Prefixed to the five first imperfect Editions of the DUNCIAD, in three books, printed at DUBLIN and LONDON, in octavo and duodecimo, 1727. IT 2 The PUBLISHER to the READER.. T will be found a true obfervation, though fomewhat furprizing, that when any feandal is vented against a man of the highest distinction and character, either in the state or literature, the public in general afford a The Publisher] Who he was is uncertain; but Edward Ward tells us, in his Preface to Durgen, "that most judges are of opinion this Preface is not of English extraction, but Hibernian," &c. He means it was written by Dr. Swift, who, whether the publisher or not, may be faid in a fort to be author of the Poem. For when he, together with Mr. Pope (for reasons specified in the Preface to their Mifcellanies) determined to own the most trifling pieces in which they had any hand, and to destroy all that remained in their power; the firft fketch of this Poem was fnatched from the fire by Dr. Swift, who perfuaded his friend to proceed in it, and to him it was therefore inscribed. But the occafion of printing it was as follows: There was published in thofe Mifcellanies, a Treatife of the Bathos, or Art of Sinking in Poetry, in which was a chapter, where the species of bad writers were ranged in claffes, and initial letters of names prefixed, for the moft at Random. But part *Certainly not at Random. * afford it a moft quiet reception; and the large part accept it as favourably as if it were some kindness done to themselves: whereas, if a known fcoundrel or blockhead but chance to be touched upon, a whole legion is up in arms, and it becomes the common cause of all fcribblers, bookfellers, and printers whatsoever. Not to search too deeply into the reason hereof, I will only observe as a fact, that every week for these two months paft, the town has been perfecuted with pamphlets, advertisements, letters, and weekly effays, fuch was the Number of poets eminent in that art, that some one or other took every letter to himfelf. All fell into so violent a fury, that for half a year, or more, the common Newspapers (in moft of which they had fome property, as being hired writers) were filled with the most abufive falfehoods and fcurrilities they could poffibly devife; a liberty no ways to be wondered at in thofe people, and in thofe papers, that, for many years, during the uncontrouled Licence of the prefs, had afperfed almost all the great characters of the age; and this with impunity, their own perfons and names being utterly fecret and obfcure. This gave Mr. Pope the thought, that he had now fome opportunity of doing good, by detecting and dragging into light these common enemies of mankind; fince to invalidate this univerfal flander, it fufficed to fhew what contemptible men were the authors of it. He was not without hopes, that by manifefting the dulnefs of those who had only malice to recommend them; either the bookfellers would not find their account in employing them, or the men themselves, when difcovered, want courage to proceed in fo unlawful an occupation. This it was that gave birth to the Dunciad; and he thought it an happiness, that by the late flood of flander on himself, he had acquired fuch a peculiar right over their Names as was neceffary to his defign. WARBURTON. b Pamphlets, advertisements, &c.] See the lift of those anony. mous papers, with their dates and authors annexed, inferted before the Poem. WARBURTON. |