THE

WORKS

OF

JOHN DRYDEN,

NOW FIRST COLLECTED

IN EIGHTEEN VOLUMES.

ILLUSTRATED

WITH NOTES,

HISTORICAL, CRITICAL, AND EXPLANATORY,

AND

A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,

BY

WALTER SCOTT, Esq.

VOL. IV.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR WILLIAM MILLER, ALBEMARLE STREET,
BY JAMES BALLANTYNE AND CO. EDINBURGH.

1808.

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CONTENTS

OF

VOLUME FOURTH.

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ALMANZOR AND ALMAHIDE:

OR, THE

CONQUEST OF GRANADA

BY THE

SPANIARDS.

A TRAGEDY.

THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA.

This play,—for the two parts only constitute an entire dramabetwixt them,—seems to have been a favourite with Dryden, as wellas with the public. In the Essay upon Heroic Plays, as well as inthe dedication, the character of Almanzor is dwelt upon with thatdegree of complacency which an author experiences in analyzinga successful effort of his genius. Unquestionably the gross improbabilityof a hero, by his single arm, turning the tide of battle ashe lists, did not appear so shocking in the age of Dryden, as inours. There is no doubt, that, while personal strength and prowesswere of more consequence than military skill and conduct, thefeats of a single man were sometimes sufficient to determine thefate of an engagement, more especially when exerted by a knight,sheathed in complete mail, against the heartless and half-armedmass, which constituted the feudal infantry. Those, who haveperused Barbour's History of Robert Bruce, Geoffrey de Vinsauf'saccount of the wars of Richard Cœur de Lion, or even thebattles detailed by Froissart and Joinville, are familiar with instancesof breaches defended, and battles decided, by the prowessof a single arm. The leader of a feudal army was expectedby his followers not only to point out the path to victory butto l

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