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strance of private men has the seed of treason in it； and discourses； which are couched in ambiguous terms； are therefore the more dangerous； because they do all the mischief of open sedition； yet are safe from the punishment of the laws。 These； my lord； are considerations； which I should not pass so lightly over； had I room to manage them as they deserve； for no man can be so inconsiderable in a nation； as not to have a share in the welfare of it； and if he be a true Englishman； he must at the same time be fired with indignation； and revenge himself as he can on the disturbers of his country。 And to whom could I more fitly apply myself than to your lordship； who have not only an inborn； but an hereditary loyalty？ The memorable constancy and sufferings of your father； almost to the ruin of his estate； for the royal cause； were an earnest of that which such a parent and such an institution would produce in the person of a son。 But so unhappy an occasion of manifesting your own zeal； in suffering for his present majesty； the providence of God； and the prudence of your administration； will； I hope； prevent； that； as your father's fortune waited on the unhappiness of his sovereign； so your own may participate of the better fate which attends his son。 The relation which you have by alliance to the noble family of your lady； serves to confirm to you both this happy augury。 For what can deserve a greater place in the English chronicle； than the loyalty and courage； the actions and death； of the general of an army； fighting for his prince and country？ The honour and gallantry of the Earl of Lindsey is so illustrious a subject； that it is fit to adorn an heroic poem； for he was the protomartyr of the cause； and the type of his unfortunate royal master。
Yet after all； my lord； if I may speak my thoughts； you are happy rather to us than to yourself； for the multiplicity； the cares； and the vexations of your employment； have betrayed you from yourself； and given you up into the possession of the public。 You are robbed of your privacy and friends； and scarce any hour of your life you can call your own。 Those； who envy your fortune； if they wanted not good…nature； might more justly pity it； and when they see you watched by a crowd of suitors； whose importunity it is impossible to avoid； would conclude； with reason； that you have lost much more in true content； than you have gained by dignity； and that a private gentleman is better attended by a single servant； than your lordship with so clamorous a train。 Pardon me； my lord； if I speak like a philosopher on this subject； the fortune which makes a man uneasy； cannot make him happy； and a wise man must think himself uneasy； when few of his actions are in his choice。
This last consideration has brought me to another； and a very seasonable one for your relief； which is； that while I pity your want of leisure； I have impertinently detained you so long a time。 I have put off my own business； which was my dedication； till it is so late； that I am now ashamed to begin it； and therefore I will say nothing of the poem； which I present to you； because I know not if you are like to have an hour； which； with a good conscience； you may throw away in perusing it； and for the author； I have only to beg the continuance of your protection to him； who is；
My Lord； Your Lordship's most obliged； Most humble； and Most obedient； servant； John Dryden。
PREFACE
The death of Antony and Cleopatra is a subject which has been treated by the greatest wits of our nation； after Shakespeare； and by all so variously； that their example has given me the confidence to try myself in this bow of Ulysses amongst the crowd of suitors； and； withal； to take my own measures； in aiming at the mark。 I doubt not but the same motive has prevailed with all of us in this attempt； I mean the excellency of the moral： For the chief persons represented were famous patterns of unlawful love； and their end accordingly was unfortunate。 All reasonable men have long since concluded； that the hero of the poem ought not to be a character of perfect virtue； for then he could not； without injustice； be made unhappy； nor yet altogether wicked； because he could not then be pitied。 I have therefore steered the middle course； and have drawn the character of Antony as favourably as Plutarch； Appian； and Dion Cassius would give me leave； the like I have observed in Cleopatra。 That which is wanting to work up the pity to a greater height； was not afforded me by the story； for the crimes of love； which they both committed； were not occasioned by any necessity； or fatal ignorance； but were wholly voluntary； since our passions are； or ought to be； within our power。 The fabric of the play is regular enough； as to the inferior parts of it； and the unities of time； place； and action； more exactly observed； than perhaps the English theatre requires。 Particularly； the action is so much one； that it is the only one of the kind without episode； or underplot； every scene in the tragedy conducing to the main design； and every act concluding with a turn of it。 The greatest error in the contrivance seems to be in the person of Octavia； for； though I might use the privilege of a poet； to introduce her into Alexandria； yet I had not enough considered； that the compassion she moved to herself and children was destructive to that which I reserved for Antony and Cleopatra； whose mutual love being founded upon vice； must lessen the favour of the audience to them； when virtue and innocence were oppressed by it。 And； though I justified Antony in some measure； by making Octavia's departure to proceed wholly from herself； yet the force of the first machine still remained； and the dividing of pity； like the cutting of a river into many channels； abated the strength of the natural stream。 But this is an objection which none of my critics have urged against me； and therefore I might have let it pass； if I could have resolved to have been partial to myself。 The faults my enemies have found are rather cavils concerning little and not essential decencies； which a master of the ceremonies may decide betwixt us。 The French poets； I confess； are strict observers of these punctilios： They would not； for example； have suffered Cleopatra and Octavia to have met； or； if they had met； there must have only passed betwixt them some cold civilities； but no eagerness of repartee； for fear of offending against the greatness of their characters； and the modesty of their sex。 This objection I foresaw； and at the same time contemned； for I judged it both natural and probable； that Octavia； proud of her new…gained conquest； would search out Cleopatra to triumph over her； and that Cleopatra； thus attacked； was not of a spirit to shun the encounter： And it is not unlikely； that two exasperated rivals should use such satire as I have put into their mouths； for； after all； though the one were a Roman； and the other a queen； they were both women。 It is true； some actions； though natural； are not fit to be represented； and broad obscenities in words ought in good manners to be avoided： expres