Page images
PDF
EPUB

to a decifive Battle; but the Manufcript, by the Injury of Fortune, or Weather, being in feveral Places imperfect, we cannot learn to which Side the Victory fell.

I must warn the Reader, to beware of applying to Perfons, what is here meant only of Books in the moft literal Senfe. So, when Virgil is mentioned, we are not to understand the Perfon of a famous Poet called by that Name; but only certain Sheets of Paper, bound up in Leather, containing in print the Works of the faid Poet: And so of the reft.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

THE

PRE F A CE

OF THE

AUTHOR.

Satire is a Sert of Glass, wherein Beholders do generally difcover every body's Face but their own; which is the chief Reafon for that kind Reception it meets in the World, and that so very few are offended with it. But if it should happen otherwife, the Danger is not great; and I have learned from long Experience, never to apprehend Mifchief from thofe Understandings I have been able to provoke. For Anger and Fury, though they add Strength to the Sinews of the Body, yet are found to relax thofe of the Mind, and to render all its Efforts feeble and impotent.

THERE is a Brain that will endure but one Scumming; let the Owner gather it with Difcretion, and manage his little Stock with Husban dry. But of all Things let him beware of bringing

it under the Lafh of his Betters; because that will make it all bubble up into Impertinence, and he will find no new Supply: Wit without Knowledge being a Sort of Cream, which gathers in a Night to the Top, and by a skilful Hand may be foon whipt into Froth; but once fcummed away, what appears underneath, will be fit for nothing, but to be thrown to the Hogs.

A FULL and TRUE

ACCOU UN T

OF THE.

B A T T L E

Fought, laft FRIDAY, &c.

W

HOEVER examines with due CircumfpeEtion into the annual Records of Time, will. find it remarked, that War is the Child of Pride, and Pride the Daughter of Riches*. The former of which Affertions may be foon granted; but one cannot so easily subscribe to the latter. For Pride is nearly related to Beggary and Want, either by Father or Mother, and fometimes by both : And, to fpeak naturally, it very feldom happens among Men to fall out, when all have enough; Invafions ufually travelling from North to South, that is to fay, from Poverty upon Plenty. The most antient and natural Grounds of Quarrels, are Luft and Ava

*

[Riches produce Pride; Pride is War's Ground, &c. Vid. Ephem, de Mary Clarke, opt. Edit.]

rice;

rice; which, though we may allow to be Brethren or collateral Branches of Pride, are certainly the Iflues of Want. For, to speak in the Phrase of Writers upon the Politicks, we may obferve in the Republick of Dogs, (which in its Original feems to be an Inftitution of the many), that the whole State is ever in the profoundest Peace, after a full Meal ; and that civil Broils arife among them, when it happens for one great Bone to be feized on by fome leading Dog, who either divides it among the few, and then it falls to an Oligarchy; or keeps it to himfelf, and then it runs up to a Tyranny. The fame Reasoning alfo holds place among them, in those Diffenfions we behold upon a Turgefcency in any of their Females. For, the Right of Poffeffion lying in common, (it being impoffible to eftablish a Property in fo delicate a Café), Jealoufies and Sufpicions do fo abound, that the whole Commonwealth of that Street is reduced to a manifeft State of War, of every Citizen against every Citizen; till fome one of more Courage, Conduct, or Fortune than the reft, feizes and enjoys the Prize; upon which naturally arifes Plenty of Heart-burning, and Envy, and Snarling against the happy Dog. Again, if we look upon any of thefe Republicks engaged in a foreign War, either of Invasion or Defence, we shall find the fame Reasoning will ferve, as to the Grounds and Occafions of each; and that Poverty, or Want, in some Degree or other, (whether real, or in Opinion, which makes no Alteration in the Cafe), has a great Share, as well as Pride, on the Part of the Aggreffor.

Now, whoever will please to take this Scheme, and either reduce or adapt it to an intellectual State, or Commonwealth of Learning, will foon discover the first Ground of Difagreement between the two great Parties at this Time in Arms; and may form juft Conclufions upon the Merits of either Cause. But the Iffue or Events of this War are not so easy to conjecture at: For the prefent Quarrel is fo in

flamed

« PreviousContinue »