[76] The prologue was spoken by the ghosts of Shakespeare and Dryden; from which Mr. Malone selects the following curious quotation:--"Mr. Bevil Higgons, the writer of it, _ventured_ to make the representative of our great dramatic poet speak these lines!-- "These scenes in their rough native dress were mine; _But now, improved, with nobler lustre shine_ The first rude sketches Shakespeare's pencil drew, _But all the shining master strokes are new._ This play, ye critics, shall your fury stand, Adorned and rescued by a faultless hand." To which our author replies, "I long endeavoured to support the stage, With the faint copies of thy nobler rage, But toiled in vain for an ungenerous age. They starved me living, nay, denied me fame, And scarce, now dead, do justice to my name. Would you repent? Be to my ashes kind; Indulge the pledges I have left behind."--MALONE. [77] [Transcriber's note: "Page 206, and vol. ix." in original. This is to be found in Section V.] [78] Mr. Malone says, "Edward Dryden, the eldest son of the last Sir Erasmus Dryden, left by his wife, Elizabeth Allen, who died in London in 1761, five sons; the youngest of whom, Bevil, was father of the present Lady Dryden. Sir John, the eldest, survived all his brothers, and died without issue, at Canons-Ashby, March 20, 1770." [The subsequent history of the family is as follows:--Elizabeth Dryden, the "present Lady Dryden" referred to by Scott, married Mr. John Turner, to whom she carried the estates. Mr. Turner assumed the name and arms of Dryden in 1791, and was created a baronet four years later. The title and property passed successively to his two sons, and then to the son of the younger, the present Sir Henry Dryden, a distinguished archaeologist.--ED.] SECTION VIII. _The State of Dryden's Reputation at his Death, and afterwards--The General Character of his Mind--His Merit as a Dramatist--As a Lyrical Poet---As a Satirist--As a Narrative Poet--As a Philosophical and Miscellaneous Poet--As a Translator--As a Prose Author--As a Critic._