oth of them, a man, in my opinion, is but half a poet for the stage.
Neither is it so trivial an undertaking, to make a tragedy end
happily; for it is more difficult to save, than it is to kill. The
dagger and the cup of poison are always in a readiness; but to bring
the action to the last extremity, and then by probable means to
recover all, will require the art and judgement of a writer; and cost
him many a pang in the performance.

And now, my lord, I must confess, that what I have written, looks more
like a Preface, than a Dedication; and, truly, it was thus far my
design, that I might entertain you with somewhat in my own art, which
might be more worthy of a noble mind, than the stale exploded trick of
fulsome panegyrics. It is difficult to write justly on any thing, but
almost impossible in praise. I shall therefore wave so nice a subject;
and only tell you, that, in recommending a protestant play to a
protestant patron, as I do myself an honour, so I do your noble family
a right, who have been always eminent in the support and favour of our
religion and liberties. And if the promises of your youth, your
education at home, and your experience abroad, deceive me not, the
principles you have embraced are such, as will no way degenerate from
your ancestors, but refresh their memory in the minds of all true
Englishmen, and renew their lustre in your person; which, my lord, is
not more the wish, than it is the constant expectation, of

Your lordship's
Most obedient, faithful servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.

Footnotes:
1. John, Lord Haughton, eldest son of the Earl of Clare. succeeded to
his father, was created Marquis of Clare, and died 1711, leaving an
only daughter, who married the eldest son of the famous Robert
Harley, Earl of Oxford.

2. See note on OEdipus, p. 151.

3. Dryden appears to have alluded to the following passage in Strada,
though without a very accurate recollection of its contents: _"Sane
Andreas Naugerius Valerio Martiali acriter infensus, solemne jam
habebat in illum aliquanto petulantius jocari. Etenim natali suo,
accitis ad geniale epulum amicis, postquam prolixe de poeticae
laudibus super mensam disputaverat; ostensurum se aiebat a caena,
quo tandem modo laudari poesim deceret: Mox aferri jubebat
Martialis volumen, (haec erat mensae appendix) atque igni proprior
factus, illustri conflagratione absumendum flammis imponebat:
addebatque eo incendio li