MR. LEWIS THEOBALD feems alfo to be; declaring in Mift's Journal, of June 22, 1718, "That, if he is not fhrewdly "abused, he made it his practice to cackle to both "Whofe life, feverely scann'd, tranfcends his parties in their own fentiments" But, as to his

pique against people of quality, the fame journalist doth not agree, but saith ( May 8, 1728), “ He had, "by fome means or other, the acquaintance and in" friendship of the whole body of our nobility."

fare it is, he is little favoured of certain authors,, " upon love ()." He alfo, in taxing Sir Richarď whose wrath is perilous ; for one declares he ought Blackmore for his heterodox opinions of Homer, to have a price fet on his head, and to be hunted challengeth him to answer what Mr. Pope hath down as a wild beast (b). Another protefts that faid in his Preface to that poet. he does not know what may happen; advises him MR. OLDMIXON to enfure his perfon; fays, he has bitter enemies, calls him a great mafter of our tongue; declares and exprefsly declares it will be well if he efcapes" the purity and perfection of the English language with his life (i). One defires he would cut his own "to be found in his Homer; and faying there are threat, or hang himself (4). But Pasquin seemed " more good veries in Dryden's Virgil than in any taher inclined it fhould be done by the govern- "other work, except this of our author only (t). ment, reprefenting him engaged in grievous defigns with a lord of parliament then under profecution (). Mr. Dennis himself hath written to a minifter, that he is one of the most dangerous perfons in this kingdom (m); and affureth the public, that he is an open and mortal enemy to his country; a monster, that will, one day, fhow as daring a foul as a mad Indian, who runs a muck to kill the firt Chriftian he meets (). Another gives information of treafon discovered in his poem (o). Mr. Curil boldly fupplies an imperfect verse with kings and princeffes (p). And one Matthew Concanen, yet more impudent, publishes at length the two moft facred names in this nation, as members of the Dunciad (7)!

This is prodigious! yet it is almost as strange, that in the midst of thefe invectives his greatest enemies have (I know not how) borne testimony to fome merit in him.

MR. THEOBALD,

in cenfuring his Shakspeare, declares," He has fo 黏 great an efteem for Mr. Pope, and fo high an opinion of his genius and excellencies; that, notwithstanding he profeffes a veneration almost rifing to idolatry for the writings of this inimitable poet, he would be very loth even to do him juftice, at the expence of that other gentle"man's character (v).”

MR. CHARLES GILDON, after having violently attacked him in many pieces, at laft came to wifh from his heart, "That Mr. "Pope would be prevailed upon to give us Ovid's Epiftles by his hand, for it is certain we see the original of Sappho to Phaon with much more life and likenefs in his version, than in that of Sir *Car Scrope. And this (he add) is the more to "be wished, because in the English tongue we have Icarcely any thing truly and naturally written

(b) Theobald, Letter in Mift's Journal, June 24, 1718.

(1) Smedley, Pref. to Gulliveriana, p. 14. 16. (1) Anno 1723.

(4) Galliveriana, p. 332. (a) Anno 1723. () Preface to Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, p. 12. end in the last page of that treatise.

Page 6, 7. of the Preface, by Concanen, to a book titled, A Collection of all the Letters, Essays, Verfes, and advertisements, occafioned by Pope and Swift's Mifcellanies. Printed for A. Moore, 8vo, 1712. (p) Key to the Dunciad, 3d edit. p. 18.

(9) A Lift of Perfons, c. at the end of the forementioned Collection of all the Letters, Effays, Te.

(P) Introduction to his Shakspeare Reftored, in quarto,

8.3

VOL. VIII.

The Author of a Letter to MR. CIBBER fays, "(u) Pope was fo good a verfifier (once) "that his predeceffor Mr. Dryden, and his contem porary Mr. Prior, excepted, the harmony of his "numbers is equal to any body's. And that he "had all the merit that a man can have that way." And

MR. THOMAS COOKE,
after much blemishing our author's Homer, crieth
out,

"But in his other works what beauties shine,
"While sweetest nufic dwells in every line!
"These he admir'd, on these he stamp'd his
praife,

"And bade them live to brighten future days (w)."

66

"give;

" Pope more than we can offer fhould receive a
"For when fome gliding river is his theme,
"His lines runs fmoother than the smootheft
"Atream," &c.

MIST'S JOURNAL, June 8. 1728. Although he says, "The smooth numbers of the "Dunciad are all that recommend it, nor has it "any other merit;" yet that fame paper hath these words: "The author is allowed to be a perfect "mafter of an eafy and elegant verfification. In "all his works we find the most happy turns, and "natural families, wonderfully fhort, and thick "fown."

The Effay on the Duneiad alfo owns, p. 25. it is very full of beautiful images. But the panegyric, which crowns all that can be faid on this poem, is bestowed by our laureat,

MR. COLLEY CIBBER, who "grants it to be a better poem of its kind than "ever was writ:" but adds, "it was a victory "over a parcel of poor wretches, whom it was al

“dation, and ought to have been published in an age and country more worthy of it. If my tef timony be of any weight, you are fure to have. it in the ampleft manner," &c &c. &c.

"moft cowardice to conquer.-A man might as
"well triumph for having killed so many filly flies
"that offended him. Could he have let them"
"alone, by this time, poor fouls! they had all been"
“buried in oblivion (y)." Here we see our excel-
lent laureat allows the juftice of the fatire cn eve-
ry man in it but himfelf; as the great Mr. Den-
mis did before him.

Thus we fee every one of his works hath been extolled by one or other of his most inveterate enemies; and to the fuccefs of them all they do unanimously give teftimony. But it is fufficient, ixThe faid MR. DENNIS and MR. GILDON, ftar omnium, to behold the great critic, Mr. Dennis, in the most furious of all their works (the forecit-forely lamenting it, even from the Essay on Cri ed character, p. 5.) do in concert (≈) confess, | ticism to this day of the Dunciad! “A most no"That fome men of good understanding value" torious inftance (quoth he) of the depravity of ❝ him for his rhymes." And (p. 17.) "that he has "genius and tafte, the approbation this effay meets K got, like Mr Bays in the Rehearsal (that is like "with (6).I can fafely affirm, that I never at“ Mr. Dryden), a notable knack at rhyming, and "tacked any of these writings, unless they had writing fmooth verfe." "fuccefs infinitely beyond their merit. This, Of his ffay on Man, numerous were the praises" though an empty, has been a popular scribbler. bestowed by his avowed enemies, in the imagina-"The epidemic madness of the times has given tion that the fame was not written by him, as it" him reputation (c).—If after the cruel treatment was printed anonymously. "fo many extraordinary men (Spenfer, Lord Ba

Thus fang of it even

BEZALEEL MORRIS. "Aufpicions bard! while all admire thy ftrain, "All but the felfish, ignorant, and vain; "I, whom no bribe to fervile flattery drew, "Mull pay the tribute to thy merit due: "Thy mufe fublime, fignificant, and clear, "Alike informs the foul, and charms the ear." &c.

And

con, Ben. Jonfon, Milton, Butler, Otway, and "others) have received from this country, for "these last hundred years, I should shift the scene, " and show all that penury changed at once to riot "and profufenefs; and more fquandered away

upon one fubject, than would have fatisfied the greater part of thofe extraordinary men; the "reader to whom this one creature should be unknown, would fancy him a prodigy of art and nature; would believe that all the great quali "ties of these perfons were centered in him alone. "But if I fhould venture to affure him that the People of England had made such a choice, the "reader would believe me a malicious enemy, and "flanderer; or that the reign of the last (Queen Anne's) miniftry was defigned by fate to encourage fools (d).”

MR. LEONARD WELTSTED thus wrote (a) to the unknown author, on the first publication of the said effsay; "I must own, after" the reception which the vileft and most immoral ribaldry bath lately met with, I was furprif"ed to fee what I had long defpaired, a perfor"mance deferving the name of a poet. Such, Sir," is your work. It is indeed above all commen

I had not the opportunity of bearing of your excel• lent pamphlet till this day. I am infinitely fatified and pleafed with it, and bope you will meet with that encouragement your admirable performance deferves,' &c. ICH GILDON.

"Now, is it not plain, that any one who fends fuch compliments to another, has not been used to write in "partner foip with bim to whom be fends them ?" Dennis, remarks on the Dunciad, p. 50. Mr Dennis is therefore welcom: to take this piece to bimfelf

(a) In a letter under Lis own buad, dated March 12. 1733.

But it happens, that this our poet never had any place, penfion, or gratuity, in any shape, from the faid glorious queen, or any of her ministers. All he owed, in the whole courfe of his life, to any court, was a fubfcription for his Homer, of 2001. from King George I. and ico l. from the prince and princess.

However, left we imagine our author's fuccefs was conftant and univerfal, they acquaint us of certain works in a lefs degree of repute, whereof, although owned by others, yet do they affure us he is the writer. Of this fort, Mr. Dennis (e) afcribes to him two farces, whofe names he does not tell; but affures us that there is not one jeft in them and an imitation of Horace, whofe title he does not mention; but affures us it is much more execrable than all his works (f). The Daily Fournal, May 11. 1728, affures us, "He is below Tom "Durfey in the drama; becaufe, as that writer "thinks, the Marriage-hater matched, and the "Boarding-school, are better than the What d'ye "call it;" which is not Mr. P.'s, but Mr. Gay's.

(b) Dennis, praf. to bis Reflect, on the the Essay on Criticifm.

(c) Preface to bis remarks on Homer.
(d) Reman Homer, p. 8, 9. (c) Ib. p. 8.
(ƒ) Character of Mr. Pope, p. 7.

|

ed one great work, he was taxed of boldness and madness to a prodigy (4): If he took assistant in another, it was complained of, and reprefented as a great injury to the public (4). The loftieft heroics; the lowest ballads; treatises against the state or church; fatires on lords and ladies; raillery on wits and authors; fquabbles with bookfellers; or even full and true accounts of monsters, poifons, and murders; of any hereof was there nothing fo good, nothing so bad, which hath not at one or other feafon been to him afcribed. If it bore no author's name, then lay he concealed; if it did,

Mr. Gildon affures us, in his New Rehearsal, (p. 48.) "That he was writing a play of the Lady Jane "Grey" but it afterwards proved to be Mr. Rowe's. We are affured by another, “He wrote *3 pamphlet called Dr. Andrew Tripe (g);” | which proved to be one Dr. Wagstaff's. Mr. Therbald affures us, in Mift of the 27th of April, *That the treatife of the Profound is very dull; and that Mr. Pope is the author of it" The writer of Galliverfana is of another opinion; and fays, "The whole, or greatest part of the merit of *this treatise must, and can only be aftribed to * Galliver (b)." [Here, gentle reader! cannot Ihe fathered it upon that author, to be yet better but fmile at the ftrange blindnefs and pofitiveness concealed: If it refembled any of his ftyles, then of men; knowing the faid treatise to appertain to was it evident; if it did not, then disguised he it none other but to me, Martinus Scriblerus] on fet purpose. Yea, even direct oppofitions in re We are affured, in Mist of June 8. "That his ligion, principles, and politics, have equally been "own plays and farces would better have adorned fuppofed in him inherent. Surely a mott rare and *the Dunciad, than those of Mr. Theobald; for he | fingular character; of which let the reader make *had neither genius for tragedy nor comedy." what he can. Which, whether true or not, it is not easy to judge; in as much as he had attempted neither. Unless we will take it for granted, with Mr. Cibber, that his being once very angry at hearing a friend's play abused, was an infallible proof the play was his Own; the faid Mr. Cibber thinking it impoffible for a man to be much concerned for any but himfelf: "Now let any man judge (faith he) by "his concern, who was the true mother of the * child (i) ?"

But from all that hath been faid, the difcerning reader will collect, that it little availed our author to have any candour, fince, when he declared he did not write for others, it was not credited; as little to have any modefty, since, when he declined writing in any way himself, the presumption of others was imputed to him. If he fingly enterprif

(3) Character of Mr. Pope, p. 6. (b) Gullin. p. 336.

(i) Cibber's Letter to Mr. P. p. 19.

Doubtless molt commentators would hence take occafion to turn all to their author's advantage, and from the teftimony of his very enemies would affirm, that his capacity was boundless, as well as his imagination; that he was a perfect master of all ftyles, and all arguments; and that there was in thofe times no other writer, in any kind, of any degree of excellence, fave he himself. But as this is not our own fentiment, we fhall determine on nothing; but leave thee, gentle reader, to steer thy judgment equally between various opinions, and to choofe, whether thou wilt incline to the teftimonies of authors avowed, or of authors con. cealed; of those who knew him, or of those who knew him not.

P.

MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS

OF THE POEM.

Tis poem, as it celebrateth the moft grave and ancient things, Chaos, Night, and Dulnefs; fo is it of the moft grave and ancient kind. Homer (faith Ariftotle) was the first who gave the form, and (faith Horace) who adapted the measure to heroic poefy. But even before this, may be rationally prefumed from what the ancients have left written, was a piece by Homer compofed, of like nature and matter with this of our poet. For of epic fort it appeareth to have been, yet of matter furely not unpleasant; witness what is reported of it by the learned Archbishop Euftathius, in Odyff x. And accordingly Ariftotle, in his Poetics, chap. iv. doth further fet forth, that as the Iliad and Odyssey gave example to tragedy, fo did this poem to comedy its firft idea.

We shall next declare the occafion and the cause which moved our poet to this particular work. He lived in thofe days, when (after Providence had permitted the invention of printing as a fcourge for the fins of the learned) paper alfo became fo cheap, and printers fo numerous, that a deluge of authors covered the land: whereby not only the peace of the honeft unwriting fubject was daily molefted, but unmerciful demands were made of his applause, yea of his money, by fuch as would neither earn the one, nor deferve the other. At the fame time, the licence of the prefs was fuch, that it grew dangerous to refuse them either: for they would forthwith publish flanders unpunished, the authors being anonymous, and skulking under the wings of publishers; a set of men who neither fcrupled to vend either calumny or blafphemy, as long as the town would call for it.

From thefe authors also it should feem, that the hero, or chief perfonage of it was no lefs obfcure, and his understanding and fentiments no lefs quaint (a) Now our author, living in those times, did and strange (if indeed not more so) than any of conceive it an endeavour well worthy an honeft the actors of our poem. Margites was the name of fatirift, to diffuade the dull, and punish the wickthis perfonage, whom antiquity recordeth to have ed, the only way that was left. In that publicbeen Dunce the firft; and furely, from what we fpirited view he laid the plan of this poem, as the hear him, not unworthy to be the root of fo fpread-greatest service he was capable (without much ing a tree, and fo numerous a pofterity. The poem, hurt, or being flain) to render his dear country. therefore, celebrating him, was properly and ab- Firft, taking things from their original, he confolutely a Dunciad; which though now unhappily fidereth the caules creative of fuch authors, nameloft, yet is its nature fufficiently known by the in-ly Dulnefs and Poverty; the one born with them, fallible tokens aforefaid. And thus it doth appear, the other contracted by neglect of their proper ta that the first Dunciad was the first epic poem writ- lents, through felf-conceit of greater abilities. This ten by Homer himself, and anterior even to the truth he wrappeth in an allegory (6) (as the conIliad or Odyssey. ftruction of epic poefy requireth), and feigns that one of these goddeffes had taken up her abode with the other, and that they jointly inspired all fuch writers, and fuch works. (4) He proceedeth to fhow the qualities they beftow on thefe authors, and the effects they produce (d): then the mate rials, or ftock, with which they furnish them (^\, and, above all, that felf-opinion (ƒ) which caufeth it to feem to themselves vaftly greater than it is, and is the prime motive of their fetting up in this

Now, forafmuch as our poet hath translated thofe two famous works of Homer, which are yet left, he did conceive it in fome fort his duty to imitate that alfo which was loft; and was therefore induced to bestow on it the fame form which Homer's is reported to have had, namely that of epic poem; with a title alfo framed after the ancient Greek manner, to wit, that of Dunciad.

Wonderful it is, that fo few of the moderns have been ftimulated to attempt fome Dunciad! fince, in the opinion of the multitude, it might coft lefs pain and toil than an imitation of the greater epic. But poflible it is alfo, that on due reflection the maker might find it easier to paint a Charlemagne, a Brute, or a Godfrey, with juft pomp, and dignity heroic, than a Margites, a Codrus, or a Fleckno.

(a) Vide Bou, Du Poem Epique, chap, vii
(b) Bolu, chap. vii.

(c) Book i. ver. 32. %.
(d) Ver. 45. to 54.
() Ver. 57. to 77.
(ƒ) Both i, ver. 80.