The Medal

The Medal: A Satire Against Sedition is a political satire written by John Dryden in 1709. The book is a direct response to the political turmoil of the time, specifically the Whig party's attempts to impeach and remove the Tory government. The title refers to a medal that was struck in honor of the Whig party's leader, the Earl of Shaftesbury, who had been acquitted of treason charges. The medal was meant to be a symbol of the Whig party's victory over the Tories, but Dryden turns this on its head, using the medal as a symbol of the Whig party's corrupt and seditious nature.The book is written in verse and is divided into three parts. The first part is a general attack on the Whig party, accusing them of being hypocritical and self-serving. The second part focuses specifically on the Earl of Shaftesbury, portraying him as a dangerous and seditious figure who is willing to sacrifice the stability of the country for his own political gain. The final part is a call to arms for the Tory party, urging them to stand up against the Whigs and defend the country from their dangerous influence.Overall, The Medal is a biting and satirical critique of the political climate of the time, and a call to action for those who would defend the stability and integrity of the country.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.