The Poems of John Dryden: Volume One 1649-1681

These first two volumes in a four-volume edition of Dryden's poems are the result of a complete reappraisal of the canon, text and context of his work. The text has been prepared from a fresh examination of the early printed editions, and takes account of the large number of manuscript copies which survive. Two recently discovered poems are included here for the first time. Headnotes to each poem provide details of the poem's date, publication history, sources and contemporary reception. Detailed explanations are given of the controversies addressed in his political poems, and particular attention is paid to Dryden's translations from classical writers including Virgil, Horace, Ovid and Lucretius.Volume I covers the poems of Dryden from 1649 to 1681.

Upon the death of the Lord Hastings; to John Hoddesdon; to honour Dryden; heroic stanzas; to Sir Robert Howard; Astraea Redux; to his sacred majesty; to my Lord Chancellor; to Dr Charleton; prologue and epilogue to "The Wild Gallant"; to the Lady Castlemaine; prologue to "The Rival Ladies"; prologue, epilogue and songs from "The Indian Queen"; prologue, epilogue and songs from "The Indian Emperor"; prologue and epilogue to "The Wild Gallant" revived; prologue and song from "Secret Love"; annus mirabilis; prologue, epilogue and songs from "Sir Martin Mar-all"; prologue, epilogue and song from "The Tempest"; prologue to "Albumazar"; prologue, epilogue and songs from "An Evening's Love"; prologue, epilogue and songs from "Tyrannic Love"; prologues, epilogues and songs from "The Conquest of Granada"; prologue, epilogue and songs from "Marriage A-la-Mode"; song - "Farewell, fair Armida"; prologue to "Wit without Money"; prologue and epilogue to "Secret Love", spoken by the women; prologue, epilogue and song from "The Assignation"; prologue for the women; prologue to "Arviragus revived; prologue, epilogue and songs from "Amboyna"; prologue and epilogue at Oxford, 1673 ("What Greece..."); prologue and epilogue at the opening of the New House; song from "The State of Innocence"; prologue and epilogue at Oxford, 1674 ("Poets, your subjects..."); epilogue to "Calisto"; epitaph on the Marquis of Winchester; prologue and epilogue to "Aureng-Zebe"; epilogue to "The Man of Mode"; prologue at Oxford, 1676 ("Though actors cannot..."); Mac Flecknoe; prologue to "Circe"; epilogue ("Were you but half so wise as you're severe"); to Mr Lee, on his "Alexander"; prologue and epilogue to "All for Love"; epilogue to "Mithridates"; prologue, epilogue and songs from "The Kind Keeper"; prologue to "A True Widow"; prologue, epilogue and songs from "Oedipus"; prologue, epilogue and song from "Troilus and Cressida"; prologue to "Caesar Borgia"; prologue at Oxford, 1679 ("Discord and plots..."); prologue to "The Loyal General"; preface to "Ovid's Epistles"; Canace to Macareus; Helen to Paris; Dido to Aeneas; prologue At Oxford, 1680 ("Thespis, the first professor..."); prologue and songs from "The Spanish Friar"; epitaph on Sir Palmes Fairborne (part contents).

Edited by Paul Hammond