APPENDI X.

I.

PREFACE

Prefixed to the five first imperfect Editions of the DUNCIAD, in three Books, printed at DUBLIN and LONDON, in octavo and duodecimo, 1727.

IT

The PUBLISHER a to the READER.

T will be found a true observation, though fomewhat furprizing, that when any scandal is vented against a man of the highest diftinction and character, either in the state or literature, the Public in general afford it a moft quiet reception: and the larger part accept it as favourably as if it were fome kindness done

to

a The Publisher] Who he was is uncertain; but Edward Ward tells us, in his preface to Durgen," that "moft judges are of opinion this preface is not of Eng"lish extraction, but Hibernian," &c. He means it was written by Dr. Swift, who, whether publisher or not, may be faid in a fort to be author of the poem. For when he, together with Mr. Pope (for reasons specified in the preface to their Miscellanies) determined to own

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to themselves: whereas if a known fcoundrel or blockhead but chanced to be touched upon, a whole legion is up in arms, and it becomes the common cause of all fcriblers, bookfellers, and printers whatsoever.

Not

the most trifling pieces in which they had any hand, and to deftroy all that remained in their power; the first fketch of this poem was fnatched from the fire by Dr. Swift, who perfuaded his friend to proceed in it, and to him it was therefore infcribed. But the occafion of printing it was as follows:

There was published in thofe Mifcellanies, a Treatise of the Bathos, or Art of Sinking in Poetry, in which was a chapter, where the fpecies of bad writers were ranged in claffes, and initial letters of names prefixed, for the most part at random. But fuch was the Number of Poets eminent in that art, that fome one or other took every letter to himfelf. All fell into fo violent a fury, that for half a year, or more, the common Newspapers (in most of which they had fome property, as being hired writers) were filled with the most abusive falfehoods and fcurrilities they could poffibly devise; a liberty no ways to be wondered at in those people, and in thofe papers, that, for many years, during the uncontrolled License of the press, had aspersed almost all the great characters of the age; and this with impunity, their own perfons and names being utterly fecret and obfcure. This gave Mr. Pope the thought, that he had now fome opportunity of doing good, by detecting and dragging into light thefe common Enemies of mankind; fince to invalidate this univerfal flander, it fufficed to fhew what contemptible men were the authors of it. He was not without hopes, that by manifefting the dulnefs of those who had only malice to recommend them; either the bookfellers would not find their ac

count

Not to fearch too deeply into the reafon hereof, I will only observe as a fact, that every week for these two months paft, the town has been perfecuted with b pamphlets, advertisements, letters, and weekly effays, not only against the wit and writings, but against the Character and person of Mr. Pope. And that of all those men who have received pleasure from his works, which by modeft computation may be about a hundred thousand in these kingdoms of England and Ire

land

count in employing them, or the men themselves, when difcovered, want courage to proceed in fo unlawful an Occupation. This it was that gave birth to the Dunciad; and he thought it an happiness, that by the late flood of flander on himself, he had acquired fuch a peculiar right over their Names as was neceffary to his defign.

b Pamphlets, advertisements, &c.] See the Lift of those anonymous papers, with their dates and authors annexed, inferted before the Poem.

c about a hundred thousand] It is furprizing with what ftupidity this preface, which is almoft a continued irony, was taken by thofe authors. All fuch paffages as these were understood by Curll, Cook, Cibber, and others, to be ferious. Hear the Laureate (Letter to Mr. Pope, p. 9.] "Though I grant the Dunciad a better 66 poem of its kind than ever was writ; yet, when I "read it with thofe vain-glorious encumbrances of "Notes and Remarks upon it, &c.—it is amazing, that "you, who have writ with fuch masterly spirit upon "the ruling paffion, fhould be fo blind a slave to your "own, as not to fee how far a low avarice of Praise," &c. (taking it for granted that the notes of Scriblerus and others, were the author's own.) T

VOL. III.

land (not to mention Jersey, Guernsey, the Orcades, thofe in the new world, and foreigners who have tranflated him into their languages); of all this number not a man hath ftood up to fay one word in his defence.

The only exception is the author of the following poem, who doubtless had either a better infight into the grounds of this clamour, or a better opinion of Mr. Pope's integrity, joined with a greater perfonal love for him, than any other of his numerous friends and admirers.

Farther, that he was in his peculiar intimacy, appears from the knowledge he manifefts of the most private authors of all the anonymous pieces against him, and from his having in this poem attacked no man living, who had not before printed, or published some fcandal against this gentleman.

How I came poffeft of it, is no concern to the reader: but it would have been a wrong to him had I detained the publication; fince those names which are its chief ornaments die off daily fo faft, as must render it too foon unintelligible. If it provoke the author to give us a more perfect edition, I have my end.

Who

d The author of the following poem, &c.] A very plain irony, fpeaking of Mr. Pope himself.

e The publisher in these words went a little too far; but it is certain, whatever names the reader finds that are unknown to him, are of fuch; and the exception is only of two or three, whofe dulnefs, impudent fcurri

, or felf-conceit, all mankind agreed to have juftly led them to a place in the Dunciad.

Who he is I cannot fay, and (which is a great pity) there is certainly f nothing in his style and manner of writing, which can diftinguifh or difcover him: For if it bears any resemblance to that of Mr. Pope, it is not improbable but it might be done on purpose, with a view to have it pafs for his. But by the frequency of his allufions to Virgil, and a laboured (not to fay affected) fhortnefs in imitation of him, I should think him more an admirer of the Roman poet than of the Grecian, and in that not of the fame tafte with his friend.

I have been well informed, that this work was the labour of full g fix years of his life, and that he wholly retired

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f There is certainly nothing in his ftyle, &c.] This irony had fmall effect in concealing the author. The Dunciad, imperfect as it was, had not been published two days, but the whole Town gave it to Mr. Pope.

g the labour of full fix years, &c.] This alfo was honeftly and feriously believed by divers gentlemen of the Dunciad. J. Ralph, pref. to Sawney. "We are "told it was the labour of fix years, with the utmost "affiduity and application: It is no great compliment "to the author's fenfe, to have employed fo large a part "of his life, &c." So alfo Ward, pref. to Durgen, "The Dunciad, as the publisher very wifely confefles, "coft the author fix years retirement from all the plea"fures of life; though it is fomewhat difficult to con"ceive, from either its bulk or beauty, that it could "be fo long in hatching, &c. But the length of time "and clofenefs of application were mentioned, to prepoffefs the reader with a good opinion of it."

They just as well underfood what Scriblerus faid of the poem.