apostle of the Indies.  I know not, madam, whether I may presume to tell the world, that your Majesty has chosen this great saint for one of your celestial patrons, though I am sure you will never be ashamed of owning so glorious an intercessor; not even in a country where the doctrine of the holy church is questioned, and those religious addresses ridiculed.  Your Majesty, I doubt not, has the inward satisfaction of knowing, that such pious prayers have not been unprofitable to you; and the nation may one day come to understand, how happy it will be for them to have a son of prayers ruling over them.”

[17] Vol. xvi.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Ibid.

[21] “In the Bodleian Catalogue another work is attributed to our author, on very slight grounds:  ’An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholic Church,’ translated from Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux, and published at London in 1685.  The only authority for attributing this translation to Dryden, should seem to have been the following note in Bishop Barlow’s handwriting, at the bottom of the title-page of the copy belonging to the Bodleian Library: 

“’By Mr. Dryden, then only a poet, now a papist too:  may be, he was a papist before, but not known till of late.’

“This book had belonged to Bishop Barlow, who died in 1691.”—­MALONE.

[22] “Before the beginning of every canonical hour, he always said the hymn of ‘Veni, Creator Spiritus;’ and it was observed that while he said it, his countenance was enlightened, as if the Holy Ghost, whom he invoked, was visibly descended on him.”—­Vol. xvi.

[23][I have received a valuable communication as to Dryden’s Hymns, which will be noticed in its proper place.—­ED.]

[24] This line alone speaks Dryden in every syllable.

[25] I subjoin the original hymn, which is supposed to have been composed by Lactantius.

  Ut queant, laxis resonare fibris,
  Mira gestorum, famuli, tuorum,
  Solve polluti labii meatum,
        Sancte Joannes!

  Nunciens, celso veniens Olympo,
  Te, Patri, magnum fore nasciturum,
  Nomen, et vitae seriem gerendae,
        Ordine promit.

  Ille promissi dubius superni,
  Perdidit promptae modulos loquelae;
  Sed reformasti gemitus peremptae
        Organa vocis.

  Ventris abstruso recubans cubili,
  Senseras regem, thalamo manentem;
  Hinc Parens nati meritis uterque
        Abdita pandit.

[26] [Some matter concerning Dryden and Etherege will find, perhaps, most appropriate place in commenting on this Poem, vol. xi.—­ED.]

[27] Vol. x.