Horace. We daily expect Manilius from him, an author worthy only of such hands; which, having formerly revealed the secrets of nature to us here on earth, is now discovering to us her palace in the skies, and, if I might be allowed to say it, giving light to the stars of heaven:

Ergo vivida vis animi pervicit, et extra

Processit longè flammantia mania mundi.s

But to return to Plutarch: you will find him particularly fond of Cleomenes his character, who, as he was the last of the Spartan heroes, so he was, in my opinion, the greatest. Even his enemy, Polybius, though engaged in the contrary faction, yet speaks honourably of him; and especially of his last action in Egypt. This author is also made English, and will shortly be published for the common benefit."

What I have added to the story is chiefly the love of Agathoclea, the King's mistress, whose name I have changed into Cassandra, only for the better sound; as I have also the name of Nica

4 The second edition of Creech's translation of Horace, published in 1684, is dedicated "To the very much esteemed John Dryden, Esqre."; of whom a very amiable character is given."

5 LUCRET. lib. i. v. 74, 75.

6 The translation here alluded to, which was made by Sir Henry Sheers, was published in 1693. A character of Polybius and his writings, by our author, was prefixed.

goras into that of Conus, for the same reason. Cratisiclæa, Pantheus, and Sosybius, are to be found in the story, with the same characters which they have in the tragedy. There is likewise mention made of the son of Cleomenes, who had resolution enough to throw himself headlong from a tower, when he had heard of his father's ill success; and for Cleora, whom I make the second wife of Cleomenes, (for Ægyatis was dead before,) you will find a hint of her in Plutarch; for he tells us, that after the loss of the battle at Sellasia, he returned to Sparta, and entering his own house, was there attended by a freeborn woman of Megalopolis.

The picture of Ptolomy Philopater is given by the fore-mentioned authors to the full. Both agree that he was an original of his kind; a lazy, effeminate, cowardly, cruel, and luxurious prince, managed by his favourite, and imposed on by his mistress. The son of Sosybius, whom I call Cleanthes, was a friend to Cleomenes; but Plutarch says, he at length forsook him. I have given him a fairer character, and made it only a seeming treachery which he practised. If any be so curious to enquire what became of Cassandra, whose fortune was left in suspence at the conclusion of the play, I must first inform them, that after the death of Cleomenes, (the hero of my poem,) I was obliged by the laws of the drama to let fall the curtain immediately; because the action was then concluded. But Polybius tells us, that she survived

Ptolomy, who reigned about twenty-seven years; that with her brother Agathocles, she governed Egypt in the minority of his son Ptolomy Epiphanes; and that finally, for oppressing of the people, both the brother and sister were slain in a popular insurrection.

There is nothing remaining but my thanks to the town in general, and to the fair ladies in particular, for their kind reception of my play; and though I cannot retract what I said before,that I was not much concerned in my own particular for the embargo which was laid upon it,yet I think myself obliged, at the same time, to render my acknowledgments to those honourable persons who were instrumental in the freeing it. For as it was from a principle of nobleness in them, that they would not suffer one to want, who was grown old in their service, so it is from a principle of another sort that I have learned to possess my soul in patience, and not to be much disquieted with any disappointment of this

nature.

DEDICATION

OF

LOVE TRIUMPHANT,

OR, NATURE WILL PREVAIL. 7

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JAMES, EARL OF SALISBURY, &c. *

MY LORD,

THIS poem being the last which I intend

for the theatre, ought to have the same provision made for it, which old men make for their youngest child, which is commonly a favourite. They who

This tragi-comedy, which has no preface, was the last piece produced by our author for the stage. It was represented at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, by their Majesties' Servants, early in 1694, in which year it was first printed. He was now about to undertake his great work, the translation of Virgil.

A contemporary writer, who appears to have been no great admirer of our author, whom he calls "huffing Dryden, thus speaks of this drama, in a letter, dated March the 22d, 1693-4, which I have given at length in the HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH STAGE: "The second play is Mr. Dryden's, called LOVE TRIUMPHANT, OR NATURE WILL PREVAIL. It is a tragi-comedy, but in my opinion one of the worst he ever writ, if not the very

were born before it carry away the right of patrimony by right of eldership: this is to make its fortune in the world; and since I can do little for it, natural affection calls upon me to put it out, at least, into the best service which I can procure for it. And as it is the usual practice of our decayed gentry to look about them for some illustrious family, and there endeavour to fix their young darling, where he may be both well educated and supported, I have herein also followed the custom of the world, and am satisfied in my judgment that I could not have made a more worthy choice. It is true, I am not vain enough to think that any thing of mine can in any measure be worthy of your Lordship's patronage; and yet I should be ashamed to leave the stage without some acknow

worst: the comical part descends beneath the style and show of a Bartholomew-Fair droll. It was damned by the universal cry of the town, nemine contradicente but the conceited poet. He says in his prologue, that this is the last the town must expect from him; he had done himself a kindness, had he taken his leave before."

8 James, the fourth Earl of Salisbury, was the son of James, the third Earl, and of Margaret, daughter of John Manners, Earl of Rutland. On the death of his father in 1683, he succeeded to the title; and he died a few months after this play was dedicated to him. The circumstances of his having become a convert to popery, and being warmly attached to the interest of James the Second, must have particularly endeared this nobleman to our author, who was also connected with his family by marriage.