OF

VOLUME FIRST.

The Life of John Dryden

SECT.  I. Preliminary remarks on the Poetry of England before the Civil
Wars—­The Life of Dryden from his Birth till the Restoration—­His Early
Poems, including the Annus Mirabilis

SECT.  II.  Revival of the Drama at the Restoration—­Heroic Plays—­
Comedies of Intrigue—­Commencement of Dryden’s Dramatic Career—­The Wild
Gallant—­Rival Ladies—­Indian Queen and Emperor—­Dryden’s Marriage—­
Essay on Dramatic Poetry, and subsequent Controversy with Sir Robert
Howard—­The Maiden Queen—­The Tempest—­Sir Martin Mar-all—­The Mock
Astrologer—­The Royal Martyr—­The two Parts of the Conquest of Granada—­
Dryden’s situation at this period

SECT.  III.  Heroic Plays—­The Rehearsal—­Marriage a la Mode—­The Assignation—­Controversy with Clifford—­with Leigh—­with Ravenscroft—­ Massacre of Amboyna—­State of Innocence

SECT.  IV.  Dryden’s controversy with Settle—­with Rochester—­He is assaulted in Rose Street—­Aureng-Zebe—­Dryden meditates an Epic Poem—­ All for Love—­Limberham—­Oedipus—­Troilus and Cressida—­The Spanish Friar—­Dryden supposed to be in opposition to the Court

SECT.  V. Dryden engages in Politics—­Absalom and Achitophel, Part First —­The Medal—­MacFlecknoe—­Absalom and Achitophel, Part Second—­The Duke of Guise

SECT.  VI.  Threnodia Augustalis—­Albion and Albanius—­Dryden becomes a Catholic—­The Controversy of Dryden with Stillingfleet—­The Hind and Panther—­Life of St. Francis Xavier—­Consequences of the Revolution to Dryden—­Don Sebastian—­King Arthur—­Cleomenes—­Love Triumphant

SECT.  VII.  State of Dryden’s Connections in Society after the Revolution—­Juvenal and Persius—­Smaller Pieces—­Eleanora—­Third Miscellany—­Virgil—­Ode to St. Cecilia—­Dispute with Milbourne—­with Blackmore—­Fables—­The Author’s Death and Funeral—­His Private Character—­Notices of his Family

SECT.  VIII.  The State of Dryden’s Reputation at his Death, and afterwards—­The general Character of his Mind—­His Merit as a Dramatist —­As a Lyrical Poet—­As a Satirist—­As a Narrative Poet—­As a Philosophical and Miscellaneous Poet—­As a Translator—­As a Prose Author—­As a Critic

THE
LIFE
OF
JOHN DRYDEN.

VOL.  I.

THE LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN.

* * * * *

SECTION I.

Preliminary Remarks on the Poetry of England before the Civil Wars—­ The Life of Dryden from his Birth till the Restoration—­His early Poems, including the “Annus Mirabilis."