23. Don Sebastian King of Portugal, a Tragedy, acted 1690, dedicated to the earl of Leicester.
24. King Arthur; or the British worthy, a Tragedy, acted 1691, dedicated to the marquis of Hallifax.
25. Amphytrion; or the two Socias, a Comedy, acted 1691, dedicated to Sir Leveson Gower, taken from Plautus and Moliere.
26. Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a Tragedy, acted at the theatre-royal, and printed in 4to. 1692, dedicated to the earl of Rochester. There is prefixed to it the Life of Cleomenes, translated from Plutarch by Mr. Creech. This play was first prohibited by the lord Chamberlain, but upon examination being found innocent of any design to satirize the government, it was suffered to be represented, and had great success. In the preface, the author tells us, that a foolish objection had been raised against him by the sparks, for Cleomenes not accepting the favours of Cassandra. 'They (says he) would not have refused a fair lady; I grant they would not, but let them grant me, that they are no heroes.'
27. Love Triumphant; or Nature will prevail, a Tragi-comedy, acted 1694. It is dedicated to the earl of Shaftsbury, and is the last Mr. Dryden wrote, or intended for the theatre. It met with but indifferent success, tho' in many parts the genius of that great man breaks out, especially in the discovery of Alphonfo's successful love, and in the catastrophe, which is extremely effecting.
In Obitum JOHAN. DRYDENI,
poetarum Anglorum facilé principis.
Pindarus Anglorum magnus, cujusque senilem
Ornavit nuper frontem Parnissia laurus,
Sive cothurnatum molitur musa laborem,
Sive levem ludit foccum, seu grande Maronis
Immortalis epos tentat, seu carmine pingit
Mordaci mores homitium, nunc occidit, eheu!
Occidit, atque tulit secum Permessidos undas;
Et fontem exhausit totum Drydenius Heros.
Heu! miserande senex! jam frigida tempora
circùm
Marcessit laurus, musæ, mæstissima turba!
Circumstant, largoque humeclant imbre cadaver;
Sheffeildum video, in lacrymis multoque dolore
Formosum, ætatis Flaccum, vatisque patronum;
Te Montacute, te, cujus musa triumphos
Carmine Boynæos cucinit, magnumque Wilhelmum
Æternavit, et olim Boynam, ignobile flumen;
Teque, O! et legum et musarum gloria! et alter
Mæcenas; cui lingua olim facunda labantem
Defendit mitræ causam; nee teruit aula
Prava jubens—vos, O jam tanguni funera vatis!
Jamque dies aderat, magnâ stipante catervâ,
Quo Phoebea cohors facras comitatur ad urnam
Reliquias, et supremum pia solvit honorem;
Jamque graves planctus, jamque illaetabile murmur
Audio Melpomenis latè, dum noster Apollo
Flebilis ante omnes, Sacvillus, tristia ducit
Agmina Pieridum, Cytharamqueaccommodatodæ;
Ipse ego, dum totidem comitentur funera musæ,
Ipse sequor mæstus; bustum venerabile fletu
Carminibufque struam multis, animumque poetæ
His faltem donis cumulabo, et fungar inani
Munere.——
At te musa mori vetat, O post sata, vel ipsa
Marmora, cum annorum fuerint rubigine scabra;
Major eris vivo; tibi scripta perennius ære
Aut faxo, condent monumentum illustre per orbem,
Secula cuncta legant, et te mirentur in illis.