The Works of John Dryden Now First Collected Volume 15 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1808 Excerpt: ...foot, and goggle eye, A ploughman's booby mien, face all awry, A filthy breath, and every loathsome mark. The punchinello sets np for a spark: With equal self-conceit he takes up arms, But with such vile success his part performs, That he burlesques the trade, and, what is best In others, turns, like Harlequin, to jest: So have I seen, at Sin ithfie Id's wonderous fair, When all his brother-monsters flourish there, A lubbard elephant divert the town, With making legs, and shooting of a gun. Go where he will, he never finds a friend, Shame and derision all his steps attend; Alike abroad, at home, i'the camp, and court, This knight o'the burning pestle makes us sport. This seems to have been written by the offended Sir Car Scrope. Derrick is inclined to think, that Sidney, brother of the Earl of Leicester, and of the famous Algernon Sidney, is here meant. Though all his thoughts on wine and wbmen fall, His are so bad, sure he ne'er thinks at all. The flesh he lives upon is rank and strong, His meat and mistresses are kept too long. But sure we all mistake this pious man, Who mortifies his person all he can: What we uncharitably take for sin, Are only rules of this odd capuchin; For never hermit, under grave pretence, Has lived more contrary to common sense; And 'tis a miracle, we may suppose, No nastiness offends his skilful nose; Which from all stink can, with peculiar art, Extract perfume and essence from a f--t. Expecting supper is his great delight; He toils all day but to be drunk at night; Then o'er his cups this night-bird chirping sits, Till he takes Hewet and Jack Hall for wits. But the character better suits Sir Charles Sedley or Sidley, for he spelled the name both ways. In explanation of the line, there is, in the 4to edition of Sheffield's Works, ..