"turned on the Greeks by one who were as witty "as himself. 66 They destroy not, if they are granted, the "foundation of the fabrick: only take away from "the beauty of the symmetry; for example, the "faults in the character of the King, in King and "No-king, are not, as he calls them, such as ren❝der him detestable, but only imperfections which "accompany human nature, and are for the most part excused by the violence of his love; so that they destroy not our pity or concernment for "him: this answer may be applied to most of his objections of that kind. 66 "And Rollo committing many murders, when he is answerable but for one, is too severely arraigned by him; for, it adds to our horror and detestation "of the criminal; and poetick justice is not neg"lected neither; for we stab him in our minds for "every offence which he commits; and the point, "which the poet is to gain on the audience, is not "so much in the death of an offender as the raising "an horror of his crimes. "That the criminal should neither be wholly "guilty, nor wholly innocent, but so participating ❝of both, as to move both pity and terrour, is cer tainly a good rule, but not perpetually to be ob"served; for, that were to make all tragedies too "much alike; which objection he foresaw, but has "not fully answered. : "To conclude, therefore; if the plays of the "ancients are more correctly plotted, ours are more "beautifully written. And, if we can raise passions as high on worse foundations, it shews our genius "in tragedy is greater; for in all other parts of it "the English have manifestly excelled them." THE original of the following letter is preserved in the Library at Lambeth, and was kindly imparted to the publick by the reverend Dr. Vyse. Copy of an original Letter from John Dryden, (Superscribed) "Al illustrissimo Sigre "Franca per Mantoua. "Dear Sons, "In Roma. "Sept. the 3d, our style. 66 66 66 "Being now at Sir William Bowyer's in the coun"try, I cannot write at large, because I find myself "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. Thomas Ball, merchants. I am of 66 your opinion, that by Tonson's means almost all "our letters have miscarried for this last year. But, "however, he has missed of his design in the Dedi"cation, though he had prepared the book for it; "for, in every figure of Æneas he has caused him to "be drawn like King William, with a hooked nose. "After my return to town, I intend to alter a play of "Sir Robert Howard's, written long since, and lately put into my hands; 'tis called The Conquest of "China by the Tartars. It will cost me six weeks 66 66 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 pa"troness of musick. 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. Bridgeman, "whose parents are your mother's friends. I hope "to send you thirty guineas between Michaelmas ❝ and Christmas, of which I will give you an ac"count when I come to town. I remember the "counsel you give me in your letter; but dissem "bling, though lawful in some cases, is not my "talent; yet, for your sake, I will struggle with the 66 plain openness of my nature, and keep in my just "resentments against that degenerate order. 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, before hand, never to be re"warded, 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 myself, I am sure ❝is true, and all things hitherto have happened ac"cordingly 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. 66 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; 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 neg"ligent of me. I am called to dinner, and cannot go on with this letter, which I desire you to ex“cuse; and am "Your most affectionate father, "JOHN DRYDEN.” END OF THE NINTH VOLUME. Printed by A. Strahan, New-Street-Square, London. |