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dicted them: I hope at the same to recover more health, according to my age. Remember me to poor Harry, whose prayers I earnestly desire. My Virgil succeeds in the world beyond its desert or my expectation. You know the profits might have been more; but neither my conscience nor my honour would suffer me to take them but I can never repent of my constancy, since I am thoroughly persuaded of the justice of the cause for which I suffer. It has pleased God to raise up many friends to me amongst my enemies, though they who ought to have been my friends are negligent of me. I am called to dinner, and cannot go on with this letter, which I desire you to excuse, and am your most affectionate father,

JOHN DRYDEN.

JOHN DRYDEN TO JACOB TONSON.

[Dec. 1697.]

MR. TONSON, You were no sooner gone, but I felt in my pocket, and found my Lady Chudleigh's verses; which this afternoon I gave Mr. Walsh to read in the Coffeehouse. His opinion is the same with mine, that they are better than any which are printed before the book: so thinks also Mr. Wycherly. I have them by me; but do not send them, till I hear from my Lord Clifford, whether my lady will put her name to them or not: therefore I desire they may be printed last of all the copies, and of all the book. I have also written this day to Mr. Chetwood, and let him know that the book is immediately going to the press again.

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the surgeon's answer, my letter to my son. greatest consequence in the world: for you know how I love Charles, and therefore I write to you with all the earnestness of a father, that you will procure Mr. Francia to enclose it in his packet this week for a week lost may be my son's ruin; whom I intend to send for next summer, without his brother, as I have written him word: and if it please God that I must die of over study, I cannot spend my life better than in saving his. I value not any price for a double letter let me know it, and it shall be paid for I dare not trust it by the post: being satisfied by experience, that Ferrand will do by this as he did by two letters which I sent my sons, about my dedicating to the king of which they received neither. If you cannot go yourself, then send a note to Signior Francia, as earnestly as you can write it, to beg that it may go this day, I mean Friday. I need not tell you how much herein you will oblige your friend and servant,

which I have enclosed in This is a business of the

:

J. D.

JOHN DRYDEN TO MRS. STEWARD.

MADAM, Nov. 23, 1698. To take acknowledgments of favours for favours done you, is only yours. I am always on the receiving hand; and you who have been pleased to be troubled so long with my bad company, instead of forgiving, which is all I could expect, will turn it to a kindness on my side. If your

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