"alike, which objection he forefaw, but has "not fully answered. "To conclude, therefore; if the plays "of the ancients are more correctly plotted, "ours are more beautifully written. And "if we can raise paffions as high on worse "foundations, it fhews our genius in tragedy is greater; for, in all other parts of "it, the English have manifeftly excelled "them." THE THE original of the following letter is preserved in the Library at Lambeth, and was kindly imparted to the publick by the reverend Dr. Vyfe. Copy of an original Letter from John Dryden, Efq; to his fons in Italy, from a MS in the Lambeth Library, marked N° 933. P. 56. (Superfcribed) Al Illuftriffimo Sig Carlo Dryden Camariere Franca per Mantoua. In Roma. Being now at Sir William Bowyer's in "the country, I cannot write at large, be"caufe I find myself somewhat indisposed "with a cold, and am thick of hearing, ra"ther worse than I was in town. I am glad "to find, by your letter of July 26th, your ftyle, that you are both in health; but wonder you should think, me so negligent as to forget to give you ah account of the ship in which your parcel is to come. P 2 I << have "have written to you two or three letters "concerning it, which I have fent by fafe hands, as I told you, and doubt not but you have them before this can arrive to you. Being out of town, I have forgotten "the fhip's name, which your mother will "enquire, and put it into her letter, which "is joined with mine. But the master's "name I remember: he is called Mr. Ralph Thorp; the ship is bound to Leghorn, configned to Mr. Peter and Mr. Tho. Ball, merchants. I am of your opinion, "that by Tonfon's means almost all our "letters have mifcarried for this laft year. "But, however, he has miffed of his defign in the Dedication, though he had pre 66 pared the book for it; for in every figure "of Eneas he has caufed him to be drawn "like King William, with a hooked nofe. "After my return to town, I intend to alter a play of Sir Robert Howard's, written long fince, and lately put by him into my hands: 'tis called The Conquest of China by the Tartars. It will coft me fix weeks study, with the probable benefit of an "hundred pounds. In the mean time I "am writing a fong for St. Cecilia's Feaft, who, you know, is the patronefs of mufick. This is troublefome, and no way 66 beneficial; ་་ beneficial; but I could not deny the Stew"ards of the Feaft, who came in a body to me to defire that kindness, one of them being Mr. Bridgman, whose parents are your mother's friends. I hope to fend you thirty guineas between Michaelmafs "and Christmass, of which I will give you 66 an account when I come to town. I re"member the counsel you give me in your "letter; but diffembling, though lawful "in fome cafes, is not my talent; yet, for your fake, I will struggle with the plain openness of my nature, and keep-in my juft refentments against that degenerate "order. In the mean time, I flatter not "myself with any manner of hopes, but do 66 my duty, and suffer for God's fake; being "affured, beforehand, never to be rewarded, though the times fhould alter. Towards "the latter end of this month, September, Charles will begin to recover his perfect 5' health, according to his nativity, which, cafting it myself, I am fure is true, and "all things hitherto have happened accordingly to the very time that I predicted "them: I hope at the fame time to recover more health, according to my age. Re"member me to poor Harry, whose prayers "I earnestly P 3 イ "I earnestly defire. My Virgil fucceeds " in the world beyond its defert or my expectation. You know the profits might "have been more; but neither my con"science nor my honour would suffer me to "take them but I never can repent of my conftancy, fince I am thoroughly per"fuaded of the juftice of the cause for "which I fuffer. It has pleased God to raife up many friends to me amongst my "enemies, though they who ought to have "been my friends are negligent of me. I 66 am called to dinner, and cannot go on "with this letter, which I defire you to ex"cufe; and am "Your most affectionate father, "JOHN DRYDEN." |
