owned he had let it pass with the hero it had, purely for want of a better, not entertaining the least expectation that such an one was reserved for this post as has since obtained the laurel: but since that had happened, he could no longer deny this justice either to him or the Dunciad.

And yet, I will venture to say, there was another motive which had still more weight with our author: this person was one who, from every folly (not to say vice) of which another would be ashamed, has constantly derived a vanity; and therefore was the man in the world who would least be hurt by it. W. W.

ADVERTISEMENT

PRINTED IN THE JOURNALS, 1730.

WHEREAS, upon occasion of certain pieces relating to the gentlemen of the Dunciad, some have been willing to suggest as if they had looked upon them as an abuse: we can do no less than own it is our opinion that to call these gentlemen bad authors is no sort of abuse, but a great truth. We cannot alter this opinion without some reason; but we promise 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 such from any three of his companions in the Dunciad, or from Mr. Dennis singly, who is esteemed equal to any three of the

number.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

owned he had let it pass with the hers it had,
purely for want of a better, not entertaining the
least expectation that such an one was reserved
for this post as has since obtained the laurel: hot
since that had happened, he could no longer deny
this justice either to him or the Dunciad

And yet, I will venture to say, there was a
other motive which had still more weight with our
author: this person was one who, from over
folly (not to say vice) of which another would
ashamed, has constantly derived a vanity
therefore was the man in the world who
least be hurt by it.

is

etly

ory ry*.

1ore

have

ism.

hich

still

поге

rus,

Dr.

re

the

es of

ops,

&c.

t be

con

gion aly with his Such were all

crificed to his

June 22, 1728.

es, Letters, Adver3, and the preface

166

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 sense1. A true republican son of monarchical church. A republican atheist3. Dryden was from the beginning an αλλοπρόσαλλος, and I doubt not will continue so to the last 4.

In the poem called Absalom and Achitophel, are notoriously traduced the king, the queen, the lords and gentlemen; not only their honourable persons exposed, but the whole nation and its representatives notoriously libeled. It is scandalum magnatum, yea, of majesty itself".

He looks upon God's gospel as a foolish fable, like the pope, to whom he is a pitiful purveyor. His very Christianity may be questioned". He ought to expect more severity than other men, as he is most unmerciful in his reflections on others 8. With as good a right as his holiness, he sets up for poetical infallibility 9.

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

3 Ib. p. 192.

4 Ib. p. 8.

2 Ib. p. 38. 5 Whip and Key, 4to. printed for R. Janeway, 1682. pref. 6 Ibid. 7 Milbourn, p. 9. • Ib. p. 175. 9

Ib.

P. 39.

PARALLEL OF THE CHARACTERS

OF

MR. POPE AND MR. DRYDEN,

AS DRAWN BY CERTAIN OF THEIR CONTEMPORARIES.

MR. POPE,

HIS POLITICS, religion, morals.

MR. POPE is an open and mortal enemy to his country, and the commonwealth of learning'. Some call him a Popish Whig, which is directly inconsistent. Pope, as a Papist, must be a Tory and High-flyer3. He is both a Whig and Tory. He hath made it his custom to cackle to more than one party in their own sentiments 5.

In his Miscellanies, the persons abused are the king, the queen, his late majesty, both houses of parliament, the privy council, the bench of bishops, the established church, the present ministry, &c. To make sense of some passages, they must be construed into royal scandal'.

He is a Popish rhymester, bred up with a contempt of the Sacred Writings. His religion allows him to destroy heretics, not only with his pen, but with fire and sword; and such were all those unhappy wits whom he sacrificed to his

Dennis, Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, pref. p. 12. 2 Dunciad Dissected. 3 Pref. to Gulliveriana.

Dennis, Character of Mr. P.

5 Theobald's Letter in Mist's Journal, June 22, 1728. 6 List at the end of a Collection of Verses, Letters, Advertisements, 8vo. printed for A. Moore, 1728, and the preface to it, p. 6.

7 Dennis's Remarks on Homer, p. 27.