The Dramatic Works of John Dryden Vol. I. - With a Life of the Author | Page 4

the information he had when he commenced it. The kindness of Mr. Octavius Gilchrist, who undertook a journey to Northamptonshire to examine the present state of Rushton, where Dryden often lived, and of Mr. Finlay of Glasgow, who favoured the Editor with the use of some original editions, falls here to be gratefully acknowledged.
In collecting the poetry of Dryden, some hymns translated from the service of the Catholic Church were recovered, by the favour of Captain MacDonogh of the Inverness Militia.[2] As the body of the work was then printed off, they were inserted in the Life of the Author; but should a second impression of this edition be required by the public, they shall be transferred to their proper place. To the Letters of Dryden, published in Mr. Malone's edition of his prose works, the Editor has been enabled to add one article, by the favour of Mrs. White of Bownanhall, Gloucestershire. Those preserved at Knowles were examined at the request of a noble friend, and the contents appeared unfit for publication. Dryden's translations of Fresnoy's Art of Painting, and of the Life of Xavier, are inserted without abridgment, for reasons which are elsewhere alleged.[3] From the version of Maimbourg's "History of the League," there is an extract given, which may be advantageously read along with the Duke of Guise, and the Vindication of that play. The prefaces and dedications are, of course, prefixed to the pieces to which they belong; but those who mean to study them with reference to theatrical criticism, will do well to follow the order recommended by Mr. Malone.[4]
Several pieces published in Derrick's edition of Dryden's poetry, being obviously spurious, are here published separately from his authentic poetry, and with a suitable note of suspicion prefixed to each. They might indeed have been altogether discarded without diminishing the value of the work. Some account might be here given of the various editions of Dryden's poems; but notices of this kind have been liberally scattered through the Life and preliminary matter.
Upon the whole, it is hoped, that as the following is the first complete edition of the Works of Dryden, it will be found, in accuracy of text and copiousness of illustration, not altogether unworthy of the time, labour, and expense which have been ungrudgingly bestowed upon an object so important to English literature.
FOOTNOTES
[1] The octavo edition of the "Annus Mirabilis" did not fall into my hands till the volume containing it was printed off. It contains two important variations: as, stanza 4, the year, read THEIR year; stanza 53, their main, read MEN; both of which the reader is requested to correct. Also an erratum in verse 104, line 2, where the word fortune should be VIRTUE.
[2] By the hands of Mrs. Jackson, who has honoured me with a note, stating, that they are mentioned in Butler's "Tour through Italy;" that after Butler's death, the translations passed into the hands of the celebrated Dr. Alban, whence they were transferred to those of the present possessor.
[3] Vol. i. p. 283; vol. xvii.
[4] Which is, the Essay of Dramatic Poesy, the Defence of that Essay, the Preface to the Mock Astrologer, the Essay on Heroic Plays, the Defence of the Epilogue to the Second Part of the Conquest of Granada, the Grounds of Criticism in Tragedy, and the Answer to Rymer.

CONTENTS
OF
VOLUME FIRST.
The Life of John Dryden
SECT. I. Preliminary remarks on the Poetry of England before the Civil Wars--The Life of Dryden from his Birth till the Restoration--His Early Poems, including the Annus Mirabilis
SECT. II. Revival of the Drama at the Restoration--Heroic Plays-- Comedies of Intrigue--Commencement of Dryden's Dramatic Career--The Wild Gallant--Rival Ladies--Indian Queen and Emperor--Dryden's Marriage-- Essay on Dramatic Poetry, and subsequent Controversy with Sir Robert Howard--The Maiden Queen--The Tempest--Sir Martin Mar-all--The Mock Astrologer--The Royal Martyr--The two Parts of the Conquest of Granada-- Dryden's situation at this period
SECT. III. Heroic Plays--The Rehearsal--Marriage à la Mode--The Assignation--Controversy with Clifford--with Leigh--with Ravenscroft-- Massacre of Amboyna--State of Innocence
SECT. IV. Dryden's controversy with Settle--with Rochester--He is assaulted in Rose Street--Aureng-Zebe--Dryden meditates an Epic Poem-- All for Love--Limberham--Oedipus--Troilus and Cressida--The Spanish Friar--Dryden supposed to be in opposition to the Court
SECT. V. Dryden engages in Politics--Absalom and Achitophel, Part First --The Medal--MacFlecknoe--Absalom and Achitophel, Part Second--The Duke of Guise
SECT. VI. Threnodia Augustalis--Albion and Albanius--Dryden becomes a Catholic--The Controversy of Dryden with Stillingfleet--The Hind and Panther--Life of St. Francis Xavier--Consequences of the Revolution to Dryden--Don Sebastian--King Arthur--Cleomenes--Love Triumphant
SECT. VII. State of Dryden's Connections in Society after the Revolution--Juvenal and Persius--Smaller Pieces--Eleanora--Third Miscellany--Virgil--Ode to St. Cecilia--Dispute with Milbourne--with Blackmore--Fables--The Author's Death and Funeral--His Private Character--Notices of his Family
SECT. VIII. The State of Dryden's Reputation at his Death, and afterwards--The general Character of his Mind--His Merit as a Dramatist --As a Lyrical Poet--As a Satirist--As a Narrative Poet--As a Philosophical and Miscellaneous Poet--As a Translator--As