a sovereign tribunal.  Heroes should only be judged by heroes; because they only are capable of measuring great and heroick actions by the rule and standard of their own.  If Almanzor has failed in any point of honour, I must therein acknowledge that he deviates from your royal highness, who are the pattern of it.  But if at any time he fulfils the parts of personal valour, and of conduct, of a soldier, and of a general; or, if I could yet give him a character more advantageous than what he has, of the most unshaken friend, the greatest of subjects, and the best of masters, I should then draw to all the world a true resemblance of your worth and virtues; at least, as far as they are capable of being copied by the mean abilities of,

  Sir,

    Your royal highness’s
      Most humble, and
        Most obedient servant,
          John Dryden.

Footnotes:  1.  James Duke of York, afterwards James II.

2.  Although the valour of the unfortunate James II. seems to have sunk
   with his good fortune, there is no reason to question his having
   merited the compliment in the text.  The Duke of Buckingham, in his
   memoirs, has borne witness to the intrepidity with which he
   encountered the dangers of his desperate naval actions with the
   Dutch.  Captain Carlton, who was also an eye-witness of his
   deportment on that occasion, says, that while the balls were flying
   thickly around, the Duke of York was wont to rub his hands, and
   exclaim chearfully to his captain, “Spragge, Spragge, they follow
   us fast.”

3.  When General Lockhart commanded the troops of the Protector in
   Flanders, the Duke of York was a volunteer in the Spanish army, and
   was present at the defeat, which the latter received before
   Dunkirk, 17th of June, 1658.

4.  The defeat of the Dutch off Harwich, 3d June, 1665, in which their
   Admiral, Obdam, was blown up, eighteen of their ships taken, and
   fourteen destroyed.

5.  The author seems to refer to the burning of the English ships at
   Chatham, by the Dutch Admiral De Ruyter.

Of

Heroicplays.

Anessay.

Whether heroic verse ought to be admitted into serious plays, is not now to be disputed:  it is already in possession of the stage, and I dare confidently affirm, that very few tragedies, in this age, shall be received without it.  All the arguments which are formed against it, can amount to no more than this, that it is not so near conversation as prose, and therefore not so natural.  But it is very clear to all who understand poetry, that serious plays ought not to imitate conversation too nearly.  If nothing were to be raised above that level, the foundation of poetry would be destroyed.  And if you once admit of a latitude, that thoughts may be exalted,