have presented it to that person in the world for whom he has the
greatest honour, and of whose patronage the best of his endeavours had
been unworthy: But I had not satisfied myself in staying longer, and
could never have paid the debt with a much better play. As it is, the
meanness of it will shew; at least, that I pretend not by it to make
any manner of return for your favours; and that I only give you a new
occasion of exercising your goodness to me, in pardoning the failings
and imperfections of,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's
Most humble, most obliged,
Most obedient servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.


Footnotes:
1. Sir Thomas Clifford, just then created Lord Clifford of Chudleigh,
and appointed Lord High Treasurer, was one of the six ministers,
the initials of whose names furnished the word _Cabal_, by which
their junto was distinguished. He was the most virtuous and honest
of the junto, but a Catholic; and, what was then synonymous, a warm
advocate for arbitrary power. He is said to have won his promotion
by advising the desperate measure of shutting the Exchequer in
1671, the hint of which he is said to have stolen from Shaftesbury.
This piece may have been undertaken by his command; for, even at
the very time of the triple alliance, he is reported to have said,
"For all this, we must have another Dutch war." Upon the defection
of Lord Shaftesbury from the court party, and the passing of the