t seems to have lodged itself more
nobly in this age, than in any of the former; and that his lordship
had but another step to make, from the patron of wit, to become its
tyrant." This last observation seems to have been made in the
spirit of prophecy.

4. Such is said to have been the answer of a philosopher to a friend,
who upbraided him with giving up a dispute to the Emperor Adrian.

5. This passage alludes to an imitation of Horace, quaintly entitled
an "Allusion to the Tenth Satire of his First Book" which was the
production of Rochester. As however it appeared without a name, it
may have been for a time imputed to some of the inferior wits, whom
his Lordship patronized. It contains a warm attack on Dryden, part
of which has been already quoted. Dryden probably knew the real
author of this satire, although he chose to impute it to one of the
"Zanies" of the great. At least it seems unlikely that he should
take Crown for the author, as has been supposed by Mr Malone; for
in the imitation we have these lines:

For by that rule I might as well admit
Crown's heavy scenes for poetry and wit.

Crown could hardly be charged as author of a poem, in which this
sarcasm occurred.

6. Alluding probably to the concluding lines of the Satire.

I loath the rabble; 'tis enough for me
If Sedley, Shadwell, Shepherd, Wycherley,
Godolphin, Butler, Buckhurst, Buckingham,
And some few more whom I omit to name,
Approve my sense; I count their censure fame.

7. Dryden alludes to the censure past on himself, where it is said,

Five hundred verses in a morning writ.
Prove him no more a poet than a wit.

8. This refers to the characters of Shadwell and Wycherley, which
according to Dryden, the satirist seems to have misunderstood.

Of all our modern wits, none seems to me
Once to have touched upon true comedy,
But hasty Shadwell and slow Wycherley;
Shadwell's unfinished works do yet impart
Great proofs of force of nature, none of art.
With just bold strokes he dashes here and there,
Shewing great mastery with little care;
But Wycherley earns hard whate'er he gains,
He wants no judgment, and he spares no pains;
He frequently excels, and, at the least,
Makes fewer faults than any of the rest.

9. "I have chiefly considered the fable, or plot, which all conclude
to be the so