ADVERTISEMENT. THE Booksellers having determined to publish a body of English Poetry, I was persuaded to promise them a Preface to the Works of each Author; an undertaking, as it was then presented to my mind, not very extensive or difficult. My purpose was only to have allotted to every Poet an Advertisement, like those which we find in the French Miscellanies, containing a few dates and a general character; but I have been led beyond my intention, I hope by the honest desire of giving useful pleasure. In this minute kind of History, the succession of facts is not easily discovered; and I am not without suspicion that some of Dryden's works are placed in wrong years. I have followed Langbaine, as the best authority for his plays, and, if I shall hereafter obtain a more correct chronology, will publish it; but I do not yet know that my account is erroneous.2 Dryden's Remarks on Rymer have been somewhere 3 printed before. The former edition I have not seen. This was tran scribed for the press from his own manuscript." As this undertaking was occasional and unforeseen, I must be supposed to have engaged in it with less provision of mate Originally tedious. 2 The dates assigned to Dryden's Plays by Johnson are corrected in this Edition from Dryden's own list of his plays and from the first editions, &c. 3 In 1711 prefixed to an octavo edition of Beaumont and Fletcher, and since included in Malone's edition of his Prose Works, and Scott's edition of his Works. Its place therefore, in this edition of the Lives, I have thought proper to supply by two characteristic letters of Dryden's discovered since Scott's edition, and consequently not included in any edition of Dryden's Works. From the original, then in Garrick's possession. rials than might have been accumulated by longer premeditation. Of the later writers at least I might, by attention and inquiry, have gleaned many particulars, which would have diversified and enlivened my Biography. These omissions, which it is now useless to lament, have been often supplied by the kindness of Mr. Steevens and others; and great assistance has been given me by Mr. Spence's Collections, of which I consider the communication as a favour worthy of public acknowledgment." 5 The quotations from Spence's MSS. in this edition of the Lives I have corrected by Mr. Singer's Edition of Spence, 1 vol. 8vo., 1820. The first Advertisement, dated March 15, 1779, contains this additional paragraph: "I had been told that in the College of Physicians there is some memorial of Dryden's funeral, but my intelligence was not true; the story, therefore, wants the credit which such a testimony would have given it. There is in Farquhar's Letters an indistinct mention of it as irregular and disorderly, and of the oration which was then spoke. More than this I have not discovered." His learned Puerilities - His Mistress'- His Compliance with the Times - His Latin Poetry - His 'Davideis' His Love of Solitude - Death and Burial in Westminster Abbey The Metaphysical Poets Pindarism Born at Dublin - Educated at Oxford and Lincoln's Inn Addicted to Gaming - Becomes unexpectedly a Poet - Sides with Charles I. — Writes 'Cooper's Hill'-Employed by Charles I. Made Knight of the Bath and Surveyor of the Works His two Wives Becomes Insane Death and Born in London - Educated at St. Paul's and at Cambridge and 'Lycidas' - Visits Italy Sees Grotius and Galileo- don-His School' - Marries - Publishes his Poems- Writes on Divorce Sides with the Parliament against Charles I. - Made Secretary of the Latin Tongue to the Parliament and Cromwell Prints a Reply to Sal- masius Becomes Blind Loses his Secretaryship — Is in Danger at the Restoration Receives a Pardon - Publishes Paradise Lost' and 'Para- dise Regained' - His three Wives - His Children and Nephews - Dies in London, and is buried in St. Giles', Cripplegate - His Works and Cha- Born at Strensham, in Worcestershire Educated either at Oxford or Cam- bridge Enters the service of the Countess of Kent-Employed by Selden, and acquires the Friendship of Cooper the painter - Made Steward of Ludlow Castle Marries Sir Samuel Luke - Publishes Hudibras' in three Parts His Poverty - Death and Burial in St. Paul's, Covent Garden Born at Ditchley, in Oxfordshire Favourite with Charles II. Early and continued Dissipation His Quarrel with Lord Mulgrave Burnet's Account of his last Illness Preternatural Intelligence of his Father's Death Returns to England at the Restoration His love of Endeavours to refine the English Language Death and Burial in Sacharissa His second Marriage Is a Member of the Long Parliament Cromwell and Hampden Publishes his Poems - His Plot in favour of Charles I. His Life in danger Escapes with a heavy Fine Lives in Born at Aldwinkle, in Northamptonshire - Educated at Westminster and Cam- bridge His late appearance as a Poet - His first Verses His Panegyric on Cromwell His Poem on the Restoration - His first Play - Revival of the Drama - Heroic Plays with Rhyme - Becomes a constant writer for the Stage Made Poet-Laureate - His controversy with Settle and Shadwell Is ridiculed by the Duke of Buckingham in 'The Rehearsal '— Is beaten by bullies hired by the Earl of Rochester - His Political and Religious Satires Publishes Absalom and Achitophel''The Medal'-' Mac Flecknoe '- Is converted to the Church of Rome - Publishes The Hind and the Panther' - Loses his office of Poet-Laureate - His Translations from Juvenal, Ovid, and Persius His Translation of Virgil - Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, and Fables - |