While our author was the literary assistant of Sir Robert Howard, and the hired labourer of Herringman the bookseller, we may readily presume that his pretensions and mode of living were necessarily adapted to that mode of life, into which he had descended by the unpopularity of his puritanical connections.  Even for some time after his connection with the theatre, we learn, from a contemporary, that his dress was plain at least, if not mean, and his pleasures moderate, though not inelegant.[13] But as his reputation advanced, he naturally glided into more expensive habits, and began to avail himself of the licence, as well as to partake of the pleasures, of the time.  We learn, from a poem of his enemy Milbourne, that Dryden’s person was advantageous; and that, in the younger part of his life, he was distinguished by the emulous favour of the fair sex.[14] And although it would not be edifying, were it possible, to trace instances of his success in gallantry, we may barely notice his intrigue with Mrs. Reeve, a beautiful actress, who performed in many of his plays.  This amour was probably terminated before the fair lady’s retreat to a cloister, which seems to have taken place before the representation of Otway’s “Don Carlos,” in 1676.[15] Their connection is alluded to in the “Rehearsal,” which was acted in 1671.  Bayes, talking of Amarillis, actually represented by Mrs. Reeve, says, “Ay, ’tis a pretty little rogue; she’s my mistress:  I knew her face would set off armour extremely; and to tell you true, I writ that part only for her.”  There follows an obscure allusion to some gallantry of our author in another quarter.  But Dryden’s amours were interrupted, if not terminated, in 1665, by his marriage.

Our author’s friendship with Sir Robert Howard and his increasing reputation, had introduced him to the family of the Earl of Berkshire, father to his friend.  In the course of this intimacy, the poet gained the affections of Lady Elizabeth Howard, the Earl’s eldest daughter, whom he soon afterwards married.[16] The lampoons, by which Dryden’s private character was assailed in all points, allege, that this marriage was formed under circumstances dishonourable to the lady.  But of this there is no evidence; while the malignity of the reporters is evident and undisguised.  We may however believe, that the match was not altogether agreeable to the noble family of Berkshire.  Dryden, it is true, might, in point of descent, be admitted to form pretensions to Lady Elizabeth Howard; but his family, though honourable, was in a kind of disgrace, from the part which Sir Gilbert Pickering and Sir John Driden had taken in the civil wars:  while the Berkshire family were remarkable for their attachment to the royal cause.  Besides, many of the poet’s relations were engaged in trade; and the alliance of his brothers-in-law, the tobacconist and stationer, if it was then formed, could not sound dignified in the ears of a Howard.  Add to this a very important consideration,—­Dryden