Dryden wrote many others, published in six volumes of Miscellanies, and
in other collections. They consist of translations from the Greek and
Latin poets, Epistles to several persons, prologues, and epilogues to
several plays, elegies, epitaphs, and songs. His last work was his
Fables, ancient and modern, translated into verse from Homer, Ovid,
Boccace, and Chaucer. To this work, which is perhaps, one of his most
imperfect, is prefixed by way of preface, a critical account of the
authors, from whom the fables are translated. Among the original pieces,
the Ode to St. Cecilia's day is justly esteemed one of the most elevated
in any language. It is impossible for a poet to read this without being
filled with that sort of enthusiasm which is peculiar to the inspired
tribe, and which Dryden largely felt when he composed it. The turn
of the verse is noble, the transitions surprizing, the language and
sentiments just, natural, and heightened. We cannot be too lavish in
praise of this Ode: had Dryden never wrote any thing besides, his name
had been immortal. Mr. Pope has the following beautiful lines in its
praise.[6]
Hear how Timotheus varied lays surprize,
And bid alternate passions fall and rise!
While, at each change, the son of Lybian Jove
Now burns with glory, and then melts with love:
Now his fierce eyes with sparkling fury glow;
Now sighs steal out, and tears begin to flow;
Persians and Greeks like turns of nature found,
And the world's victor flood subdued by sound:
The power of music all our hearts allow;
And what Timotheus was, is Dryden now.
As to our author's performances in prose, besides his Dedications and
Prefaces, and controversial Writings, they consist of the Lives of
Plutarch and Lucian, prefixed to the Translation of those Authors, by
several Hands; the Life of Polybius; before the Translation of that
Historian by Sir Henry Sheers, and the Preface to the Dialogue
concerning Women, by William Walsh, Esquire.
Before we give an account of the dramatic works of Dryden, it will be
proper here to insert a story concerning him, from the life of Congreve
by Charles Wilson esquire, which that gentleman received from the lady
whom Mr. Dryden celebrates by the name of Corinna, of whom it appears he
was very fond; and who had the relation from lady Chudleigh. Dryden with
all his undemanding was weak enough to be fond of Judicial Astrology,
and used to calculate the nativity of his children. When his lady was in
labour with his son Charles, he being told it was decent to withdraw,
laid his watch on the table, begging one of the ladies then present, in
a most solemn manner, to take exact notice of the very minute the child
was born, which she did, and acquainted him with it. About a week after,
when his lady was pretty well recovered, Mr. Dryden took occasion
to tell her that he had been calculating the child's nativity, and
observed, with grief, that he was born in an evil hour, for Jupiter,
Venus, and the sun, were all under the earth, and the lord of his
ascendant afflicted with a hateful square of Mars and Saturn. If he
lives to arrive at his 8th year (says he) 'he will go near to die a
violent death on his very birth-day, but if he should escape, as I see
but small hopes, he will in the 23d year be under the very same evil
direction, and if he should escape that also, the 33d or 34th year is, I
fear'--here he was interrupted by the immoderate grief of his lady, who
could no longer hear calamity prophecy'd to befall her son. The time at
last came, and August was the inauspicious month in which young Dryden
was to enter into the eighth year of his age. The court being in
progress, and Mr. Dryden at leisure, he was invited to the country seat
of the earl of Berkshire, his brother-in-law, to keep the long vacation
with him in Charlton in Wilts; his lady was invited to her uncle
Mordaunt's, to pass the remainder of the summer. When they came to
divide the children, lady Elizabeth would have him take John, and suffer
her to take Charles; but Mr. Dryden was too absolute, and they parted in
anger; he took Charles with him, and she was obliged to be content
with John. When the fatal day came, the anxiety of the lady's spirits
occasioned such an effervescence of blood, as threw her into, so violent
a fever, that her life was despaired of, till a letter came from Mr.
Dryden, reproving her for her womanish credulity, and assuring her,
that her child was well, which recovered her spirits, and in six weeks
after she received an ecclaircissement-of the whole affair. Mr. Dryden,
either thro' fear of being reckoned superstitious, or thinking it a
science beneath his study, was extremely cautious of letting any one
know that he was a dealer in Astrology; therefore could not excuse his
absence, on his son's anniversary, from a general hunting match lord
Berkshire had made, to which all the adjacent gentlemen, were invited.
When he went out, he took care to set the boy a double exercise in the
Latin tongue, which he taught his children himself, with a strict charge
not to stir out of the room till his return; well knowing the task he
had set him would take up longer time. Charles was performing his duty,
in obedience to his father, but as ill fate would have it, the stag
made towards the house; and the noise alarming the servants, they hasted
out to, see the sport. One of them took young Dryden by the hand, and
led him out to see it also, when just as they came to the gate, the stag
being at bay with the dogs, made a bold push and leaped over the court
wall, which was very low, and very old; and the dogs following, threw
down a part of the wall ten yards in length, under which Charles Dryden
lay buried. He was immediately dug out, and after six weeks languishing
in a dangerous way he recovered; so far Dryden's prediction was
fulfilled: In the twenty-third year of his age, Charles fell from the
top of an old tower belonging to the Vatican at Rome, occasioned by a
swimming in his head, with which he was seized, the heat of the day
being excessive. He again recovered, but was ever after in a languishing
sickly state. In the thirty-third year of his age, being returned to
England, he was unhappily drowned at Windsor. He had with another
gentleman swam twice over the Thames; but returning a third time, it was
supposed he was taken with the cramp, because he called out for help,
tho' too late. Thus the father's calculation proved but too prophetical.
Mr. Dryden died the first of May 1701, and was interred in Westminster
Abby. On the 19th of April he had been very bad with the gout, and
erisipelas in one leg; but he was then somewhat recovered, and designed
to go abroad; on the Friday following he eat a partridge for his supper,
and going to take a turn in the little garden behind his house in
Gerard-street, he was seized with a violent pain under the ball of the
great toe of his right foot; that, unable to stand, he cried out
for help, and was carried in by his servants, when upon sending for
surgeons, they found a small black spot in the place affected; he
submitted to their present applications, and when gone called his
son Charles to him, using these words. 'I know this black spot is a
mortification: I know also, that it will seize my head, and that they
will attempt to cut off my leg; but I command you my son, by your filial
duty, that you do not suffer me to be dismembered:' As he foretold,
the event proved, and his son was too dutiful to disobey his father's
commands.
On the Wednesday morning following, he breathed his last, under the most
excruciating pains, in the 69th year of his age; and left behind him the
lady Elizabeth, his wife, and three sons. Lady Elizabeth survived him
eight years, four of which she was a lunatic; being deprived of her
senses by a nervous fever in 1704.
John, another of his sons, died of a fever at Rome; and Charles as has
been observed, was drowned in the Thames; there is no account when, or
at what place Harry his third son died.
Charles Dryden, who was some time usher to pope Clement II. was a young
gentleman of a very promising genius; and in the affair of his father's
funeral, which I am about to relate, shewed himself a man of spirit and
resolution.[7]
The day after Mr. Dryden's death, the dean of Westminster sent word to
Mr. Dryden's widow, that he would make a present of the ground, and all
other Abbey-fees for the funeral: The lord Halifax likewise sent to
the lady Elizabeth, and to Mr. Charles Dryden, offering to defray the
expences of our poet's funeral, and afterwards to bestow 500 l. on a
monument in the Abbey: which generous offer was accepted. Accordingly,
on Sunday following, the company being assembled, the corpse was put
into a velvet hearse, attended by eighteen mourning coaches. When they
were just ready to move, lord Jefferys, son of lord chancellor Jeffreys,
a name dedicated to infamy, with some of his rakish companions riding
by, asked whose funeral it was; and being told it was Mr. Dryden's, he
protested he should not be buried in that private manner, that he
would himself, with the lady Elizabeth's leave, have the honour of the
interment, and would bestow a thousand pounds on a monument in the Abbey
for him. This put a stop to their procession; and the lord Jefferys,
with several of the gentlemen, who had alighted from their coaches, went
up stairs to the lady, who was sick in bed. His lordship repeated the
purport of what he had said below; but the lady Elizabeth refusing her
consent, he fell on his knees, vowing never to rise till his request
was granted. The lady under a sudden surprise fainted away, and lord
Jeffery's pretending to have obtained her consent, ordered the body to
be carried to Mr. Russel's an undertaker in Cheapside, and to be left
there till further orders. In the mean time the Abbey was lighted up,
the ground opened, the choir attending, and the bishop waiting some
hours to no purpose for the corpse. The next day Mr. Charles Dryden
waited on my lord Halifax, and the bishop; and endeavoured to excuse his
mother, by relating the truth. Three days after the undertaker having
received no orders, waited on the lord Jefferys; who pretended it was a
drunken frolic, that he remembered nothing of the matter, and he might
do what he pleased with the body. Upon this, the undertaker waited on
the lady Elizabeth, who desired a day's respite, which was granted. Mr.
Charles Dryden immediately wrote to the lord Jefferys, who returned for
answer, that he knew nothing of the matter, and would be troubled no
more about it. Mr. Dryden hereupon applied again to the lord Halifax,
and the bishop of Rochester, who absolutely refused to do any thing in
the affair.
In this distress, Dr. Garth, who had been Mr. Dryden's intimate friend,
sent for the corpse to the college of physicians, and proposed a
subscription; which succeeding, about three weeks after Mr. Dryden's
decease, Dr. Garth pronounced a fine latin oration over the body, which
was conveyed from the college, attended by a numerous train of coaches
to Westminster-Abbey, but in very great disorder. At last the corpse
arrived at the Abbey, which was all unlighted. No organ played, no
anthem sung; only two of the singing boys preceded the corpse, who sung
an ode of Horace, with each a small candle in their hand. When the
funeral was over, Mr. Charles Dryden sent a challenge to lord Jefferys,
who refusing to answer it, he sent several others, and went often
himself; but could neither get a letter delivered, nor admittance to
speak to him; which so incensed him, that finding his lordship refused
to answer him like a gentleman, he resolved to watch an opportunity,
and brave him to fight, though with all the rules of honour; which
his lordship hearing, quitted the town, and Mr. Charles never had an
opportunity to meet him, though he sought it to his death, with the
utmost application.
Mr. Dryden had no monument erected to him for several years; to which
Mr. Pope alludes in his epitaph intended for Mr. Rowe, in this line.
Beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies.
In a note upon which we are informed, that the tomb of Mr. Dryden was
erected upon this hint, by Sheffield duke of Buckingham, to which was
originally intended this epitaph.
This Sheffield raised.--The sacred dust below,
Was Dryden once; the rest who does not know.
Which was since changed into the plain inscription now upon it, viz.
J. DRYDEN,
Natus Aug. 9. 1631.
Mortus Maii 1. 1701.
Johannes Sheffield, Dux Buckinghamienfis secit.
The character of Mr. Dryden has been drawn by various hands; some have
done it in a favourable, others in an opposite manner. The bishop of
Sarum in the history of his own times, says, that the stage was defiled
beyond all example. 'Dryden, the great master of dramatic poetry, being
a monster of immodesty and impurities of all sorts.'[8] The late lord
Lansdown took upon himself to vindicate Mr. Dryden's character from this
severe imputation; which was again answered, and apologies for it, by
Mr. Burnet, the bishop's son. But not to dwell on these controversies
about his character, let us hear what Mr. Congreve says in the
dedication of Dryden's works to the duke of Newcastle: Congreve knew him
intimately, and as he could have no motive to deceive the world in that
particular; and being a man of untainted morals, none can suspect his
authority; and by his account we shall see, that Dryden was indeed as
amiable in private life, as a Man, as he was illustrious in the eye of
the public, as a Poet.
Mr. Dryden (says Congreve) 'had personal qualities, to challenge love
and esteem from all who were truly acquainted with him. He was of a
nature exceeding humane and compassionate, easily forgiving injuries,
and capable of a prompt and sincere reconciliation with those who had
offended him.--His friendship, where he professed it, went much beyond
his professions.--As his reading had been very extensive, so was he very
happy in a memory, tenacious of every thing he had read. He was not more
possessed of knowledge, than he was communicative of it; but then,
his communication of it was by no means pedantic, or imposed upon the
conversation, but just such, and went so far, as by the natural turns of
the discourse in which he was engaged, it was necessarily prompted, or
required. He was extremely ready and gentle in the correction of the
errors of any writer, who thought fit to consult him, and full as ready
and patient to admit of the reprehension of others in respect of his
own oversight or mistakes. He was of a very easy, I may say, of very
pleasing access; but something slow, and as it were dissident in his
advances to others. He had something in his nature that abhorred
intrusion in any society whatsoever; and indeed, it is to be regretted,
that he was rather blameable on the other extreme. He was of all men I
ever knew, the most modest, and the most easy to be discountenanced
in his approaches, either to his superiors or his equals.--As to his
writings--may venture to say in general terms, that no man hath written
in our language so much, and so various matter; and in so various
manners so well. Another thing I may say, was very peculiar to him,
which is, that his parts did not decline with his years, but that he was
an improving writer to the last, even to near 70 years of age, improving
even in fire and imagination as well as in judgment, witness his Ode
on St. Cecilia's Day, and his fables, his latest performances. He was
equally excellent in verse and prose: His prose had all the clearness
imaginable, without deviating to the language or diction of poetry, and
I have heard him frequently own with pleasure, that if he had any talent
for writing prose; it was owing to his frequently having read the
writings of the great archbishop Tillotson. In his poems, his diction
is, wherever his subject requires it, so sublime and so truly poetical,
that it's essence, like that of pure gold cannot be destroyed. Take his
verses, and divest them of their rhimes, disjoint them of their numbers,
transpose their expressions, make what arrangement or disposition you
please in his words; yet shall there eternally be poetry, and something
which will be found incapable of being reduced to absolute prose; what
he has done in any one species, or distinct kind of writing, would
have been sufficient to have acquired him a very great name. If he had
written nothing but his Prefaces, or nothing but his Songs, or his
Prologues, each of them would have entitled him to the preference and
distinction of excelling in its kind.'
Besides Mr. Dryden's numerous other performances, we find him the author
of twenty-seven dramatic pieces, of which the following is an account.
1. The Wild Gallant, a Comedy, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed
in 4to, Lond. 1699.
2. The Indian Emperor; or the Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards, acted
with great applause, and written in verse.
3. An Evening's Love; or the Mock Astrologer, a Comedy, acted at the
theatre-royal, and printed in 4to. 1671. It is for the most part taken
from Corneille's Feint Astrologue, Moliere's Depit Amoreux, and Precieux
Ridicules.
4. Marriage A-la-mode, a Comedy, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed
in 4to. 1673, dedicated to the earl of Rochester.
5. Araboyna, a Tragedy, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed in 4to
1673. It is dedicated to the lord Clifford of Chudleigh. The plot of
this play is chiefly founded in history, giving an account of the
cruelty of the Dutch towards our countrymen at Amboyna, A.D. 1618.
6. The Mistaken Husband, a Comedy, acted at the theatre-royal, and
printed in 4to. 1675. Mr. Langbaine tells us, Mr. Dryden was not the
author of this play, tho' it was adopted by him as an orphan, which
might well deserve the charity of a scene he bestowed on it. It is
in the nature of low comedy, or farce, and written on the model of
Plautus's Menæchmi.
7. Aurenge-zebe; or the Great Mogul, a Tragedy, dedicated to the earl
of Mulgrave, acted 1676. The story is related at large in Taverner's
voyages to the Indies, vol. i. part 2. This play is written in heroic
verse.
8. The Tempest; or the inchanted Island, a Comedy, acted at the duke of
York's theatre, and printed in 4to. 1676. This is only an alteration
of Shakespear's Tempest, by Sir William Davenant and Dryden. The new
characters in it were chiefly the invention and writing of Sir William,
as acknowledged by Mr. Dryden in his preface.
9. Feigned Innocence; or Sir Martin Mar-all, a Comedy, acted at the duke
of York's theatre, and printed in 4to. 1678. The foundation of this
is originally French, the greatest part of the plot and some of the
language being taken from Moliere's Eteurdi.
10. The Assignation; or Love in a Nunnery, a Comedy, acted at the
theatre-royal, and printed in 4to. 1678, addressed to Sir Charles
Sedley. This play, Mr. Langbain tells us, was damned on the stage, or as
the author expresses it in the epistle dedicatory, succeeded ill in the
representation; but whether the fault was in the play itself, or in
the lameness of the action, or in the numbers of its enemies, who came
resolved to damn it for the title, he will not pretend any more than the
author to determine.
11. The State of Innocence; or the Fall of Man, an Opera, written in
heroic verse, and printed in 4to. 1678. It is dedicated to her royal
highness the duchess of York, on whom the author passes the following
extravagant compliment.
'Your person is so admirable, that it can scarce receive any addition
when it shall be glorified; and your soul which shines thro' it, finds
it of a substance so near her own, that she will be pleased to pass an
age within it, and to be confined to such a palace.'
To this piece is prefixed an apology for heroic poetry, and poetic
licence. The subject is taken from Milton's Paradise Lost, of which it
must be acknowledged, it is a poor imitation.
12. The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards, in two parts, two
Tragi-Comedies, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed 1678. These two
plays are dedicated to the duke of York, and were received on the stage
with great applause. The story is to be found in Mariana's history of
Spain, B. 25. chap. 18.
These plays are written in rhime. To the first is prefixed an essay on
heroic plays, and to the second an essay on the dramatic poetry of the
last age.
13. All for Love, or the World well Lost, a Tragedy, acted at the
theatre-royal, and printed in quarto, 1678. It is dedicated to the earl
of Danby.
This is the only play of Mr. Dryden's which he says ever pleased
himself; and he tells us, that he prefers the scene between Anthony and
Ventidius in the first act, to any thing he had written in this kind.
It is full of fine sentiments, and the most poetical and beautiful
descriptions of any of his plays: the description of Cleopatra in her
barge, exceeds any thing in poetry, except Shakespear's, and his own St.
Cecilia.
14. Tyrannic Love; or the Royal Martyr, a Tragedy, acted at the
theatre-royal 1679. It is written in rhime, and dedicated to the duke of
Monmouth.
15. Troilus and Cressida; or Truth found too late; a Tragedy, acted at
the duke's theatre, and printed in 4to. 1679. It is dedicated to the
earl of Sunderland, and has a preface prefixed concerning grounds
of criticism in tragedy. This play was originally Shakespear's, and
revised, and altered by Mr. Dryden, who added several new scenes.--The
plot taken from Chaucer's Troilus and Cressida, which that poet
translated from the original story written in Latin verse, by Lollius, a
Lombard.
17. Secret Love; or the Maiden Queen, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at the
theatre-royal, and printed in 4to, 1697. The serious part of the plot is
founded on the history of Cleobuline, Queen of Corinth.
18. The Rival Ladies, a Tragi-Comedy, acted at the theatre-royal 1679.
It is dedicated to the earl of Orrery. The dedication is in the nature
of a preface, in defence of English verse or rhime.
19. The Kind Keeper; or Mr. Limberham, a Comedy, acted at the duke's
theatre, printed in 4to. 1680. It is dedicated to John lord Vaughan. Mr.
Langbain says, it so much exposed the keepers about town, that all the
old letchers were up in arms against it, and damned it the third night.
20. The Spanish Fryar; or the Double Discovery, a Tragi Comedy, acted
at the duke's theatre, and printed 1681. It is dedicated to John lord
Haughton. This is one of Mr. Dryden's best plays, and still keeps
possession of the stage. It is said, that he was afterwards so much
concerned for having ridiculed the character of the Fryar, that it
impaired his health: what effect bigotry, or the influence of priests,
might have on him, on this occasion, we leave others to determine.
21. Duke of Guise, a Tragedy, acted 1688. It was written by Dryden and
Lee, and dedicated to Hyde earl of Rochester. This play gave great
offence to the Whigs, and engaged several writers for and against it.
22. Albion and Albanius, an Opera, performed at the Queen's theatre in
Dorset-Gardens, and printed in folio 1685. The subject of it is wholly
allegorical, and intended to expose my lord Shaftfbury and his party.
23. Don Sebastian King of Portugal, a Tragedy, acted 1690, dedicated to
the earl of Leicester.
24. King Arthur; or the British worthy, a Tragedy, acted 1691, dedicated
to the marquis of Hallifax.
25. Amphytrion; or the two Socias, a Comedy, acted 1691, dedicated to
Sir Leveson Gower, taken from Plautus and Moliere.
26. Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a Tragedy, acted at the theatre-royal,
and printed in 4to. 1692, dedicated to the earl of Rochester. There is
prefixed to it the Life of Cleomenes, translated from Plutarch by Mr.
Creech. This play was first prohibited by the lord Chamberlain, but
upon examination being found innocent of any design to satirize the
government, it was suffered to be represented, and had great success.
In the preface, the author tells us, that a foolish objection had been
raised against him by the sparks, for Cleomenes not accepting the
favours of Cassandra. 'They (says he) would not have refused a fair
lady; I grant they would not, but let them grant me, that they are no
heroes.'