Yet Milton's "imperial ensign"
waves defiant behind his impregnable lines, and even Campbell flaunts
his "meteor flag" in Waller's face. Gray's bard might be sent to the
lock-up, but even he would find bail.
"C'est imiter quelqu'un que de planter des choux."
[44] Corneille's tragedy of "Pertharite" was acted unsuccessfully in
1659. Racine made free use of it in his more fortunate "Andromaque."
[45] Dryden's publisher.
[46] Preface to the Fables.
[47] I interpret some otherwise ambiguous passages in this charming
and acute essay by its title: "On the _artificial_ comedy of the last
century."
[48] See especially his defence of the epilogue to the Second Part of
the "Conquest of Granada" (1672).
[49] Defence of an Essay on Dramatick Poesy.
[50] "The favor which heroick plays have lately found upon our
theatres has been wholly derived to them from the countenance and
approbation they have received at Court." (Dedication of "Indian
Emperor" to Duchess of Monmouth.)
[51] Dedication of "Rival Ladies."
[52] Defence of the Essay. Dryden, in the happiness of his
illustrative comparisons, is almost unmatched.
Pages:
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120