fo little in Their friendships, or fo much in that of those whom they had moft abus'd, namely the Greatest and Beft of All Parties. Let me add a further reason, that tho' ingag'd in their friendships, he never efpous'd their animofities; and can almoft fingly challenge this honour, not to have written a line of any man, which thro' Guilt, thro' Shame, or thro' Fear, thro' variety of Fortune, or change of Interests, he was ever unwilling to own. I fhall conclude with remarking what a pleasure it must be to every reader of hu manity, to fee all along, that our Author in his very laughter, is not indulging his own Ill nature, but only punishing that of others. To his Poem those alone are capa ble to do Justice, who to use the words of a great writer, know how hard it is (with regard both to his Subject and his Manner) VETUSTIS DARE NOVITATEM, OBS O LETIS NITOREM, OBSCURIS LUCEM, FASTIDITIS GRATIAM. I am, St. James's Dec 22 3728 Your most humble Servant, WILLIAM CLELAND B DENNIS, Rem. on Pr. Arth. I Cannot but think it the most reasonable thing in the world, to distinguish good writers, by difcouraging the Bad. Nor is it an ill-natur'd thing, in relation even to the very perfons upon whom the reflections are made: It is true, it may deprive them, a little the fooner, of a bort Profit and a tranfitory Reputation: But then it may have a good effect, and oblige them (before it be too late) to decline that for which they are fo very unfit, and to have recourfe to fomething in which they may be more fuccessful. The Perfons whom Boileau has attack'd in his writings, have been for the most part Authors, and moff of thofe Authors, Poets: And the cenfures he hath pafs'd upon them have been confirm'd by all Europe. [Character of Mr. P. 1716. GILDON, Pref. to his New Rebearf It is the common cry of the Poetafters of the Town, and their Fautors, that it is an Ill-natur'd thing to expose the Pretenders to Wit and Poetry. The Judges and MagiЯtrates may with full as good reafon be repreach'd with Ill-nature, for putting the Laws in Execution against a Thief or Impoftor The fame will hold in the Republick of Letters, if the Criticks and Judges will will let every Ignorant Pretender to Scribling, pafs on the World. THEOBALD, Lett. to Mift, Jun. 22, 1728. Attacks may be levelled, either against Failures in Genius, or against the Pretenfions of writing without one. : CONCANEN, Ded. to the Auth. of the Dunc. A Satyre upon Dulness, is a thing, that has been used and allowed in All Ages. Out of thine own Mouth will I judge thee, wicked Scribler! |