MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS

His Prolegomena and Illustrations

то THE

DUNCIA D:

WITH THE

HYPER-CRITICS OF ARISTARCHUS.

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Dennis, Remarks on Pr. Arthur.

CANNOT but think it the most reasonable thing in the world, to diftinguish good writers, by discouraging the bad. Nor is it an ill-natured thing, in relation even to the very perfons upon whom the reflections are made. It is true, it may deprive them, a little the fooner, of a fhort profit and a tranfitory reputation; but then it may have a good effect, and oblige them (before it be too late) to decline that for which they are so very unfit, and to have recourfe to something in which they may be more fuccessful.

Character of Mr. P. 1716.

THE Perfons whom Boileau has attacked in his writings, have been for the most part Authors, and most of those Authors, Poets: And the cenfures he hath paffed upon them have been confirmed by all Europe.

Gildon, Pref. to his New Rehearsal.

It is the common cry of the Poetafters of the town, and their fautors, that it is an ill-natured thing to expose the Pretenders to wit and poetry. The Judges and Magiftrates may with full as good reason be reproached with Ill-nature for putting the laws in execution against a thief or impoftor-I he fame will hold in the republic of Letters, if the Critics and Judges will let every ignorant pretender to fcribbling pass on the world.

VOL. V.

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Theobald,

Theobald, Lett. to Mift, June 22, 1728.

ATTACKS may be levelled, either against Failures in Genius, or against the Pretenfions of writing without one.

Concanen, Ded. to the Author of the Dunciad.

A Satire upon Dullness is a thing that has been ufed and allowed in all ages.

Out of thine own Mouth will I judge thee, wicked Scribbler!

TESTIMONIES OF AUTHORS

CONCERNING

OUR POET AND HIS WORKS.

M. SCRIBLERUS Lectori S.

EFORE we prefent thee with our exercitations on

BEFORE

this most delectable poem (drawn from the many volumes of our Adverfaria on modern authors) we fhall here, according to the laudable ufage of editors, collect the various judgments of the learned concerning our Poet: Various indeed, not only of different authors, but of the fame author at different seasons. Nor fhall we gather only the teftimonies of fuch eminent wits, as would of course descend to posterity, and confequently be read without our collection; but we shall likewife with incredible labour feek out for divers others, which, but for this our diligence, could never at the distance of a few months appear to the eye of the most curious. Hereby thou may'ft not only receive the delectation of variety, but also arrive at a more certain judgment, by a grave and circumfpect comparison of the witnesses with each other, or of each with himself. Hence alfo thou wilt be enabled to draw reflections, not only of a critical

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