Under the picture of Mr John Dryden
MS Wellesley, 103.
1988 Ellis d'Alessandro prints Wellesley text, 134; McGovern & Hinnant, 80.
Backhanded compliment. Anne saw herself as somehow rivalling both great poets of her time (Pope and Dryden). The poet draws a "great character" as much from "unjust envy" as "just applause. Dryden has had more of these than anyone; hence, he's someone who wrote as no one did before. Dryden died May 1, 1700.
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