The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 02

In Short

This second volume of John Dryden’s collected works brings together his early dramatic masterpieces and critical essays, tracing his rapid evolution as a Restoration playwright. Through raucous Restoration comedies like The Wild Gallant and high-stakes heroic tragedies like The Indian Emperor and Secret Love, the collection showcases a world of courtly intrigue, romantic obsession, and imperial clash. Dryden’s verse and prose capture a transitional era in English theater, laying the foundation for modern English drama through its bold staging of honor, duty, and human vulnerability.

The Story

The volume moves through a series of dramatic narratives, opening with comedic deceits before plunging into tragic empire-building. In The Wild Gallant, the impoverished rake Loveby navigates monetary desperation and romantic schemes in London. Unbeknownst to him, his wealthy beloved, Lady Constance, surreptitiously routes funds into his pockets through a conspiring jeweller, Setstone. Alongside them, the witty Isabella manipulate fools like Sir Timorous and outsmarts rival suitors, eventually tricking her uncle Lord Nonsuch into believing he is magically pregnant in order to force advantageous marriages.

The drama then shifts to epic scale in The Indian Queen and its celebrated sequel, The Indian Emperor. Set against the vast backdrop of Mexico during the Spanish conquest, the narrative follows the valiant warrior Montezuma. Initially fighting for the Incas alongside Prince Acacis, Montezuma finds himself caught in a web of shifting allegiances and romantic rivalries for the princess Orazia. When Hernando Cortez and his Spanish forces land upon the Mexican coast, Montezuma—now Emperor—must defend his homeland while navigating the chaotic politics of the court.

Cortez falls deeply in love with Montezuma's daughter, Cydaria, creating a delicate paradox where the conqueror seeks to preserve the family of the woman he adores. However, dark forces intervene: the vengeful Almeria schemes to claim Cortez for herself, while Spanish officers Pizarro and Vasquez plot violence and plunder. Bound by rigid codes of Spanish honor and Indian devotion, Montezuma endures capture and torture rather than betray his native gods or yield his moral integrity.

Finally, in Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen, the political focus turns inward to a courtly triangle. An unnamed Queen secretly dotes on her general, Philocles, but keeps her passion hidden due to his lower birth. Unaware of her heart, Philocles falls in love with Candiope and is manipulated by political factions into a brief rebellion under the guise of protecting the Queen from herself. Upon discovering the Queen's true affections, Philocles is torn between crown and heart, while the Queen ultimately chooses the tragic dignity of statecraft over personal romance, establishing a legacy of stoic sacrifice.

How It Unfolds

Loveby’s hidden fortune Lady Constance uses her jeweller Setstone to secretly slip two hundred and fifty pounds into the sleeping Loveby’s pockets, enabling her impoverished lover to maintain his lifestyle without suspecting her paternal theft.

Isabella’s playful snare Isabella tricks the foolish knight Sir Timorous into believing she was his secret love all along, intercepting letters and outmaneuvering rival matchmakers to secure a comfortable marriage on her own terms.

Acacis’ noble release After capturing Montezuma in battle, the young prince Acacis chooses to grant his enemy freedom out of deep personal respect, setting off a chain of competing debts of honor between rivals.

Cortez’s divided heart Upon landing in Mexico, the Spanish commander Cortez pledges his devotion to Princess Cydaria, sparking immediate and dangerous jealousy from both her native suitors and the vengeful captive Almeria.

The fall of the empire Rival Indian factions collide with invading Spanish troops, leaving Montezuma chained in prison where he stoically defends his faith against foreign tormentors and seductive traitors.

Philocles’ mistaken treason Persuaded by schemers that the Queen is endangering her own crown, Philocles reluctantly leads a court uprising, only to realize his rebellion directly strikes the woman who secretly loves him.

The People

• Loveby: A destitute, reckless gentleman searching for cash and romance. Impoverished yet proud, he remains unaware that his survival relies entirely on the covert generosity of his mistress.
• Lady Constance: A sharp-witted heiress who defies her father’s wishes. She willingly falsifies keys and steals money to support Loveby, pursuing romantic happiness with determined tactical intellect.
• Isabella: Constance’s shrewd companion who refuses to be married off to a fool. She uses her intelligence to manipulate gullible knights and mock courtly pretensions, securing her own fortune.
• Montezuma: A formidable Mexican general who becomes Emperor. Driven by personal honor and unyielding loyalty to his gods, he stands firm against foreign conquerors even as his empire falls apart.
• Hernando Cortez: The Spanish conqueror whose ruthless military mission is complicated by his genuine love for Cydaria. He tries to balance imperial duty with chivalric mercy.
• The Queen (in Secret Love): A powerful sovereign trapped between public duty and private longing. She conceals her passion for Philocles, choosing the lonely burden of leadership over personal desire.
• Philocles: A brave but naive military officer. Loyal to a fault, he is easily manipulated by political factions, leading him to unknowingly betray the Queen who cherishes him.

In Its Own Voice

"Who could see him want, she loves?"

Lady Constance defends her dangerous decision to steal from her own father to keep her impoverished lover financially afloat.

"Had you a friend so desperately sick, that all physicians had forsook his cure... could you behold him beg, with dying eyes, a glass of water, and refuse it him?"

Julia pleads with her brother to allow her to follow her passionate love, comparing her desperate affection to a dying person's last request for water.

"To save my honour I my love must lose: But promises, once made, are past debate, And truth's of more necessity than fate."

Gonsalvo reflects the tragic conflict of heroic drama, choosing absolute fidelity to his given word over his own heart's happiness.

What It's Really About

Beneath its elaborate Restoration plots, the book investigates the bitter conflict between public obligation and private desire. Dryden repeatedly tests his characters by placing their personal affections in direct opposition to their codes of honor, political duties, or religious beliefs. The plays examine how authority is maintained—whether in the royal courts of Europe or the ancient empires of the Americas—and question whether personal morality can survive the ruthless machinery of statecraft and conquest. Through its critical essays and verse, the volume also wages a subtle defense of the English language itself, arguing for a national drama that embraces dramatic grandeur without sacrificing native speech.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers a clear window into the birth of modern English commercial theater. Readers interested in dramatic history, Restoration culture, or heroic poetry will find Dryden at his most vibrant. The verse moves with a driving, rhetorical energy, and the critical prefaces reveal a master craftsman reflecting openly on his art, his influences, and his contemporary rivals.

The primary difficulty for modern readers lies in the theatrical conventions of the seventeenth century: rhymed heroic couplets can occasionally feel rigid, and the complicated plot twists rely heavily on idealised notions of honor that feel distant from modern sensibilities. Furthermore, the depiction of the conquest of Mexico reflects the Eurocentric attitudes of the 1800s editorial commentary and seventeenth-century playwriting.

Yet beneath these period flourishes beats a remarkably fresh dramatic intelligence. Dryden’s sharp comedic dialogue, his grand heroic conflicts, and his surprisingly sympathetic exploration of doomed rulers hold an undeniable charge. It is an essential read for anyone who wants to experience Restoration drama not as a dusty relic, but as the living, theatrical force that captivated London audiences over three centuries ago.