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Appendix.
VIII.
A
PARALLEL
OF THE
CHARACTERS
OF
Mr. DRYDEN and Mr. POPE.
As drawn by certain of their Contemporaries.
Mr. DRYDEN.
His politics, Religion, Morals.
Mr. Dryden is a mere renegado from monarchy, poetry, and good sense[1]. A true republican son of monarchical Church[2]. A republican atheist[3]. Dryden was from the beginning an ἀλλοπρόσαλλοι, and I doubt not will continue so to the last[4].
In the poem call'd Absalom and Achitophel are notoriously traduced, the King, the Queen, the Lords and Gentlemen, not only their honourable persons exposed, but the whole Nation and its Representatives notoriously libell'd. It is scandalum magnatum, yea of Majesty itself[5].
