Note 96 — DRYDEN’S LETTERS. LETTER I. TO THE FAIRE HANDS OF MADAME HONOR DRYDEN THESE CRAVE ADMITTANCE.56

This commission will probably remind the reader of the poetic diet recommended by Bayes.—“If I am to write familiar things, as sonnets to Armida, and the like, I make use of stewed prunes only; but, when I have a grand design in hand, I ever take physics, and let blood; for, when you would have pure swiftness of thought, and fiery flights of fancy, you must have a care of the pensive part. In fine, you must purge the belly.

Smith. By my troth, Sir, this is a most admirable receipt for writing.

Bayes. Aye, ’tis my secret; and, in good earnest, I think one of the best I have.” Rehearsal, act i.

This is an instance of the minute and malicious diligence, with which the most trivial habits and tastes of our author were ridiculed in the “Rehearsal.”