ABSTRACT
Context. Honor (c. 1637-c. 1714) was the daughter o f D .’s uncle Sir John Dryden o f Canons Ashby. D. addressed a verse epistle to her brother John in his Fables (1700).
To Honor Dryden Madam, If you have received the lines I sent by the reverend Levite, I doubt not but they have exceedingly wrought upon you; for being so long in a clergyman’s pocket, assuredly they have acquired more sanctity than their
5 author meant them. Alas, Madam, for aught I know they may become a sermon ere they could arrive at you; and believe it, having you for the text it could scarcely prove bad, if it light upon one that could handle it indifferently. But I am so miserable a preacher that though I have so
10 sweet and copious a subject, I still fall short in my ex pressions. And instead o f an use o f thanksgiving I am always making one o f comfort, that I may one day again have the happiness to kiss your fair hand. But that is a message I would not so willingly do by letter as by word
15 o f mouth. This is a point I must confess I could willingly dwell longer on, and in this case whatever I say you may
f4 . Title. Ed. Letter. 2. Levite] clergyman.
