rife to a deluge of the worst fort of critical Jargon; I mean that which looks most like fense. But the kind of criticism here required is such as judgeth our Author by thofe only Laws and Principles on which he wrote, NATURE, and

COMMON-SENSE.

Our Obfervations, therefore, being thus extenfive, will, I prefume, enable the Reader to form a right judgment of this favourite Poet, without drawing out his Character, as was once intended, in a continued difcourfe.

Thefe, fuch as they are, were amongst my younger amusements, when, many years ago, I ufed to turn over these fort of Writers to unbend myfelf from more ferious applications: And what, certainly, the Public, at this time of day, had never been troubled with, but for the conduct of the two laft Editors, and the perfuafions of dear Mr. POPE; whofe memory and name,

femper acerbum,

Semper honoratum (fic Di voluiftis) habebo. He was defirous I fhould give a new Edition of this Poet, as he thought it might contribute to put a stop to a prevailing folly of altering the Text of celebrated Authors without Talents or Judgment. And he was willing that his Edition fhould be melted down into mine, as it would, he faid, afford him (fo great is the modesty of an ingenuous temper) a fit opportunity of confeffing his Miftakes *. In memory of our

See his Letters to me.

a 2

Friend

Friendship, I have, therefore, made it our joint Edition. His admirable Preface is here added ; all his Notes are given, with his name annexed; the Scenes are divided according to his regulation ; and the most beautiful paffages diftinguished, as in his book, with inverted commas. In imitation of him, I have done the fame by as many others as I thought most deferving of the Reader's attention, and have marked them with double commas.

If, from all this, Shakespear or good Letters have received any advantage, and the Public any benefit, or entertainment, the thanks are due to the Proprietors, who have been at the expence of procuring this Edition. And I fhould be unjust to feveral deferving Men of a reputable and useful Profeffion, if I did not, on this occafion, acknowledge the fair dealing I have always found amongst them; and profefs my fenfe of the unjuft Prejudice which lies against them; whereby they have been, hitherto, unable to procure that fecurity for their Property, which they fee, the rest of their Fellow-Citizens enjoy. A prejudice in part arifing from the frequent Piracies, (as they are called) committed by Members of their own Body. But fuch kind of Members no Body is without. And it would be hard that this fhould be turned to the difcredit of the honeft part of the Profeffion, who fuffer more from fuch Injuries than any other men. It hath, in part too, arisen from the clamours of profligate Scriblers, ever ready,

for

for a piece of Money, to proftitute their bad fenfe for or against any Cause prophane or facred ; or in any Scandal public or private: These meeting with little encouragement from Men of account in the Trade, (who even in this enlightened Age are not the very worst Judges or Rewarders of merit) apply themfelves to People of Condition; and support their importunities by falfe complaints against Bookfellers.

But I should now, perhaps, rather think of my own Apology, than bufy myself in the defence of others. I fhall have fome Tartuffe ready, on the first appearance of this Edition, to call out again, and tell me, that I fuffer myfelf to be wholly diverted from my purpose by these matters lefs fuitable to my clerical Profeffion. "Well, but, fays a Friend, why not take fo "candid an intimation in good part? With"draw yourself, again, as you are bid, into the "clerical Pale; examine the Records of facred "and prophane Antiquity; and, on them, erect "a Work to the confufion of Infidelity." Why, I have done all this, and more: And hear now what the fame Men have faid to it. They tell me, I have wrote to the wrong and injury of Religion, and furnished out more bandles for Unbelievers. 66 out; and you may upon eafier terms. "more."

"Oh now the secret's have your pardon, I find, 'Tis only, to write no Good Gentlemen! and fhall I

not oblige them? They would gladly obftruct

my way to thofe things which every Man, who endeavours well in his Profeffion, must needs think he has fome claim to, when he fees them given to those who never did endea vour; at the fame time that they would deter me from taking thofe advantages which Letters enable me to procure for myself. If then I am to write no more; (tho' as much out of my Profeffion as they may pleafe to reprefent this Work, I fufpect their modefty would not infift on a fcrutiny of our feveral applications of this prophane profit and their purer gains) if, I fay, I am to write no more, let me at least give the Public, who have a better pretence to demand it of me, fome reason for my presenting them with thefe amufements. Which, if I am not much mistaken, may be excufed by the best and fairest Examples; and, what is more, may be juftified on the furer reafon of things,

The great Saint CHRYSOSTOM, a name confecrated to immortality by his Virtue and Eloquence, is known to have been fo fond of Ariftophanes as to wake with him at his ftudies, and to fleep with him under his pillow and I never heard that this was objected either to his Piety or his Preaching, not even in those times of pure Zeal and primitive Religion. Yet, in refpect of Shakespear's great fenfe, Ariftophanes's best wit is but buffoonry; and, in comparison of Ariftophanes's Freedoms, ShakeSpear

Spear writes with the purity of a Vestal. But they will fay, St. Chryfoftom contracted a fondnefs for the comic Poet for the fake of his Greek. To this, indeed, I have nothing to reply. Far be it from me to infinuate fo unfcholarlike a thing, as if We had the fame Ufe for good English that a Greek had for his Attic elegance. Critic Kufter, in a taste and language peculiar to Grammarians of a certain order, hath decreed, that the History and Chronology of Greek Words is the most SOLID entertainment of a Man of Letters.

I fly, then, to a higher Example, much nearer home, and ftill more in point, The famous University of OXFORD. This illuftrious Body, which hath long fo juftly held, and, with fuch equity, difpenfed, the chief honours of the learned World, thought good Letters fo much interested in correct Editions of the best English Writers, that they, very lately, in their public Capacity, undertook one, of this very Author, by fubfcription. And if the Editor hath not discharged his Task with fuitable abilities for one so much honoured by them, this was not their fault but his, who thruft himfelf into the employment. After fuch an Example, it would be weakening any defence to feek further for Authorities. All that can be now decently urged is the reafon of the thing; and this I fhall do, more for the fake of that truly venerable Body than my own.