racy of text and copiousness of illustration, not altogether unworthy of the time, labour, and expence which have been ungrudgingly bestowed upon an object, so important to English literature.

Several inaccuracies which had crept into the former edition of this work, are correct

ed in the present; and the whole has been revised with care.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

The Life of John Dryden

SECT. I. Preliminary Remarks on the Poetry

of England before the Civil Wars-The

Life of Dryden from his Birth till the Re-

storation-His Early Poems, including the

Annus Mirabilis, .

SECT. II. Revival of the Drama at the Re-

storation-Heroic Plays Comedies of In-

trigue Commencement of Dryden's Dra-

matic Career-The Wild Gallant-Rival

Ladies-Indian Queen and Emperor-

Dryden's Marriage-Essay on Dramatic

Poetry, and subsequent Controversy with

Sir Robert Howard-The Maiden Queen

-The Tempest-Sir Martin Mar-all—The

Mock Astrologer-The Royal Martyr-

The two parts of the Conquest of Grana-

da-Dryden's Situation at this period,

1

3

65

SECT. III. Heroic Plays-The Rehearsal-

Marriage A-la-Mode-The Assignation-

Controversy with Clifford-with Leigh-

with Ravenscroft-Massacre of Amboyna

-State of Innocence,

SECT. IV. Dryden's Controversy with Settle-

with Rochester-he is assaulted in Rose-

street-Aureng-Zebe-Dryden meditates

an Epic Poem-All for Love-Limberham

-Edipus-Troilus and Cressida-The

Spanish Friar-Dryden supposed to be in

opposition to the Court,

SECT. V. Dryden engages in Politics-Absa-

lom and Achitophel, Part First-The Me-

dal-Mac-Flecknoe-Absalom and Achi-

tophel, Part Second-The Duke of Guise,

SECT. VI. Threnodia Augustalis-Albion and

Albanius-Dryden becomes a Catholic-

The Controversy of Dryden with Stilling-

fleet-The Hind and Panther-Life of St

Francis Xavier-Consequences of the Re-

volution to Dryden-Don Sebastian-King

Arthur-Cleomenes-Love Triumphant,

SECT. VII. State of Dryden's Connections in

Society after the Revolution-Juvenal and

Persius Smaller Pieces Eleanora-Third

Miscellany-Virgil-Ode to St Cecilia-

Dispute with Milbourne-with Blackmore

-Fables-The Author's Death and Fune-

ral-His Private Character-Notices of his

Family, ..

PAGE.

118

180

239

298

367

SECT. VIII. The State of Dryden's Reputa-
tion at his Death, and afterwards-The ge-