6

the honour to know, at that distance which becomes me, for so many years. It is true that formerly I have shadowed some part of your virtues under another name; but the character, though short and imperfect, was so true, that it broke through the fable, and was discovered by its native light. What I pretend by this Dedication, is an honour which I do myself to posterity, by acquainting them, that I have been conversant with the first persons of the age in which I lived; and thereby perpetuate my prose, when my verses may possibly be forgotten, or obscured by the fame of future poets. Which ambition, amongst my other faults and imperfections, be pleased to pardon in,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's most obedient servant,

JOHN DRYDEN.

"Under the name of Jotham, in ABSALOM AND

ACHITOPHEL.

DEDICATION

OF

CLEO MENE S,

THE SPARTAN HERO."

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF ROCHESTER,

KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE garter,

&c. 8

It is T is enough for your Lordship to be conscious to yourself of having performed a just and honourable action, in redeeming this play from the

"This tragedy was written in 1691; and, as appears from Motteux's GENTLEMAN'S JOURNAL, was first represented in April, 1692, and printed in that year. It was performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. Of this nobleman some account has already been given in p. 63. After his being deprived of the office of Lord Treasurer, he was, as has been mentioned, made President of the Council. On the accession of King James, he was again made Lord Treasurer, but was soon a second time deprived of the Treasurer's staff. Having at the Revolution strenuously opposed the vote-that the throne had become vacant, though maternal uncle to the Queen, he could not expect any favour from King William. However, before the end of his reign, Lord Rochester was admitted into the Privy Council, and in 1701 was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

persecution of my enemies; but it would be ingratitude in me not to publish it to the world. That it has appeared on the stage, is principally owing to you; that it has succeeded, is the approbation of your judgment by that of the publick. It is just the inversion of an act of parliament; your Lordship first signed it, and then it was passed amongst the lords and commons. The children of old men are generally observed to be short-lived, and of a weakly constitution; how this may prove I know not, but hitherto it has promised well; and if it survive to posterity, it will carry the noble name of its patron along with it, or rather, it will be carried by yours to afterages. Ariosto, in his VOYAGE OF ASTOLPHO TO THE MOON, has given us a fine allegory of two swans, who, when Time had thrown the writings of many poets into the river of Oblivion, were ever in a readiness to secure the best, and bear them aloft into the Temple of Immortality.Whether this poem be of that number, is left to the judgment of the swan who has preserved it; and though I can claim little from his justice, may presume to value myself upon his charity.

It will be told me, that I have mistaken the Italian poet; who means only, that some excellent writers, almost as few in number as the swans, have rescued the memory of their patrons from forgetfulness and time, when a vast multitude of crows and vultures, that is, bad scribblers, parasites, and flatterers, oppressed by the weight of

the names which they endeavoured to redeem, were forced to let them fall again into Lethe, where they were lost for ever. If it be thus, my Lord, the table would be turned upon me; but I should only fail in my vain attempt; for either some other immortal swan will be more capable of sustaining such a weight, or you who have so long been conversant in the management of great affairs, are able with your own pen to do justice to yourself, and, at the same time, to give the nation a clearer and more faithful insight into those transactions, wherein you have worthily sustained so great a part. For to your experience in state affairs you have also joined no vulgar erudition, which all your modesty is not able to conceal; for to understand critically the delicacies of Horace, is a height to which few of our noblemen have arrived; and that this is your deserved commendation I am a living evidence, as far at least as I can be allowed a competent judge on that subject. Your affection to that admirable Ode which Horace writes to his Mæcenas, and which I had the honour to inscribe to you," is not the only proof of this assertion. You may please to remember, that in the late happy conversation which I had with your Lordship at a noble relation's of yours, you took me aside, and pleased

9 The 29th Ode of the third book. Our author's translation of this Ode first appeared in the Second Part of his MISCELLANIES, published in 1685