bears to be in consideration of his services, and of his most noble descent from Edward III." [SCOTT.] 46. Etesian. Properly, a name applied by Greek and Latin writers to certain annual winds, especially those that blow for forty days during the dog-days. Dryden uses it here of a gentle, steady breeze. N. E. D. quotes from Phil. Trans. xiv. 561 (1684): "These Eastern Winds (which I call our English Etesians)." 48. Portunus. Cf. 8, 121, n; 582, 314, 315. 51. The land, etc. Cf. 10, 251, n. 59. Nor hear the reins. Christie aptly cites Neque audit currus habenas. (VIRGIL, Georgics, i. 514.) 62. As Ormond's harbinger. The Duchess of Ormond went to Ireland in April, 1697, and her husband followed in October. (LUTTRELL, Brief Relation, 1857, vol. iv, pp. 214, 288.) 64. The waste, etc. "Alluding to the wars of the Revolution in Ireland." SCOTT. 65. Pales. The god (goddess ?) of flocks and shepherds; Ceres, the goddess of agriculture: cf. 464, 1; 787, 7, 8. 70. As when, etc. Cf. 1071, 1 f. 751, 101. Nor dare, etc. "She seems to have been just recovered from a fever." SCOTT. 125. Young Vespasian. Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus, better known, as a Roman emperor, by his first name. During the siege of Jerusalem, which he directed, he sought to spare the temple, and he mourned its destruction. 130. The table of my vow. The tabula votiva of Horace (Odes, i. 5. 13; 2 Satires, i. 33). Persons saved from shipwreck used to hang up in the temple of Neptune or some other appropriate divinity a picture representing their escape; cf. 703, 1114, 1115. 131. Morley's. "Dr. Christopher Love Morley, a physician of eminence." SCOTT. 133. The Macedon, etc. Alexander the Great; cf. 365, note 6. The story is told by several writers, as Quintus Curtius, ix. 8. 752, 162. Elisa. Another name of Dido; cf. 12, 65. PALAMON AND ARCITE. On this and Dryden's other translations and adaptations from early English, see Lounsbury, Studies in Chaucer, ch. vii; Schöpke, Ueber Dryden's Bearbeitung Chaucer'scher Gedichte (in Anglia, ii. 314-353, iii. 35-58); Tupper, Dryden and Speght's Chaucer (in Modern Language Notes, xii. 347-353). 12. With Love, etc. Repeated in 897, 518. 753, 115. His pennon. "The poet here introduces a distinction well known in heraldry. The banner was a square flag, which only barons of a great lineage and power had a right to display. The pennon was a forked streamer borne by a knight: Theseus carried both to the field, each bearing a separate device. Chaucer says: And by his baner born is his penoun." SCOTT. 754, 175. To do th' observance, etc. Cf. 760, 44, which translates Chaucer's: And, for to doon his observaunce to May. 204. Was one partition, etc. "This may mean that the tower and the palace had a party wall in common, or that the tower was part of the outer wall of the palace." SAINTSBURY. 755, 222. Shady walks between. A reminiscence of Milton: - a pillared shade High overarched, and echoing walks between. Paradise Lost, ix. 1106, 1107. 230. Thick of bars. Cf. 5, 55, n. Chaucer's words are thikke of many a barre. 756, 301, 308. Council. So F; in Dryden's time council and counsel were not yet carefully distinguished: cf. 816, 367. 358. Perithous. Dryden seems always to use this form in place of the correct Pirithous; cf. 787, 50. 361. Man. F places a full stop after this word. 757, 404. Extremest line. Professor Saintsbury explains this as outermost region. Perhaps it is easier to suppose that Dryden was seeking to draw a metaphor from the two poles of the earth, where day and night are each six months long. 427. Guilty of their vows. "A Latinism, voti reus; cf. 582, 307, n." [CHRISTIE.] 758, 500. Or Mars, etc. "Dryden has introduced Mars and the quartil; they are not in Chaucer." (CHRISTIE.] Cf. 182, 13, n: 50, 1165, n. 515. Beholds, etc. "This play of words, which is truly Ovidian, does not occur in Chaucer, nor is it in conformity with our author's general ideas of translating him: v. 7432, 45 f: 7441, 25 f." [SCOTT.] 759, 552. Argus'. v. 398, 399, 856-1003. 760, 12. In causes. "One of Dryden's frequent scholasticisms; in their causes would have been clearer." SAINTSBURY. 34. Style. Christie thinks that the word is used here in the sense of the Latin stylus, and refers for support to 151, 1051. His argument is not convincing. 761, 88. And angry, etc. Cf. 521, 2. 89. Curst, etc. Chaucer has simply, "Alas, that day that I was bore." Warton thinks that Dryden remembered Job iii. 3 f. 93. Cadmus, etc. Cf. 542, 436. 115, 116. Of such, etc. This couplet (with the readings times leave and That burnt) concludes a short poem by Carew, A Cruel Mistress. Warton noted Dryden's appropriation of it. 149. And Jove, etc. Cf. 727, 714, 715. 764, 364. The proverb, etc. Amare et sapere viz deo conceditur. "To love and to be wise is hardly granted to a god." From Publilius Syrus. 383. Lover's. F reads Lovers. 765, 414. The bars. "The palisades of the lists." [SCOTT.] 766, 483. Sigils. Cf. 853, 606, n. 489. Down-look'd. With a downcast glance. 498. Citheron. Cf. 770, 145, n. 515. Below. So F; but the sense requires above. 527. Thrace. Cf. 466, 143. 548. Strait. F has streight, which, as often, obviously stands for strail, not straight. 767, 565. Soft smiling. So SS.; F reads soft, smiling. 580. Sat. So F; it might be better to substitute sale, to point the rhyme. 600. Conquest. This is personified, Conquest, in Chaucer; Dryden has confused the passage by prefixing the article. 614. Two geomantic figures. Chaucer wrote And over his heed ther shynen two figures On this Speght comments, partially incorrectly: "The names of two figures in geomancy, representing two constellations in heaven. Puella signifieth Mars retrograde, and Rubeus Mars direct." This is sufficient to explain Dryden's rehandling of the passage; for an explanation of the subject matter, see Skeat's note on Cant. Tales, A 2045. 623. Calisto. A nymph of Diana, who was seduced by Jupiter. When her guilt had been discovered by Diana, as they were bathing, Juno turned her into a bear, in which form she was nearly slain by her son, Arcas. Jupiter, to avert this crime, gave mother and son places in the skies, as the constellations of the Great and the Little Bear. (F reads Calistho; the correct form is Callisto. Cf. p. 76, where Calisto is retained from the early editions.) Manifest of shame. Cf. 112, 204, n. 627. Actaon. A hunter who chanced to see Diana bathing. She changed him into a stag, and he was torn in pieces by his own dogs. 631. Daphne. v. 394, 606 f. 634. The Caledonian beast. This is an error, by Dryden or the printer, for Calydonian; cf. 787, 1, n. On the story, v. 787-792. 768, 639. The Volscian queen. v. 624, 1094 f; 681-688, 753-1256. 661. So princes, etc. Dryden's complaint, not Chaucer's; cf. 414, 100, n. 8. Such chiefs, etc. Cf. 623, 975. 31. Pruce. Prussia. ScoTT. 769, 100. Their honest god. Cf. 460, 540, n; 732, 52. 104. Posts. The editions of 1700 and 1713 read Pots. The emendation to posts, adopted by all modern editors except Professor Saintsbury, seems practically certain; cf. 897, 561. 770, 129. Creator Venus, etc. Dryden here mingles Lucretius with Chaucer; cf. 182, 1-27. Spenser also imitates the same passage; v. Faerie Queene, IV. x. 44-47. 145. Thou gladder, etc. This line is directly from Chaucer: the island Cythera, not the mountain Citharon, was really sacred to Venus. Cf. 766, 498. 146. Increase of Jove. Cf. 256, 208, and Dryden's footnote. 147. Adonis. Cf. 725, 577; 811, 382, n. 771, 201. But such, etc. Dryden here remembers Juvenal, vi. 314. 773, 381. Leaden. "His planetary metal." SAINTSBURY. 388. Outridden. Dryden has "most ridiculously mistaken" (Tyrwhitt) the sense of Chaucer's outrede (at-rede in Skeat's text), which really means surpass in counsel. 389. Trin'd. v. 50, 1165, n. 774, 411. Bought senates, etc. "This line, containing a political allusion to the events of the Revolution, is Dryden's exclusively." [SCOTT.] 426. Chronos'. i. e. Saturn's. 442. Leaning, etc. Cf. 9, 154. 775, 545. Many. In this substantive use of many there is probably confusion with the noun meiny, retinue; cf. 732, 107. 777, 665. The people, etc. Cf. 732, 107. 672. The standing army. Cf. 3561, 4 (Arg.), n. 689. Popularly low. Cf. 118, 689. 778, 757, 758. Destroy'd: void. The repetition of this rhyme just below (l1. 766, 767) is a sign of Dryden's haste in writing. 779, 787. Spirit 's. F reads Spirits. 844-853. But... know. Dryden has modified Chaucer's lines into a passage that gives expression to his own sceptical temperament, which, however, did not preclude acceptance of the doctrines of the Catholic Church. On the concluding couplet, cf. 164, 165, 208 211. 780, 891. With words, etc. Here Dryden adds a touch of sarcasm not found in Chaucer. 781, 927. Mourning Bride. The italics (retained from F) point the compliment to Congreve's tragedy The Mourning Bride, acted and published in 1697. 960. Mountain-ash. So F. 982. Swound. F reads Swoond. 985. While, etc. In this description Dryden follows Chaucer closely, but compare also 675, 281-303. 782, 1066. A drop. Cf. 811, 384. 783, 1074. Rechless. F reads Retchless. 1144. Eros and Anteros. Here understood by Dryden as the gods of Love and Reciprocal Love. 784. TO JOHN DRIDEN. This country gentleman was the second son of Sir John Driden, baronet, the elder brother of Erasmus Dryden (or Driden), the poet's father (Malone, I, 1, 321). He was born in 1635; he represented the county of Huntingdon in parliament in 1690, and from 1700 till his death in 1708. Some interesting information as to this poem is contained in Dryden's letters. His former antagonist, Charles Montagu (v. n. 216, HIND AND PANTHER), was now First Lord of the Treasury, and a prominent member of the ministry to which John Driden of Chesterton, as is evident from 11. 127-134, 171-194, of the poem, was opposed. Desiring his patronage for his projected translation of Homer, the poet wrote to him in October, 1699, inclosing the epistle to his cousin: "Sir, that they wanted that correction which I have given them, that they may the better endure the sight of so great a judge and poet. I am now in feare that I have purg'd them out of their spirit; as our Master Busby us'd to whip a boy so long, till he made him a confirm'd blockhead. My cousin Driden saw them in the country; and the greatest exception he made to them was, a satire against the Dutch valour in the last war. He desir'd me to omit it, (to use his own words) out of the respect he had to his Sovereign. I obey'd his commands, and left onely the praises, which I think are due to the gallantry of my own countrymen. In the description which I have made of a Parliament-man, I think I have not only drawn the features of my worthy kinsman, but have also given my own opinion of what an Englishman in Parliament ought to be; and deliver it as a memorial of my own principles to all posterity. I have consulted the judgment of my unbyass'd friends, who have some of them the honour to be known to you; and they think there is nothing which can justly give offence in that part of the poem. I say not this, to cast a blind on your judgment, (which I cou'd not do, if I indeavour'd it,) but to assure you, that nothing relateing to the publique shall stand without your permission; for it were to want common sence to desire your patronage, and resolve to disoblige you: And as I will not hazard my hopes of your protection, by refusing to obey you in any thing which I can perform with my conscience or my honour, so I am very confident you will never impose any other terms on me." (Malone, I, 2; 90, 91; the remainder of the letter is given in n. 7421, 23.) For other notices, see the excerpts on p. 737. Malone (I, 1, 325-327) mentions a tradition, of which he doubts the accuracy, that the noble present to which Dryden refers was the sum of five hundred pounds. Lines 7-13 of the poem, according to Scott, are added to John Driden's epitaph in the church at Chesterton. 43. But you, etc. "Sir Robert Driden inherited the paternal estate of Canons Ashby, while that of Chesterton descended to John, his second brother, to whom this poem is addressed, through his mother, daughter of Sir Robert Bevile." [SCOTT.] 53. Industrious of. Cf. 233, 1143. 785, 75. Pity, etc. "It is a pity that the generous 82. Gibbons. Cf. 367, 126, n; 7091, 13. Although this celebrated wit and physician 109. The viper's brood. Thou mak'st th’Ingratefull Viper (at his birth) SYLVESTER, Dubartas his First Weeke(Sixth 118. Produce. F has periods after both this The subsequent lines point obliquely at 152. Namur. The capture of Namur in Bel- Malone, and Scott following him, stated, apparently without other evidence than this poem, that this was Sir Robert Bevile, maternal grandfather of John Driden of Chesterton. Christie writes, on the other hand: "The laborious and accurate Mr. Holt White, in his MS. notes, ascertained that Sir Erasmus Dryden, the common grandfather of the two cousins, is referred to; and he refers to a list in Rushworth's Historical Collections (i. 473), where occurs the name of Sir Erasmus Draiton, as one of those sent to prison on account of the loan money, and liberated on the eve of the general election for Charles I's third parliament, 1628." 787, 1. Calydonians. F reads Caledonians (and in l. 77 Caledonian), but prints Calydon in the argument just above, and Calidon in l. 364. 2, 44, 227. Meleagrus. Meleagros. So F. 7,8. Ceres . . . Pales. Cf. 750, 65, n. 50. Perithous. Cf. 756, 358, n. 53. Caneus. Cf. 856, 857, 234–287; 601, 608. 790, 237. Plexippus'. F reads Ploxippus, probably by a misprint. 791, 288. Brother's. So F; in I. 296 F reads Brothers. 792. SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO. On this and on Dryden's other adaptations from Boccaccio, see Wieruszowski, Untersuchungen über John Drydens Boccaccio-Paraphrasen, Bonn, 1904. Sigismonda and Guiscardo is from the first tale of the fourth day of the Decameron. The only essential change that Dryden has made in the plot is his introduction of a marriage between the hero and heroine. (v. n. 736 (FABLES) for Wordsworth's opinion on this.) Wieruszowski thinks that the main aim of our argument-loving poet in this alteration was to provide Sigismonda with a new plea in her defense of her act; v. 797, 402-420. Perhaps Dryden, despite the coarseness of 11. 147-172, really thought the change made the tale savor less of immodesty: cf. 7461, 25; and, for a similar change in Cymon and Iphigenia, v. n. 890 (CYMON). Scott's criticism on the tale may be added to Wordsworth's: "— - Dryden. made Boccaccio's story his own, and told it in his own way. One gross fault he has engrafted upon his original; I mean the coarseness of Sigismonda's character, whose love is that of temperament, not of affection. This error, grounded upon Dryden's false view of the passion and of the female character, and perhaps arising from the depravity of the age rather than of the poet, pervades and greatly injures the effect of the tale. Yet it is more than counterbalanced by preponderating beauties. Without repeating the praise, elsewhere given to the majesty of the poet's versification, and which this piece alone would be sufficient to justify, the reader's attention may be solicited to the colors with which Dryden has drawn a mind wrought up to the highest pitch of despair. Sigismonda is placed in that situation in which, above all others, the human disposition seems to acquire a sort of supernatural strength or obstinacy; for although guilty of a crime, she is punished in a degree far exceeding the measure of the offence. In such a situation, that acuteness of feeling, which would otherwise waste itself in fluctuations betwixt shame, fear, and remorse, is willingly and eagerly turned into the channel of resistance and recrimination; and perhaps no readier mode can be discovered of hardening the human heart, even to the consistence of the nether millstone. It is in this state that Sigismonda resolutely, and even joyfully, embraces death, in order to punish her father, and rejoin her lover. The previous arguments with Tancred sufficiently, and, in the circumstances, naturally, intimate the tone of her mind, and are a striking instance of Dryden's power in painting passion wrought up to desperation." [SCOTT.] 793, 66. The royal maid. "Dryden constantly forces the rhyme for the sake of a word. But he very seldom, as here, forces a word for the sake of a rhyme. Sigismonda was not a maid." [SAINTSBURY.] 794, 116. Malignant light. Cf. 598, 381, n. 154. Nothing wanted. "Nothing was wanting." [CHRISTIE.] 795, 242. So, like, etc. Cf. 115, 445-454. 796, 306. Thrice, etc. Christie points out the imitation of Paradise Lost, i. 619-621: Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth: at last Words interwove with sighs found out their way. 332. The guest, etc. Saintsbury points out the influence of Lucretius; cf. 185, 126-134. 798, 503. One paste, etc. Cf. 7381, 40. 799, 597. The soldier. Cf. 3561, 4 (Arg.), n. 802, 14. Manufactur'd mass. F reads Manufac ture Mass, which, though retained by SS., seems to the present editor unintelligible. 803, 90. Pallas. "To whom the olive was sacred." SCOTT. 805, 41. Parrots. "These are of Dryden's introduction." [SCOTT.] 806. CINYRAS AND MYRRHA. Cf. 722, 319-324. 809, 272. The bell. "The Zodiac." SAINTSBURY. 811, 382. The babe. Adonis: cf. 725, 577; 770, 147. 384. The drop. Cf. 782, 1066. 812, 77. At rovers. Cf. 2842, 25, n. 813, 115. Dispose. The verb is apparently made plural by the influence of those in the preceding line; cf. 400, 1031, n. 815, 295. Falchion. F reads Faulchion. 816, 328. He said, etc. "What a difference,' he [Tennyson] would add, 'between Pope's little He said, observant of the blue-eyed maid, He said with surly faith believ'd her word, 367. Council. Cf. 756, 301, n. 817, 385. Counsels. F reads Councils; cf. 756, 301, n. 820, 634. Inbibing. "Not drawing flavor from, but giving it to; a sense now obsolete." SAINTSBURY. But apparently either sense will fit this passage; the original gives no aid in determining which to prefer. 666. And of, etc. Cf. 129, 94, n. 822, 3. Dell. F reads Cell; the emendation was suggested, but not adopted, by Christie. Perhaps Dale (Chaucer's word) was what Dryden really wrote. 823, 21. Poynant. F reads paynant, probably by a misprint. 35. Holidays. F reads Holy-Days; the same spelling is often found elsewhere. 43. The cock. So Aldine and Riverside editions; F, followed by SS. and C., reads a Cock, which can hardly be correct. 65. Some lines, etc. "The exact object of this curious fling is not obvious. The cousinhood of William and Mary will not do, for many reasons. Perhaps the Hapsburgs and the 'Austrian lip' are glanced at." SAINTSBURY 824, 104. Sprite. F reads Spright. 106. Shrovetide. 86 The recognized and privileged time for cockfighting, and pelting cocks with sticks, especially in schools." SAINTSBURY. Cf. 871, 7, n. 136. Afeard. Freads affer'd; Chaucer has aferd. 146. The canting style. "In technical terms;" used with a bit of sarcasm at doctors, not at Puritans. 161. Humor. Cf. 6, 100, n. 162. Cato. The reference is to a work in easy Latin, used as a schoolbook in the middle ages, Dionysii Catonis Disticha de Moribus ad Filium. It has no connection with either of the two famous Catos of Roman history; hence II. 203, 204, which are Dryden's addition to the story. 825, 187. Under. F reads over, an obvious mistake. 188. Because, etc. Cf. 436, 105. 202. For Homer, etc. Dryden's addition; cf. 813, 91-93. 254. For sacred, etc. Cf. 552, 80. 826, 279. Found. F reads bound. 300. Waiting, etc. Cf. 10, 223, 224. 328. A mob, etc. "There may be room to suspect that the line should run: A court of cobblers, and a mob of kings, — as better expressing the confusion of ideas incident to dreaming." SCOTT. 827, 391. The wife, etc. This vision Chaucer found, not in Homer, but in Dares Phrygius: cf. 4972, 34, n; 5012, 52, n. 417. In principio. "In the beginning," a reference to the opening words of the Gospel of John, which begin the "second Gospel," ordinarily read at the close of Mass. 418. Mulier, etc. "Woman is man's undoing," a medieval saying that Chaucer is supposed to have taken from Vincent of Beauvais. 828, 460. Man, etc. Dryden's addition to the story; cf. 111, 170, n. 473. And Heav'n, etc. An allusion to Homer's allegory of the two tuns (Iliad, xxiv. 527 f), used by Achilles in consolation to the afflicted Priam." [WARTON.] 479. Book of Martyrs. The Catholic Dryden introduces a sarcastic reference to John Foxe's Acts and Monuments, commonly known as the Book of Martyrs, a favorite book with the English Protestants, and a work of which the accuracy is by no means equal to its anti-Catholic enthusiasm. 480. A fox, etc. "Indulging, as usual, his po litical antipathies, Dryden fails not to make the fox & Puritan." SCOTT. 499. O hypocrite, etc. According to the romantic history of Charlemagne, Gano, or Ganelon, betrayed the Christian army at the battle of Roncesvalles, where Orlando and the peers of France were slain. The pun upon Gallic (Latin gallus, a cock), which is renewed in deriving the cock from Brennus and Belinus (1. 636), is entirely Dryden's." [SCOTT.] 829, 515, 549, 559. Bin, been. Cf. 2631, 31, n. 523. I cannot, etc. Dryden, true to his taste for argument in verse, expands the following passage; and, true to his Catholic faith, makes plain his preference for the free will solution: cf. 877, 424. In ll. 517-522 there is a sneer at Calvinism; cf. 116, 539, n. 524. Bradwardin. Thomas Bradwardine (1290?— 1349), Archbishop of Canterbury. His work On the Cause of God earned him the title of Doctor Profundus, and remained a theological authority for ages. Austin is of course St. Augustine. 555. With a mischief to their kind. A mild curse "deuce take 'em!" 565. Silence, etc. An expression of Dryden's own principles after the Revolution. 830, 599. So profane. So SS. and C.; Freads to prophane. 636. Brennus and Belinus. Brennus was the leader of the Gauls who overran Italy in B. C. 390. Belinus (or Belenus) was a divinity of the Gauls. 652. Solar. "That is, born under the influence of the sun; this addition to Chaucer well illustrates Dryden's interest in astrology." [SAINTSBURY.] 831, 686. Native. "In astrology, the person whose scheme of nativity is calculated." [SCOTT.] 693. Gaufride, etc. "Gaufride, or Geoffrey de Vinsauf, bewailed the death of Richard I in would-be plaintive hexameters, in which he particularly exclaims against Friday, the day on which that hero was shot by Bertrand de Gurdun." [ScOTT.] Chaucer's compliment is of course ironical. 728. Talbot with the band. "Probably Dryden took Talbot in its sense of dog, and then band will be as in bandog, 'the chained hound."" [SAINTSBURY.] 742. Jack Straw, etc. "Dryden has given Jack Straw the national antipathies of the mob in his own time. The gathering cry one and all he also takes from modern London." [SCOTT.] 750. And inflated box. "Blew into musical instruments of boxwood;" or inflated may be taken as a participle. 832, 759. Yours, etc. "This excellent parody upon Virgil is introduced by Dryden, and marks his late labors." [SCOTT.] Cf. 707, 1357, 1358. 790. So loyal subjects, etc. Another utterance of the Tory Dryden, capable of being applied to the events of the English Revolution. 806. "A peace, etc. This closing speech of the cock was added to the story by Dryden. |