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How did The Hind and the Panther argue for Roman Catholicism?

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Poet John Dryden — John Dryden John Dryden, oil painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1693; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

In The Hind and the Panther (1687), John Dryden employs an elaborate beast fable to advocate for his adopted Roman Catholic faith.12

The poem utilizes allegory to trace the historical animosities between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. Through this narrative structure, Dryden argues the case for Catholicism against the Anglican establishment and various Protestant sects. This work followed his conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1685, a period during which King James II appeared to be moving toward religious toleration.12

By framing these complex theological and political debates within an allegorical framework, Dryden sought to defend the legitimacy and history of the Catholic Church during a time of significant religious and political instability in England.12