If the admirers of Dryden were active in the condemnation of Higden's play, the offence probably lay in these verses. It seems likely that Higden's translation, of the Tenth Satire of Juvenal, which I have never seen, was printed before Dryden published his own version, in 1693; consequently, before the damnation of the "Wary Widow," acted in the same year, which seems to have been attended with a quarrel between Dryden and the author. It is therefore very probable, that this Epistle should have stood earlier in the arrangement: but, having no positive evidence, the Editor has not disturbed the former order. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 50: From spawn of Will's, these wits of future tense, He now appeals to men of riper sense; And hopes to find some shelter from the wrath Of furious critics of implicit faith; Whose judgment always ebb, but zeal flows high, Who for these truths upon the church rely. Will's is the mother-church: From thence their creed, And as that censures, poets must succeed. Here the great patriarch of Parnassus sits, And grants his bulls to the subordinate wits. From this hot-bed with foplings we're opprest, That crowd the boxes, and the pit infest; Who their great master's falling spittle lick, And at the neighbouring playhouse judge on tick. Thus have I seen from some decaying oak, A numerous toad-stool brood his moisture suck, And as the reverend log his verdure sheds, The fungous offspring flourishes and spreads. _Verses prefixed to "Sir Noisy Parrot," 4to, 1693._ ] [Footnote 51: This circumstance is noticed by one of Higden's poetical comforters: Friend Harry, some squeamish pretenders to thinking, Say, thy play is encumbered with eating and drinking; That too oft, in conscience, thy table's brought out, And unmerciful healths fly like hail-shot about. Such a merry objection who ere could expect, That does on the town or its pleasures reflect? Is a treat and a bottle grown quite out of fashion, Or have the spruce beaus found a new recreation? At a tavern I'm certain they seldom find fault, When flask after flask in due order is brought: Why then should the fops be so monstrous uncivil, As to damn at a play, what they like at the _Devil_? Begging pardon of this apologist, who subscribes himself Tho. Palmer, there is some difference between the satisfaction of eating a good dinner at a tavern, and seeing one presented on the stage.] EPISTLE THE ELEVENTH.