let it be continued to me under no other title than that of the latter. But if this publication be only a more folemn funeral of my remains, I defire it may be known that I die in charity, and in my fenses; without any murmurs against the juftice of this age, or any mad appeals to pofterity. I declare I fhall think the world in the right, and quietly fubmit to every truth which time fhall difcover to the prejudice of these writings; not fo much as wishing so irrational a fo thing, as that every body fhould be deceived merely for my credit. However, I defire it may then be confidered, That there are very few things in this collection which were not written under the age of five and twenty fo that my youth may be made (as it never fails to be in Executions) a cafe of compaffion. That I was never fo concerned about my works as to vindicate them in print, believing, if any thing was good, it would defend itself, and what was bad could never be defended. That I ufed no artifice to raife or continue a reputation, depreciated no dead author I was obliged to, bribed no living one with unjust praise, infulted no adversary * with ill language; or, when I could not attack a Rival's works, encouraged reports against his Morals. To conclude, if this volume perish, let it ferve as a warning to the * This was written in 1716; did our Author recollect this fentiment in 1729? Critics, Critics, not to take too much pains for the future to destroy fuch things as will die of themselves; and a Memento mori to fome of my vain contemporaries the Poets, to teach them that, when real merit is wanting, it avails nothing to have been encouraged by the great, commended by the eminent, and favoured by the public in general *. Nov. 10, 1716. Variations in the Author's Manuscript Preface. A FTER p. 5. 1. 13. it followed thus-For my part, I confess, had I seen things in this view at first, the public had never been troubled either with my writings, or with this apology for them. I am fenfible how difficult it is to speak of one's felf with decency: but when a man must speak of himself, the best way is to speak truth of himself, or, he may depend upon it, others will do it for him. I'll therefore make this Preface a general confeffion of all my thoughts of my own Poetry, refolving with the fame freedom to expofe myself, as it is in the power of any other to expose them. In the first place, I thank God and nature, that I * I cannot forbear adding how excellently well written is Cowley's preface to his works, folio, 1656; and how much fuperior it is to Sprat's Life of that amiable author. Both Cowley and Spenfer wrote profe excellently. † Johnfon was angry at this abbreviation for I will. was was born with a love to poetry*; for nothing more conduces to fill up all the intervals of our time, or, if rightly used, to make the whole courfe of life entertaining: Cantantes licet ufque (minus via laedet.) 'Tis a vaft happiness to poffefs the pleasures of the head, the only pleasures in which a man is fufficient to himself, and the only part of him which, to his fatisfaction, he can employ all day long. The Muses are amicae omnium horarum; and, like our gay acquaintance, the best company in the world as long as one expects no real fervice from them. I confefs there was a time when I was in love with myself, and my first productions were the children of felf-love upon innocence. I had made an Epic Poem, and Panegyrics on all the Princes in Europe, and thought myfelf the greatest genius that ever was. I can't but regret those delightful vifions of my childhood, which, like the fine colours we fee when our eyes are fhut, are vanifhed for ever. Many trials and fad experience have fo undeceived me by degrees, that I am utterly at a lofs at what rate to value myself. As for fame, I fhall be glad of any I can get, and not repine at any I mifs; and as for vanity, I have enough to keep me from hanging myself, or even from wishing those * But at the conclufion of his translation of the Iliad, he contradicts this fentiment, by applying to himself a passage of M. Antoninus. † Johnson thought "in the world" a vulgarifm, and always avoided the expreffion. hanged hanged who would take it away. It was this that made me write. The fenfe of my faults made me correct: befides that it was as pleasant to me to correct as to write. At p. 9. 1. 2.-In the first place I own that I have used my best endeavours to the finishing these pieces. That I made what advantage I could of the judgment of authors dead and living; and that I omitted no means in my power to be informed of my errors by my friends and my enemies: And that I expect no favour on account of my youth, business, want of health, or any fuch idle excufes. But the true reason they are not yet more correct is owing to the confideration how fhort a time they, and I, have to live. A man that can expect but fixty years may be ashamed to employ thirty in measuring fyllables and bringing fenfe and rhyme together. We spend our youth in pursuit of riches or fame, in hopes to enjoy them when we are old, and when we are old, we find it is too late to enjoy any thing. I therefore hope the Wits will pardon me, if I reserve fome of my time to fave my foul; and that fome. wife men will be of my opinion, even if I fhould think a part of it better spent in the enjoyments of life than in pleafing the critics. ON MR. POPE AND HIS POEMS, BY HIS GRACE JOHN SHEFFIELD, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. WITH Age decay'd, with Courts and bus'nefs tir'd, WTM Caring for nothing but what Eafe requir'd; Too dully serious for the Mufe's sport, And from the Critics fafe arriv'd in Port; And yet fo wonderful, fublime a thing As the great ILIAD, fcarce could make me fing; VER. 11.] This is the common-place cant of men tir'd with business and courts. "This is mere moral babble." Comus, p. 806. |