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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2020
The manuscript Dedication for the music of Purcell's opera, The Prophetess, has curiously remained unprinted and apparently unobserved by the editors and biographers of Dryden since its first notice in a report of the Historical Manuscript Commission, 1881. Its almost unique interest to any treatment of the poet's literary relations, his canon, and technique is barely indicated by a contemporary notation at the bottom of the second folio: “This Epistle is the handwriting of John Dryden Esq Poet Laureat to Ch: 2, and James 2. it was the first draught of an Epistle Dedicatory to some Opera's of Mr. Purcell, and writ at his Request & for his use.” Of an accompanying manuscript, the original for an unsigned Advertisement to the printed score, it is added that: “The other is a letter from Jacob Tonson the Famous Bookseller in London.” Both pieces were published, though with extensive deletions in the case of the Dedication, in a folio volume of 1691. This work, whatever the authorship of its parts, with its Dedication and Advertisement, assumes therefore a new importance to bibliographers and students of the poet.
1 Eighth Report, App. iii, p. 8b, item 24.
2 The manuscripts are now located in the British Museum, Stowe MSS. 755, fols. 34–35.
3 From two copies at Yale. A2 and verso have the Dedication: “To his Grace Charles Duke of Somerset,” c. It is signed Henry Purcell.
4 The play was advertised in The London Gazette, June 12–16, 1690. This would place its first production earlier than that commonly accepted, Nov. 17. Cf. Nicoli, Restoration Drama, p. 314, “Lord Chamberlain's Records.” The earlier date makes it possible to identify The Prophetess as the “late Opera” mentioned in Dryden's Dedication to Amphitryon.
5 In the libraries of Christ Church, Oxford, and of Mr. P. J. Dobell.
6 I am indebted for these references to the Gazette to Hazelwood's interleaved copy of Langbaine, Br. Mus. c 45. d 16.
7 Grove's Dictionary of Music, ed. Colles, iv, 288. The statement is a bit obscure.
8 J. O. Halliwell, A Catalogue of Proclamations c. Item 1873.
9 “Epistle Dedicatory” to Amphitryon, dated Oct. 24, 1690. The date allows no question but that The Prophetess was the “late opera.”
10 Scott-Saintsbury, The Works of John Dryden, viii, 10.
11 Have receiv'd.
12 Blites and Storms.
13 Paragraph.
14 Thus being farther.
15 the Patronage.
16 this Composition.
17 Grace's Protection.
18 Prose Works of John Dryden, i, i, 252.
19 Essays of John Dryden, ed. Ker, ii, 114.
20 Ibid., pp. 117, 153.
21 Ibid., p. 131.
22 The Poetical Works of John Dryden, ed. Noyes, p. 415, ll. 124–127.
23 Ibid., ll. 1–21.
24 Ibid., ll. 22–25.
25 Ibid., p. 213, ll. 102–103.
26 Ker, op. cit., ii, 241.