sent me by Mr Tompion,[118] which I
am to send my sonnes this week. [119] I cou’d not persuade him to take
gold at any rate: but he will take a goldsmiths bill for two and twenty
pounds, which is their price. I desire you wou’d give him such a bill,
and abate it out of the next fifty pounds which you are to pay me when
Virgil is finish’d. Ten Eneids are finish’d, and the ninth and tenth
written out in my own hand. You may have them with the eight, which is
in a foul copy, when you please to call for them, and to bring those
which are transcrib’d. Mr Tompion’s man will be with me at four o’clock
in the afternoon, and bring the watches, and must be payd at sight. I
desire you therefore to procure a goldsmiths bill, and let me have it
before that houre, and send an answer by my boy.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XX.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
Wednesday afternoon.
MR TONSON, From the Coffee-house. Nov. 25th.
I have the remainder of my Northamptonshyre rents come up this weeke,
and desire the favour of you to receive them for me, from the carrier
of Tocester, who lodges at the Castle in Smithfield. I suppose it is
the same man from whom you lately receiv’d them for my wife. Any time
before ten o’clock to-morrow morning will serve the turne. If I were
not deeply ingaged in my studyes, which will be finish’d in a day or
two, I would not put you to this trouble. I have inclos’d my tenant’s
letter to me, for you to shew the carrier, and to testify the sum,
which is sixteen pounds and about tenn shillings; which the letter sets
down. Pray, Sir, give in an acquittance for so much receiv’d, as I
suppose you did last time.
I am,
Your very faithful Servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XXI.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
SIR, [f. Jan. 1696-7. ]
According to my promise, I have sent you all that is properly yours
of my translation. I desire, as you offer’d, that it should be
transcrib’d in a legible hand, and then sent back to me for the last
review. As for some notes on the margins, they are not every where, and
when they are, are imperfect; so that you ought not to transcribe them,
till I make them compleat. I feare you can scarcely make any thing
of my foul copy; but it is the best I have. You see, my hand fails
me, and therefore I write so short a letter. What I wrote yesterday
was too sharp; but I doubt it is all true. Your boy’s coming upon so
unseasonable a visit, as if you were frighted for yourself, discomposed
me.
Transcribe on very large paper, and leave a very large margin.
Send your boy for the foul copies, and he shall have them; for it will
not satisfy me to send them by my own servant.
I cannot yet find the first sheet of the first Eneid. If it be lost, I
will translate it over againe: but perhaps it may be amongst the loose
papers. The fourth and ninth Eclogues, which I have sent, are corrected
in my wife’s printed Miscellany. [120]
LETTER XXII.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, Tuesday Morning, July the 6th, 1697.
I desire you wou’d let Mr Pate[121] know, I can print no more names of
his subscribers than I have money for, before I print their names. He
has my acknowledgment of ten guineas receiv’d from him; and, as I told
you, I owe him for above three yards of fine cloath: let him reckon for
it; and then there will remain the rest for me, out of the ten more
names w^{ch} he has given in. If he has not money by him, let him blott
out as many of his names as he thinks good; and print onely those for
which he pays or strikes off, in adjusting the accounts betwixt me and
him. This is so reasonable on both sides, that he cannot refuse it; but
I wou’d have things ended now, because I am to deal with a draper, who
is of my own perswasion,[122] and to whom I have promis’d my custome.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
I have sent to my tailour, and he sends me word, that I had three yards
and half elle of cloath from Mr Pate: I desire he would make his price,
and deduct so much as it comes to, and make even for the rest with
ready money; as also, that he would send word what the name was, for
whom Sam Atkins left him to make account for.
LETTER XXIII.
TO HIS SONS AT ROME.
DEAR SONS, Sept. the 3d. our Style, [1697. ]
Being now at Sir William Bowyer’s,[123] in the country, I cannot write
at large, because I find my self somewhat indisposed with a cold, and
am thick of hearing, rather worse than I was in town. I am glad to
find, by your letter of July 26th, your style, that you are both in
health; but wonder you should think me so negligent as to forget to
give you an account of the ship in which your parcel is to come. I have
written to you two or three letters concerning it, which I have sent
by safe hands, as I told you; and doubt not but you have them before
this can arrive to you. Being out of town, I have forgotten the ship’s
name, which your mother will enquire, and put it into her letter, which
is joined with mine. But the master’s name I remember; he is called Mr
Ralph Thorp; the ship is bound to Leghorn, consigned to Mr Peter and Mr
Tho. Ball, merchants. I am of your opinion, that, by Tonson’s means,
almost all our letters have miscarried for this last year. [124] But,
however, he has missed of his design in the dedication, though he had
prepared the book for it;[125] for, in every figure of Æneas, he has
caused him to be drawn like King William, with a hooked nose. [126]
After my return to town, I intend to alter a play of Sir Robert
Howard’s, written long since, and lately put by him into my hands: ’tis
called the “Conquest of China by the Tartars. ”[127] It will cost me six
weeks study, with the probable benefit of an hundred pounds. In the
mean time, I am writing a song for St Cecilia’s Feast, who, you know,
is the patroness of music. This is troublesome, and no way beneficial;
but I could not deny the stewards of the feast, who came in a body
to me to desire that kindness, one of them being Mr Bridgman, whose
parents are your mother’s friends. I hope to send you thirty guineas
between Michaelmass and Christmass, of which I will give you an account
when I come to town. I remember the counsel you give me in your letter;
but dissembling, though lawful in some cases, is not my talent; yet,
for your sake, I will struggle with the plain openness of my nature,
and keep in my just resentments against that degenerate order. [128] In
the mean time, I flatter not myself with any manner of hopes, but do
my duty, and suffer for God’s sake; being assured, beforehand, never
to be rewarded, though the times should alter. Towards the latter end
of this month, September, Charles will begin to recover his perfect
health, according to his nativity, which, casting it my self, I am sure
is true; and all things hitherto have happened accordingly to the very
time that I predicted them. I hope, at the same time, 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;[129]
but I never can 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.
_Superscribed_,
Al illustrissimo Sig^{re}.
Carlo Dryden,
Camariere d’Honore A. S. S.
Franca per Mantoua. In Roma.
_To this Letter, Lady Elizabeth Dryden subjoined, on the same paper,
the following Postscript:--_
My dear sons, I sent your letter emediately to your father, after I
had read it, as you will find by his. I have not room to say much,
having writ former letters to you, datted the 27 of August, your father
being then out of town; he writes me word--he is much at woon as to
his health, and his defnese is not wosce, but much as he was when he
was heare. He expresses a great desire to see my dear Charlles; and
trully I see noe reason why you should not both come together, to be a
comfort to woon another, and to us both, if the King of France includ
Ingland in the peace;[130] for you doe but gust make shift to live
wheare you are, and soe I hope you may doe heare; for I will leaf noe
ston unturn’d to help my belov’d sonns. If I cane, I will send this
letter by the same way it came;[131] that is, it was brought me from
woon Mr Galowway, who corresponds with Rozie; I payd woon and sixpence
for it, and do offer to pay him what he demandes, so that he would
take ceare the [packet] might come safe to your handes. I long tell I
heare my deare Charlles is better. I have only room to tell you the
names of the merchantes your parcell went in; you are to demmand them
of Mr Robert Ball and Thommas Ball in Lindovino in Livorno. You are
not to pay any charges for the box, for the port of London. If the
have demanded any of you, send word to me what it is; for otherwayes
wee shall pay twice for them; and this Mr Walkeson telles me, with his
service to you both. Farwell, my deare children: God Almighty keep you
in his protection, for that is the wishes and prayers of your most
affec: mother, that sends her blessinge to you all; not forgetting my
sonn Harry, whose prayers I desire for a comfortable meetinge. I hope I
may have some better thinges against you come, than what is sent you in
that box; there being nothing considurabell but my deare Jackes play,
who I desire in his next to me to give me a true account how my deare
sonn Charlles is head dus; for I cane be at noe rest tell I heare he is
better, or rather thourely well, which I dally pray for. [132]
LETTER XXIV.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, [f. Dec. 1697. ]
I thank you heartily for the sherry; it was, as you sayd, the best
of the kind I ever dranke. I have found the catalogue you desire, of
the subscribers’ names you left with me; and have sent them to you
inclosed. Remember, in the copy of verses for St Cecilia, to alter the
name of _Lais_, which is twice there, for _Thais_; those two ladyes
were contemporaryes, which causd that small mistake. I wish you coud
tell me how to send my sonns our Virgil, which you gave me; and should
be glad if you coud put me in a way of remitting thirty guineas to
Rome, which I woud pay heer, for my sonns to have the vallue there,
according as the exchange goes. Any time this fortnight will be soon
enough to send the money: the book, I know, will require a longer
space, because ships go not for Italy every day.
I am
Your humble servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
I hear Tom Brown is comeing out upon me. [133]
LETTER XXV.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, Wednesday, [f. Dec. 1697. ]
I have broken off my studies from the “Conquest of China,”[134] to
review Virgil, and bestowed nine entire days upon him. You may have
the printed copy you sent me to-morrow morning, if you will come for
it yourself; for the printer is a beast, and understands nothing I can
say to him of correcting the press. Dr Chetwood[135] claims my promise
of the Ode on St Cecilia’s Day, which I desire you to send to him
(according to the Parliament phrase) forthwith. My wife says you have
broken your promise about the picture, and desires it speedily; the
rest I will tell you when you come.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XXVI.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, [f. Dec. 1697. ]
You were no sooner gone, but I felt in my pocket, and found my Lady
Chudleigh’s[136] verses; which this afternoon I gave Mr Walsh to read
in the coffee-house. 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 heare 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 copyes, and
of all the book. I have also written this day to Mr Chetwood, and let
him know, that the book is immediately goeing to the press again. My
opinion is, that the printer shou’d begin with the first Pastoral, and
print on to the end of the Georgiques; or farther, if occasion be,
till Dr Chetwood corrects his preface,[137] which he writes me word is
printed very false. You cannot take too great care of the printing this
edition exactly after my amendments; for a fault of that nature will
disoblige me eternally.
I am glad to heare from all hands, that my Ode[138] is esteem’d the
best of all my poetry, by all the town: I thought so myself when I writ
it; but, being old, I mistrusted my own judgment. I hope it has done
you service, and will do more. You told me not, but the town says you
are printing Ovid _de Arte Amandi_. I know my translation[139] is very
uncorrect; but at the same time I know, nobody else can do it better,
with all their paines. If there be any loose papers left in the Virgil
I gave you this morning, look for them, and send them back by my man:
I miss not any yet; but ’tis possible some may be left, because I gave
you the book in a hurry. I vow to God, if Everingham takes not care of
this impression, he shall never print any thing of mine heerafter: for
I will write on, since I find I can.
I desire you to make sure of the three pounds of snuff, the same
of which I had one pound from you. When you send it any morning,
I will pay for it all together. But this is not the business of
this letter. --When you were heer, I intended to have sent an answer
to poor Charles his letter; but I had not then the letter which my
chirurgeon promis’d me, of his advice, to prevent a rupture, which he
fears. [140] Now I have the surgeon’s answer, which I have inclosed in
my letter to my sonn. This is a business of the 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[141] to inclose it in his packet this week: for a week lost
may be my sonn’s ruine; 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 dye of over-study, I cannot spend my life better, than in saving
his. I vallue not any price for a double letter; let me know it, and
it shall be payd; for I dare not trust it by the post: being satisfy’d
by experience, that Ferrand will do by this, as he did by two letters
which I sent my sonns, about my dedicating to the king;[142] 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 meane Friday. I need not tell you, how much herein you
will oblige
Your friend and servant,
J. D.
LETTER XXVII.
TO MRS STEWARD. [143]
MADAM, Saturday, Octob. 1st--98.
You have done me the honour to invite so often, that it would look
like want of respect to refuse it any longer. How can you be so good
to an old decrepid man, who can entertain you with no discours which
is worthy of your good sense, and who can onely be a trouble to you in
all the time he stays at Cotterstock. Yet I will obey your commands
as far as possibly I can, and give you the inconvenience you are
pleas’d to desire; at least for the few days which I can spare from
other necessary business, which requires me at Tichmarsh. Therefore,
if you please to send your coach on Tuesday next by eleven o’clock
in the morning, I hope to wait on you before dinner. There is onely
one more trouble, which I am almost ashamed to name. I am obliged to
visit my cousin, Dryden of Chesterton,[144] some time next week, who
is nine miles from hence, and only five from you. If it be with your
convenience to spare me your coach thether for a day, the rest of my
time till Monday is at your service; and I am sorry for my own sake it
cannot be any longer this year, because I have some visits after my
return hether, which I cannot avoyd. But if it please God to give me
life and health, I may give you occasion another time to repent of your
kindness, by makeing you weary of my company. My sonn kisses your hand.
Be pleas’d to give his humble service to my cousin Steward, and mine,
who am,
Madam,
Your most obedient oblig’d servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For my Honour’d Cousine,_
_Mrs Steward, att Cotterstock,_
_These_.
LETTER XXVIII.
TO ELMES STEWARD, ESQ.
MY HONOUR’D COUSIN, [Probably, Nov. 20. 1698. ]
I shou’d have received your letter with too much satisfaction, if
it had not been allay’d with the bad news of my cousin your wife’s
indisposition; which yet I hope will not continue. I am sure, if care
and love will contribute to her health, she will want neither from so
tender a husband as you are: and indeed you are both worthy of each
other. You have been pleased, each of you, to be kind to my sonn[145]
and me, your poor relations, without any merit on our side, unless you
will let our gratitude pass for our desert. And now you are pleas’d
to invite another trouble on your self, which our bad company may
possibly draw upon you next year, if I have life and health to come
into Northamptonshire; and that you will please not to make so much a
stranger of me another time. --I intend my wife shall tast the plover
you did me the favour to send me. If either your lady or you shall at
any time honour me with a letter, my house is in Gerard-street, the
fifth door on the left hand, comeing from Newport-street. I pray God
I may hear better news of both your healths, and of my good cousin
Creed’s,[146] and my cousin Dorothy,[147] than I have had while I was
in this country. I shall languish till you send me word; and I assure
you I write this without poetry, who am, from the bottome of my heart,
My honour’d cousin’s most obliged
Humble servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
My sonn and I kiss my cousin Steward’s hand; and give our service to
your sister, and pretty Miss Betty.
_For my Honour’d Cousin,_
_Elmes Steward, Esq. Att Cotterstock. _
LETTER XXIX.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Nov. 23d, 1698.
To take acknowledgments of favours for favours done you, is onely
yours. I am always on the receiving hand; and you, who have been
pleas’d to be troubled so long with my bad company, in stead of
forgiveing, which is all I could expect, will turn it to a kindness on
my side. If your house be often so molested, you will have reason to
be weary of it, before the ending of the year: and wish Cotterstock
were planted in a desart, an hundred miles off from any poet. --After I
had lost the happiness of your company, I could expect no other than
the loss of my health, which followed, according to the proverb, that
misfortunes seldome come alone. I had no woman to visite[148] but
the parson’s wife; and she, who was intended by nature as a help meet
for a deaf husband, was somewhat of the loudest for my conversation;
and for other things, I will say no more then that she is just your
contrary, and an epitome of her own country. My journey to London was
yet more unpleasant than my abode at Tichmarsh; for the coach was
crowded up with an old woman fatter than any of my hostesses on the
rode. Her weight made the horses travel very heavily; but, to give them
a breathing time, she would often stop us, and plead some necessity of
nature, and tell us, we were all flesh and blood: but she did this so
frequently, that at last we conspir’d against her; and that she might
not be inconvenienc’d by staying in the coach, turn’d her out in a very
dirty place, where she was to wade up to the ankles, before she cou’d
reach the next hedge. When I was ridd of her, I came sick home, and
kept my house for three weeks together; but, by advice of my doctour,
takeing twice the bitter draught, with sena in it, and looseing at
least twelve ounces of blood, by cupping on my neck, I am just well
enough to go abroad in the afternoon; but am much afflicted that I have
you a companion of my sickness: though I ’scap’d with one cold fit of
an ague, and yours, I feare, is an intermitting feavour. Since I heard
nothing of your father, whom I left ill, I hope he is recover’d of his
reall sickness, and that your sister is well of hers, which was onely
in imagination. My wife and sonn return you their most humble service,
and I give mine to my cousin Steward. --Madam,
Your most obliged and
most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
[_The superscription has not been preserved. _]
LETTER XXX.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Dec. 12th, --98.
All my letters being nothing but acknowledgements of your favours to
me, ’tis no wonder if they are all alike: for they can but express
the same thing, I being eternally the receiver, and you the giver. I
wish it were in my power to turn the skale on the other hand, that I
might see how you, who have so excellent a wit, cou’d thank on your
side. Not to name my self or my wife, my sonn Charles is the great
commender of your last receiv’d present; who being of late somewhat
indispos’d, uses to send for some of the same sort, which we call heer
marrow-puddings, for his suppers; but the tast of yours has so spoyl’d
his markets heer, that there is not the least comparison betwixt
them. You are not of an age to be a Sybill, and yet I think you are
a prophetess; for the direction on your basket was for him; and he
is likely to enjoy the greatest part of them: for I always think the
young are more worthy than the old; especially since you are one of the
former sort, and that he mends upon your medicine. --I am very glad to
hear my cousin, your father, is comeing or come to town; perhaps this
ayr may be as beneficiall to him as it has been to me: but you tell me
nothing of your own health, and I fear Cotterstock is too agueish for
this season. --My wife and sonn give you their most humble thanks and
service; as I do mine to my cousin Steward; and am, Madam,
Your most oblig’d obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Steward_,
_Att Cotterstock, near Oundle,_
_in the county of Northampton, These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXI.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Candlemas-Day, 1698[-9. ]
Old men are not so insensible of beauty, as it may be, you young
ladies think. For my own part, I must needs acknowledge, that your
fair eyes had made me your slave before I received your fine presents.
Your letter puts me out of doubt that they have lost nothing of their
luster, because it was written with your own hand; and not heareing
of a feavour or an ague, I will please my self with the thoughts that
they have wholly left you. I wou’d also flatter my self with the hopes
of waiting on you at Cotterstock some time next summer; but my want of
health may perhaps hinder me. But if I am well enough to travell as
farr northward as Northamptonshyre, you are sure of a guest, who has
been too well us’d not to trouble you again.
My sonn, of whom you have done me the favour to enquire, mends of his
indisposition very slowly; the ayr of England not agreeing with him
hetherto so well as that of Italy. The Bath is propos’d by the doctors,
both to him and me: but we have not yet resolved absolutely on that
journey; for that city is so close and so ill situated, that perhaps
the ayr may do us more harm than the waters can do us good: for which
reason we intend to try them heer first; and if we find not the good
effect which is promis’d of them, we will save our selves the pains of
goeing thether. In the mean time, betwixt my intervals of physique, and
other remedies which I am using for my gravel, I am still drudgeing
on: always a poet, and never a good one. I pass my time sometimes with
Ovid, and sometimes with our old English poet Chaucer; translating
such stories as best please my fancy; and intend, besides them, to add
somewhat of my own; so that it is not impossible, but ere the summer
be pass’d, I may come down to you with a volume in my hand, like a dog
out of the water, with a duck in his mouth. As for the rarities you
promise, if beggars might be choosers, a part of a chine of honest
bacon wou’d please my appetite more than all the marrow puddings; for I
like them better plain; having a very vulgar stomach. My wife, and your
cousin, Charles, give you their most humble service, and thanks for
your remembrance of them. I present my own to my worthy cousin, your
husband, and am, with all respect,
Madam,
Your most obliged servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For_
_Mrs Stewart, att Cotterstock_
_near Oundle, in Northamptonshyre,_
_These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Thursday, Feb. 9th. --98[-9. ]
For this time I must follow a bad example, and send you a shorter
letter than your short one: you were hinder’d by dancers, and I am
forc’d to dance attendance all this afternoon after a troublesome
business, so soon as I have written this, and seal’d it. Onely I can
assure you, that your father and mother, and all your relations, are
in health, or were yesterday, when I sent to enquire of their welfare.
On Tuesday night we had a violent wind, which blew down three of my
chimneys, and dismantled all one side of my house, by throwing down
the tiles. My neighbours, and indeed all the town, suffer’d more or
less; and some were kill’d. The great trees in St James’s Park are many
of them torn up from the roots; as they were before Oliver Cromwell’s
death,[149] and the late queen’s: but your father had no damage. I sent
my man for the present you designed me; but he return’d empty-handed;
for there was no such man as _Carter_ a carrier, inning at the Bear
and Ragged Staff in Smithfield, nor any one there ever heard of such
a person; by which I guess that some body has deceived you with a
counterfeited name. Yet my, obligations are the same; and the favour
shall be always own’d by,
Madam,
Your most humble servant,
and kinsman,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stewart_,
_Att Cotterstock neare Oundle_, &c.
LETTER XXXIII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, March the 4th, 1698[-9. ]
I have reason to be pleas’d with writeing to you, because you are
daily giveing me occasions to be pleas’d. The present which you made
me this week, I have receiv’d; and it will be part of the treat I am
to make to three of my friends about Tuesday next: my cousin Driden,
of Chesterton, having been also pleas’d to add to it a turkey hen with
eggs, and a good young goose; besides a very kind letter, and the news
of his own good health, which I vallue more than all the rest; he
being so noble a benefactor to a poor and so undeserving a kinsman,
and one of another persuasion in matters of religion. Your enquiry of
his welfare, and sending also mine, have at once oblig’d both him and
me. I hope my good cousin Stewart will often visite him, especially
before hunting goes out,[150] to be a comfort to him in his sorrow
for the loss of his deare brother,[151] who was a most extraordinary
well-natur’d man, and much my friend. Exercise, I know, is my cousin
Driden’s life, and the oftner he goes out will be the better for his
health. We poor Catholics daily expect a most severe proclamation to
come out against us;[152] and at the same time are satisfyed that the
king is very unwilling to persecute us, considering us to be but an
handfull, and those disarmed; but the archbishop of Canterbury is our
heavy enemy, and heavy indeed he is in all respects. [153]
This day was played a revived comedy of Mr Congreve’s, called “The
Double Dealer,” which was never very takeing. In the play-bill was
printed--“Written by Mr Congreve; with severall expressions omitted. ”
What kind of expressions those were, you may easily ghess, if you
have seen the Monday’s Gazette, wherein is the king’s order for the
reformation of the stage:[154] but the printing an author’s name in a
play-bill is a new manner of proceeding, at least in England. When
any papers of verses in manuscript, which are worth your reading,
come abroad, you shall be sure of them; because, being a poetess
yourself, you like those entertainments. I am still drudging at a book
of Miscellanyes,[155] which I hope will be well enough; if otherwise,
threescore and seven may be pardon’d. --Charles is not yet so well
recover’d as I wish him; but I may say, without vanity, that his
virtue and sobriety have made him much belov’d in all companies. Both
he and his mother give you their most humble acknowledgments of your
rememb’ring them. Be pleas’d to give mine to my cousin Stewart, who am
both his and your
Most obliged obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
You may see I was in hast, by writing on the wrong side of the paper.
_For Mrs Steward, etc. ut supra. _
LETTER XXXIV.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Tuesday, July the 11th, [1699. ]
As I cannot accuse myself to have receiv’d any letters from you without
answer, so, on the other side, I am oblig’d to believe it, because
you say it. ’Tis true, I have had so many fitts of sickness, and so
much other unpleasant business, that I may possibly have receiv’d
those favours, and deferr’d my acknowledgment till I forgot to thank
you for them. However it be, I cannot but confess, that never was any
unanswering man so civilly reproach’d by a fair lady. I presum’d to
send you word by your sisters[156] of the trouble I intended you this
summer; and added a petition, that you would please to order some small
beer to be brew’d for me without hops, or with a very inconsiderable
quantity; because I lost my health last year by drinking bitter beer
at Tichmarsh. It may perhaps be sour, but I like it not the worse, if
it be small enough. What els I have to request, is onely the favour of
your coach, to meet me at Oundle, and to convey me to you: of which I
shall not fail to give you timely notice. My humble service attends my
cousin Stewart and your relations at Oundle. My wife and sonn desire
the same favour; and I am particularly,
Madam,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stewart, etc. _
LETTER XXXV.
TO SAMUEL PEPYS, ESQ. [157]
PADRON MIO, July the 14th, 1699.
I remember, last year, when I had the honour of dineing with you, you
were pleased to recommend to me the character of Chaucer’s “Good
Parson. ” Any desire of yours is a command to me; and accordingly I
have put it into my English, with such additions and alterations as
I thought fit. Having translated as many Fables from Ovid, and as
many Novills from Boccace and Tales from Chaucer, as will make an
indifferent large volume in folio, I intend them for the press in
Michaelmas term next. In the mean time, my Parson desires the favour
of being known to you, and promises, if you find any fault in his
character, he will reform it. Whenever you please, he shall wait on
you, and for the safer conveyance, I will carry him in my pocket; who am
My _Padrons_ most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Samuel Pepys, Esq.
Att his house in York-street, These. _
LETTER XXXVI.
ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING BY MR PEPYS.
SIR, Friday, July 14, 1699.
You truly have obliged mee; and possibly, in saying so, I am more in
earnest then you can readily think; as verily hopeing, from this your
copy of one “Good Parson,” to fancy some amends made mee for the hourly
offence I beare with from the sight of so many lewd originalls.
I shall with great pleasure attend you on this occasion, when ere you’l
permit it; unless you would have the kindness to double it to mee, by
suffering my coach to wayte on you (and who you can gayne mee y^e same
favour from) hither, to a cold chicken and a sallade, any noone after
Sunday, as being just stepping into the ayre for 2 days.
I am, most respectfully,
Your hono^{rd} and obed^{nt} servant,
S. P.
LETTER XXXVII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Saturday, Aug. 5th, 1699.
This is only a word, to threaten you with a troublesome guest, next
week: I have taken places for my self and my sonn in the Oundle coach,
which sets out on Thursday next the tenth of this present August; and
hope to wait on a fair lady at Cotterstock on Friday the eleventh. If
you please to let your coach come to Oundle, I shall save my cousin
Creed the trouble of hers. All heer are your most humble servants, and
particularly an old cripple, who calls him self
Your most obliged kinsman,
And admirer,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stewart, Att_
_Cotterstock, near Oundle,_
_in Northamptonshire. These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXVIII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Sept. 28th, 1699.
Your goodness to me will make you sollicitous of my welfare since I
left Cotterstock. My journey has in general been as happy as it cou’d
be, without the satisfaction and honour of your company. ’Tis true,
the master of the stage-coach has not been over civill to me: for he
turned us out of the road at the first step, and made us go to Pilton;
there we took in a fair young lady of eighteen, and her brother, a
young gentleman; they are related to the Treshams, but not of that
name: thence we drove to Higham, where we had an old serving-woman,
and a young fine mayd: we din’d at Bletso, and lay at Silso, six
miles beyond Bedford. There we put out the old woman, and took in
Councellour Jennings his daughter; her father goeing along in the
Kittering coach, or rideing by it, with other company. We all din’d
at Hatfield together, and came to town safe at seaven in the evening.
We had a young doctour, who rode by our coach, and seem’d to have a
smickering[158] to our youg lady of Pilton, and ever rode before to get
dinner in a readiness. My sonn, Charles, knew him formerly a Jacobite;
and now going over to Antigoo, with Colonel Codrington,[159] haveing
been formerly in the West Indies. --Which of our two young ladies was
the handsomer, I know not. My sonn liked the Councellour’s daughter
best: I thought they were both equal. But not goeing to Tichmarsh
Grove, and afterwards by Catworth, I missed my two couple of rabbets,
which my cousin, your father, had given me to carry with me, and cou’d
not see my sister by the way: I was likewise disappointed of Mr Cole’s
Ribadavia wine: but I am almost resolved to sue the stage coach, for
putting me six or seaven miles out of the way, which he cannot justify.
Be pleased to accept my acknowledgment of all your favours, and my
Cousin Stuart’s; and by employing my sonn and me in any thing you
desire to have done, give us occasion to take our revenge on our kind
relations both at Oundle and Cotterstock. Be pleas’d, your father,
your mother, your two fair sisters, and your brother,[160] may find my
sonn’s service and mine made acceptable to them by your delivery; and
believe me to be with all manner of gratitude, give me leave to add,
all manner of adoration,
Madam,
Your most obliged obedient Servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stuart, Att_
_Cotterstock near Oundle,_
_In Northamptonshire,_
_These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster
of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXIX.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES MONTAGUE. [161]
SIR, [Octob. 1699. ]
These verses[162] had waited on you with the former, but that they
wanted that correction which I have given them, that they may the
better endure the sight of so great a judge and poet. I am now in feare
that I purged them out of their spirit; as our Master Busby us’d to
whip a boy so long, till he made him a confirm’d blockhead. My Cousin
Driden saw them in the country; and the greatest exception he made to
them Avas a satire against the Dutch valour in the last war. He desir’d
me to omit it, (to use his own words) “out of the respect he had to his
Sovereign. ” I obeyed his commands, and left onely the praises, which I
think are due to the gallantry of my own countrymen. In the description
which I have made of a Parliament-man,[163] I think I have not only
drawn the features of my worthy kinsman, but have also given my own
opinion of what an Englishman in Parliament ought to be; and deliver it
as a memorial of my own principles to all posterity. I have consulted
the judgment of my unbyass’d friends, who have some of them the honour
to be known to you: and they think there is nothing which can justly
give offence in that part of the poem. I say not this to cast a blind
on your judgment, (which I could not do, if I endeavoured it,) but
to assure you, that nothing relateing to the publique shall stand
without your permission; for it were to want common sence to desire
your patronage, and resolve to disoblige you. And as I will not hazard
my hopes of your protection, by refusing to obey you in any thing which
I can perform with my conscience or my honour, so I am very confident
you will never impose any other terms on me. My thoughts at present are
fix’d on Homer; and by my translation of the first Iliad, I find him
a poet more according to my genius than Virgil, and consequently hope
I may do him more justice in his fiery way of writeing; which, as it
is liable to more faults, so it is capable of more beauties, than the
exactness and sobriety of Virgil. Since ’tis for my country’s honour,
as well as for my own, that I am willing to undertake this task, I
despair not of being encourag’d in it by your favour, who am
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XL.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Nov. 7th, [1699. ]
Even your expostulations are pleasing to me; for though they shew you
angry, yet they are not without many expressions of your kindness; and
therefore I am proud to be so chidden. Yet I cannot so farr abandon my
own defence, as to confess any idleness or forgetfulness on my part.
What has hind’red me from writeing to you, was neither ill health,
nor, a worse thing, ingratitude; but a flood of little businesses,
which yet are necessary to my subsistance, and of which I hop’d to
have given you a good account before this time: but the court rather
speaks kindly of me, than does any thing for me, though they promise
largely; and perhaps they think I will advance as they go backward, in
which they will be much deceiv’d; for I can never go an inch beyond my
conscience and my honour. [164] If they will consider me as a man who
has done my best to improve the language, and especially the poetry,
and will be content with my acquiescence under the present government,
and forbearing satire on it, that I can promise, because I can perform
it; but I can neither take the oaths, nor forsake my religion; because
I know not what church to go to, if I leave the Catholique; they are
all so divided amongst them selves in matters of faith necessary to
salvation, and, yet all assumeing the name of Protestants. May God be
pleas’d to open your eyes, as he has open’d mine! Truth is but one; and
they who have once heard of it, can plead no excuse, if they do not
embrace it. But these are things too serious for a trifling letter.
If you desire to hear any thing more of my affairs, the Earl of
Dorsett, and your cousin Montague, have both seen the two poems, to the
Duchess of Ormond, and my worthy cousin Driden; and are of opinion,
that I never writt better. My other friends are divided in their
judgments, which to preferr; but the greater part are for those to my
dear kinsman; which I have corrected with so much care, that they will
now be worthy of his sight, and do neither of us any dishonour after
our death.
There is this day to be acted a new tragedy, made by Mr Hopkins,[165]
and, as I believe, in rhime. He has formerly written a play in verse,
call’d “Boadicea,” which you fair ladyes lik’d; and is a poet who
writes good verses without knowing how or why; I mean, he writes
naturally well, without art, or learning, or good sence. Congreve is
ill of the gout at Barnet Wells. I have had the honour of a visite from
the Earl of Dorsett, and din’d with him. --Matters in Scotland are in a
high ferment,[166] and next door to a breach betwixt the two nations;
but they say from court, that France and we are hand and glove. ’Tis
thought, the king will endeavour to keep up a standing army, and make
the stirr in Scotland his pretence for it; my cousin Driden,[167] and
the country party, I suppose, will be against it; for when a spirit is
rais’d, ’tis hard conjuring him down again. --You see I am dull by my
writeing news; but it may be my cousin Creed[168] may be glad to hear
what I believe is true, though not very pleasing. I hope he recovers
health in the country, by his staying so long in it. My service to my
cousin Stuart, and all at Oundle. I am, faire Cousine,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stuart, Att_
_Cotterstock, near Oundle,_
_In Northamptonshyre,_
_These. _
_To be left at the Posthouse
in Oundle. _
LETTER XLI
TO MRS ELIZABETH THOMAS, JUN. [169]
MADAM, Nov. 12, 1699.
The letter you were pleas’d to direct for me, to be left at the
coffee-house last summer, was a great honour; and your verses[170]
were, I thought, too good to be a woman’s; some of my friends, to whom
I read them, were of the same opinion. ’Tis not over-gallant, I must
confess, to say this of the fair sex; but most certain it is, that they
generally write with more softness than strength. On the contrary, you
want neither vigour in your thoughts, nor force in your expressions,
nor harmony in your numbers; and methinks I find much of Orinda[171]
in your manner; to whom I had the honour to be related, and also to
be known. But I continued not a day in the ignorance of the person to
whom I was oblig’d; for, if you remember, you brought the verses to a
bookseller’s shop, and enquir’d there, how they might be sent to me.
There happen’d to be in the same shop a gentleman, who heareing you
speak of me, and seeing a paper in your hand, imagin’d it was a libel
against me, and had you watch’d by his servant, till he knew both your
name, and where you liv’d, of which he sent me word immediately. Though
I have lost his letter, yet I remember you live some where about St
Giles’s,[172] and are an only daughter. You must have pass’d your time
in reading much better books than mine; or otherwise you cou’d not have
arriv’d to so much knowledge as I find you have. But whether Sylph or
Nymph, I know not: those fine creatures, as your author, Count Gabalis,
assures us,[173] have a mind to be christen’d, 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
poetess, who overcame Pindar five times, as historians tell us. I
would have call’d you Sapho, but that I hear you are handsomer. Since
you find I am not altogether a stranger to you, be pleas’d to make me
happier by a better knowledge of you; and in stead of so many unjust
praises which you give me, think me only worthy of being,
Madam,
Your most humble servant,
and admirer,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XLII.
TO MRS ELIZABETH THOMAS, JUN. [174]
MADAM, [Nov. 1699. ]
The great desire which I observe in you to write well, and those
good parts which God Almighty and nature have bestow’d 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[175] allow’d her self, of writeing loosely, and giveing, if
I may have leave to say so, some scandall to the modesty of her sex.
I confess, I am the last man who ought, in justice, to arraign her,
who have been my self too much a libertine in most of my poems; which
I shou’d be well contented I had time either to purge, or to see them
fairly burn’d. 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 placeing 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[176] till you want them, and are pleas’d to
send for them.
LETTER XLIII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
Saturday, Nov. 26, [1699. ]
After a long expectation, Madam, at length your happy letter came
to your servant, who almost despair’d of it. The onely comfort I
had, was, my hopes of seeing you, and that you defer’d writeing,
because you wou’d surprise me with your presence, and beare your
relations company to town. --Your neighbour, Mr Price, has given me an
apprehension, that my cousin, your father, is in some danger of being
made sheriff the following yeare; but I hope ’tis a jealousy without
ground, and that the warm season only keeps him in the country. --If
you come up next week, you will be entertain’d with a new tragedy,
which the author of it, one Mr Dennis, cries up at an excessive rate;
and Colonel Codrington, who has seen it, prepares the world to give it
loud applauses. ’Tis called “Iphigenia,” and imitated from Euripides,
an old Greek poet. [177] This is to be acted at Betterton’s house; and
another play of the same name is very shortly to come on the stage
in Drury-Lane. --I was lately to visite the Duchess of Norfolk;[178]
and she speaks of you with much affection and respect. Your cousin
Montague,[179] after the present session of parliament, will be created
Earl of Bristoll. [180] and I hope is much my friend: but I doubt I am
in no condition of having a kindness done, having the Chancellour[181]
my enemy; and not being capable of renounceing the cause for which I
have so long suffer’d,--My cousin Driden of Chesterton is in town, and
lodges with my brother in Westminster. [182] My sonn has seen him, and
was very kindly received by him.
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,
JOHN DRYDEN.
Let me heare from you as speedily as you can.
LETTER XVIII.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
May 26th, [1696. ]
Send word, if you please, Sir, what is the most you will give for my
sonn’s play, that I may take the fairest chapman, as I am bound to do
for his benefit; and if you have any silver which will go, my wife will
be glad of it. I lost thirty shillings or more by the last payment of
fifty pounds, w^ch you made at Mr Knights.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
Sir Ro: Howard[117] writt me word, that if I cou’d make any advantage
by being paid in clipp’d money, he woud change it in the Exchequer.
LETTER XIX.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, Thursday Morning, [f. Aug. 1696. ]
I had yesterday morning two watches sent me by Mr Tompion,[118] which I
am to send my sonnes this week. [119] I cou’d not persuade him to take
gold at any rate: but he will take a goldsmiths bill for two and twenty
pounds, which is their price. I desire you wou’d give him such a bill,
and abate it out of the next fifty pounds which you are to pay me when
Virgil is finish’d. Ten Eneids are finish’d, and the ninth and tenth
written out in my own hand. You may have them with the eight, which is
in a foul copy, when you please to call for them, and to bring those
which are transcrib’d. Mr Tompion’s man will be with me at four o’clock
in the afternoon, and bring the watches, and must be payd at sight. I
desire you therefore to procure a goldsmiths bill, and let me have it
before that houre, and send an answer by my boy.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XX.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
Wednesday afternoon.
MR TONSON, From the Coffee-house. Nov. 25th.
I have the remainder of my Northamptonshyre rents come up this weeke,
and desire the favour of you to receive them for me, from the carrier
of Tocester, who lodges at the Castle in Smithfield. I suppose it is
the same man from whom you lately receiv’d them for my wife. Any time
before ten o’clock to-morrow morning will serve the turne. If I were
not deeply ingaged in my studyes, which will be finish’d in a day or
two, I would not put you to this trouble. I have inclos’d my tenant’s
letter to me, for you to shew the carrier, and to testify the sum,
which is sixteen pounds and about tenn shillings; which the letter sets
down. Pray, Sir, give in an acquittance for so much receiv’d, as I
suppose you did last time.
I am,
Your very faithful Servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XXI.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
SIR, [f. Jan. 1696-7. ]
According to my promise, I have sent you all that is properly yours
of my translation. I desire, as you offer’d, that it should be
transcrib’d in a legible hand, and then sent back to me for the last
review. As for some notes on the margins, they are not every where, and
when they are, are imperfect; so that you ought not to transcribe them,
till I make them compleat. I feare you can scarcely make any thing
of my foul copy; but it is the best I have. You see, my hand fails
me, and therefore I write so short a letter. What I wrote yesterday
was too sharp; but I doubt it is all true. Your boy’s coming upon so
unseasonable a visit, as if you were frighted for yourself, discomposed
me.
Transcribe on very large paper, and leave a very large margin.
Send your boy for the foul copies, and he shall have them; for it will
not satisfy me to send them by my own servant.
I cannot yet find the first sheet of the first Eneid. If it be lost, I
will translate it over againe: but perhaps it may be amongst the loose
papers. The fourth and ninth Eclogues, which I have sent, are corrected
in my wife’s printed Miscellany. [120]
LETTER XXII.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, Tuesday Morning, July the 6th, 1697.
I desire you wou’d let Mr Pate[121] know, I can print no more names of
his subscribers than I have money for, before I print their names. He
has my acknowledgment of ten guineas receiv’d from him; and, as I told
you, I owe him for above three yards of fine cloath: let him reckon for
it; and then there will remain the rest for me, out of the ten more
names w^{ch} he has given in. If he has not money by him, let him blott
out as many of his names as he thinks good; and print onely those for
which he pays or strikes off, in adjusting the accounts betwixt me and
him. This is so reasonable on both sides, that he cannot refuse it; but
I wou’d have things ended now, because I am to deal with a draper, who
is of my own perswasion,[122] and to whom I have promis’d my custome.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
I have sent to my tailour, and he sends me word, that I had three yards
and half elle of cloath from Mr Pate: I desire he would make his price,
and deduct so much as it comes to, and make even for the rest with
ready money; as also, that he would send word what the name was, for
whom Sam Atkins left him to make account for.
LETTER XXIII.
TO HIS SONS AT ROME.
DEAR SONS, Sept. the 3d. our Style, [1697. ]
Being now at Sir William Bowyer’s,[123] in the country, I cannot write
at large, because I find my self somewhat indisposed with a cold, and
am thick of hearing, rather worse than I was in town. I am glad to
find, by your letter of July 26th, your style, that you are both in
health; but wonder you should think me so negligent as to forget to
give you an account of the ship in which your parcel is to come. I have
written to you two or three letters concerning it, which I have sent
by safe hands, as I told you; and doubt not but you have them before
this can arrive to you. Being out of town, I have forgotten the ship’s
name, which your mother will enquire, and put it into her letter, which
is joined with mine. But the master’s name I remember; he is called Mr
Ralph Thorp; the ship is bound to Leghorn, consigned to Mr Peter and Mr
Tho. Ball, merchants. I am of your opinion, that, by Tonson’s means,
almost all our letters have miscarried for this last year. [124] But,
however, he has missed of his design in the dedication, though he had
prepared the book for it;[125] for, in every figure of Æneas, he has
caused him to be drawn like King William, with a hooked nose. [126]
After my return to town, I intend to alter a play of Sir Robert
Howard’s, written long since, and lately put by him into my hands: ’tis
called the “Conquest of China by the Tartars. ”[127] It will cost me six
weeks study, with the probable benefit of an hundred pounds. In the
mean time, I am writing a song for St Cecilia’s Feast, who, you know,
is the patroness of music. This is troublesome, and no way beneficial;
but I could not deny the stewards of the feast, who came in a body
to me to desire that kindness, one of them being Mr Bridgman, whose
parents are your mother’s friends. I hope to send you thirty guineas
between Michaelmass and Christmass, of which I will give you an account
when I come to town. I remember the counsel you give me in your letter;
but dissembling, though lawful in some cases, is not my talent; yet,
for your sake, I will struggle with the plain openness of my nature,
and keep in my just resentments against that degenerate order. [128] In
the mean time, I flatter not myself with any manner of hopes, but do
my duty, and suffer for God’s sake; being assured, beforehand, never
to be rewarded, though the times should alter. Towards the latter end
of this month, September, Charles will begin to recover his perfect
health, according to his nativity, which, casting it my self, I am sure
is true; and all things hitherto have happened accordingly to the very
time that I predicted them. I hope, at the same time, 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;[129]
but I never can 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.
_Superscribed_,
Al illustrissimo Sig^{re}.
Carlo Dryden,
Camariere d’Honore A. S. S.
Franca per Mantoua. In Roma.
_To this Letter, Lady Elizabeth Dryden subjoined, on the same paper,
the following Postscript:--_
My dear sons, I sent your letter emediately to your father, after I
had read it, as you will find by his. I have not room to say much,
having writ former letters to you, datted the 27 of August, your father
being then out of town; he writes me word--he is much at woon as to
his health, and his defnese is not wosce, but much as he was when he
was heare. He expresses a great desire to see my dear Charlles; and
trully I see noe reason why you should not both come together, to be a
comfort to woon another, and to us both, if the King of France includ
Ingland in the peace;[130] for you doe but gust make shift to live
wheare you are, and soe I hope you may doe heare; for I will leaf noe
ston unturn’d to help my belov’d sonns. If I cane, I will send this
letter by the same way it came;[131] that is, it was brought me from
woon Mr Galowway, who corresponds with Rozie; I payd woon and sixpence
for it, and do offer to pay him what he demandes, so that he would
take ceare the [packet] might come safe to your handes. I long tell I
heare my deare Charlles is better. I have only room to tell you the
names of the merchantes your parcell went in; you are to demmand them
of Mr Robert Ball and Thommas Ball in Lindovino in Livorno. You are
not to pay any charges for the box, for the port of London. If the
have demanded any of you, send word to me what it is; for otherwayes
wee shall pay twice for them; and this Mr Walkeson telles me, with his
service to you both. Farwell, my deare children: God Almighty keep you
in his protection, for that is the wishes and prayers of your most
affec: mother, that sends her blessinge to you all; not forgetting my
sonn Harry, whose prayers I desire for a comfortable meetinge. I hope I
may have some better thinges against you come, than what is sent you in
that box; there being nothing considurabell but my deare Jackes play,
who I desire in his next to me to give me a true account how my deare
sonn Charlles is head dus; for I cane be at noe rest tell I heare he is
better, or rather thourely well, which I dally pray for. [132]
LETTER XXIV.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, [f. Dec. 1697. ]
I thank you heartily for the sherry; it was, as you sayd, the best
of the kind I ever dranke. I have found the catalogue you desire, of
the subscribers’ names you left with me; and have sent them to you
inclosed. Remember, in the copy of verses for St Cecilia, to alter the
name of _Lais_, which is twice there, for _Thais_; those two ladyes
were contemporaryes, which causd that small mistake. I wish you coud
tell me how to send my sonns our Virgil, which you gave me; and should
be glad if you coud put me in a way of remitting thirty guineas to
Rome, which I woud pay heer, for my sonns to have the vallue there,
according as the exchange goes. Any time this fortnight will be soon
enough to send the money: the book, I know, will require a longer
space, because ships go not for Italy every day.
I am
Your humble servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
I hear Tom Brown is comeing out upon me. [133]
LETTER XXV.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, Wednesday, [f. Dec. 1697. ]
I have broken off my studies from the “Conquest of China,”[134] to
review Virgil, and bestowed nine entire days upon him. You may have
the printed copy you sent me to-morrow morning, if you will come for
it yourself; for the printer is a beast, and understands nothing I can
say to him of correcting the press. Dr Chetwood[135] claims my promise
of the Ode on St Cecilia’s Day, which I desire you to send to him
(according to the Parliament phrase) forthwith. My wife says you have
broken your promise about the picture, and desires it speedily; the
rest I will tell you when you come.
Yours,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XXVI.
TO MR JACOB TONSON.
MR TONSON, [f. Dec. 1697. ]
You were no sooner gone, but I felt in my pocket, and found my Lady
Chudleigh’s[136] verses; which this afternoon I gave Mr Walsh to read
in the coffee-house. 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 heare 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 copyes, and
of all the book. I have also written this day to Mr Chetwood, and let
him know, that the book is immediately goeing to the press again. My
opinion is, that the printer shou’d begin with the first Pastoral, and
print on to the end of the Georgiques; or farther, if occasion be,
till Dr Chetwood corrects his preface,[137] which he writes me word is
printed very false. You cannot take too great care of the printing this
edition exactly after my amendments; for a fault of that nature will
disoblige me eternally.
I am glad to heare from all hands, that my Ode[138] is esteem’d the
best of all my poetry, by all the town: I thought so myself when I writ
it; but, being old, I mistrusted my own judgment. I hope it has done
you service, and will do more. You told me not, but the town says you
are printing Ovid _de Arte Amandi_. I know my translation[139] is very
uncorrect; but at the same time I know, nobody else can do it better,
with all their paines. If there be any loose papers left in the Virgil
I gave you this morning, look for them, and send them back by my man:
I miss not any yet; but ’tis possible some may be left, because I gave
you the book in a hurry. I vow to God, if Everingham takes not care of
this impression, he shall never print any thing of mine heerafter: for
I will write on, since I find I can.
I desire you to make sure of the three pounds of snuff, the same
of which I had one pound from you. When you send it any morning,
I will pay for it all together. But this is not the business of
this letter. --When you were heer, I intended to have sent an answer
to poor Charles his letter; but I had not then the letter which my
chirurgeon promis’d me, of his advice, to prevent a rupture, which he
fears. [140] Now I have the surgeon’s answer, which I have inclosed in
my letter to my sonn. This is a business of the 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[141] to inclose it in his packet this week: for a week lost
may be my sonn’s ruine; 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 dye of over-study, I cannot spend my life better, than in saving
his. I vallue not any price for a double letter; let me know it, and
it shall be payd; for I dare not trust it by the post: being satisfy’d
by experience, that Ferrand will do by this, as he did by two letters
which I sent my sonns, about my dedicating to the king;[142] 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 meane Friday. I need not tell you, how much herein you
will oblige
Your friend and servant,
J. D.
LETTER XXVII.
TO MRS STEWARD. [143]
MADAM, Saturday, Octob. 1st--98.
You have done me the honour to invite so often, that it would look
like want of respect to refuse it any longer. How can you be so good
to an old decrepid man, who can entertain you with no discours which
is worthy of your good sense, and who can onely be a trouble to you in
all the time he stays at Cotterstock. Yet I will obey your commands
as far as possibly I can, and give you the inconvenience you are
pleas’d to desire; at least for the few days which I can spare from
other necessary business, which requires me at Tichmarsh. Therefore,
if you please to send your coach on Tuesday next by eleven o’clock
in the morning, I hope to wait on you before dinner. There is onely
one more trouble, which I am almost ashamed to name. I am obliged to
visit my cousin, Dryden of Chesterton,[144] some time next week, who
is nine miles from hence, and only five from you. If it be with your
convenience to spare me your coach thether for a day, the rest of my
time till Monday is at your service; and I am sorry for my own sake it
cannot be any longer this year, because I have some visits after my
return hether, which I cannot avoyd. But if it please God to give me
life and health, I may give you occasion another time to repent of your
kindness, by makeing you weary of my company. My sonn kisses your hand.
Be pleas’d to give his humble service to my cousin Steward, and mine,
who am,
Madam,
Your most obedient oblig’d servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For my Honour’d Cousine,_
_Mrs Steward, att Cotterstock,_
_These_.
LETTER XXVIII.
TO ELMES STEWARD, ESQ.
MY HONOUR’D COUSIN, [Probably, Nov. 20. 1698. ]
I shou’d have received your letter with too much satisfaction, if
it had not been allay’d with the bad news of my cousin your wife’s
indisposition; which yet I hope will not continue. I am sure, if care
and love will contribute to her health, she will want neither from so
tender a husband as you are: and indeed you are both worthy of each
other. You have been pleased, each of you, to be kind to my sonn[145]
and me, your poor relations, without any merit on our side, unless you
will let our gratitude pass for our desert. And now you are pleas’d
to invite another trouble on your self, which our bad company may
possibly draw upon you next year, if I have life and health to come
into Northamptonshire; and that you will please not to make so much a
stranger of me another time. --I intend my wife shall tast the plover
you did me the favour to send me. If either your lady or you shall at
any time honour me with a letter, my house is in Gerard-street, the
fifth door on the left hand, comeing from Newport-street. I pray God
I may hear better news of both your healths, and of my good cousin
Creed’s,[146] and my cousin Dorothy,[147] than I have had while I was
in this country. I shall languish till you send me word; and I assure
you I write this without poetry, who am, from the bottome of my heart,
My honour’d cousin’s most obliged
Humble servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
My sonn and I kiss my cousin Steward’s hand; and give our service to
your sister, and pretty Miss Betty.
_For my Honour’d Cousin,_
_Elmes Steward, Esq. Att Cotterstock. _
LETTER XXIX.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Nov. 23d, 1698.
To take acknowledgments of favours for favours done you, is onely
yours. I am always on the receiving hand; and you, who have been
pleas’d to be troubled so long with my bad company, in stead of
forgiveing, which is all I could expect, will turn it to a kindness on
my side. If your house be often so molested, you will have reason to
be weary of it, before the ending of the year: and wish Cotterstock
were planted in a desart, an hundred miles off from any poet. --After I
had lost the happiness of your company, I could expect no other than
the loss of my health, which followed, according to the proverb, that
misfortunes seldome come alone. I had no woman to visite[148] but
the parson’s wife; and she, who was intended by nature as a help meet
for a deaf husband, was somewhat of the loudest for my conversation;
and for other things, I will say no more then that she is just your
contrary, and an epitome of her own country. My journey to London was
yet more unpleasant than my abode at Tichmarsh; for the coach was
crowded up with an old woman fatter than any of my hostesses on the
rode. Her weight made the horses travel very heavily; but, to give them
a breathing time, she would often stop us, and plead some necessity of
nature, and tell us, we were all flesh and blood: but she did this so
frequently, that at last we conspir’d against her; and that she might
not be inconvenienc’d by staying in the coach, turn’d her out in a very
dirty place, where she was to wade up to the ankles, before she cou’d
reach the next hedge. When I was ridd of her, I came sick home, and
kept my house for three weeks together; but, by advice of my doctour,
takeing twice the bitter draught, with sena in it, and looseing at
least twelve ounces of blood, by cupping on my neck, I am just well
enough to go abroad in the afternoon; but am much afflicted that I have
you a companion of my sickness: though I ’scap’d with one cold fit of
an ague, and yours, I feare, is an intermitting feavour. Since I heard
nothing of your father, whom I left ill, I hope he is recover’d of his
reall sickness, and that your sister is well of hers, which was onely
in imagination. My wife and sonn return you their most humble service,
and I give mine to my cousin Steward. --Madam,
Your most obliged and
most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
[_The superscription has not been preserved. _]
LETTER XXX.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Dec. 12th, --98.
All my letters being nothing but acknowledgements of your favours to
me, ’tis no wonder if they are all alike: for they can but express
the same thing, I being eternally the receiver, and you the giver. I
wish it were in my power to turn the skale on the other hand, that I
might see how you, who have so excellent a wit, cou’d thank on your
side. Not to name my self or my wife, my sonn Charles is the great
commender of your last receiv’d present; who being of late somewhat
indispos’d, uses to send for some of the same sort, which we call heer
marrow-puddings, for his suppers; but the tast of yours has so spoyl’d
his markets heer, that there is not the least comparison betwixt
them. You are not of an age to be a Sybill, and yet I think you are
a prophetess; for the direction on your basket was for him; and he
is likely to enjoy the greatest part of them: for I always think the
young are more worthy than the old; especially since you are one of the
former sort, and that he mends upon your medicine. --I am very glad to
hear my cousin, your father, is comeing or come to town; perhaps this
ayr may be as beneficiall to him as it has been to me: but you tell me
nothing of your own health, and I fear Cotterstock is too agueish for
this season. --My wife and sonn give you their most humble thanks and
service; as I do mine to my cousin Steward; and am, Madam,
Your most oblig’d obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Steward_,
_Att Cotterstock, near Oundle,_
_in the county of Northampton, These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXI.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Candlemas-Day, 1698[-9. ]
Old men are not so insensible of beauty, as it may be, you young
ladies think. For my own part, I must needs acknowledge, that your
fair eyes had made me your slave before I received your fine presents.
Your letter puts me out of doubt that they have lost nothing of their
luster, because it was written with your own hand; and not heareing
of a feavour or an ague, I will please my self with the thoughts that
they have wholly left you. I wou’d also flatter my self with the hopes
of waiting on you at Cotterstock some time next summer; but my want of
health may perhaps hinder me. But if I am well enough to travell as
farr northward as Northamptonshyre, you are sure of a guest, who has
been too well us’d not to trouble you again.
My sonn, of whom you have done me the favour to enquire, mends of his
indisposition very slowly; the ayr of England not agreeing with him
hetherto so well as that of Italy. The Bath is propos’d by the doctors,
both to him and me: but we have not yet resolved absolutely on that
journey; for that city is so close and so ill situated, that perhaps
the ayr may do us more harm than the waters can do us good: for which
reason we intend to try them heer first; and if we find not the good
effect which is promis’d of them, we will save our selves the pains of
goeing thether. In the mean time, betwixt my intervals of physique, and
other remedies which I am using for my gravel, I am still drudgeing
on: always a poet, and never a good one. I pass my time sometimes with
Ovid, and sometimes with our old English poet Chaucer; translating
such stories as best please my fancy; and intend, besides them, to add
somewhat of my own; so that it is not impossible, but ere the summer
be pass’d, I may come down to you with a volume in my hand, like a dog
out of the water, with a duck in his mouth. As for the rarities you
promise, if beggars might be choosers, a part of a chine of honest
bacon wou’d please my appetite more than all the marrow puddings; for I
like them better plain; having a very vulgar stomach. My wife, and your
cousin, Charles, give you their most humble service, and thanks for
your remembrance of them. I present my own to my worthy cousin, your
husband, and am, with all respect,
Madam,
Your most obliged servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For_
_Mrs Stewart, att Cotterstock_
_near Oundle, in Northamptonshyre,_
_These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Thursday, Feb. 9th. --98[-9. ]
For this time I must follow a bad example, and send you a shorter
letter than your short one: you were hinder’d by dancers, and I am
forc’d to dance attendance all this afternoon after a troublesome
business, so soon as I have written this, and seal’d it. Onely I can
assure you, that your father and mother, and all your relations, are
in health, or were yesterday, when I sent to enquire of their welfare.
On Tuesday night we had a violent wind, which blew down three of my
chimneys, and dismantled all one side of my house, by throwing down
the tiles. My neighbours, and indeed all the town, suffer’d more or
less; and some were kill’d. The great trees in St James’s Park are many
of them torn up from the roots; as they were before Oliver Cromwell’s
death,[149] and the late queen’s: but your father had no damage. I sent
my man for the present you designed me; but he return’d empty-handed;
for there was no such man as _Carter_ a carrier, inning at the Bear
and Ragged Staff in Smithfield, nor any one there ever heard of such
a person; by which I guess that some body has deceived you with a
counterfeited name. Yet my, obligations are the same; and the favour
shall be always own’d by,
Madam,
Your most humble servant,
and kinsman,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stewart_,
_Att Cotterstock neare Oundle_, &c.
LETTER XXXIII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, March the 4th, 1698[-9. ]
I have reason to be pleas’d with writeing to you, because you are
daily giveing me occasions to be pleas’d. The present which you made
me this week, I have receiv’d; and it will be part of the treat I am
to make to three of my friends about Tuesday next: my cousin Driden,
of Chesterton, having been also pleas’d to add to it a turkey hen with
eggs, and a good young goose; besides a very kind letter, and the news
of his own good health, which I vallue more than all the rest; he
being so noble a benefactor to a poor and so undeserving a kinsman,
and one of another persuasion in matters of religion. Your enquiry of
his welfare, and sending also mine, have at once oblig’d both him and
me. I hope my good cousin Stewart will often visite him, especially
before hunting goes out,[150] to be a comfort to him in his sorrow
for the loss of his deare brother,[151] who was a most extraordinary
well-natur’d man, and much my friend. Exercise, I know, is my cousin
Driden’s life, and the oftner he goes out will be the better for his
health. We poor Catholics daily expect a most severe proclamation to
come out against us;[152] and at the same time are satisfyed that the
king is very unwilling to persecute us, considering us to be but an
handfull, and those disarmed; but the archbishop of Canterbury is our
heavy enemy, and heavy indeed he is in all respects. [153]
This day was played a revived comedy of Mr Congreve’s, called “The
Double Dealer,” which was never very takeing. In the play-bill was
printed--“Written by Mr Congreve; with severall expressions omitted. ”
What kind of expressions those were, you may easily ghess, if you
have seen the Monday’s Gazette, wherein is the king’s order for the
reformation of the stage:[154] but the printing an author’s name in a
play-bill is a new manner of proceeding, at least in England. When
any papers of verses in manuscript, which are worth your reading,
come abroad, you shall be sure of them; because, being a poetess
yourself, you like those entertainments. I am still drudging at a book
of Miscellanyes,[155] which I hope will be well enough; if otherwise,
threescore and seven may be pardon’d. --Charles is not yet so well
recover’d as I wish him; but I may say, without vanity, that his
virtue and sobriety have made him much belov’d in all companies. Both
he and his mother give you their most humble acknowledgments of your
rememb’ring them. Be pleas’d to give mine to my cousin Stewart, who am
both his and your
Most obliged obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
You may see I was in hast, by writing on the wrong side of the paper.
_For Mrs Steward, etc. ut supra. _
LETTER XXXIV.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Tuesday, July the 11th, [1699. ]
As I cannot accuse myself to have receiv’d any letters from you without
answer, so, on the other side, I am oblig’d to believe it, because
you say it. ’Tis true, I have had so many fitts of sickness, and so
much other unpleasant business, that I may possibly have receiv’d
those favours, and deferr’d my acknowledgment till I forgot to thank
you for them. However it be, I cannot but confess, that never was any
unanswering man so civilly reproach’d by a fair lady. I presum’d to
send you word by your sisters[156] of the trouble I intended you this
summer; and added a petition, that you would please to order some small
beer to be brew’d for me without hops, or with a very inconsiderable
quantity; because I lost my health last year by drinking bitter beer
at Tichmarsh. It may perhaps be sour, but I like it not the worse, if
it be small enough. What els I have to request, is onely the favour of
your coach, to meet me at Oundle, and to convey me to you: of which I
shall not fail to give you timely notice. My humble service attends my
cousin Stewart and your relations at Oundle. My wife and sonn desire
the same favour; and I am particularly,
Madam,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stewart, etc. _
LETTER XXXV.
TO SAMUEL PEPYS, ESQ. [157]
PADRON MIO, July the 14th, 1699.
I remember, last year, when I had the honour of dineing with you, you
were pleased to recommend to me the character of Chaucer’s “Good
Parson. ” Any desire of yours is a command to me; and accordingly I
have put it into my English, with such additions and alterations as
I thought fit. Having translated as many Fables from Ovid, and as
many Novills from Boccace and Tales from Chaucer, as will make an
indifferent large volume in folio, I intend them for the press in
Michaelmas term next. In the mean time, my Parson desires the favour
of being known to you, and promises, if you find any fault in his
character, he will reform it. Whenever you please, he shall wait on
you, and for the safer conveyance, I will carry him in my pocket; who am
My _Padrons_ most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Samuel Pepys, Esq.
Att his house in York-street, These. _
LETTER XXXVI.
ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING BY MR PEPYS.
SIR, Friday, July 14, 1699.
You truly have obliged mee; and possibly, in saying so, I am more in
earnest then you can readily think; as verily hopeing, from this your
copy of one “Good Parson,” to fancy some amends made mee for the hourly
offence I beare with from the sight of so many lewd originalls.
I shall with great pleasure attend you on this occasion, when ere you’l
permit it; unless you would have the kindness to double it to mee, by
suffering my coach to wayte on you (and who you can gayne mee y^e same
favour from) hither, to a cold chicken and a sallade, any noone after
Sunday, as being just stepping into the ayre for 2 days.
I am, most respectfully,
Your hono^{rd} and obed^{nt} servant,
S. P.
LETTER XXXVII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Saturday, Aug. 5th, 1699.
This is only a word, to threaten you with a troublesome guest, next
week: I have taken places for my self and my sonn in the Oundle coach,
which sets out on Thursday next the tenth of this present August; and
hope to wait on a fair lady at Cotterstock on Friday the eleventh. If
you please to let your coach come to Oundle, I shall save my cousin
Creed the trouble of hers. All heer are your most humble servants, and
particularly an old cripple, who calls him self
Your most obliged kinsman,
And admirer,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stewart, Att_
_Cotterstock, near Oundle,_
_in Northamptonshire. These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXVIII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Sept. 28th, 1699.
Your goodness to me will make you sollicitous of my welfare since I
left Cotterstock. My journey has in general been as happy as it cou’d
be, without the satisfaction and honour of your company. ’Tis true,
the master of the stage-coach has not been over civill to me: for he
turned us out of the road at the first step, and made us go to Pilton;
there we took in a fair young lady of eighteen, and her brother, a
young gentleman; they are related to the Treshams, but not of that
name: thence we drove to Higham, where we had an old serving-woman,
and a young fine mayd: we din’d at Bletso, and lay at Silso, six
miles beyond Bedford. There we put out the old woman, and took in
Councellour Jennings his daughter; her father goeing along in the
Kittering coach, or rideing by it, with other company. We all din’d
at Hatfield together, and came to town safe at seaven in the evening.
We had a young doctour, who rode by our coach, and seem’d to have a
smickering[158] to our youg lady of Pilton, and ever rode before to get
dinner in a readiness. My sonn, Charles, knew him formerly a Jacobite;
and now going over to Antigoo, with Colonel Codrington,[159] haveing
been formerly in the West Indies. --Which of our two young ladies was
the handsomer, I know not. My sonn liked the Councellour’s daughter
best: I thought they were both equal. But not goeing to Tichmarsh
Grove, and afterwards by Catworth, I missed my two couple of rabbets,
which my cousin, your father, had given me to carry with me, and cou’d
not see my sister by the way: I was likewise disappointed of Mr Cole’s
Ribadavia wine: but I am almost resolved to sue the stage coach, for
putting me six or seaven miles out of the way, which he cannot justify.
Be pleased to accept my acknowledgment of all your favours, and my
Cousin Stuart’s; and by employing my sonn and me in any thing you
desire to have done, give us occasion to take our revenge on our kind
relations both at Oundle and Cotterstock. Be pleas’d, your father,
your mother, your two fair sisters, and your brother,[160] may find my
sonn’s service and mine made acceptable to them by your delivery; and
believe me to be with all manner of gratitude, give me leave to add,
all manner of adoration,
Madam,
Your most obliged obedient Servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stuart, Att_
_Cotterstock near Oundle,_
_In Northamptonshire,_
_These. _
_To be left with the Postmaster
of Oundle. _
LETTER XXXIX.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES MONTAGUE. [161]
SIR, [Octob. 1699. ]
These verses[162] had waited on you with the former, but that they
wanted that correction which I have given them, that they may the
better endure the sight of so great a judge and poet. I am now in feare
that I purged them out of their spirit; as our Master Busby us’d to
whip a boy so long, till he made him a confirm’d blockhead. My Cousin
Driden saw them in the country; and the greatest exception he made to
them Avas a satire against the Dutch valour in the last war. He desir’d
me to omit it, (to use his own words) “out of the respect he had to his
Sovereign. ” I obeyed his commands, and left onely the praises, which I
think are due to the gallantry of my own countrymen. In the description
which I have made of a Parliament-man,[163] I think I have not only
drawn the features of my worthy kinsman, but have also given my own
opinion of what an Englishman in Parliament ought to be; and deliver it
as a memorial of my own principles to all posterity. I have consulted
the judgment of my unbyass’d friends, who have some of them the honour
to be known to you: and they think there is nothing which can justly
give offence in that part of the poem. I say not this to cast a blind
on your judgment, (which I could not do, if I endeavoured it,) but
to assure you, that nothing relateing to the publique shall stand
without your permission; for it were to want common sence to desire
your patronage, and resolve to disoblige you. And as I will not hazard
my hopes of your protection, by refusing to obey you in any thing which
I can perform with my conscience or my honour, so I am very confident
you will never impose any other terms on me. My thoughts at present are
fix’d on Homer; and by my translation of the first Iliad, I find him
a poet more according to my genius than Virgil, and consequently hope
I may do him more justice in his fiery way of writeing; which, as it
is liable to more faults, so it is capable of more beauties, than the
exactness and sobriety of Virgil. Since ’tis for my country’s honour,
as well as for my own, that I am willing to undertake this task, I
despair not of being encourag’d in it by your favour, who am
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XL.
TO MRS STEWARD.
MADAM, Nov. 7th, [1699. ]
Even your expostulations are pleasing to me; for though they shew you
angry, yet they are not without many expressions of your kindness; and
therefore I am proud to be so chidden. Yet I cannot so farr abandon my
own defence, as to confess any idleness or forgetfulness on my part.
What has hind’red me from writeing to you, was neither ill health,
nor, a worse thing, ingratitude; but a flood of little businesses,
which yet are necessary to my subsistance, and of which I hop’d to
have given you a good account before this time: but the court rather
speaks kindly of me, than does any thing for me, though they promise
largely; and perhaps they think I will advance as they go backward, in
which they will be much deceiv’d; for I can never go an inch beyond my
conscience and my honour. [164] If they will consider me as a man who
has done my best to improve the language, and especially the poetry,
and will be content with my acquiescence under the present government,
and forbearing satire on it, that I can promise, because I can perform
it; but I can neither take the oaths, nor forsake my religion; because
I know not what church to go to, if I leave the Catholique; they are
all so divided amongst them selves in matters of faith necessary to
salvation, and, yet all assumeing the name of Protestants. May God be
pleas’d to open your eyes, as he has open’d mine! Truth is but one; and
they who have once heard of it, can plead no excuse, if they do not
embrace it. But these are things too serious for a trifling letter.
If you desire to hear any thing more of my affairs, the Earl of
Dorsett, and your cousin Montague, have both seen the two poems, to the
Duchess of Ormond, and my worthy cousin Driden; and are of opinion,
that I never writt better. My other friends are divided in their
judgments, which to preferr; but the greater part are for those to my
dear kinsman; which I have corrected with so much care, that they will
now be worthy of his sight, and do neither of us any dishonour after
our death.
There is this day to be acted a new tragedy, made by Mr Hopkins,[165]
and, as I believe, in rhime. He has formerly written a play in verse,
call’d “Boadicea,” which you fair ladyes lik’d; and is a poet who
writes good verses without knowing how or why; I mean, he writes
naturally well, without art, or learning, or good sence. Congreve is
ill of the gout at Barnet Wells. I have had the honour of a visite from
the Earl of Dorsett, and din’d with him. --Matters in Scotland are in a
high ferment,[166] and next door to a breach betwixt the two nations;
but they say from court, that France and we are hand and glove. ’Tis
thought, the king will endeavour to keep up a standing army, and make
the stirr in Scotland his pretence for it; my cousin Driden,[167] and
the country party, I suppose, will be against it; for when a spirit is
rais’d, ’tis hard conjuring him down again. --You see I am dull by my
writeing news; but it may be my cousin Creed[168] may be glad to hear
what I believe is true, though not very pleasing. I hope he recovers
health in the country, by his staying so long in it. My service to my
cousin Stuart, and all at Oundle. I am, faire Cousine,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.
_For Mrs Stuart, Att_
_Cotterstock, near Oundle,_
_In Northamptonshyre,_
_These. _
_To be left at the Posthouse
in Oundle. _
LETTER XLI
TO MRS ELIZABETH THOMAS, JUN. [169]
MADAM, Nov. 12, 1699.
The letter you were pleas’d to direct for me, to be left at the
coffee-house last summer, was a great honour; and your verses[170]
were, I thought, too good to be a woman’s; some of my friends, to whom
I read them, were of the same opinion. ’Tis not over-gallant, I must
confess, to say this of the fair sex; but most certain it is, that they
generally write with more softness than strength. On the contrary, you
want neither vigour in your thoughts, nor force in your expressions,
nor harmony in your numbers; and methinks I find much of Orinda[171]
in your manner; to whom I had the honour to be related, and also to
be known. But I continued not a day in the ignorance of the person to
whom I was oblig’d; for, if you remember, you brought the verses to a
bookseller’s shop, and enquir’d there, how they might be sent to me.
There happen’d to be in the same shop a gentleman, who heareing you
speak of me, and seeing a paper in your hand, imagin’d it was a libel
against me, and had you watch’d by his servant, till he knew both your
name, and where you liv’d, of which he sent me word immediately. Though
I have lost his letter, yet I remember you live some where about St
Giles’s,[172] and are an only daughter. You must have pass’d your time
in reading much better books than mine; or otherwise you cou’d not have
arriv’d to so much knowledge as I find you have. But whether Sylph or
Nymph, I know not: those fine creatures, as your author, Count Gabalis,
assures us,[173] have a mind to be christen’d, 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
poetess, who overcame Pindar five times, as historians tell us. I
would have call’d you Sapho, but that I hear you are handsomer. Since
you find I am not altogether a stranger to you, be pleas’d to make me
happier by a better knowledge of you; and in stead of so many unjust
praises which you give me, think me only worthy of being,
Madam,
Your most humble servant,
and admirer,
JOHN DRYDEN.
LETTER XLII.
TO MRS ELIZABETH THOMAS, JUN. [174]
MADAM, [Nov. 1699. ]
The great desire which I observe in you to write well, and those
good parts which God Almighty and nature have bestow’d 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[175] allow’d her self, of writeing loosely, and giveing, if
I may have leave to say so, some scandall to the modesty of her sex.
I confess, I am the last man who ought, in justice, to arraign her,
who have been my self too much a libertine in most of my poems; which
I shou’d be well contented I had time either to purge, or to see them
fairly burn’d. 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 placeing 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[176] till you want them, and are pleas’d to
send for them.
LETTER XLIII.
TO MRS STEWARD.
Saturday, Nov. 26, [1699. ]
After a long expectation, Madam, at length your happy letter came
to your servant, who almost despair’d of it. The onely comfort I
had, was, my hopes of seeing you, and that you defer’d writeing,
because you wou’d surprise me with your presence, and beare your
relations company to town. --Your neighbour, Mr Price, has given me an
apprehension, that my cousin, your father, is in some danger of being
made sheriff the following yeare; but I hope ’tis a jealousy without
ground, and that the warm season only keeps him in the country. --If
you come up next week, you will be entertain’d with a new tragedy,
which the author of it, one Mr Dennis, cries up at an excessive rate;
and Colonel Codrington, who has seen it, prepares the world to give it
loud applauses. ’Tis called “Iphigenia,” and imitated from Euripides,
an old Greek poet. [177] This is to be acted at Betterton’s house; and
another play of the same name is very shortly to come on the stage
in Drury-Lane. --I was lately to visite the Duchess of Norfolk;[178]
and she speaks of you with much affection and respect. Your cousin
Montague,[179] after the present session of parliament, will be created
Earl of Bristoll. [180] and I hope is much my friend: but I doubt I am
in no condition of having a kindness done, having the Chancellour[181]
my enemy; and not being capable of renounceing the cause for which I
have so long suffer’d,--My cousin Driden of Chesterton is in town, and
lodges with my brother in Westminster. [182] My sonn has seen him, and
was very kindly received by him.
