which means we abound as much in words, as Amsterdam does in religions; but to order them, and make them useful after their admission, is the difficulty. A greater progress has been made in this, since his majesty's return, than perhaps since the conquest to his time. But the better part of the work remains unfinished; and that which has been done already, since it has only been in the practice of some few writers, must be digested into rules and method, before it can be profitable to the general. Will your Lordship give me leave to speak out at last? and to acquaint the world, that from your encouragement and patronage we may one day expect to speak and write a language worthy of the English wit, and which foreigners may not disdain to learn.' Your birth, your education, your natural endowments, the former employments which you have had abroad,* and that which to the joy of good men you now exercise at home, seem all to conspire to this

Our author alludes to a scheme which at this time engaged the attention of Lord Roscommon, and other distinguished persons, to form an Academy for polishing the English language and fixing its standard. See vol. i.

P. 9.

Lord Sunderland had been sent to Cologne, as a Plenipotentiary for the purpose of concluding a treaty with the King of Sweden; and had also been Ambassador Extraordinary to Spain and France. From the latter embassy he was recalled to be made Secretary of State in the room of Sir Joseph Williamson.

design the genius of the nation seems to call you out, as it were by name, to polish and adorn your native language, and to take from it the reproach of its barbarity.

2

It is upon this encouragement that I have adventured on the following critique, which I humbly present you, together with the play; in which, though I have not had the leisure, nor indeed the encouragement, to proceed to the principal subject of it, which is the words and thoughts that are suitable to tragedy, yet the whole discourse has a tendency that way, and is preliminary to it. In what I have already done, I doubt not but I have contradicted some of my former opinions in my loose Essays of the like nature; but of this I dare affirm, that it is the fruit of my riper age and experience, and that self-love or envy have no part in it. The application to English authors is my own, and therein perhaps I may have erred unknowingly; but the foundation of the rules is reason, and the authority of those living criticks who have had the honour to be known to you abroad, as well as of the ancients, who are not less of your acquaintance. Whatsoever it be, I submit it to your Lordship's judgment, from which I never will appeal, unless it be to your goodnature, and your candour. If you can allow an hour of leisure to the perusal of it, I shall be

The Preface to TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, containing the Grounds of Criticism in Tragedy; already printed in the former volume.

fortunate that I could so long entertain you; if not, I shall at least have the satisfaction to know, that your time was more usefully employed upon the publick. I am,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's most obedient,

humble servant,

JOHN DRYDEN.

DEDICATION

or

THE SPANISH FRYAR,'

OR, THE DOUBLE DISCOVERY.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOHN, LORD HAUGHTON.

MY LORD,

WHEN I first designed this play I found, or thought I found, somewhat so moving in the serious part of it, and so pleasant in the comick, as might deserve a more than ordinary care in both. Accordingly, I used the best of my endeavour in

2

'This tragi-comedy was represented by the King's Servants at the Theatre Royal, and first printed in 1681. John, Lord Haughton, was the eldest son of Gilbert Holles, third Earl of Clare, to which title he succeeded on the death of his father, January 16th, 1688-9. Having married Margaret, third daughter of Henry Cavendish, second Duke of Newcastle, he was, in 1694, made Marquis of Clare, and Duke of Newcastle; and in 1698 was elected a Knight of the Garter. He died July 17th, 1711, leaving only one daughter, Henrietta, who after his death married Edward, Lord Harley, eldest son of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford,

the management of two plots, so very different from each other, that it was not perhaps the talent of every writer to have made them of a piece. Neither have I attempted other plays of the same nature, in my opinion, with the same judgment, though, with like success. And though many poets may suspect themselves for the fondness and partiality of parents to their joungest children, yet I hope I may stand exempted from this rule, because I know myself too well to be ever satisfied with my own conceptions, which have seldom reached to those ideas that I had within me; and consequently, I presume I may have liberty to judge when I write more or less pardonably, as an ordinary marksman may know certainly when he shoots less wide at what he aims.

”

Besides; the care and pains I have bestowed on this beyond my other tragi-comedies may reasonably make the world conclude, that either I can do nothing tolerably, or that this poem is not much amiss. Few good pictures have been finished at one sitting; neither can a true just play, which is to bear the test of ages, be produced at a heat, or by the force of fancy, without the maturity of judgment. For my own part, I have both so just a diffidence of myself, and 'so great a reverence for my audience, that I dare venture nothing without a strict examination; and am as much ashamed to put a loose indigested play upon the publick, as I should be to offer brass money in a payment: for though it should be

to Performances

have said.

erreur

of the press, and that he wrote compositions.