next edition more complete: In which we also promife to infert any Criticisms that fhall be published (if at all to the purpose) with the Names of the Authors; or any letters fent us (though not to the purpose) fhall yet be printed under the title of Epiftola Obfcurorum Virorum; which, together with fome others of the fame kind formerly laid by for that end, may make no unpleasant addition to the future impreffions of this poem.

I

V.

ADVERTISEMENT

To the complete EDITION of 1743.

HAVE long had a defign of giving fome fort of Notes on the works of this poet. Before I had the happiness of his acquaintance, I had written a commentary on his Effay on Man, and have fince finished another on the Essay on Criticism. There was one already on the Dunciad, which had met with general approbation but I ftill thought fome additions were wanting (of a more ferious kind) to the humorous notes of Scriblerus, and even to thofe written by Mr. Cleland, Dr. Arbuthnot, and others. I had lately the pleasure to pafs fome months with the author in the country, where I prevailed upon him to do what I had long defired, and favour me with his explanation of several paffages in his works. It happened, that just at that juncture was published a ridiculous book against him, full of personal Reflections, which furnished him

with a lucky opportunity of improving This Poem, by giving it the only thing it wanted, a more confiderable Hero. He was always fenfible of its defect in that particular, and owned he had let it pafs with the Hero it had, purely for want of a better, not entertaining the least expectation that such an one was reserved for this Poft, as has fince obtained the Laurel: But fince that had happened, he could no longer deny this justice either to him or the Dunciad.

And yet I will venture to fay, there was another motive which had ftill more weight with our Author: This person was one, who from every Folly (not to fay Vice) of which another would be ashamed, has conftantly derived a Vanity; and therefore was the man in the world who would least be hurt by it.

W. W.

VI.

ADVERTISEMENT

Printed in the JOURNALS, 1730.

J

W HEREAS, upon occafion of certain Pieces relating to the Gentlemen of the Dunciad, fome have been willing to fuggeft, as if they looked upon them as an abuse: we can do no less than own, it is our opinion, that to call thefe gentlemen bad authors is no fort of abuse, but a great truth. We cannot alter this

opinion without fome reafon; but we promife to do it in respect to every person who thinks it an injury to be represented as no Wit, or Poet, provided he procures a Certificate of his being really fuch, from any three of his companions in the Dunciad, or from Mr. Dennis fingly, who is esteemed equal to any three of the number.

VII.

A

PARALLEL

OF THE

CHARACTERS

OF

Mr. DRYDEN and Mr. POPE,

As drawn by certain of their Contemporaries.

Mr. DRYDEN,

His POLITICS, RELIGION, MORALS.

MR. Dryden is a mere renegado from monarchy, poetry, and good fenfea. A true republican fon of monarchical Church. A republican Atheift. Dryden was from the beginning an αλλοπρόσαλλος, and I doubt not will continue fo to the laft".

In the Poem called Abfalom and Achitophel are notoriously traduced, The KING, the QUEEN, the LORDS and GENTLEMEN, not only their honourable persons expofed, but the whole NATION and its REPRESENTA

a Milbourn on Dryden's Virgil, 8vo, 1698, p. 6.

Pag. 38.

c Pag. 192.

d Pag. 8.

VII.

A

PARALLEL

OF THE

CHARACTERS

OF

Mr. POPE and Mr. DRYDEN,

MR

As drawn by certain of their Contemporaries.

Mr. POPE,

His POLITICS, RELIGION, MORALS.

1

R. Pope is an open and mortal enemy to his country and the commonwealth of learning3. Some call him a popish whig, which is directly incon fiftent. Pope, as a Papist, must be a tory and high flyer. He is both whig and tory d.

He hath made it his cuftom to cackle to more than one party in their own fentiments *.

In his Mifcellanies, the Perfons abused are, The KING, the QUEEN, His late MAJESTY, both Houses

a Dennis, Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, Pref. p. xii,

b Dunciad diffected. c Pref. to Gulliveriana.

d Dennis, Character of Mr. P.

• Theobald, Letter in Mift's Journal, June 22, 1728.