Neither did the protecting zeal of his party-friends compensate for the loss of those whom Dryden had alienated in their service.  True it is, that a host of Tory rhymers came forward with complimentary verses to the author of “Absalom and Achitophel,” and of “The Medal.”  But of all payment, that in kind is least gratifying to a poverty-struck bard, and the courtly patrons of Dryden were in no haste to make him more substantial requital.  A gratuity of an hundred broad pieces is said to have been paid him by Charles for one of his satires; but no permanent provision was made for him.  He was coolly left to increase his pittance by writing occasional pieces; and it was probably with this view that he arranged for publication a miscellaneous collection of poetry, which he afterwards continued.  It was published for Tonson in 1683-4, and contained several versions of Epistles from Ovid, and translations of detached pieces of Virgil, Horace, and Theocritus, with some smaller pieces by Dryden himself, and a variety of poems by other hands.  The Epistles had appeared in 1680, in a version of the original by several hands, to which Dryden also contributed an introductory discourse on translation.  Contrary to our author’s custom, the miscellany appeared without either preface or dedication.

The miscellany, among other minor poems of Dryden, contained many of his occasional prologues and epilogues, the composition of which his necessity had rendered so important a branch of income, that, in the midst of his splendour of satirical reputation, the poet was obliged to chaffer about the scanty recompence which he drew from such petty sources.  Such a circumstance attended the commencement of his friendship with Southerne.  That poet then opening his dramatic career with the play of the “Loyal Brother,” came, as was usual, to request a prologue from Dryden, and to offer him the usual compliment of five guineas.  But the laureate demurred, and insisted upon double the sum, “not out of disrespect,” he added, “to you, young man; but the players have had my goods too cheap.”  Hence Southerne, who was peculiarly fortunate in his dramatic revenue, is designed by Pope as

      “Tom sent down to raise
  The price of prologues and of plays."[40]

It may seem surprising that Dryden should be left to make an object of such petty gains, when, labouring for the service of government, he had in little more than twelve months produced both Parts of “Absalom and Achitophel,” “The Medal,” “Mac-Flecknoe,” “Religio Laici” and “The Duke of Guise.”  But this was not the worst; for, although his pension as poet-laureate was apparently all the encouragement which he received from the crown, so ill-regulated were the finances of Charles, so expensive his pleasures, and so greedy his favourites, that our author, shortly after finishing these immortal poems, was compelled to sue for more regular payment of that very pension, and for a more permanent provision,