Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Michel Boto and PG Distributed Proofreaders
The
Works
Of
John Dryden,
Now First CollectedIn Eighteen Volumes.
Illustrated
With Notes,
Historical, Critical, And Explanatory,
And
A Life Of The Author,
By
Walter Scott, Esq.
VOL. II.1808.
Dedication of Mr Congreve's edition of Dryden's
Dramatic Works to the Duke of Newcastle
The Wild Gallant, a Comedy
Preface
The Rival Ladies, a Tragi-comedy
Dedication to the Earl of Orrery
The Indian Queen, a Tragedy
The Indian Emperor, or the Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards
Dedication to the Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch
Defence of an Essay of Dramatic Poesy
Connection of the Indian Emperor to the Indian Queen
Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen
Preface
Mr Congreve's edition of Dryden's dramatic works, in six volumes12mo, printed for Tonson in 1735, has been chiefly resorted to for thetext of the Plays in the present edition, although the assistanceof the older copies, in quarto and folio, has been called in, wheredifficulties occurred, or improvements were obvious. The preliminaryDissertations, Dedications, and Prefaces, have been corrected from theexcellent edition of Mr Malone. Congreve appears deeply to have feltthe bequest, left him by his great predecessor, when, "just abandoningthe ungrateful stage" he made it his intreaty, that his successorwould be kind to his remains. Considerable pains have been bestowedby the present editor in correcting the text. The notes are limitedto the explanation of such passages, as the fashion in language, inmanners, or in literature, has, in the space of a century, rendereddoubtful or obscure.
TO
HIS GRACE
THE
DUKE OF NEWCASTLE[1],
LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD
&c.
[Footnote 1: Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcastle. No satire ever canconvey such bitter reproof as the high-strained eulogy of thisdedication. This great and wealthy man unblushingly receivedCongreve's tribute of praise and gratitude, for his munificence indirecting a splendid monument to be raised over Dryden's remains. Butthe incense of the dedicator was wasted on a block, more insensiblethan his Grace's workmen could have dug from the quarry. Neither pridenor shame could induce the Duke to accomplish what vanity had led himvoluntarily to propose; and the dedication, instead of producing atomb in honour of Dryden, will remain itself an eternal monument ofthe patron's disgrace.]
My Lord,It is the fortune of this edition of the dramatic works of the lateMr Dryden, to come into the world at a time, when your Grace has justgiven order for erecting, at your own expense, a noble monument to hismemory.
This is an act of generosity, which has something in it so veryuncommon, that the most unconcerned and indifferent persons must bemoved with it. How much more must all such be affected by it, who hadany due regard for the personal merits of the deceased, or a