The facts of Anne Killigrew's short life are succinctly and elegantly related by Anthony Wood.[2] She was born about 1660, the daughter of Dr. Henry Killigrew, Royalist, theologian and sometime dramatist, and related through his family to the other theatrical Killigrews--Thomas, the author of _The Parson's Wedding_, and Sir William, her uncles; and Thomas, the author of _Chit-Chat_, and Charles, Master of the Revels, her cousins. Dr. Killigrew became Chaplain to the Duke of York and in 1663 Master of the Savoy. Anne Killigrew grew up to join the household of the doleful Mary of Modena, Duchess of York, as Maid of Honour. A companion in this office was Anne Finch, Countess of Winchelsea. Mistress Killigrew's poems reflect some of the sparkle of Restoration court life, but more of the sorrow produced by Mary of Modena's consistent unpopularity. After a short battle with the smallpox, Anne Killigrew died on 16 June, 1685, to the "unspeakable Reluctancy" of her many loving relations and friends. [1] The most recent study of Dryden's poem is David M. Vieth's "Irony in Dryden's Ode to Anne Killigrew," _Studies in Philology_, LXII (January, 1965), pp. 91-100, which lists earlier criticism. Professor Vieth refers to Anne Killigrew's poems several times to illustrate his theory of Dryden's intentions. [2] Anthony Wood, _Athenae Oxonienses_ (1721), c. 1036. Biographical and critical comment is also to be found in George Ballard, _Memoirs of Several Ladies_ (1752), pp. 337-45; T. Cibber, _Lives of the Poets_ (1753), II, 224-6; Ellen Creathorne Clayton, _English Female Artists_ (1876), I, 59-70 and _The Poems of Anne Countess of Winchelsea_, edited by Myra Reynolds (1903), pp. xxiii-xxiv. After her untimely death, Dr. Killigrew worked to produce a memorial edition of her papers, and invited Dryden to write the prefatory poem. The publication was swift: less than three months after her death the volume was licensed to be printed (30 September, 1685) and listed in the Stationers' Register (2 October). It was listed in the Term Catalogue for November, and advertised in _The Observator_ on 2 November, 1685.[3] The date of 1686 on the title page must have been anticipated by actual publication. [3] A bibliographical analysis of the volume is given by Hugh Macdonald, _John Dryden a Bibliography_ (1939), pp. 42-43. The poetry in the volume can be described in Dryden's terms: Art she had none, yet wanted none: For Nature did that Want supply. Anne Killigrew lacked the artistry which comes from discipline and practice (which Anne Finch had time to develop), but she felt that the prompting of passion outweighed the niceties of form: Here take no Care, take here no Care, my _Muse_, Nor ought of Art or Labour use.... The ruggeder my Measures run when read, They'l livelier paint th' unequal Paths fond Mortals tread, (p. 51)