I.

PREFACE

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

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The PUBLISHER to the READER.

T will be found a true obfervation, though fomewhat furprizing, that when any scandal is vented against a man of the highest distinction and character, either in the state or literature, the public in general afford

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The Publisher] Who he was is uncertain; but Edward Ward tells us, in his Preface to Durgen, "that most judges are of opinion this Preface is not of English extraction, but Hibernian," &c. He means it was written by Dr. Swift, who, whether the publisher or not, may be faid in a fort to be author of the Poem. For when he, together with Mr. Pope (for reafons specified in the Preface to their Mifcellanics) determined to own the most trifling pieces in which they had any hand, and to deftroy all that remained in their power; the firft 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 Treatife of the Bathos, or Art of Sinking in Poetry, in which was a chapter, where the species of bad writers were ranged in claffes, and initial letters of names prefixed, for the most part at Random. But Certainly not at Random.

afford it a moft quiet reception; and the large part accept it as favourably as if it were fome kindness done to themselves: whereas, if a known fcoundrel or blockhead but chance to be touched upon, a whole legion is up in arms, and it becomes the common cause of all fcribblers, bookfellers, and printers whatsoever.

Not to fearch too deeply into the reason hereof, I will only obferve as a fact, that every week for these two months past, the town has been perfecuted with 'pamphlets, advertisements, letters, and weekly

effays,

fuch was the Number of poets eminent in that art, that some 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 moft of which they had fome property, as being hired writers) were filled with the most abufive falfehoods and fcurrilities they could poffibly devife; a liberty no ways to be wondered at in those people, and in those papers, that, for many years, during the uncontrouled Licence of the prefs, had afperfed 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 these 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 account in employing them, or the men themselves, when discovered, want courage to proceed in so unlawful an occupation. This it was that gave birth to the Dunciad; and he thought it an happiness, that by the late flood of slander on himself, he had acquired fuch a peculiar right over their Names as was neceffary to his defign. WARBURTON.

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

effays, not only against the wit and writings, but against the character and perfon of Mr. Pope. And that of all thofe men who have received pleasure from his works, (which by modeft computation may be about a hundred thousand in these kingdoms of England and Ireland; not to mention Jersey, Guernfey, 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.

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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 personal 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

About a hundred thoufand] It is furprizing with what ftupidity this Preface, which is almoft a continued irony, was taken by those authors. All fuch paffages as thefe were understood by Curl, Cook, Cibber, and others, to be ferious. Here the Laureate (Letter to Mr. Pope, p. 9.), "Though I grant the Dunciad a better 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 flave to your own, as not to fee how far a low avarice of Praife," &c. (taking it for granted that the notes of Scriblerus and others were the Author's own.) WARBURTON.

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The Author of the following Poem, &c.] A very plain irony, fpeaking of Mr. Pope himself.

WARBURTON.

private authors of alf the anonymous pieces against him, and from his having in this Poem attacked no man living, who had not before printed, or published, some scandal 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 1 detained the publication, fince those names which are its chief ornaments die off daily fo fast, as must render it too foon unintelligible. If it provoke the Author to give us a more perfect edition, I have my

end.

Who he is I cannot fay, and (which is a great pity) there is certainly nothing in his ftyle and manner of writing, which can distinguish or discover him: For if it bears any refemblance to that of Mr. Pope, 'tis 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 say affected) shortness in imitation of him, I fhould think him more an admirer of the Roman poet than of the Grecian, and in that not of the fame taste with his friend.

I have

The publisher in thefe 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 fcurrilities, or felf-conceit, all mankind agreed to have justly entitled them to a place in the Dunciad. WARBURTON.

There is certainly nothing in his flyle, &c.] This irony had finall 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. WARBURTON.