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The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11Dryden, John

General

The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11

Name: The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11
Author: Dryden, John

Dryden, John

English literature

Some estates are held, in England, by paying a fine at the change of
every lord. I have enjoyed the patronage of your family, from the time
of your excellent grandfather to this present day. I have dedicated the
translations of the "Lives of Plutarch" to the first duke;[99] and have
celebrated the memory of your heroic father.[100] Though I am very
short of the age of Nestor, yet I have lived to a third generation of
your house; and, by your grace's favour, am admitted still to hold from
you by the same tenure.

I am not vain enough to boast, that I have deserved the value of so
illustrious a line; but my fortune is the greater, that, for three
descents, they have been pleased to distinguish my poems from those of
other men, and have accordingly made me their peculiar care. May it be
permitted me to say, that as your grandfather and father were cherished
and adorned with honours by two successive monarchs, so I have been
esteemed and patronized by the grandfather, the father, and the son,
descended from one of the most ancient, most conspicuous, and most
deserving families in Europe.

It is true, that by delaying the payment of my last fine, when it was
due by your grace's accession to the titles and patrimonies of your
house, I may seem, in rigour of law, to have made a forfeiture of my
claim; yet my heart has always been devoted to your service; and since
you have been graciously pleased, by your permission of this address, to
accept the tender of my duty, it is not yet too late to lay these poems
at your feet.

The world is sensible, that you worthily succeed not only to the honours
of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. The long chain of
magnanimity, courage, easiness of access, and desire of doing good, even
to the prejudice of your fortune, is so far from being broken in your
grace, that the precious metal yet runs pure to the newest link of it;
which I will not call the last, because I hope and pray it may descend
to late posterity; and your flourishing youth, and that of your
excellent duchess, are happy omens of my wish.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11Dryden, John

General

The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11

Dryden, John

English literature

Some estates are held, in England, by paying a fine at the change of
every lord. I have enjoyed the patronage of your family, from the time
of your excellent grandfather to this present day. I have dedicated the
translations of the "Lives of Plutarch" to the first duke;[99] and have
celebrated the memory of your heroic father.[100] Though I am very
short of the age of Nestor, yet I have lived to a third generation of
your house; and, by your grace's favour, am admitted still to hold from
you by the same tenure.

I am not vain enough to boast, that I have deserved the value of so
illustrious a line; but my fortune is the greater, that, for three
descents, they have been pleased to distinguish my poems from those of
other men, and have accordingly made me their peculiar care. May it be
permitted me to say, that as your grandfather and father were cherished
and adorned with honours by two successive monarchs, so I have been
esteemed and patronized by the grandfather, the father, and the son,
descended from one of the most ancient, most conspicuous, and most
deserving families in Europe.

It is true, that by delaying the payment of my last fine, when it was
due by your grace's accession to the titles and patrimonies of your
house, I may seem, in rigour of law, to have made a forfeiture of my
claim; yet my heart has always been devoted to your service; and since
you have been graciously pleased, by your permission of this address, to
accept the tender of my duty, it is not yet too late to lay these poems
at your feet.

The world is sensible, that you worthily succeed not only to the honours
of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. The long chain of
magnanimity, courage, easiness of access, and desire of doing good, even
to the prejudice of your fortune, is so far from being broken in your
grace, that the precious metal yet runs pure to the newest link of it;
which I will not call the last, because I hope and pray it may descend
to late posterity; and your flourishing youth, and that of your
excellent duchess, are happy omens of my wish.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11

The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11

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