There has not been found any early edition of this epistle separate from the volume of Fables; of which therefore it probably made an original part, and was first published with them in 1700. It supplies one instance among many, that the poet's lamp burned clear to the close of life. It is said that his cousin acknowledged the honour done him by the poet, by a handsome gratuity. The amount has been alleged to be five hundred pounds, which is probably exaggerated. Mr Driden of Chesterton bequeathed that sum to Charles Dryden, the poet's son, who did not live to profit by the legacy. As the report of the present to Dryden himself depends only on tradition,[64] it is possible the two circumstances may have been more or less confounded together. The reader may be pleased to see the epitaph of John Driden of Chesterton, which concludes with some lines from this epistle. It is in the church of the village of Chesterton: _M.S._ JOHANNIS DRIDEN, _Arm. F. Natu secundi Johannis Driden de Canons Ashby in agro Northampton Bart. ex Honorâ F. et cohærede, e tribus unâ, Roberti Bevile, Bart. unde sortem maternam in hâc viciniâ de Chesterton et Haddon adeptus, prædia dein latè, per comitatum Huntington adjecit; nec sui profusus nec alieni appetens: A litibus ipse abhorrens, Et qui aliorum lites Æquissimo sæpe arbitrio diremit, Vivus, adeo Amicitiam minimè fucatam coluit, et publicam Patriæ salutem asseruit strenuè, ut illa vicissim Eum summis quibus potuit Honoribus cumulârit; lubens sæpiusq. Senatorem voluerit: vel moriens, honorum atq. beneficiorum non immemor, maximè vero Religiosæ charitatis interitu, largam sui censûs partem_ _ad valorem 16 Millium plus minus Librarum, vel in locis ubi res et commercium, vel inter familiares quibus necessitudo cum eo vivo intercesserat, erogavit Marmor hoc P. Nepos et Hæres Viri multum desiderati Robertus Pigott, Arm. Obiit Cœlebs 3 Non. Jan. Anno Dom. 1707, Æt. 72._ JUST, GOOD, AND WISE, CONTENDING NEIGHBOURS COME, } FROM YOUR AWARD TO WAIT THEIR FINAL DOOM; } AND, FOES BEFORE, RETURN IN FRIENDSHIP HOME. } WITHOUT THEIR COST, YOU TERMINATE THE CAUSE, AND SAVE THE EXPENCE OF LONG LITIGIOUS LAWS; WHERE SUITS ARE TRAVERSED, AND SO LITTLE WON, THAT HE WHO CONQUERS IS BUT LAST UNDONE. Vide p. 75. FOOTNOTES: