I can possibly: and Will Plowden shall pay you in three guinneys, if I can obtain so much favour from you.[110] I desire neither excuses nor reasons from you: for I am but too well satisfyed already. The Notes and Prefaces shall be short; because you shall get the more by saving paper.[111] JOHN DRYDEN. LETTER XVI. TO MR JACOB TONSON. MR TONSON, Friday night. [f. Dec. 1695.] Meeting Sir Robert Howard at the playhouse this morning, and asking him how he lik’d my seaventh Eneid, he told me you had not brought it. He goes out of town to-morrow, being Satturday, after dinner. I desire you not to fail of carrying my manuscript for him to read in the country; and desire him to bring it up with him, when he comes next to town. I doubt you have not yet been with my Lord Chesterfield, and am in pain about it. Yours, JOHN DRYDEN. When you have leysure, I shou’d be glad to see how Mr Congreve and you have worded my propositions for Virgil.[112] When my sonne’s play[113] is acted, I intend to translate again, if my health continue. Some time next week let me heare from you concerning the propositions. LETTER XVII. TO MR JACOB TONSON. SIR, Friday forenoon, [f. Feb, 1695-6.] I receiv’d your letter very kindly,[114] because indeed I expected none; but thought you as very a tradesman as Bentley,[115] who has cursed our Virgil so heartily. I shall loose enough by your bill upon Mr Knight;[116] for after having taking it all in silver, and not in half-crowns neither, but shillings and sixpences, none of the money will go; for which reason I have sent it all back again, and as the less loss will receive it in guinneys at 29 shillings each. ’Tis troublesome to be a looser, but it was my own fault to accept it this way, which I did to avoyd more trouble.