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- 1631-1700. English poet and dramatist, noted
- for his satirical verse and for his use of
- the heroic couplet. His poetry includes the
- verse satire Absalom and Achitophel 1681,
- Annus Mirabilis 1667, and `St Cecilia's Day'
- 1687. Plays include the comedy Marriage a la
- Mode 1671 and All for Love 1678, a reworking
- of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. On
- occasion, Dryden trimmed his politics and his
- religion to the prevailing wind, and, as a
- Roman Catholic convert under James II, lost
- the post of poet laureate (to which he had
- been appointed 1668) at the Revolution of
- 1688. Critical works include Essay on
- Dramatic Poesy 1668. Later ventures to
- support himself include a translation of
- Virgil 1697.
-