Of Dryden’s learning, his works form the best proof.  He had read Polybius before he was ten years of age;[68] and was doubtless well acquainted with the Greek and Roman classics.  But from these studies he could descend to read romances:  and the present editor records with pride, that Dryden was a decided admirer of old ballads and popular tales.[69] His researches sometimes extended into the vain province of judicial astrology, in which he was a firm believer; and there is reason to think that he also credited divination by dreams.  In the country, he delighted in the pastime of fishing, and used, says Mr. Malone, to spend some time with Mr. Jones of Ramsden, in Wiltshire.  D’Urfey was sometimes of this party; but Dryden appears to have undervalued his skill in fishing, as much as his attempts at poetry.  Hence Fenton, in his Epistle to Mr. Lambard: 

“By long experience, D’Urfey may no doubt Ensnare a gudgeon, or sometimes a trout; Yet Dryden once exclaimed, in partial spite, ’He fish!’—­because the man attempts to write.”

I may conclude this notice of Dryden’s habits, which I have been enabled to give chiefly by the researches of Mr. Malone, with two notices of a minute nature.  Dryden was a great taker of snuff, which he made himself.  Moreover, as a preparation to a course of study, he usually took medicine, and observed a cooling diet.[70]

Dryden’s house, which he appears to have resided in from the period of his marriage till his death, was in Gerrard Street, the fifth on the left hand coming from Little Newport Street.[71] The back windows looked upon the gardens of Leicester House, of which circumstance our poet availed himself to pay a handsome compliment to the noble owner.[72] His excursions to the country seem to have been frequent; perhaps the more so, as Lady Elizabeth always remained in town.  In his latter days, the friendship of his relations, John Driden of Chesterton, and Mrs. Steward of Cotterstock, rendered their houses agreeable places of abode to the aged poet.  They appear also to have had a kind solicitude about his little comforts, of value infinitely beyond aiding them.  And thus concludes all that we have learned of the private life of Dryden.

The fate of Dryden’s family must necessarily interest the admirers of English literature.  It consisted of his wife, Lady Elizabeth Dryden, and three sons, John, Charles, and Erasmus Henry.  Upon the poet’s death, it may be believed, they felt themselves slenderly provided for, since all his efforts, while alive, were necessary to secure them from the gripe of penury.

Yet their situation was not very distressing.  John and Erasmus Henry were abroad; and each had an office at Rome, in which he was able to support himself.  Charles had for some time been entirely dependent on his father, and administered to his effects, as he died without a will.  The liberality of the Duchess of Ormond, and of Driden of Chesterton, had been lately received, and probably was not expended.  There was, besides, the poet’s little patrimonial estate, and a small property in Wiltshire, which the Earl of Berkshire settled upon Lady Elizabeth at her marriage, and which yielded L50 or L60 annually.  There was therefore an income of about L100 a year, to maintain the poet’s widow and children; enough in these times to support them in decent frugality.