In two days they brought me ten fheets of paper filled up on every fide. They fwore to me, that they had ranfacked whatever could be found in the characters of Socrates, Ariftides, Epaminondas, Cato, Tully, Atticus, and other hard names, which I cannot now recollect. However, I have reafon to believe, they impofed upon my ignorance; because, when I came to read over their collections, there was not a fyllable there, but what I and every body elfe knew as well as themselves: therefore I grievously fufpected a cheat; and that these authors of mine ftole and transcribed every word from the univerfal report of mankind. So that I look upon myfelf, as fifty fhillings out of pocket to no manner of purpose.

If, by altering the title, I could make the fame materials ferve for another dedication (as my betters have done) it would help to make up my lofs; but, I have made feveral perfons dip here and there in those papers, and, before they read three lines, they have all affured me plainly, that they cannot poffibly be applied to any perfon befides your lordship.

I expected, indeed, to have heard of your lordship's bravery at the head of an army; of your undaunted courage in mounting a breach, or fcaling a wall; or, to have had your pedigree traced in a lineal defcent from the houfe of Auftria; or, of your wonderful talent at drefs and dancing; or, your profound knowledge in algebra, metaphyficks, and the oriental tongues. But to ply the world with an old beaten ftory of your wit, and eloquence, and learning, and wifdom, and juftice, and politeness, and candour, and evennefs of temper in all fcenes of life; of that great difcernment in difcovering, and readiness in favouring deferving men; with forty other common topicks: I confefs, I have neither confcience, nor countenance to do it. Because there is no virtue, either of a public or private life, which fome circumstances of your own have not often produced upon the ftage of the world; and thofe few, which for want of occafions to exert them, might otherVOL. I. H

wife

wife have paffed unfeen or unobserved by your friends, your enemies have at length brought to light.

*

It is true, I fhould be very loth, the bright example of your lordship's virtues fhould be loft to after-ages, both for their fake and your own; but chiefly, because they will be fo very neceffary to adorn the history of a latet reigns and that is another reason, why I would forbear to make a recital of them here; because I have been told by wifemen, that, as dedications have run for fome years paft, a good hiftorian will not be apt to have recourfe thither in fearch of characters.

There is one point, wherein I think we dedicators would do well to change our measures; I mean, instead of running on fo far upon the praise of our patrons liberality, to spend a word or two in admiring their patience. I can put no greater compliment on your lordfhip's, than by giving you fo ample an occafion to exercise it at present. Though perhaps I fhall not be apt to reckon much merit to your lordship upon that score, who having been formerly used to tedious harangues ‡, and fometimes to as little purpose, will be the readier to pardon this; efpecially, when it is offered by one, who is with all refpect and veneration,

month after they were written; for, the author tells us in his preface to the firft treatise, that he hath calculated it for the year 1697, and in several paffages of that difcourfe, as well as the fecond, it appears, they were written about that time.

As to the author, I can give no manner of fatisfaction; however, I am credibly informed that this publication is without his knowledge; for he concludes the copy is loft, having lent it to a perfon, fince dead, and being never in poffeffion of it after: fo that, whether the work received his last hand, or, whether he intended to fill up the defective place, is like to remain a fecret.

If I fhould go about to tell the reader, by what accident I became mafter of these papers, it would in this unbelieving age pafs for little more than the cant, or jargon of the trade. I therefore gladly fpare both him and myself fo unneceffary a trouble. There yet remains a difficult queftion, why I published them no fooner, I forbore upon twe accounts: first, because I thought I had better work upon my hands; and fecondly, because I was not without fome hope of hearing from the author, and receiving his directions. But, I have been lately alarmed with intelligence of a furreptitious copy t, which a certain great wit had new polifhed and refined, or, as our prefent writers.exprefs themfelves, fitted to the humour of the age; as they have already done with great felicity, to Don Quixote, Boccalini, la Bruyere, and other authors, However, I thought it fairer dealing to offer the whole work in its naturals. If any gentleman will please to furnish me with a key, in order to explain the more difficult parts, I shall very gratefully acknowledge the favour, and print it myself.

The Tale of a Tub was firft published in 1704.

See the Apology.

EPISTLE DEDICATORY,

то

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

PRINCE POSTERITY.

SIR,

HERE prefent your highness with the fruits of a very few leisure hours, ftolen from the short intervals of a world of business, and of an employment quite alien from fuch amusements as this: the poor production of that refufe of time, which has lain heavy upon my hands, during a long prorogation of parliament, a great dearth of foreign news, and a tedious fit of rainy weather: for which, and other reafons, it cannot chufe extreamly to deferve fuch a patronage as that of your highness, whofe numberless virtues, in fo few years, make the world look upon you as the future example to all princes; for although your bighness is hardly got clear of infancy, yet has the univerfal learned world already refolved upon appealing to your future dictates with the lowest and most refigned fubmiffion; fate having decreed you fole arbiter of the productions of human wit in this polite and most accomplished age. Methinks, the number of appellants were enough to fhock and startle any judge of a

The citation out of Irenæus in the title-page, which feems to be all Gibberish, is a form of initiation used antiently by the Marcofian hereticks. W. Wotton.

It is the ufual ftyle of decried writers to appeal to Pofterity, who is here represented as a

prince in his nonage, and Time as his governor; and the author begins in a way very frequent with him, by perfonating other writers, who fometimes offer fuch reasons and excuses for publishing their works, as they ought chiefly to conceal and be athamed of.

H 3

genius