THE DUNCIA D. AN Heroic Poem. IN THREE BOOKS. DUBLIN, Printed, LONDON Re- THE PUBLISHER то тНЕ READER. I Twill be found a true obfervation, tho' fomewhat furprizing, that when any fcandal is vented against a man of the higheft 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, Bookfellers, 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 pleasure 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 bath ftood up to fay one word in his defence. The only exception is the Author of the following Poem, who doubtless 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 |