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University of Virginia Library

The works of John Dryden

Illustrated with notes, historical, critical, and explanatory, and a life of the author, by Sir Walter Scott

Dryden, John (1631-1700)

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IX.

VOL. IX. POEMS, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL.

HEROIC STANZAS CONSECRATED TO THE MEMORY OF HIS HIGHNESS OLIVER, LATE LORD PROTECTOR OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY, A PANEGYRIC ON HIS CORONATION.

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR HYDE.

SATIRE ON THE DUTCH.

VERSES TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS, ON THE MEMORABLE VICTORY GAINED BY THE DUKE AGAINST THE HOLLANDERS, JUNE THE 3, 1665, AND ON HER JOURNEY AFTERWARDS INTO THE NORTH.

ANNUS MIRABILIS, THE YEAR OF WONDERS, 1666.

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ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL

TO THE UNKNOWN AUTHOR OF THIS EXCELLENT POEM.

TO THE UNKNOWN AUTHOR OF THIS ADMIRABLE POEM.

TO THE CONCEALED AUTHOR OF THIS INCOMPARABLE POEM.

TO THE AUTHOR OF THAT INCOMPARABLE POEM ABOVE MENTIONED.

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ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL.

I.

II.

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UPON THE AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POEM.

TO THE UNKNOWN AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POEM, AND THAT OF ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL.

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X.

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RELIGIO LAICI; OR, A LAYMAN'S FAITH. AN EPISTLE.

ON MR. DRYDEN'S RELIGIO LAICI.

TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS POEM CALLED RELIGIO LAICI.

TO MR. DRYDEN, ON RELIGIO LAICI.

THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS:

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THE HIND AND THE PANTHER,

I.

II.

III.

BRITANNIA REDIVIVA:

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PROLOGUES AND EPILOGUES.

PROLOGUE SPOKEN THE FIRST DAY OF THE KING'S HOUSE ACTING AFTER THE FIRE.

PROLOGUE FOR THE WOMEN, WHEN THEY ACTED AT THE OLD THEATRE, LINCOLN'S-INN-FIELDS.

PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW HOUSE, March 26, 1674.

EPILOGUE ON THE SAME OCCASION.

PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1674.

EPILOGUE SPOKEN AT OXFORD, BY MRS. MARSHALL.

ORIGINAL PROLOGUE TO CIRCE,

PROLOGUE TO CIRCE, AS CORRECTED BY DRYDEN.

EPILOGUE, INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SPOKEN BY THE LADY HEN. MAR. WENTWORTH,

EPILOGUE TO THE MAN OF MODE; OR, SIR FOPLING FLUTTER,

EPILOGUE TO MITHRIDATES, KING OF PONTUS,

PROLOGUE TO THE TRUE WIDOW.

PROLOGUE TO CÆSAR BORGIA.

PROLOGUE TO SOPHONISBA;

EPILOGUE SPOKEN AT MITHRIDATES, KING OF PONTUS,

EPILOGUE TO A TRAGEDY CALLED TAMERLANE, 1681.

PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1681.

PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

AN EPILOGUE FOR THE KING'S HOUSE.

PROLOGUE TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, UPON HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE DUKE'S THEATRE AFTER HIS RETURN FROM SCOTLAND.

PROLOGUE TO THE EARL OF ESSEX.

PROLOGUE TO THE LOYAL BROTHER, or THE PERSIAN PRINCE,

EPILOGUE TO THE SAME.

PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD,

PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

EPILOGUE TO CONSTANTINE THE GREAT.

PROLOGUE TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT, OR THE MOTHER IN FASHION.

PROLOGUE TO THE KING AND QUEEN,

EPILOGUE ON THE SAME OCCASION.

PROLOGUE TO THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES.

EPILOGUE TO THE SAME.

PROLOGUE TO ARVIRAGUS AND PHILICIA.

PROLOGUE TO THE PROPHETESS,

PROLOGUE TO THE MISTAKES.

EPILOGUE TO HENRY II.,

PROLOGUE TO ALBUMAZAR.

EPILOGUE TO THE HUSBAND HIS OWN CUCKOLD.

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XI.

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I.

EPISTLE THE FIRST. TO HIS FRIEND JOHN HODDESDON, ON HIS DIVINE EPIGRAMS.

II.

EPISTLE THE SECOND. TO MY HONOURED FRIEND SIR ROBERT HOWARD, ON HIS EXCELLENT POEMS.

III.

EPISTLE THE THIRD. TO MY HONOURED FRIEND DR. CHARLETON, ON HIS LEARNED AND USEFUL WORKS, BUT MORE PARTICULARLY HIS TREATISE OF STONEHENGE, BY HIM RESTORED TO THE TRUE FOUNDER.

IV.

EPISTLE THE FOURTH. TO THE LADY CASTLEMAINE, UPON HER ENCOURAGING HIS FIRST PLAY, THE WILD GALLANT, ACTED IN 1662–63.

V.

EPISTLE THE FIFTH. TO MR. LEE, ON HIS TRAGEDY OF THE RIVAL QUEENS; OR, ALEXANDER THE GREAT, 1677.

VI.

EPISTLE THE SIXTH. TO THE EARL OF ROSCOMMON, ON HIS EXCELLENT ESSAY ON TRANSLATED VERSE.

VII.

EPISTLE THE SEVENTH. TO THE DUCHESS OF YORK, ON HER RETURN FROM SCOTLAND, IN THE YEAR 1682.

VIII.

EPISTLE THE EIGHTH. TO MY FRIEND MR. J. NORTHLEIGH, AUTHOR OF THE PARALLEL, ON HIS TRIUMPH OF THE BRITISH MONARCHY.

SIR GEORGE ETHEREGE, TO THE EARL OF MIDDLETON.

IX.

EPISTLE THE NINTH. A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE ETHEREGE.

X.

EPISTLE THE TENTH. TO MR. SOUTHERNE, ON HIS COMEDY CALLED THE WIVES' EXCUSE, ACTED IN 1692.

XI.

EPISTLE THE ELEVENTH. TO HENRY HIGDEN, ESQ. ON HIS TRANSLATION OF THE TENTH SATIRE OF JUVENAL.

XII.

EPISTLE THE TWELFTH. TO MY DEAR FRIEND MR. CONGREVE, ON HIS COMEDY CALLED THE DOUBLE DEALER.

XIII.

EPISTLE THE THIRTEENTH. TO MR. GRANVILLE, ON HIS EXCELLENT TRAGEDY, CALLED HEROIC LOVE.

XIV.

EPISTLE THE FOURTEENTH. TO MY FRIEND MR. MOTTEUX, ON HIS TRAGEDY CALLED BEAUTY IN DISTRESS, PUBLISHED IN 1698.

XV.

EPISTLE THE FIFTEENTH. TO MY HONOURED KINSMAN JOHN DRIDEN, OF CHESTERTON, IN THE COUNTY OF HUNTINGDON, ESQ.

XVI.

EPISTLE THE SIXTEENTH. TO SIR GODFREY KNELLER, PRINCIPAL PAINTER TO HIS MAJESTY.

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ELEGIES AND EPITAPHS.

UPON THE DEATH OF LORD HASTINGS.

TO THE MEMORY OF MR. OLDHAM.

TO THE PIOUS MEMORY OF THE ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG LADY MRS. ANNE KILLIGREW, EXCELLENT IN THE TWO SISTER ARTS OF POESY AND PAINTING.

UPON THE DEATH OF THE VISCOUNT OF DUNDEE.

ELEONORA: A PANEGYRICAL POEM, DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE COUNTESS OF ABINGDON.

ON THE DEATH OF AMYNTAS.

ON THE DEATH OF A VERY YOUNG GENTLEMAN.

UPON YOUNG MR. ROGERS, OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

ON THE DEATH OF MR. PURCELL.

EPITAPH ON THE LADY WHITMORE.

EPITAPH ON MRS. MARGARET PASTON, OF BARNINGHAM, IN NORFOLK.

EPITAPH ON THE MONUMENT OF THE MARQUIS OF WINCHESTER.

EPITAPH ON SIR PALMES FAIRBORNE'S TOMB IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

EPITAPH ON THE MONUMENT OF A FAIR MAIDEN LADY, WHO DIED AT BATH, AND IS THERE INTERRED.

UNDER MR. MILTON'S PICTURE, BEFORE HIS PARADISE LOST.

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ODES, SONGS, AND LYRICAL PIECES.

FAREWELL, FAIR ARMIDA.

THE FAIR STRANGER.

A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY, 22d November 1687.

THE TEARS OF AMYNTA, FOR THE DEATH OF DAMON.

THE LADY'S SONG.

A SONG TO A FAIR YOUNG LADY, GOING OUT OF TOWN IN THE SPRING.

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ALEXANDER'S FEAST, OR THE POWER OF MUSIC;

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS,

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TALES FROM CHAUCER.

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PALAMON AND ARCITE; OR, THE KNIGHT'S TALE.

TO HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF ORMOND. WITH THE FOLLOWING POEM OF PALAMON AND ARCITE.

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PALAMON AND ARCITE; OR, THE KNIGHT'S TALE.

I.

II.

III.

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THE COCK AND THE FOX;

THE FLOWER AND THE LEAF;

THE WIFE OF BATH HER TALE.

THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM BOCCACE.

SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO.

THEODORE AND HONORIA.

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CYMON AND IPHIGENIA.

Poeta loquitur.

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XII.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM OVID'S EPISTLES.

CANACE TO MACAREUS. EPIST. XI.

HELEN TO PARIS. EPIST. XVII.

DIDO TO ÆNEAS. EPIST. VII.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.

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THE FIRST BOOK OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.

The Golden Age.

The Silver Age.

The Brazen Age.

The Giants' War.

The Transformation of Daphne into a Laurel.

The Transformation of Io into an Heifer.

The Eyes of Argus transformed into a Peacock's Train.

The Transformation of Syrinx into Reeds.

MELEAGER AND ATALANTA,

BAUCIS AND PHILEMON.

THE FABLE OF IPHIS AND IANTHE.

PYGMALION AND THE STATUE. FROM THE TENTH BOOK OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.

CINYRAS AND MYRRHA.

CEYX AND ALCYONE.

ÆSACUS TRANSFORMED INTO A CORMORANT.

THE TWELFTH BOOK OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES,

THE SPEECHES OF AJAX AND ULYSSES,

THE STORY OF ACIS, POLYPHEMUS, AND GALATEA.

OF THE PYTHAGOREAN PHILOSOPHY.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM OVID'S ART OF LOVE

THE FIRST BOOK OF OVID'S ART OF LOVE.

FROM OVID'S AMOURS.

FROM OVID'S AMOURS.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM THEOCRITUS.

THE EPITHALAMIUM OF HELEN AND MENELAUS,

THE DESPAIRING LOVER.

DAPHNIS AND CHLORIS.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM LUCRETIUS.

THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST BOOK OF LUCRETIUS.

THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND BOOK OF LUCRETIUS.

THE LATTER PART OF THE THIRD BOOK OF LUCRETIUS,

THE LATTER PART OF THE FOURTH BOOK OF LUCRETIUS;

FROM THE FIFTH BOOK OF LUCRETIUS.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM HORACE.

THE THIRD ODE OF THE FIRST BOOK OF HORACE.

THE NINTH ODE OF THE FIRST BOOK OF HORACE.

THE TWENTY-NINTH ODE OF THE FIRST BOOK OF HORACE,

THE SECOND EPODE OF HORACE.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM HOMER.

THE FIRST BOOK OF HOMER'S ILIAD.

THE LAST PARTING OF HECTOR AND ANDROMACHE.

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XIII.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM JUVENAL.

THE FIRST SATIRE OF JUVENAL.

THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAL.

THE SIXTH SATIRE OF JUVENAL.

THE TENTH SATIRE OF JUVENAL.

THE SIXTEENTH SATIRE OF JUVENAL.

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TRANSLATIONS FROM PERSIUS.

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1.

THE FIRST SATIRE OF PERSIUS.

PROLOGUE TO THE FIRST SATIRE.

THE FIRST SATIRE.

2.

THE SECOND SATIRE OF PERSIUS.

3.

THE THIRD SATIRE OF PERSIUS.

4.

THE FOURTH SATIRE OF PERSIUS.

5.

THE FIFTH SATIRE OF PERSIUS.

6.

THE SIXTH SATIRE OF PERSIUS.

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THE WORKS OF VIRGIL,

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RECOMMENDATORY POEMS.

TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS EXCELLENT TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL.

TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL.

TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS VIRGIL.

TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS TRANSLATIONS.

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

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XIV, XV.

VOL. XIV., VOL. XV.

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

XII.

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POEMS ASCRIBED TO DRYDEN.

AN ESSAY UPON SATIRE.

A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO MR. JULIAN, SECRETARY OF THE MUSES.

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THE ART OF POETRY.

I.

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II.

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III.

IV.

ON THE YOUNG STATESMEN.

TARQUIN AND TULLIA.

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73

The Golden Age.

The Golden Age was first; when man, yet new,
No rule but uncorrupted reason knew;
And, with a native bent, did good pursue.
Unforced by punishment, unawed by fear,
His words were simple, and his soul sincere.
Needless was written law, where none opprest;
The law of man was written in his breast.
No suppliant crowds before the judge appeared;
No court erected yet, nor cause was heard;
But all was safe, for conscience was their guard.
The mountain trees in distant prospect please,
Ere yet the pine descended to the seas;
Ere sails were spread, new oceans to explore;
And happy mortals, unconcerned for more,
Confined their wishes to their native shore.
No walls were yet, nor fence, nor moat, nor mound;
Nor drum was heard, nor trumpet's angry sound;
Nor swords were forged; but, void of care and crime,
The soft creation slept away their time.
The teeming earth, yet guiltless of the plough,
And unprovoked, did fruitful stores allow:
Content with food, which nature freely bred,
On wildings and on strawberries they fed;
Cornels and bramble-berries gave the rest,
And falling acorns furnished out a feast.
The flowers, unsown, in fields and meadows reigned;
And western winds immortal spring maintained.

74

In following years the bearded corn ensued
From earth unasked, nor was that earth renewed.
From veins of valleys milk and nectar broke,
And honey sweating through the pores of oak.