John Dryden's 1668 philosophical dialogue examines the principles of drama through a debate between four characters representing different critical perspectives. The English critic weighs classical versus modern approaches to theater, defending rhymed heroic plays while exploring how drama should balance nature, art, and moral instruction.
It was that memorable day [_3rd of June_ 1665] in the first summer of the late war, when our Navy engaged the Dutch; a day, wherein the two most mighty and best appointed Fleets which any Age had ever seen, disputed the command of the greater half of the Globe, the commerce of Nations, and the riches of the Universe. While these vast floating bodies, on either side, moved against each other in parallel lines; and our countrymen, under the happy conduct of His Royal Highness [_the Duke of YORK_], went breaking by little and little, into the line of the enemies: the noise of the cannon from both navies reached our ears about the City; so that all men being alarmed with it, and in a dreadful suspense of the event which we knew was then deciding, every one went following the sound as his fancy [_imagination_] led him. And leaving the Town almost empty, some took towards the Park; some cross …Continue reading →
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