Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

"To conclude, therefore: if the plays of "the ancients are more correctly plotted, "ours are more beautifully written. And if "we can raise paffions as high on worse foun"dations, it fhews our genius in tragedy is greater; for in all other parts of it the Eng"lish have manifeftly excelled them."

[ocr errors]

THE original of the following letter is preferved in the Library at Lambeth, and was kindly imparted to the publick by the reverend Dr. Vyfe.

Copy of an original Letter from John
Dryden, Efq. to his fons in Italy, from
a MS. in the Lambeth Library, marked
N° 933. p. 56.

(Superfcribed)

"Al illuftriffimo Sigre

"Carlo Dryden Camariere

"d'Honore A. S. S.

"In Roma.

"Franca per Mantoua.

"Sept. the 3d, our style."

"Dear Sons,

"Being now at Sir William Bowyer's in "the country, I cannot write at large, be

"cause

* caufe I find myself fomewhat indifpofed with a cold, and am thick of hearing, ra "ther worse than I was in town. I am glad "to find, by your letter of July 26th, your ftyle, that you are both in health; but wonder you fhould think me fo negligent. as to forget to give you an account of the "fhip in which your parcel is to come. I "have written to you two or three letters con.

66

66

66

cerning it, which I have fent by fafe 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 fhip's ❝ name, which your mother will enquire, "and put it into her letter, which is joined "with mine. But the mafter's name I re-. "member he is called Mr. Ralph Thorp; "the fhip is bound to Leghorn, configned to "Mr. Peter and Mr. Thomas Ball, mer"chants. I am of your opinion, that by "Tonfon's means almost all our letters have "miscarried for this last year. But, how

ever, he has miffed of his design in the De"dication, though he had prepared the book "for it; for in every figure of Eneas he has "caused him to be drawn like King William, "with a hooked nofe. After my return to

[ocr errors][merged small]

"town,

"town, I intend to alter a play of Sir Ro "bert Howard's, written long fince, and lately 66 put into my hands: 'tis called The Con

66

queft of China by the Tartars. It will cost "me fix weeks ftudy, with the probable be"nefit of an hundred pounds. In the mean "time I am writing a fong for St. Cecilia's "Feast, who, you know, is the patronefs of "mufick. This is troublefome, and no way

beneficial; but I could not deny the Stew❝ards of the Feaft, who came in a body to "me to defire that kindness, one of them "being Mr. Bridgman, whofe parents are

you

your mother's friends, I hope to fend "thirty guineas between Michaelmas and "Christmas, of which I will give you an "account when I come to town. I remem"ber the counsel you give me in your letter; "but diffembling, though lawful in fome cafes, is not my talent; yet, for your fake, "I will ftruggle with the plain opennefs of my nature, and keep in my just resentments

[ocr errors]

against that degenerate order. In the "mean time, I flatter not myfelf with any "manner of hopes, but do my duty, and "fuffer for God's fake; being affured, be"fore-hand, never to be rewarded, though

"the

the times fhould alter. Towards the lat"ter end of this month, September, Charles "will begin to recover his perfect health, "according to his nativity, which, cafting "it myself, I am fure is true, and all things hitherto have happened accordingly to "the very time that I predicted them: I

[ocr errors]

hope at the fame time to recover more "health, according to my age. Remember "me to poor Harry, whofe prayers I ear"neftly defire. My Virgil fucceeds in the "world beyond its defert or my expecta"tion. You know the profits might have "been more; but neither my confcience

66

nor my honour would fuffer me to take

:

[ocr errors]

them but I never can repent of my conftancy, fince I am thoroughly perfuaded "of the justice of the caufe for which I "fuffer. It has pleafed God to raise up 6 many friends to me amongst my enemies,

[ocr errors]

though they who ought to have been my "friends are negligent of me. I am called "to dinner, and cannot go on with this. "letter, which I defire you to excufe; and am

"Your most affectionate father,

[blocks in formation]

SMITH.

E

DMUND SMITH is one of thofe

lucky writers who have, without much labour, attained high reputation, and who are mentioned with reverence rather for the poffeffion than the exertion of uncommon abilities.

Of his life little is known; and that little claims no praise but what can be given to intellectual excellence, feldom employed to any virtuous purpose. His character, as given by Mr. Oldifworth, with all the

par

tiality of friendfhip, which is faid by Dr. Burton to fhow "what fine things one man "of parts can fay to another," and which, however, comprises great part of what can be known of Mr. Smith, it is better to

tran

« PreviousContinue »