«Your person is so admirable, that it can scarcely receive any addition when it shall be glorified; and your soul, which shines through it, finds it of a substance so near her own, that she will be pleased to pass an age within it, and to be confined to such a palace." To this piece is prefixed an apology for heroic poetry and poetic licence. The subject is taken from Milton's Paradise Lost, of which, it must be acknowledged, it is a poor imitation, 12. The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards, in two parts, two tragicomedies, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed in 1678. These two plays were dedicated to the duke of York, and received on the stage with great applause. The story is to be found in Mariana's History of Spain, book xxv. chap. 18. ! These plays are written in rhime. To the first is prefixed an essay on heroic plays; and to the second, an essay on the dramatic poetry of the last age. 13. All for Love, or the World Well Lost, a tragedy, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed in 4to. 1678. It is dedicated to the earl of Danby. This is the only play of Mr. Dryden's, which, he says, ever pleased himself; and he tells us, that he prefers the scene between Anthony and Ven tidius, in the first act, to any thing he had written of this kind. It is full of fine sentiments, and the most poetical and beautiful descriptions of any of his plays; the descriptions of Cleopatra in her barge exceeds any thing in poetry, except Shakespeare's and his own St. Cecilia. 14 Tyrannic Love, or the Royal Martyr, a tragedy, acted at the theatre royal, 1691. It is written in rhime, and dedicated to the duke of Monmouth. 15 Troilus and Cressida, or Truth found too late, a tragedy, acted at the duke's theatre, and printed in 4to. 1679. It is dedicated to the earl of Sunderland, and has a preface prefixed concerning grounds of criticism in tragedy. This play was originally Shakespeare's, and revised and altered by Dryden, who added several new scenes. The plot is taken from Chau cer's Troilus and Cresida, which the poet translated from that original story, written in Latin verse by Lollius, a Lombard. 16 Secret Love; or, the Maiden Queen, a tragi-comedy, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed in 4to. in 1697. The serious part of the plot founded on the history of Cleobuline, queen of Corinth. 17. The Rival Ladies, a tragicomedy, acted in 1672. It is de dicated to the earl of Orrery. The dedication is in the nature of a preface, in defence of English verse or rhyme.. 18. The kind Keeper; or, Mr. Limberham, a comedy, acted at the duke's theatre, printed in 4to. in 1680. It is dedicated to John Lord Vaughan. Mr. Langbaine says, "It so much exposed the keepers about town, that all the old letchers were up in arms against it, and damned it the third night." 19. The Spanish Friar; or the Double Discovery, a tragi-comedy, acted at the duke's theatre, and printed in 1681. It is dedicated to John lord Haughton. This is one of Dryden's best plays, and still keeps possession of the stage. It is said, that he was afterwards so much concerned for having ridiculed the character of the friar, that it impaired his health What effect bigotry or the influence of the priests might have on him on this occasion, we leave others to determine. 20. Duke of Guise, a tragedy, acted in 1688. It was written by Dryden and Lee, and dedicated to Hyde, earl of Rochester. This play gave great offence to the whigs, and engaged several writers for and against it. 21. Albion and Albanius, an opera, performed at the queen's theatre, in Dorset-gardens, and printed in folio, 1685. The subject of it is wholly allegorical, and intended to expose lord Shaftesbury and his party. 22. Don Sebastian, king of Portugal, a tragedy, acted in 1690, dedi. cated to the earl of Leicester. 23. King Arthur; or, the British Worthy, a tragedy, acted in 1691, dedicated to the marquis of Halifax. 24 Amphitrion; or, the Two Socias, a comedy, acted in 1691, dedicated to sir Leveson Gower, taken from Plautus and Moliere. 25 Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a tragedy, acted at the theatre royal, and printed in 4to. in 1692, dedicated to the earl of Rochester. There is prefixed to it the life of Cleomenes, translated from Plutarch by Mr. Creech. This play was prohibited by the lord-chamberlain; but upon examination, being found' innocent of any design to satirize the government, it was suffered to be represented, and had great success. preface, the author tells us, that a foolish objection had been raised against him by the sparks, for Cleomenes not accepting the favours of Cassandra. 'They,” says he, "would not have refused a fair lady. I grant they would not: but let them grant me, that they are no heroes.” In the 26. Love Triumphant, or Nature will prevail, a tragi-comedy, acted in 1694. It is dedicated to the earl of Shaftesbury, and is the last Mr. Dryden wrote, or intended for the theatre. It met with but indifferent suc cess; though in many parts the genius of that great man breaks out, espe cially in the discovery of Alphonso's successful love, and in the catastrophe, which is extremely affecting. Authorities. Wood's Athen, Oxon. Lord Lansdowne's Works, vol. I. Congreve's Dedication of Dryden's Works to the Duke of Newcastle. Biog- Britan. JOHN LOCKE, the celebrated philosopher, was born at Wrington, in Somersetshire, in 1632. During his infancy, his education was conducted with paternal care and affection; but with much strictness and severity by his father, who, being bred to the law, was a steward, or court keeper, to colonel Alexander Popham; and upon the breaking out of the civil wars, became a captain in the parliament's army. The first part of his education he received at Westminster-school, where he remained till he was nineteen years of age, when he was removed to Oxford; and being admitted of Christ-church, in 1651, became a student of that college, and distinguished himself by an ingenious epigram upon Cromwell's peace with the Dutch in 1653. Having taken at the regular times both his degrees in arts, he put himself upon the physic line; to which profession he applied himself with great diligence, and practised therein a little at Oxford; but finding his constitution not able to bear the fatigue of much business, he forbare to push it; and being highly delighted" with the philosophy of Des Cartes, which then began to grow in vogue, he thence took a fancy to that study. We have advanced this on the sole authority of Le Clerc, who very possibly might have it from our author's own mouth, being very intimate with him." It appears likewise from the same respectable authority, that' Mr. Locke found so little satisfaction in the method of study prescribed to the students at that time, that he wished his father had never sent him to Oxford. Scholastic exercises of disputa tion were then greatly in vogue at both universities, and the only philosophy taught at Oxford was the Peripatetic, perplexed with 1 obscure terms, and stuffed with useless questions, calculated only to furnish matter of contention, and to set the literary world in a flame. This part of university education was severely censured at the time by men of great eminence; and Mr. Locke conceived such an utter aversion to it, that he could scarcely keep his temper in the company of professed disputants. In the room of Aristotle's philosophy, Mr. Locke substituted several hypotheses from the Cartesian, then called, "The new Philosophy." It had indeed been for some time taught in Hol land, and at Geneva, and had captivated many others as well as Mr. Locke, with the charming variety and perspicuity of the syle in which the founder had dressed it up, and which was universally admired, even by those who did not approve all his notions. In 1664, he had an opportunity of going abroad, in quality of secretary to sir William Swan, who was appointed envoy to the elector of Brandenburgh, and some other German princes. He returned the year following to Oxford, where he continued to improve his knowledge in natural philosophy and physic; and particulary in 1666, fell in with a scheme that had been lately set on foot by Dr. Plott, of keeping a register of the air, in order to perfect the natural history of what the physicians call the nonnaturals. He printed this at the end of a posthumous piece of Mr. Robert Boyle's, intitled "A general History of the Air," in 1692, 8vo. Our author calls his paper, "A Register of the changes of the Air observed at Oxford, by the Barometer, Thermo meter, and Hygrometer, from June 23, 1660, to March 28, 1667." He was thus employed when an accident brought him acquainted with Anthony Ashley Cooper, then lord Ashley, afterwards earl of Shaftesbury. His lordship having an abscess in his breast, occasioned by a fall, was advised to drink the Astrop waters. In this design he wrote to a physician at Oxford, to procur some of these waters to be ready against his arrival. That physician being called away by other business, transferred his commission to his friend Mr. Locke, who found himself obliged to wait upon his lordship the day after his arrival, to excuse the disappointment of not having the waters ready. Lord Ashley, as his manner was, received him with grert civility, declared himself well satisfied with his apology, and being much pleased with his conversation, upon his rising to take leave, detained him to supper, and engaged him to dinner the next day, and even to drink the waters (Mr. Locke having expressed some design of doing it shortly) that he might have the more of his company. From this beginning that lord became our philosopher's patron; and took him into his house; and soon after followed his advice in opening the abscess in his breast. He would not suffer him to practice physic out of his own family, except among some particular friends; and introduced him to several lords of his acquaintance, who shewed him extraordinary respect, and urged him to direct his application chiefly to the subject of politics. Le Clerc tells us, that three or four of the noblemen who thus countenanced Mr. Locke, having met at lord Ashley's, rather for amusement than business, after some, compliments, very little conversation had passed when the butler brought in the cards. Mr. Locke looked on for some time while they were at play, and then taking out his pocket-book, began to write with great attention. One of the company observing this, asked him what he was writing?" My lord," says he, "I am endeavouring to profit as far as I am capable in your company; for having waited with impatience for the honor of being in an assembly of the greatest geniussés of the age, and having at length obtained this good fortune, I thought I could not do better than write down your conversation; and indeed I have set down the substance of what has been said for this hour or two." He had no occasion to read much of his dialogue: those noble persons saw the ridicule, and diverted themselves with improving the jest. They presently quitted their play, entered into a conversation more suitable to their characters, and spent the rest of the day in that manner. In 1668, he attended the countess of Northumberland into France; but an unforeseen accident obliged him, after a short stay there, to return to England; where he continued to reside with lord Ashley, who having, jointly with some other lords, obtained a grant of Carolina, our author was employed to draw up the fundamental constitutions of that province; but the ar |