Mr. Dryden is supposed to have been engaged in translating M. Varillas's
History of Heresies, but to have dropped that design. This we learn from
a passage in Burnet's reflexions on the ninth book of the first volume
of M. Varillas's History, being a reply to his answer.

I shall here give the picture the Dr. has drawn of this noble poet,
which is, like a great many of the doctor's other characters, rather
exhibited to please himself than according to the true resemblance.

The doctor says, 'I have been informed from England, that a gentleman
who is famous both for poetry, and several other things, has spent
three months in translating Mr. Varillas's history; but as soon as my
reflexions appeared, he discontinued his labours, finding the credit of
his author being gone. Now if he thinks it is recovered by his answer,
he will, perhaps, go on with his translation; but this may be, for ought
I know, as good an entertainment for him, as the conversation he has set
on foot between the Hinds and Panthers, and all the rest of the animals;
for whom M. Varillas may serve well enough as an author; and this
history and that poem are such extraordinary things of their kind, that
it will be but suitable to see the author of the worst poem become the
translator of the worst history, that the age has produced. If his grace
and his wit improve so proportionably, we shall hardly find, that he has
gained much by the change he has made, from having no religion, to chuse
one of the worst. It is true he had somewhat to sink from in matter of
wit, but as for his morals, it is scarce possible for him to grow a
worse man than he was. He has lately wreaked his malice on me for
spoiling his three months labour; but in it he has done me all the
honour a man can receive from him, which is to be railed at by him. If I
had ill-nature enough to prompt me to wish a very bad wish for him, it
should be that he would go and finish his translation. By that it will