neither excuses nor reasons from you: for I am but too well satisfy'd already. The Notes and Prefaces shall be short; because you shall get the more by saving paper.

JOHN DRYDEN.

LETTER XIV.

TO MR: JACOB TONSON.

MR. TONSON,

Friday Night. [f. Dec. 1695.]

MEETING Sir Robert Howard at the play-house this morning, and asking him how he lik'd my seaventh Eneid, he told me you had not brought it. He goes out of town to-morrow, being Satturday, after dinner. I desire you not to fail of carrying my manuscript for him to read in the country; and desire him to bring it up with him, when he comes next to town. I doubt you have not yet been with my Lord Chesterfield, and am in pain about it.

Yours

JOHN DRYDEN.

When you have leysure, I shou'd be glad to see how Mr. Congreve and you have worded my propositions for Virgil. When my sonne's play' is

• Perhaps the propositions for the second subscription. See Letter xi.

THE HUSBAND HIS OWN CUCKOLD, written by our author's second son, John, and published in July, 1696.

acted, I intend to translate again, if my health continue. Some time next week let me heare from

you, concerning the Propositions.

SIR,

LETTER XV.

TO MR. JACOB TONSON.

Friday forenoon. [f. Feb. 1695-6.]

I RECEIV'D your letter very kindly, because indeed I expected none; but thought you as very a tradesman as Bentley, who has curs'd our Virgil so heartily. I shall loose enough by your bill upon Mr. Knight; for after having taken it all in silver, and not in half-crowns neither, but shillings and sixpences, none of the money will go; for which reason I have sent it all back again, and as the less loss will receive it in guinneys at 29 shillings each. 'Tis troublesome to be a looser, but it was my own fault to accept it this way, which I did to avoyd more trouble.

I am not sorry that you will not allow any thing towards the Notes; for to make them good, wou'd have cost me half a yeare's time at least. Those I write shall be only marginall, to help the unlearned, who understand not the poeticall fables. The Prefaces, as I intend them, will be somewhat more learned. It wou'd require seaven yeares to

• Richard Bentley, a bookseller and printer, who lived in Russel Street, Covent Garden.

translate Virgil exactly. But I promise you once more to do my best in the four remaining books, as I have hitherto done in the foregoing.-Upon triall I find all of your trade are sharpers, and you not more than others; therefore I have not wholly left you. Mr. Aston does not blame you for getting as good a bargain as you cou'd, though I cou'd have gott an hundred pounds more: and you might have spared almost all your trouble, if you had thought fit to publish the proposalls for the first subscriptions; for I have guinneas offer'd me every day, if there had been room;' I believe, modestly speaking, I have refus'd already 25. I mislike nothing in your letter therefore, but onely your upbraiding me with the publique encouragement, and my own reputation concern'd in the notes; when I assure you I cou'd not make them to my mind in less than half a year's time. Get the first half of Virgil transcribed as soon as possibly you can; that I may put the notes to it; and you may have the other four books which lye ready for you, when you bring the former; that the press may stay as little as possibly it can. My Lord Chesterfield has been to visite me, but I durst say nothing of Virgil to him, for feare there shou'd be no void place for him: if there be, let me know; and tell me whether you have made room for the Duke of Devonshire. 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 XVI.

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, wch you made at Mr. Knights."

Yours,

J. DRYDEN.

Sir Ro: Howard 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.

$ See p. 45, n. 1. It was printed for Jacob Tonson, and published in 1696.

• Sir Robert Howard had been appointed Auditor of the Exchequer, in 1673, and held that office till his death. 1 Probably a goldsmith, and well known afterwards as the Cashier of the South-sca Company.

LETTER XVII.

TO MR. JACOB TONSON.

Thursday Morning. [f. Aug. 1696.]

MR. TONSON,

I HAD yesterday morning two watches sent me by Mr. Tompion, which I am to send my sonnes this week. 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 Encids 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.

The celebrated watchmaker, who was originally a

jacksmith.

• They were at this time at Rome.

VOL. I. PART II.

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