The Works of John Dryden, Volume VII: Poems, 1697-1700

John Dryden

University of California Press, 1956 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 1008 pages

Dryden's last three years of published works begin with Alexander's Feast and end with Fables, his largest miscellany of poetical translations. Alexander's Feast, like the earlier Song for St. Cecilia's Day (Works, III), was commissioned by the Musical Society for performance at its annual tribute to sacred music. The Fables included selections from Homer, Ovid, Boccaccio, and Chaucer. Extensive and detailed notes to these translations show readers how well Dryden succeeded in transmitting the styles and the very sounds of his originals. Volume VII ends with a section of miscellaneous pieces published at other times, including Dryden's only known Latin work. The presentation of the writings in this volume, like that of the entire twenty-volume series, is a tribute not only to Dryden but also to the editors who have guided it through five decades.

Contents

• Alexanders Feast or the Power of Musique: 3
• To my Friend the Author Peter Motteux: 12
• Meleager and Atalanta Out of the Eighth Book: 203
• Sigismonda and Guiscardo from Boccace: 216
• Baucis and Philemon Out of the Eighth Book: 238
• Pygmalion and the Statue Out of the Tenth Book: 244
• The First Book of Homers Ilias: 260
• Or The Tale of the Nuns: 287
• Theodore and Honoria from Boccace: 336
• Ceyx and Alcyone Out of the Tenth Book: 349
• The Flower and the Leaf Or The Lady in: 365
• The Twelfth Book of Ovid his Metamorphoses: 406
• The Speeches of Ajax and Ulysses From Ovids: 432

About the author

Born August 9, 1631 into a wealthy Puritan family, John Dryden received an excellent education at Westminster School and Cambridge University. After a brief period in government, he turned his attention almost entirely to writing. Dryden was one of the first English writers to make his living strictly by writing, but this meant he had to cater to popular taste. His long career was astonishingly varied, and he turned his exceptional talents to almost all literary forms. Dryden dominated the entire Restoration period as a poet, playwright, and all-round man of letters. He was the third poet laureate of England. In his old age Dryden was virtually a literary "dictator" in England, with an immense influence on eighteenth-century poetry. His verse form and his brilliant satires became models for other poets, but they could rarely equal his standard. Dryden was also a master of "occasional" poetry - verse written for a specific person or special occasion. Like most poets of his time, Dryden saw poetry as a way of expressing ideas rather than emotions, which makes his poetry seem cool and impersonal to some modern readers. Dryden also wrote numerous plays that helped him make him one of the leading figures in the Restoration theatre. Today, however he is admired more for his influence on other writers than for his own works. He died on April 30, 1700 in London.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Works of John Dryden, Volume VII: Poems, 1697-1700; California edition of the works of John Dryden; Volume 7 of The Works of John Dryden, Volume VII; Works of John Dryden, John Dryden; Volume 7 of Works, Hugh Thomas Swedenberg; Volume 7 of “The” Works of John Dryden: 1697 - 1700 / Ed. Vinton A. Dearing, Vinton A. Dearing
• Author: John Dryden
• Editors: Edward Niles Hooker, Hugh Thomas Swedenberg, Vinton A. Dearing
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: University of California Press, 1956
• ISBN: 0520021231, 9780520021235
• Length: 1008 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Reference; Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Poetry / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Poetry / General