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. Most of them had drawn each others characters on certain occafions; but the few here inferted are all that could be faved from the general destruction of fuch works.

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

The Imitations of the Ancients 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 Moderns If, from the frequency of the former, any man think the poem too much a Cento, out poet will but appear to have done the fame thing in jeft which Boileau did in earnest; and upon which Vida, Fracaftorius, and many of the most eminent Latin põets profeffedly valued themfeives.

IV.

ADVERTISEMENT

To the FIRST EDITION of

The FOURTH Book of the DUNCIAD, when printed separately in the Year 1742.

WE

E apprehend it can be deemed no injury to the author of the three firft books of the Dunciad, that we publish this Fourth. It was found merely by acci dent, in taking a furvey of the Library of a late eminent nobleman; but in fo blotted a condition, and in so many detach'd pieces, as plainly fhew'd it to be not only incorrect, but unfinish'd. That the author of the three first books had à defign to extend and complete his poem in this manner, appears from the differtation prefix'd to it, where it is faid, that the defign is more extenfive, and that ave e may expect other episodes to complete it: And from the declaration in the argument to the third book, that the accomplishment of the prophecies therein, would be the theme bereafter of a greater Dunciad But whether or no he be the author of this, we declare ourselves ignorant. If he be, we are no more to be blamed for the publication of it, than Tucca and Varius for that of the last fix books of the Æneid, tho' perhaps inferior to the former.

If any perfon he poffeffed of a more perfect copy of this work, or of any other fragments of it, and will communicate them to the publisher, we fhall make the next edition more complete: In which we alfo promife to infert any Criticijms that fhall be published (if at all to the purpole) with the Names of the Authors; or any letters fent us (tho' not to the purpose) fhall yet be printed under the title of Epiftolæ Obfcurorum Virorum; which, together with fome others of the fame kind formerly laid by for that end, may make no unpleafant addition to the future impreffions of this poem.

V..

ADVERTISEMENT

To the complete EDITION of 1743.

HAVE long had a defign of giving fome fort of Notes on the works of this poet. Before I had the happiness of his acquaintance, I had written a commentary on his Efay on Man, and have fince finished another on the Effay on Criticism. There was one already on the Dunciad, which had met with general approbation: but I ftill thought fome additions were wanting (of a more serious kind) to the humorous notes of Scriblerus, and even to those written by Mr. Cleland, Dr. Arbuthnot, and others. I had lately the pleasure to pass some months with the author in the country, where I prevailed upon him to do what I had long defired, and favour me with his explanation of feveral paffages in his works. It happened, that juft at that juncture was published a ridiculous book against him, full of Perfonal Reflections, which furnished him with a lucky opportunity of improving This Poem, by giving it the only thing it wanted, a more confiderable Hero. He was always fenfible of its defect in that particular, and owned he had let it pass with the Hero it had, purely for want of a better; not entertaining the least expectation that fuch an one was referved for this Poft, as has fince obtained the Laurel: But fince that had happened, he could no longer deny this juftice either to him or the Dunciad.

And yet I will venture to fay, there was another motive which had still more weight with our Author: This person was one, who from every Folly (not to fay Vice) of which another would be afhamed, has conftantly derived a Vanity; and therefore was the man in the world who would leaft be hurt by it. W. W.

VI,

ADVERTISEMENT

W

Printed in the JOURNALS, 1730.

HEREAS, upon occafion of certain Pieces relating to the Gentlemen of the Dunciad, fome have been willing to fuggeft, as if they looked upon them as an abufe: we can do no less than own, it is our opinion, that to call these Gentlemen bad authors is no fort of abuse, but a great truth. We cannot alter this opinion without fome reason; but we promise to do it in respect to every person who thinks it an injury to be represented as no Wit, or Poet, provided he procures a Certificate of his being really fuch, from any three of his companions in the Dunciad, or from Mr. Dennis fingly, who is esteemed equal to any three of the number.

VII.

A

PARALLEL

OF THE

CHARACTERS

OF

Mr. DRYDEN and Mr. POPE. As drawn by certain of their Contemporaries. Mr. D RYDE N.

His POLITICKS, RELIGION, MOrals.

M

R. Dryden is a mere renegado from monarchy, poetry, and good fenfe. A true republican fon of a monarchical Church. A republican Atheists. Dryden was from the beginning an αλλοπρόσαλλω, and I doubt not will continue fo to the laft".

In the poem call'd Abfalom and Achitophel are notorioufly traduced, the KING, the QUEEN, the LORDS and GENTLEMEN,not only their honourable perfons expofed, but the whole NATION and its REPRESENTATIVES Notoriously libell'd. It is fcandalum magnatum, yea of MAJESTY itselfe.

a Milbourn on Dryden's Virgil, 8vo. 1698. p. 6. c pag. 192. d pag. 8.

for R. Janeway, 1682. Preface,

b page 38.

e Whip and Key, 4to, printed

3