will allow them to be. I
have observed, says Montaigne, that when the body is out of order, its
companion is seldom at his ease. An ill dream, or a cloudy day, has
power to change this wretched creature, who is so proud of a
reasonable soul, and make him think what he thought not yesterday. And
Homer was of this opinion, as Cicero is pleased to translate him for
us:

_Tales sunt hominum mentes, quali pater ipse
Jupiter auctifera lustravit lampade terras._

Or, as the same author, in his "Tusculan Questions," speaks, with more
modesty than usual, of himself: _Nos in diem vivimus; quodcunque
animos nostros probabilitate percussit, id dicimus._ It is not
therefore impossible but that I may alter the conclusion of my play,
to restore myself into the good graces of my fair critics; and your
lordship, who is so well with them, may do me the office of a friend
and patron, to intercede with them on my promise of amendment. The
impotent lover in Petronius, though his was a very unpardonable crime,
yet was received to mercy on the terms I offer. _Summa excusationis
meae haec est: Placebo tibi, si culpam emendare permiseris._

But I am conscious to myself of offering at a greater boldness, in
presenting to your view what my meanness can produce, than in any
other error of my play; and therefore make haste to break off this
tedious address, which has, I know not how, already run itself into so
much of pedantry, with an excuse of Tully's, which he sent with his
books "De Finibus," to his friend Brutus: _De ipsis rebus autem,
saepenumero, Brute, vereor ne reprehendar, cum haec ad te scribam, qui
tum in poesi,_ (I change it from _philosophia_) _tum in optimo genere
poeseos tantum processeris. Quod si facerem quasi te erudiens, jure
reprehenderer. Sed ab eo plurimum absum: Nec, ut ea cognoscas quae tibi
notissima sunt, ad te mitto; sed quia facillime in nomine tuo
acquiesco, et quia te habeo aequissimum eorum studiorum, quae mihi
communia tecum sunt, aestimatorem et judicem._ Which you may please, my
lord, to apply to yourself, from him, who is,

Your Lordship's
Most obedient,
Humble servant,
DRYDEN.

Footnotes:
1. John Sheffield, earl of Mulgrave, afterwards created marquis of
Normanby, and at length duke of Buckingham, made a great figure
during the reigns of Charles II. of his unfortunate successor, of
William the Third, and of Queen Anne. His bravery as a soldier, and
abilities as a s