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, our poet will but appear to have done the fame thing in jeft which Boileau did in eárneft; and upon which Vida, Fracaftorius, and many of the most eminent Latin poets, profeffedly valued themselves.

IV.

ADVERTISEMENT

To the FIRST EDITION of the FOURTH BOOK of the DUNCIAD, when printed feparately in the Year 1742.

W

E apprehend it can be deemed no injury to the author of the three first books of the Dunciad, that we publish this Fourth. It was found merely by accident, in taking a furvey of the Library of a late eminent nobleman; but in fo blotted a condition, and in fo many detached pieces, as plainly fhewed it to be not only incorrect, but unfinished. That the

author

author of the three first books had a defign to extend and complete his poem in this manner, appears from the differtation prefixed to it, where it is faid, that the defign is more extenfive, and that we may expect other epifodes 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 hereafter 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 Aeneid, though perhaps inferior to the former.

If any perfon be poffeffed of a more perfect copy of this work, or of any other fragments of it, and will communicate them to the publifher, we shall make the next edition more complete: In which we also promise to insert any Criticisms that shall be publifhed (if at all to the purpose) with the Names of the Authors; or any letter fent us (though not to the purpose) fhall yet be printed under the title of Epiftolae Obfcurorum Virorum; which, together with some others of the fame kind formerly laid by for that end, may make no unpleasant addition to the future impreffions of this poem.

I

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 Essay 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 pafs fome 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 several paffages in his works. It happened, that just at that juncture was published a ridiculous book against him, full of Perfonal Reflection, which furnished him with a lucky opportunity of improving This Poem, by giving it the only thing it wanted, a more confiderable Hero. 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 such an one was reserved for this Post, as has fince obtained the Laurel: But fince that had

He was

happened,

happened, he could no longer deny this justice 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 ashamed, has constantly derived a Vanity; and therefore was the man in the world who would leaft be hurt by it.

W. W.

VI.

ADVERTISEMENT

WHER

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 abuse we can do no lefs than own, it is our opinion, that to call these Gentlemen bad authors is no fort of abufe, but a great truth. We cannot alter this opinion without fome reafon;

but we promise to do it in respect to every person who thinks it an injury to be reprefented 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.

Mr. DRYDEN,

HIS POLITICS, RELIGION, MORals.

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

In the poem called Abfalom and Achitophel are notoriously traduced, The KING, the QUEEN, the LORDS, and GENTLEMEN, not only their honourable perfons exposed,

a Milbourn on Dryden's Virgil, 8vo. 1698. p. 6.

b Page 38.