ftudy, with the probable benefit of "an hundred pounds. In the mean "time I am writing a fong for St. Ceci

lia's Feaft, who, you know, is the patronefs of mufick. This is trouble

fome, and no way beneficial; but I "could not deny the Stewards of the Feaft, who came in a body to me to "defire that kindness, one of them being Mr. Bridgman, whofe parents are your "mother's friends. I hope to fend

you thirty guineas between Michael"mafs and Chriftimafs, of which I' will

give you an account when I come I remember the counfel

"to town.

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you give me in your letter; but diffembling, though lawful in fome

"cafes,

cafes, is not my talent; yet, for

your fake, I will fruggle with the "plain openness of my nature, and

2

"keep in my just resentments against that degenerate order. In the mean time, I flatter not myfelf with any manner of hopes, but do my duty, and fuffer for God's fake; being af

66

fured, beforehand, never to be rewarded, though the times fhould al"ter... Towards the latter end of this month, September, Charles will be "gin to recover his perfect health, according to his nativity, which,

6.6

cafting it myself, I am fure is true,

and all things hitherto have hap-

"pened accordingly to the very time.

that I predicted them: I hope at

the fame time to recover more health, "according to my age. Remember "me to poor Harry, whofe prayers "I earnestly defire. My Virgil fuc

ceeds in the world beyond its defert "or my expectation. You know the "profits might have been more; but "neither my confcience nor my honour "would fuffer me to take them: but "I never can repent of my conftancy, "fince I am thoroughly perfuaded of "the juftice of the caufe for which "I fuffer. It has pleased God to raise

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up many friends to me amongst my "enemies, though they who ought to "have been my friends are negligent

❝ of me.

I am called to dinner, and

"cannot go on with this letter, which

"I defire you to excufe; and am

"Your most affectionate father

"JOHN DRYDEN.”