The “Indian Queen” having been thus successful, Dryden was encouraged to engraft upon it another drama, entitled, the “Indian Emperor.”  It is seldom that the continuation of a concluded tale is acceptable to the public.  The present case was an exception, perhaps because the connection between the “Indian Emperor” and its predecessor was neither close nor necessary.  Indeed, the whole persons of the “Indian Queen” are disposed of by the bowl and dagger, at the conclusion of that tragedy, excepting Montezuma, who, with a second set of characters, the sons and daughters of those deceased in the first part, occupies the stage in the second play.  The author might, therefore, have safely left the audience to discover the plot of the “Indian Emperor,” without embarrassing them with that of the “Indian Queen.”  But to prevent mistakes, and principally, I should think, to explain the appearance of three ghosts, the only persons (if they can be termed such) who have any connection with the former drama, Dryden took the precaution to print and disperse an argument of the play, in order, as the “Rehearsal” intimated, to insinuate into the audience some conception of his plot.  The “Indian Emperor” was probably the first of Dryden’s performances which drew upon him, in an eminent degree, the attention of the public.  It was dedicated to Anne, Duchess of Monmouth, whom long afterward our author styled his first and best patroness.[12] This lady, in the bloom of youth and beauty, and married to a nobleman no less the darling of his father than of the nation, had it in her power effectually to serve Dryden, and doubtless exerted her influence in procuring him that rank in public opinion, which is seldom early attained without the sanction of those who lead the fashion in literature.  The Duchess of Monmouth probably liked in the “Indian Emperor,” not only the beauty of the numbers, and the frequently exquisite turn of the description, but also the introduction of incantations and apparitions, of which romantic style of writing she was a professed admirer.  The “Indian Emperor” had the most ample success; and from the time of its representation, till the day of his death, our author, though often rudely assailed, maintained the very pinnacle of poetical superiority, against all his contemporaries.

The dreadful fire of London, in 1666, put a temporary stop to theatrical exhibitions, which were not permitted till the following Christmas.  We may take this opportunity to review the effect which the rise of Dryden’s reputation had upon his private fortune and habits of life.