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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.
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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. 
PART I.
 II. 
PART II.
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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.
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VOL. 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.
  
RELIGIO LAICI.
  
THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS:
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THE HIND AND THE PANTHER,
 I. 
[Part I.]
 II. 
PART II.
 III. 
PART THIRD.
  
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;
  
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:
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VOL. XI.
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
  
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.
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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,
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FABLES.
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TALES FROM CHAUCER.
  
[dedication]
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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. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
 III. 
BOOK III.
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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.
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TRANSLATIONS FROM BOCCACE.
  
SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO.
  
THEODORE AND HONORIA.
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CYMON AND IPHIGENIA.
  
Poeta loquitur.
  
[section]
collapse sectionXII. 
VOL. 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.
  
[dedication]
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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.
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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.
  
AMARYLLIS;
  
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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VOL. 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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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.
  
TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS VIRGIL.
  
TO MR. DRYDEN, ON HIS TRANSLATIONS.
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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]
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GEORGICS.
 I. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
 III. 
BOOK III.
 IV. 
BOOK IV.
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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.
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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. 
CANTO I.
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CANTO II.
  
PASTORAL.
  
ELEGY.
  
ODE.
  
EPIGRAM.
  
SATIRE.
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CANTO III.
  
TRAGEDY.
  
THE EPIC.
 IV. 
CANTO IV.
  
ON THE YOUNG STATESMEN.
  
TARQUIN AND TULLIA.
  
SUUM CUIQUE.

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22

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

23

The blast of common censure could I fear,
Before your play my name should not appear;
For 'twill be thought, and with some colour too,
I pay the bribe I first received from you;
That mutual vouchers for our fame we stand,
And play the game into each other's hand;
And as cheap pen'orths to ourselves afford,
As Bessus and the brothers of the sword.
Such libels private men may well endure,
When states and kings themselves are not secure;
For ill men, conscious of their inward guilt,
Think the best actions on by-ends are built.
And yet my silence had not 'scaped their spite;
Then, envy had not suffered me to write;
For, since I could not ignorance pretend,
Such merit I must envy or commend.
24

So many candidates there stand for wit,
A place at court is scarce so hard to get:
In vain they crowd each other at the door;
For e'en reversions are all begged before:
Desert, how known soe'er, is long delayed,
And then, too, fools and knaves are better paid.
Yet, as some actions bear so great a name,
That courts themselves are just, for fear of shame;
So has the mighty merit of your play
Extorted praise, and forced itself a way.
'Tis here as 'tis at sea; who furthest goes,
Or dares the most, makes all the rest his foes.
Yet when some virtue much outgrows the rest,
It shoots too fast, and high, to be opprest;
As his heroic worth struck envy dumb,
Who took the Dutchman, and who cut the boom.
Such praise is yours, while you the passions move,
That 'tis no longer feigned, 'tis real love,
Where nature triumphs over wretched art;
We only warm the head, but you the heart.
25

Always you warm; and if the rising year,
As in hot regions, brings the sun too near,
'Tis but to make your fragrant spices blow,
Which in our cooler climates will not grow.
They only think you animate your theme
With too much fire, who are themselves all phlegm.
Prizes would be for lags of slowest pace,
Were cripples made the judges of the race.
Despise those drones, who praise, while they accuse,
The too much vigour of your youthful muse.
That humble style, which they your virtue make,
Is in your power; you need but stoop and take.
Your beauteous images must be allowed
By all, but some vile poets of the crowd.
But how should any sign-post dauber know
The worth of Titian, or of Angelo?
Hard features every bungler can command;
To draw true beauty, shows a master's hand.
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