Dedication of Mr Congreve’s edition of Dryden’s Dramatic Works to the Duke of Newcastle

The Wild Gallant, a Comedy
  Preface

The Rival Ladies, a Tragi-comedy
  Dedication to the Earl of Orrery

The Indian Queen, a Tragedy

The Indian Emperor, or the Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards
  Dedication to the Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch
  Defence of an Essay of Dramatic Poesy
  Connection of the Indian Emperor to the Indian Queen

Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen
  Preface

The
works
of
John Dryden.

Vol.  II.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Mr Congreve’s edition of Dryden’s dramatic works, in six volumes 12mo, printed for Tonson in 1735, has been chiefly resorted to for the text of the Plays in the present edition, although the assistance of the older copies, in quarto and folio, has been called in, where difficulties occurred, or improvements were obvious.  The preliminary Dissertations, Dedications, and Prefaces, have been corrected from the excellent edition of Mr Malone.  Congreve appears deeply to have felt the bequest, left him by his great predecessor, when, “just abandoning the ungrateful stage” he made it his intreaty, that his successor would be kind to his remains.  Considerable pains have been bestowed by the present editor in correcting the text.  The notes are limited to the explanation of such passages, as the fashion in language, in manners, or in literature, has, in the space of a century, rendered doubtful or obscure.

DEDICATION TO MR CONGREVE’S EDITION OF DRYDEN’S DRAMATIC WORKS.

To
his grace
the
duke of Newcastle[1],
lord Chamberlain of his majesty’s household
_&c_.

[Footnote 1:  Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcastle.  No satire ever can convey such bitter reproof as the high-strained eulogy of this dedication.  This great and wealthy man unblushingly received Congreve’s tribute of praise and gratitude, for his munificence in directing a splendid monument to be raised over Dryden’s remains.  But the incense of the dedicator was wasted on a block, more insensible than his Grace’s workmen could have dug from the quarry.  Neither pride nor shame could induce the Duke to accomplish what vanity had led him voluntarily to propose; and the dedication, instead of producing a tomb in honour of Dryden, will remain itself an eternal monument of the patron’s disgrace.]

My Lord, It is the fortune of this edition of the dramatic works of the late Mr Dryden, to come into the world at a time, when your Grace has just given order for erecting, at your own expense, a noble monument to his memory.