all the nation over, two better subjects for satire could not have been found than Lord Rochester (and the Duchess of Portsmouth. As for Rochester, he had not genius enough to enter the lists with Dryden, so he fell upon another method of revenge, and meanly hired bravoes to assault him.

In 1680 came out a translation of Ovid's Epistles in English verse, by several hands, two of which were translated by Mr. Dryden, who also wrote the preface. In the year following our Author published Absalom and Achithophel. It was first printed without his name and is a severe satire against the contrivers and abettors of the opposition against King Charles II. In the same year that Absalom and Achithophel was published the Medal, a Satire, was likewise given to the public. This piece is aimed against sedition, and was occasioned by the striking of a medal, on account of the indictment against the Earl of Shaftsbury for high treason, being found ignoramus by the grand jury at the Old Bailey, November, 1681; for which the Whig party made great rejoicings, by ringing of bells, bonfires, &c. in all parts of London. The poem is introduced with a very satirical epistle to the Whigs, in which the Author says, "I have one favour to desire "of you at parting, that when you think of answer"ing this poem, you would employ the same pens against it who have combated with so much suc"cess against Absalom and Achithophel, for then you

"may assure yourselves of a clear victory without the "least reply. Rail at me abundantly, and not break

a custom to do it with wit. By this method you will "gain a considerable point, which is wholly to wave "the answer of my arguments. If God has not blessed

you with the talent of rhyming, make use of my poor "stock, and welcome; let your verses run upon my "feet, and for the utmost refuge of notorious block"heads reduced to the last extremity of sense, turn my "own lines against me, and, in utter despair of my "own satire, make me satirize myself.”

The whole poem is a severe invective against the Earl of Shaftsbury, who was uncle to that Earl who wrote the Characteristics. Mr. Elkanah Settle wrote an answer to this poem, entitled The Medal Reversed. However contemptible Settle was as a poet, yet such was the prevalence of parties at that time, that, for some years he was Dryden's rival on the stage. In 1682 came out his Religio Laici; or, A Layman's Faith. This piece is intended as a defence of revealed religion, and the excellency and authority of the Scriptures, as the only rule of faith and manners, against Deists, Papists, and Presbyterians. He acquaints us in the Preface, that it was written for an ingenious young gentleman, his friend, upon his translation of Father Simon's Critical History of the old Testament, and that the style of it was epistolary.

In 1684 he published a translation of M. Maim

bourg's History of the League, in which he was employed by the command of King Charles II. on account of the plain parallel between the troubles of France and those of Great Britain. Upon the death of Charles II. he wrote his Threnodia Augustalis, a poem sacred to the happy memory of that prince. Soon after the accession of James II. our Author turned Roman Catholic, and by this extraordinary step drew upon himself abundance of ridicule from wits of the opposite faction; and in 1689 he wrote a Defence of the Papers written by the late King, of blessed memory, found in his strong box. Mr. Dryden, in the above-mentioned piece, takes occasion to vindicate the authority of the Catholic Church, in decreeing matters of faith upon this principle, that the church is more visible than the Scriptures, because the Scriptures are seen by the church; and to abuse the Reformation in England, which he affirms was erected on the foundation of lust, sacrilege, and usurpation. Dr. Stillingfleet hereupon answered Mr. Dryden, and treated him with some severity. Another author affirms, that Mr. Dryden's tract is very light, in some places ridiculous; and observes, that his talent lay towards controversy no more in prose than, by the Hind and Panther, it appeared to do in verse. This poem of the Hind and Panther is a direct defence of the Romish Church, in a dialogue between a Hind, which represents the Church of Rome, and a Pan

ther, which supports the character of the Church of England. The first part of this poem consists most in general characters and narration," which," says he, "I have endeavoured to raise, and give it the majestic "turn of heroic poetry. The second, being matter of "dispute, and chiefly concerning church authority, "I was obliged to make as plain and perspicuous aş "possibly I could, yet not wholly neglecting the "numbers, though I had not frequent occasion for "the magnificence of verse. The third, which has "" more of the nature of domestic conversation, is or "ought to be more free and familiar than the two "former. There are in it two episodes or fables, "which are interwoven with the main design, so that 66 they are properly parts of it, though they are also "distinct stories of themselves. In both of these I "have made use of the common places of satire, "whether true or false, which are urged by the mem"bers of the one church against the other."

This poem was attacked by Mr. Charles Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax, and Mr. Matthew Prior, who joined in writing the Hind and Panther, transversed to the Country Mouse and City Mouse, Lond. 1678, 4to. In the preface to which the authors observe," that Mr. Dryden's poem naturally falls into "ridicule; and that in this burlesque nothing is re"presented monstrous and unnatural that is not "equally so in the original." They afterwards re

mark, that they have this comfort, under the severity of Mr. Dryden's satire, to see his abilities equally lessened with his opinion of them, and that he could not be a fit champion against the Panther till he had laid aside his judgment.

Mr. Dryden is supposed to have been engaged in translating M, Varilla's History of Heresies, but to have dropped that design. This we learn from a passage in Burnet's Reflection on the ninth book of the first volume of M. Varilla's History, being a reply to his answer.

When the Revolution was completed, Mr. Dryden, having turned Papist, became disqualified for holding his place, and was accordingly dispossessed of it; and it was conferred on a man to whom he had a confirmed aversion; in consequence whereof he wrote a satire against him, called Mac Fleckno, which is one of the severest and best written satires in our language.

In the year wherein he was deprived of the Laurel he published the life of St. Francis Xavier, translated from the French of Father Dominic Bouhours. In 1693 came out a translation of Juvenal and Persius; in which the first, third, sixth, tenth, and sixteenth satires of Juvenal, and Persius entire, were done by Mr. Dryden, who prefixed a long and ingenious discourse, by way of dedication, to the Earl of Dorset. In this address our author takes occasion a while to drop his reflections on Juvenal, and to lay before his