though not publifhed, copies delivered to the Editor.

On the whole, the Advantages of this Edition, above the preceding, are thefe, That it is the firft complete collection which has ever been made of his original Writings; That all his principal poems, of early or later date, are here given to the Public with his last corrections and improvements; That a great number of his verses are here first printed from the Manufcript-copies of his principal poems of later date; That many new notes of the Author's are here added to his Poems; and laftly, that feveral pieces, both in profe and verse, make now their first appearance before the Public.

The Author's life deferves a juft Volume; and the Editor intends to give it. For to have been one of the firft, Poets in the world is but his fecond praife. He was in a higher Clafs. He was one of the nobleft works of God. He was an honeft Man". A Man who alone pof

a" A wit's a feather, and a chief's a rod, "An honeft Man's the nobleft work of God.

feffed more real Virtue than, in very corrupt times, needing a Satirift like him, will fometimes fall to the fhare of multitudes. In this history of his life, will be contained a large account of his writings; a critique on the nature, force, and extent of his genius, exemplified from thefe writings; and a vindication of his moral character exemplified by his more distinguished virtues; his filial piety, his difinterested friendfhips, his reverence for the conftitution of his country, his love and admiration of VIRTUE, and, (what was the necessary effect) his hatred and contempt of VICE, his extenfive charity to the indigent, his warm benevolence to mankind, his fupreme veneration of the Deity, and, above all, his fincere belief of Revelation. Nor fhall his faults be concealed. It is not for the interests of his Virtues that they should. Nor indeed could they be concealed, if we were so minded, for they shine thro' his Virtues; no man being more a dupe to the specious appearances of Virtue in others. In a word, I mean not to be his Panegyrift but his Historian. And may I, when Envy and Calumny take the fame

may

advantage of my abfence (for, while I live, I will freely, truft it to my Life to confute them) I find a friend as careful of my honeft fame as I have been of His! Together with his Works, he hath bequeathed me his DUNCES. So that as the property is transferred, I could wifh they would now let his memory alone. The veil which Death draws over the Good is fo facred, that to throw dirt upon the Shrine fcandalizes even Barbarians. And though Rome permitted her Slaves to caluminate her beft Citizens on the day of Triumph, yet the fame petulancy at their Funeral would have been rewarded with execration and a gibbet. The Public may be malicious: but is rarely vindictive or ungenerous. It would abhor thefe insults on a writer dead, tho' it had borne with the ribaldry, or even fet the ribalds on work, when he was alive. And in this there was no great harm: for he must have a frange impotency of mind whom fuch miferable fcriblers can ruffle. Of all that grofs Beotian phalanx who have written fcurriloufly against me, I know not fo much as one whom a writer of

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reputation would not wish to have his enemy, or whom a man of honour would not be afhamed to own for his friend. I am indeed but flightly converfant in their works, and know little of the particulars of their defamation. To my Authorship they are heartily welcome. But if any of them have been fo abandoned by Truth as to attack my moral character in any inftance whatsoever, to all and every one of thefe, and their abettors, I give the LYE in form, and in the words of honeft Father Valerian, MENTIRIS

IMPUDENTISSIME.