The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 03Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 03
Dryden, John
English drama -- 17th century
[Footnote G: William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle, distinguished himself
in the civil wars of Charles I. He might have possessed himself of Hull,
had the king more early resolved on an open rupture with the parliament.
When the war broke out, he levied an army of 8000 men, secured the
northern counties for the king, and raised the siege of York. The
invasion of the Scots prevented his farther success; but he defeated the
parliamentary forces in several actions, and shewed all the talents of a
great soldier. After the loss of the battle of Marston Moor, which
Prince Rupert hazarded in opposition to his advice, he left England in
disgust, and did not return till the Restoration. He was much respected
when abroad, and acquired the favour of many princes, and, amongst
others, of Don John of Austria. His skill in the equestrian art was,
perhaps, as great a recommendation, as his noble birth and unstained
loyalty. During the wars, he had been raised from the rank of earl to
that of marquis; and after the Restoration he was created duke of
Newcastle. He wrote several plays, of which we know only the names; "The
Country Captain," "Variety," "The Humourous Lovers," and "The Triumphant
Widow." He also translated Moliere's "_L'Etourdi,"_ which our author
converted into "Sir Martin Mar-all". But his most noted work is a
splendid folio on Horsemanship, with engravings; in which, after his
grace has been represented in every possible attitude and dress, he is
at length depicted mounted on Pegasus, and in the act of ascending from
a circle of Houyhnhnms, kneeling around him in the act of adoration.
His once celebrated duchess was Margaret, daughter of Sir Charles Lucas.
She was his grace's second wife, and married to him during his exile. A
most voluminous author; she wrote nineteen plays, besides philosophical
essays, letters, and orations. For the former she has condescended to
leave the following apology:
The Latin phrases I could never tell, But Jonson could, which made him
write so well. Greek, Latin poets I could never read, Nor their
historians, but our English Speed. I could not steal their wit, nor
plots out-take, All my plays plots my own poor brain did make. From
Plutarch's story I ne'er took a plot, Nor from romances, nor from Don
Quixote.
Her grace's assiduity was equal to her originality. She kept a bevy of
maidens of honour, who were obliged, at all hours of the night, to
attend the summons of her bell, with a light, and materials "to register
her grace's conceptions," which, we beg the reader to understand, were
all of a literary or philosophical nature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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