University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
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)

collapse sectionIX. 
VOL. IX. POEMS, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL.
  
HEROIC STANZAS CONSECRATED TO THE MEMORY OF HIS HIGHNESS OLIVER, LATE LORD PROTECTOR OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
  
ASTRÆA REDUX.
  
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.
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL.
 I. 
PART I.
 II. 
PART II.
collapse section 
THE MEDAL.
  
UPON THE AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POEM.
  
TO THE UNKNOWN AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POEM, AND THAT OF ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL.
  
THE MEDAL.
collapse sectionX. 
VOL. X.
collapse section 
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.
  
RELIGIO LAICI.
  
THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS:
collapse section 
THE HIND AND THE PANTHER,
 I. 
[Part I.]
 II. 
PART II.
 III. 
PART THIRD.
  
BRITANNIA REDIVIVA:
collapse section 
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;
  
A PROLOGUE
  
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,
  
EPILOGUE.
  
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.,
  
A PROLOGUE.
  
PROLOGUE TO ALBUMAZAR.
  
AN EPILOGUE.
  
EPILOGUE TO THE HUSBAND HIS OWN CUCKOLD.
  
MAC-FLECKNOE:
collapse sectionXI. 
VOL. XI.
collapse section 
EPISTLES.
 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.
collapse section 
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 A NEPHEW.
  
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.
collapse section 
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.
  
A NEW SONG.
  
THE LADY'S SONG.
  
A SONG.
  
A SONG.
  
RONDELAY.
  
A SONG.
  
A SONG TO A FAIR YOUNG LADY, GOING OUT OF TOWN IN THE SPRING.
collapse section 
ALEXANDER'S FEAST, OR THE POWER OF MUSIC;
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
  
VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS,
collapse section 
FABLES.
collapse section 
TALES FROM CHAUCER.
  
[dedication]
collapse section 
PALAMON AND ARCITE; OR, THE KNIGHT'S TALE.
  
TO HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF ORMOND. WITH THE FOLLOWING POEM OF PALAMON AND ARCITE.
collapse section 
PALAMON AND ARCITE; OR, THE KNIGHT'S TALE.
 I. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
 III. 
BOOK III.
collapse section 
THE COCK AND THE FOX;
  
[section]
  
THE MORAL.
  
THE FLOWER AND THE LEAF;
  
THE WIFE OF BATH HER TALE.
  
THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON.
collapse section 
TRANSLATIONS FROM BOCCACE.
  
SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO.
  
THEODORE AND HONORIA.
collapse section 
CYMON AND IPHIGENIA.
  
Poeta loquitur.
  
[section]
collapse sectionXII. 
VOL. XII.
collapse section 
TRANSLATIONS FROM OVID'S EPISTLES.
  
CANACE TO MACAREUS. EPIST. XI.
  
HELEN TO PARIS. EPIST. XVII.
  
DIDO TO ÆNEAS. EPIST. VII.
collapse section 
TRANSLATIONS FROM OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.
  
[dedication]
collapse section 
THE FIRST BOOK OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
The Golden Age.
  
The Silver Age.
  
The Brazen Age.
  
The Iron 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.
collapse section 
TRANSLATIONS FROM OVID'S ART OF LOVE
  
THE FIRST BOOK OF OVID'S ART OF LOVE.
  
FROM OVID'S AMOURS.
  
FROM OVID'S AMOURS.
collapse section 
TRANSLATIONS FROM THEOCRITUS.
  
AMARYLLIS;
  
THE EPITHALAMIUM OF HELEN AND MENELAUS,
  
THE DESPAIRING LOVER.
  
DAPHNIS AND CHLORIS.
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
TRANSLATIONS FROM HOMER.
  
THE FIRST BOOK OF HOMER'S ILIAD.
  
THE LAST PARTING OF HECTOR AND ANDROMACHE.
collapse sectionXIII. 
VOL. XIII.
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
TRANSLATIONS FROM PERSIUS.
collapse section1. 
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.
collapse section 
THE WORKS OF VIRGIL,
collapse section 
RECOMMENDATORY POEMS.
  
TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS EXCELLENT TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL.
  
TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL.
  
TO MR. DRYDEN.
  
TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS VIRGIL.
  
TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS TRANSLATIONS.
collapse section 
PASTORALS.
  
[dedication]
 I. 
PASTORAL I.
 II. 
PASTORAL II.
 III. 
PASTORAL III.
 IV. 
PASTORAL IV.
 V. 
PASTORAL V.
 VI. 
PASTORAL VI.
 VII. 
PASTORAL VII.
 VIII. 
PASTORAL VIII.
 IX. 
PASTORAL IX.
 X. 
PASTORAL X.
collapse sectionXIV, XV. 
VOL. XIV., VOL. XV.
  
[dedication]
collapse section 
GEORGICS.
 I. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
 III. 
BOOK III.
 IV. 
BOOK IV.
collapse section 
ÆNEÏS
 I. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
 III. 
BOOK III.
 IV. 
BOOK IV.
 V. 
BOOK V.
 VI. 
BOOK VI.
 VII. 
BOOK VII.
 VIII. 
BOOK VIII.
 IX. 
BOOK IX.
 X. 
BOOK X.
 XI. 
BOOK XI.
 XII. 
BOOK XII.
collapse section 
POEMS ASCRIBED TO DRYDEN.
  
AN ESSAY UPON SATIRE.
  
A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO MR. JULIAN, SECRETARY OF THE MUSES.
collapse section 
THE ART OF POETRY.
 I. 
CANTO I.
collapse sectionII. 
CANTO II.
  
PASTORAL.
  
ELEGY.
  
ODE.
  
EPIGRAM.
  
SATIRE.
collapse sectionIII. 
CANTO III.
  
TRAGEDY.
  
THE EPIC.
 IV. 
CANTO IV.
  
ON THE YOUNG STATESMEN.
  
TARQUIN AND TULLIA.
  
SUUM CUIQUE.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The works of John Dryden
next section
235

SATIRE.

Lucilius was the man, who, bravely bold,
To Roman vices did his mirror hold,
Protected humble goodness from reproach,
Showed worth on foot, and rascals in the coach.
Horace his pleasing wit to this did add,
And none uncensured could be fool or mad:
Unhappy was that wretch, whose name might be
Squared to the rules of their sharp poetry.
Persius obscure, but full of sense and wit,
Affected brevity in all he writ;
And Juvenal, learned as those times could be,
Too far did stretch his sharp hyperbole;
Though horrid truths through all his labours shine,
In what he writes there's something of divine,
Whether he blames the Caprean debauch,
Or of Sejanus' fall tells the approach,
Or that he makes the trembling senate come
To the stern tyrant to receive their doom;
Or Roman vice in coarsest habits shows,
And paints an empress reeking from the stews:
In all he writes appears a noble fire;
To follow such a master then desire.
Chaucer alone, fixed on this solid base,
In his old style conserves a modern grace:
Too happy, if the freedom of his rhymes
Offended not the method of our times.
The Latin writers decency neglect;
But modern authors challenge our respect,
And at immodest writings take offence,
If clean expression cover not the sense.
I love sharp Satire, from obsceneness free;
Not impudence, that preaches modesty:
Our English, who in malice never fail,
Hence in lampoons and libels learn to rail;
Pleasant detraction, that by singing goes
From mouth to mouth, and as it marches grows:
Our freedom in our poetry we see,
That child of joy begot by liberty.
But, vain blasphemer, tremble when you chuse
God for the subject of your impious muse:
236

At last, those jests which libertines invent,
Bring the lewd author to just punishment.
Even in a song there must be art and sense;
Yet sometimes we have seen that wine, or chance,
Have warmed cold brains, and given dull writers mettle,
And furnished out a scene for Mr. Settle.
But for one lucky hit, that made thee please,
Let not thy folly grow to a disease,
Nor think thyself a wit; for in our age
If a warm fancy does some fop engage,
He neither eats nor sleeps till he has writ,
But plagues the world with his adulterate wit.
Nay, 'tis a wonder, if, in his dire rage,
He prints not his dull follies for the stage;
And in the front of all his senseless plays,
Makes David Logan crown his head with bays.
previous section The works of John Dryden
next section