I am not sorry that you will not allow any thing towards the notes; for to make them good, would have cost me half a yeare’s time at least. Those I write shall be only marginall, to help the unlearned, who understand not the poeticall fables. The prefaces, as I intend them, will be somewhat more learned. It wou’d require seaven yeares to translate Virgil exactly. But I promise you once more to do my best in the four remaining books, as I have hitherto done in the foregoing.--Upon triall I find all of your trade are sharpers, and you not more than others; therefore I have not wholly left you. Mr Aston does not blame you for getting as good a bargain as you cou’d, though I cou’d have gott an hundred pounds more; and you might have spared almost all your trouble if you had thought fit to publish the proposalls for the first subscriptions; for I have guynneas offered me every day, if there had been room; I believe, modestly speaking, I have refused already 25. I mislike nothing in your letter therefore, but onely your upbraiding me with the publique encouragement, and my own reputation concerned in the notes; when I assure you I cou’d not make them to my mind in less than half a year’s time. Get the first half of Virgil transcribed as soon as possibly you can, that I may put the notes to it; and you may have the other four books which lye ready for you when you bring the former; that the press may stay as little as possibly it can. My Lord Chesterfield has been to visite me, but I durst say nothing of Virgil to him, for feare there should be no void place for him; if there be, let me know; and tell me whether you have made room for the Duke of Devonshire. Haveing no silver by me, I desire my Lord Derby’s money, deducting your own. And let it be good, if you desire to oblige me, who am not your enemy, and may be your friend, JOHN DRYDEN. Let me heare from you as speedily as you can. LETTER XVIII. TO MR JACOB TONSON. May 26th, [1696.] Send word, if you please, Sir, what is the most you will give for my sonn’s play, that I may take the fairest chapman, as I am bound to do for his benefit; and if you have any silver which will go, my wife will be glad of it. I lost thirty shillings or more by the last payment of fifty pounds, w^ch you made at Mr Knights. Yours, JOHN DRYDEN. Sir Ro: Howard[117] writt me word, that if I cou’d make any advantage by being paid in clipp’d money, he woud change it in the Exchequer. LETTER XIX. TO MR JACOB TONSON. MR TONSON, Thursday Morning, [f. Aug. 1696.]