the tangled history of the latter poem, with its 'pomp of prefaces' and mystifying apparatus of all kinds.

In preparing the Notes, I have been indebted for much assistance and many valuable suggestions to Mr. Hales and Mr. Jerram, the Editors of this series. I have also occasionally adopted, but never, I think, without acknowledgment, notes from the excellent and useful Globe edition of Pope's Poetry, published under the care of Prof. Ward, of Owens College.

CONTENTS.

AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM .

MORAL ESSAYS:

EPISTLE I. TO SIR RICHARD TEMPLE, LORD
COBHAM OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND CHA-
RACTERS OF MEN

EPISTLE III. TO ALLEN, LORD BATHURST: OF
THE USE OF RICHES

EPISTLE IV. TO RICHARD BOYLE, EARL OF
BURLINGTON: OF THE USE OF RICHES

THE DUNCIAD. TO DR. JONATHAN SWIFT:—
Book I. THE HERO *

Book II. THE GAMES

Book III. THE DESCENT TO THE SHADES

Book IV. THE TRIUMPH OF DULNESS

NOTES

APPENDIX

INDEX.

PAGE

25

35

* It need scarcely be said that these headings to the books of the 'Dunciad' are not found in the original editions; they are added for the sake of distinction, and greater convenience of reference.

I

AN

ESSAY ON CRITICISM.

PART I.

Introduction-That it is as great a fault to judge ill as to write ill, and a more dangerous one to the public-That a true taste is as rare to be found as a true genius-That most men are born with some taste, but spoiled by false education-The multitude of critics, and causes of them-That we are to study our own taste, and know the limits of it-Nature the best guide of judgment-Improved by art and rules, which are but methodized Nature-Rules derived from the practice of the ancient poetsThat therefore the ancients are necessary to be studied by a critic, particularly Homer and Virgil-Of licenses, and the use of them by the ancients-Reverence due to the ancients, and praise of them.

PART II. Causes hindering a true judgment-1. Pride-2. Imperfect learning-3. Judging by parts, and not by the wholecritics in wit, language, versification, only-4. Being too hard to please, or too apt to admire-5. Partiality - too much love to a sect-to the ancients or moderns-6. Prejudice or prevention -7. Singularity-8. Inconstancy-9. Party spirit-10. EnvyAgainst envy, and in praise of good-nature-When severity is chiefly to be used by critics, ver. 526, &c.

PART III. Rules for the conduct of manners in a critic-Candour
—Modesty—Good-breeding-Sincerity and freedom of advice—
When one's counsel is to be restrained-Character of an
B

incorrigible poet-And of an impertinent critic-Character of a good critic-The history of Criticism, and characters of the best critics; Aristotle; Horace; Dionysius; Petronius; Quintilian; Longinus-Of the decay of Criticism, and its revival-Erasmus -Vida-Boileau-Lord Roscommon, &c.-Conclusion.

'Tis hard to say if greater want of skill
Appear in writing or in judging ill;

But of the two less dangerous is th' offence
To tire our patience than mislead our sense :
Some few in that, but numbers err in this,
Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss;
A fool might once himself alone expose,
Now one in verse makes many more in prose.

'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none
Go just alike, yet each believes his own.
In poets as true genius is but rare,

True taste as seldom is the critic's share ;

Both must alike from Heaven derive their light,
These born to judge, as well as those to write.
Let such teach others who themselves excel,
And censure freely who have written well.
Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true,
But are not critics to their judgment too?
Yet, if we look more closely, we shall find

ΤΟ

Most have the seeds of judgment in their mind : 20
Nature affords at least a glimmering light;

The lines, though touch'd but faintly, are drawn right:
But as the slightest sketch, if justly traced,
Is by ill colouring but the more disgraced,
So by false learning is good sense defaced :
Some are bewilder'd in the maze of schools,

And some made coxcombs Nature meant but fools: