THE

LIVE S

OF THE MOST EMINENT

ENGLISH POETS;

WITH

CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS

ON THEIR

WORK S

By SAMUEL JOHNSON.

A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED.

THE SECOND VOLUME.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR C. BATHURST, J. BUCKLAND, W. STRAHAN, J.RIVING-
TON AND SONS, T. DAVIES, T.PAYNE, L. DAVIS, W. OWEN, B. WHITE,
8. CROWDER, T. CASLON, T. LONGMAN, B. LAW, C. DILLY,
J. DODSLEY, J. WILKIE, J. ROBSON, J. JOHNSON, T. LOWNDES,
G. ROBINSON, T. CADELL, J. NICHOLS, E. NEWBERY,
T. EVANS, P. ELMSLY, R. BALDWIN, G. NICOL, LEIGH
AND SOTHEBY, J. BEW, N. CONANT, W. NICOLL,

Į. MURRAY, S. HAYES, W. FOX, AND J. BOWEN.
MDCCLXXXIII.

Koninklijke Bibliotheck to's Hage.

1

DRY DE N.

OF

F the great poet whose life I am about to delineate, the curiofity which his reputation must excite, will require a display more ample than can now be given. His contemporaries, however they reverenced his genius, left his life unwritten; and nothing therefore can be known beyond what casual mention and uncertain tradition have supplied.

JOHN DRYDEN was born August 9, 1631, at Aldwincle near Oundle, the son of Erasmus Dryden of Tichmersh; who was the third fon of Sir Erafmus Dryden, Baronet, of Canons Ashby. All these places are in Northamptonshire; but the original VOL. II. stock

B