The Works of John Dryden, Vol. II

The Works of John Dryden, Vol.
II

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Title: The Works of John Dryden, Vol. II Now First Collected in
Eighteen Volumes. Illustrated With Notes, Historical, Critical, and
Explanatory, and a Life of the Author,
Author: Edited by Walter Scott
Release Date: April 26, 2004 [EBook #12166]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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The Works Of John Dryden,
Now First Collected In Eighteen Volumes.
Illustrated With Notes, Historical, Critical, And Explanatory, And A
Life Of The Author, By Walter Scott, Esq.

VOL. II. 1808.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME SECOND.
Dedication of Mr Congreve's edition of Dryden's Dramatic Works to
the Duke of Newcastle
The Wild Gallant, a Comedy Preface
The Rival Ladies, a Tragi-comedy Dedication to the Earl of Orrery
The Indian Queen, a Tragedy
The Indian Emperor, or the Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards
Dedication to the Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch Defence of an
Essay of Dramatic Poesy Connection of the Indian Emperor to the
Indian Queen
Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen Preface

THE WORKS OF JOHN DRYDEN.
VOL. II.

ADVERTISEMENT.
_Mr Congreve's edition of Dryden's dramatic works, in six volumes
12mo, printed for Tonson in 1735, has been chiefly resorted to for the
text of the Plays in the present edition, although the assistance of the
older copies, in quarto and folio, has been called in, where difficulties
occurred, or improvements were obvious. The preliminary
Dissertations, Dedications, and Prefaces, have been corrected from the
excellent edition of Mr Malone. Congreve appears deeply to have felt
the bequest, left him by his great predecessor, when, "just abandoning
the ungrateful stage" he made it his intreaty, that his successor would
be kind to his remains. Considerable pains have been bestowed by the
present editor in correcting the text. The notes are limited to the
explanation of such passages, as the fashion in language, in manners, or
in literature, has, in the space of a century, rendered doubtful or
obscure._

DEDICATION TO MR CONGREVE'S EDITION OF DRYDEN'S
DRAMATIC WORKS.

TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE[1], LORD
CHAMBERLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD _&c_.
[Footnote 1: Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcastle. No satire ever can
convey such bitter reproof as the high-strained eulogy of this dedication.
This great and wealthy man unblushingly received Congreve's tribute
of praise and gratitude, for his munificence in directing a splendid
monument to be raised over Dryden's remains. But the incense of the
dedicator was wasted on a block, more insensible than his Grace's
workmen could have dug from the quarry. Neither pride nor shame
could induce the Duke to accomplish what vanity had led him
voluntarily to propose; and the dedication, instead of producing a tomb
in honour of Dryden, will remain itself an eternal monument of the
patron's disgrace.]
My Lord, It is the fortune of this edition of the dramatic works of the
late Mr Dryden, to come into the world at a time, when your Grace has
just given order for erecting, at your own expense, a noble monument
to his memory.
This is an act of generosity, which has something in it so very
uncommon, that the most unconcerned and indifferent persons must be
moved with it. How much more must all such be affected by it, who
had any due regard for the personal merits of the deceased, or are
capable of any taste and distinction for the remains and elegant labours
of one of the greatest men, that our nation has produced!
That, which distinguisheth actions of pure and elevated generosity,
from those of a mixed and inferior nature, is nothing else but the
absolutely disinterested views of the agent.
My Lord, this being granted, in how fair a light does your munificence
stand? A munificence to the memory, to the ashes, of a man whom you
never saw--whom you never can see; and who, consequently, never
could, by any personal obligation, induce you to do this deed of bounty;
nor can he ever make you any acknowledgment for it, when it shall be
done.
It is evident, your Grace can have acted thus from no other motive but
your pure regard to merit; from your entire love for learning; and from
that accurate taste and discernment, which, by your studies, you have
so early attained to in