[3]

ADVERTISEMENT.

I

T will be fufficient to fay of this Edition, that the reader bas bere a much more correct and compleat copy of the DUNCIAD, than has hitherto appeared: I cannot answer but fome Miftakes may have flipt into it, but a vast number of others will "be prevented, by the Names being now not only fet at length, but juftified by the authorities and reafons given. I make no doubt, the Author's own motive to use real rather than feign'd Names, was his care to preferve the Innocent from any falfe Applications; whereas in the former Editions which had no more than the Initial letters, be was made, by Keys printed bere, to hurt the inoffenfive; and (what was worse) to abafe his Friends, by an impreffion at Dublin.

The Commentary which attends the Poem, was fent me from feveral bands, and confe quently must be unequally written; yet will it bave one advantage over moft Commentaries, that it is not made upon Conjectures, or a remote diftance of time: and the Reader cannot but derive one pleasure from the very Obfcurity of the perfons it treats of, that it partakes of -the nature of a Secret, which most "People love

to be let into, though the Men or the Things be ever fo inconfiderable or trivial.

Of the Perfons it was judg'd proper to give fome account: for fince it is only in this monument that they must expect to furvive, (and bere furvive they will, as long as the English tongue ball remain fuch as it was in the: reigns of Queen ANNE and King GEORGE it feen'd but bumanity to beftow a word or two upon each, juft to tell what he was, what he arit, when he liv'd, or when he dy'd.

If a word or two more are added upon the chief Offenders; 'tis only as a paper pinn'd upon the breaft, to mark the Enormities for which they fuffer'd; left the Correction only should be remember'd, and the Crime forgotten.

In fome Articles, it was thought fufficient barely to tranfcribe from Jacob, Curl, and other writers of their own rank, who were much better acquainted with them than any of the Authors of this Comment can pretend to be. Moft of them had drawn each other's Characters on certain occafions; but the few here inferted, are all that could be faved from the general deftruction of fuch Works.

Of the part of Scriblerus I need say nothing his Manner is well enough known, and approv'd by all but those who are too much concern'd to be judges.

The Imitations of the Antients are added, to gratify those who either never read, or may have forgotten them; together with fome of the Parodies, and Allufions to the most excellent of

the

the Moderns. If any man from the frequency of the former, may think the Poem too much a Cento; our Poet will but appear to have done the fame thing in jeft, which Boileau did in earneft; and upon which Vida, Fracaftorius, and many of the most eminent Latin Poets prcfelfedly valued themselves.

[6]

A

LETTER

TO THE

PUBLISHER,

Occafioned by the present

EDITΙΟΝ

OF THE

DUNCI A D.

I

Tis with Pleafure I hear that you have procured a correct Edition of the DUNCIAD, which the many furreptitious ones have rendered fo neceffary; and it is yet with more, that I am informed it will be attended with a COMMENTARY: a work fo neceffary, that I cannot think the Author himself would have omitted it, had he approv'd of the first appearance of this Poem

Such