THE DUNCIA D. ΑΝ Heroic Poem. IN THREE BOOKS. DUBLIN, Printed, LONDON Re- THE PUBLISHER TO THЕ READ E R. I Twill be found a true obfervation, tho' fomewhat furprizing, that when any fcandal is vented against a man of the bigbeft diftinction and character either in the State or in Literature, the publick in general afford it a moft quiet reception, and the larger part accept it as favourably as if it were fome kindness done to themselves: Whereas if a known Scoundrel or blockhead chance to be but touch'd upon, a whole legion is up in Arms, and it becomes the common Caufe of all Scriblers, Booksellers, and Printers whatsoever. Not to fearch too deeply into the reafon hereof, I will only obferve as a Fact, that every week for thefe two Months paft, the town has been perfe cuted cuted with Pamphlets, Advertisements, Letters, and weekly Effays, not only against the Wit and Writings, but against the Character and Perfon, of Mr. Pope. And that of all those men who have received pleafure from his Writings (which by modeft computation may be about a hundred thousand in thefe Kingdoms of England and Ireland, not to mention Jerfey, Guernsey, the Orcades, thofe in the New world, and Foreigners who have tranflated him into their languages) of all this number, not a man hath stood up to fay one word in his defence. The only exception is the Author of the following Poem, who doublefs had either a better infight into the grounds of this clamour, or a better opinion of Mr. Pope's integrity, join'd with a greater perfonal love for him, than any other of his numerous friends and admirers. Further, that he was in his peculiar intimacy, appears from the knowledge he manifefts of the most private Authors of all the anonymous pieces against him, and from his having in this Poem attacked no man living, who had not before printed and published against this particular Gentleman. How I became possest of it, is of no concern to I the the Reader; but it would have been a wrong to him, bad I detain'd this publication: fince those Names which are its chief ornaments, die off daily fo faft, as must render it too foon unintelligible. If it provoke the Author to give us a more perfelt edition, I have my end. Who he is, I cannot fay, and (which is great pity) there is certainly nothing in his style and manner of writing, which can distinguish, or difcover him. For if it bears any resemblance to that of Mr. P. 'tis not improbable but it might be done on purpose, with a view to have it pass for his. But by the frequency of his allufions to Virgil, and a labour'd, (not to say affected, shortnefs, in imitation of him, I should think him more an admirer of the Roman Poet than of the Grecian, and in that, not of the fame tafte with his Friend. I have been well inform'd, that this work was the labour of full fix years of his life, and that he retired himself entirely from all the avocations and pleafures of the world, to attend diligently to its correction and perfection; and fix years more he intended to bestow upon it, as it fhould feem by this verfe of Statius, which was cited at the head of his manuscript. Oh |