neglect all Accuracy and Rule. Such vicious methods are fo far from being the humour of the age, that there is as good a goût and manner of writing in this age and nation as in any. Nor do I think I am capable, or that there is any need of correcting the general tafte of the Age, but of those who would cover their private errors, with a false pretence of publick liking. This, together with the affinity of fome rules of Style with others, and the natural freedom of Dialogues, will excufe, I hope, fuch places as may feem to be like repetitions of what was faid before.

To mention under what difadvantage of youth, place, and other ftudies, I writ thefe Reflections at broken intervals; and how I came to publish them now; wou'd, I fear, serve for a very fmall apology: Į fhall therefore forbear to trouble

you

.

you with an excufe from those and other motives, and leave the whole matter to those Readers, who, like fociable friendly guests, can be contented with a frugal entertainment, without any haughty comparisons of me with themselves. For thus

I explain or apply the words of Juvenal &

·Superbum

Convivam caveo qui me fibi comparat,

& res Defpicit exiguas,

BUT to conclude this Preface, which is running too great a length, I will only add, that I am very far from imagining I have either fully complied with the precepts, or avoided the faults I have obferved in others. We often, no less in writing than in morals, fee what ought to

• Sat. 11. ver. 129.

be

be done,, while in thefe we will, not, and in those we cannot perform it ourfelves. And in fine, I have in this kind what Cicero calls fo unfatiable an ear, that it always defires, even where it's pleased the most, something still more perfect.

h

h Non affequimur, at quid deceat videmus: nec enim nunc de nobis, fed de re dicimus: In quo tantùm abeft ut noftra miremur, ut ufque eò difficiles & morofi fimus, ut nobis non fatisfaciat ipfe Demofthenes: qui quanquam unus eminet inter omnes in omni genere dicendi, non tamen femper implet aures meas; ita funt avida & capaces, &femper aliquid immenfum, infinitumque defiderant. In Oratore, paulo ante medium.

RE

CLEANDER. Perhaps then we fhall foon have your name in Print, with an attempt at his excellent Style.

EUDOX. Pardon me, Sir. Had I any thoughts of being an Author, I fhou'd be very far from making him my pattern.

CLEAND. May be you admire him fo much, that you think him beyond imitation: And that, I affure you, is the opinion of moft who read him.

DIAL.

I. EUDOX. At least I must beg leave to deWclare it is not mine. I will own his Style may be much wonder'd at, but I am not fo much for admiring it.

CLEAND. Why, what difference do you make here between wondring and admiring?

EUDOX. I am not for difputing upon words. But, methinks, we wonder at any thing which is ftrange, tho' we properly only admire what has fome extraordinary perfection.

CLEAND. I perceive Callicrates has had the misfortune to fall into your hands at a bad conjuncture, and to find you in a critical, and, I fear, an exceptious humour.

EUDOX. By no means. I fhall not queftion but difference of humour may very much influence the judgment: But, you may believe me, I began to read him with a very favourable prevention. Tho', to be plain, I am never fo prevail'd upon by the reputation of an Author, as not to retain the liberty of my opinion. As I love to fee with my own eyes, fo I am for judging by my own reafon. And what inclines me to a greater freedom in this point, is, that I fuppofe whoever appears in print, to recompenfe