THE L I VES OF THE MOST EMINENT ENGLISH POETS; WITH CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THEIR WORK S. By SAMUEL JOHNSON. A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED. THE SECOND VOLUME. LONDON: PRINTED FOR C. BATHURST, J. BUCKLAND, W. STRAHAN, J.RIVING, MDCCLXXXIII. D R x D E N. 1 F the great poet whose life I am about to delineate, the curiosity which his reputation must excite, will require a display more ample than can now be given. His contemporaries, however they reverenced his genius, left his life unwritten ; and nothing therefore can be known beyond what casual mention and uncertain tradition have supplied. 1 JOHN DRYDEN was born August 9, 1631, at Aldwincle near Oundle, the son of Erasmus Dryden of Tichmersh; who was the third son of Sir Erasmus Dryden, Baronet, of Canons Alby. All these places are in Northamptonshire ; but the original VOL. II. B stock |