Commentaries

John Dryden, Prefatory Material to All For Love

To the Right Honourable, Thomas Earl of Danby, Viscount Latimer, and Baron Osborne of Kiveton in York-shire, Lord High Treasurer of England, One of His Majesty’s most honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, &c.

From All For Love

Horace Walpole’s letter to the Rev. William Mason. Strawberry Hill, March 27, 1773.

Dr. Goldsmith has written a comedy—no, it is the lowest of all farces. It is not the subject I condemn, though very vulgar, but the execution. The drift tends to no moral, no edification of any kind. The situations, however, are well imagined, and make one laugh, in spite of the grossness of the dialogue, the forced witticisms, and total improbability of the whole plan and conduct.

From The Busie Body