IV.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE FIRST EDITION OF

The FOURTH BOOK of the DUNCIAD, when printed feparately in the Year 1742.

WE

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 survey of the Library of a late eminent nobleman; but in fo blotted a condition, and in so many detached pieces, as plainly fhewed it to be not only incorrect, but unfinished. That the 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 design is more extenfive, and that we may expect other episodes 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 laft fix books of the Eneid, 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 publisher, we shall make the next edition more complete: In which we also promise to infert any Criticisms that shall be published (if at all to

the

the purpose) with the Names of the Authors; or any letters fent us (though not to the purpose) fhall yet be printed under the title of Epiftolæ Obscurorum Virorum; which, together with fome others of the fame kind formerly laid by for that end, may make no unpleasant addition to the future impreffions of this poem.

1

ADVERTISEMENT

To the complete EDITION of 1743.

HAVE long had a design of giving some sort of Notes on the works of this poet. Before I had the happiness of his acquaintance, I had written a commentary on his Effay 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 humourous notes of Scriblerus, and even to those written by Mr. Cleland, Dr. Arbuthnot, and others. I had lately the pleasure to pass some 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 feveral paffages in his works. It happened, that just at that juncture was published a ridiculous book against him, full of perfonal Reflections, which furnished him with a lucky opportunity of improving This Poem, by giving it the only thing it wanted, a more confiderable Hero. He was always fenfible of its defect in that particular, and owned he had let it pafs with the Hero

it

it had, purely for want of a better, not entertaining the least expectation that fuch an one was referved for this Poft, as has fince obtained the Laurel: But fince that had happened, he could no longer deny this justice 'either to him or the Dunciad.

And yet I will venture to say, 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 the world who would leaft be hurt by it.

in

W. W.

VI.

ADVERTISEMENT

Printed in the JOURNALS, 1730.

WHEREAS, upon occafion of certain Pieces re

lating 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 less than own, it is our opinion, that to call these gentlemen bad authors is no fort of abuse, but a great truth. We cannot alter this opinion without fome reason; 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.

VOL. III.

U

A

VII.

A

PARALLEL

OF THE

CHARACTERS

OF

Mr. DRYDEN and Mr. POPE,

As drawn by certain of their Contemporaries.

Mr. DRYDEN,

His POLITICS, RELIGION, MORALS.

MR. Dryden is a mere renegado from Monarchy, poetry, and good sense a. A true republican fon of monarchical Church b. A republican Atheist ✨. Dryden was from the beginning an αλλοπρόσαλλος, and I doubt not will continue fo to the laft d.

In the Poem called Abfalom and Achitophel are notoriously traduced, The KING, the QUEEN, the LORDS and GENTLEMEN, not only their honourable perfons expofed, but the whole NATION and its REPRESENTA

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

b Pag. 38.

Pag. 192.

TIVES

VII.

A

PARALLEL

OF THE

CHARACTERS

O F

Mr. POPE and Mr. DRYDEN,

As drawn by certain of their Contemporaries.

Mr. POPE,

His POLITICS, RELIGION, MORALS.

MR. Pope is an open and mortal enemy to his

country and the commonwealth of learning 2. Some call him a Popish whig, which is directly inconfiftent b. Pope, as a Papist, must be a tory and high flyer c. He is both whig and tory d.

He hath made it his cuftom to cackle to more than one party in their own fentiments e.

In his Mifcellanies, the Perfons abused are, The KING, the QUEEN, His late MAJESTY, both Houses of

a Dennis, Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, Pref. p. xii. b Dunciad diffected. c Pref. to Gulliveriana. d Dennis, Character of Mr. P.

e Theobald, Letter in Mift's Journals, June 22, 1728,