"two attempts which have been fince made

by Mr. Theobald, and Sir Thomas Hanmer, " in oppofition to it; who left their author "in ten times a worse condition than they "found him." And this will plainly appear to any one, who compares Mr. Pope's first edition with Mr. Theobald's; before the bookfellers had an opportunity of tranfplanting the blunders of the latter into the text of the former: as indeed no fmall number of readings, from both those condemned editions, have unluckily crept into Mr. Warburton's also.

d

Mr. Pope ambitiously wifhed, that his edition should be melted-down into Mr. Warburton's; as it would afford him a fit opportunity of confeffing his mistakes: but this Mr. Warburton with prudence refufed; it was not fit, that the poet's and the critic's performances fhould be confounded; and though they are, as we may fay, rivetted together; particular care is taken, that they should never run the one into the other: they are kept entirely distinct, and poor Mr. Pope is left

e

difappointed, unanneal'd, With all his imperfections on his head.

To conclude. Nothing feems wanting to this most perfect edition of Shakespear, but the CANONS OF RULES for Criticism, and the GLOS

Mr. W.'s Pref. p. 19. • That is the reading of the old

Editions.

SARY;

SARY; which Mr. Warburton * left to be collected out of his Notes: both which I have endeavoured in some measure to supply; and have given examples, to confirm and illuftrate each Rule. And I hope, when Mr. Warburton's edition is thus completed, by the addition of what his want of leifure only hindered him from giving the public; it will fully answer the ends he propofed in it: which are, " 'First, "to give the unlearned reader a just idea, and "confequently a better opinion, of the art of

criticiẩm; now funk very low in the popular "esteem, by the attempts of fome; who would "needs exercife it without either natural or ac

quired talents: and by the ill fuccefs of others; "who seem to have loft both, when they come "to try them upon English authors. And fecondly, to deter the unlearned writer from wantonly trifling with an art he is a ftranger to; at the expence of his own reputation, "and the integrity of the text of established "authors:" which, if this example will not do, I know not what will.

46

Pref. p. 14, 15. "I once defigned to have given the rea "der a body of Canons for literal Criticism, drawn out in form: but thefe ufes may be well fupplied by what is occafionally faid upon the fubject in the courfe of the following remarks." See alfo p. 16. lin. 25. as to the Gloffary.

N. B. A writer may properly be called unlearned; who, notwithstanding all his other knowledge, does not understand the fubject which he writes upon.

Mr. W.'s Pref. p. 14, 15.

CANONS

1

THE

CANONS or RULES

FOR

CRITICISM.

Extracted out of

Mr. Warburton's Notes on Shakespear.

A

CANON I.

Profeffed Critic has a right to declare, that bis Author wrote whatever he thinks be should have written; with as much pofitiveness, as if he had been at his Elbow.

EXAMPLE I. Vol. 4. P. 330..

"Never went with his forces into France."

"Shakespear wrote the line thus;

"Ne'er went with his full forces into France."

EXAMP. II. Ib. ". Shakespear wrote, "as rich "with prize."

C

EXAMP.

EXAMP. III. Vol. 8. P. 163.

26 wrote, "fee too."

"Shakespear

EXAMP. IV.- -P. 339. "Shakespear wrote

"make more virtuous," &c.

EXAMP. V. Vol. 4. P. 333.

"So many thoufand actions once a foot" "Shakespear must have wrote," Anglicè written;

t once a foot," i. e. at once." WARB.

Yet I doubt, Mr. Warburton cannot fhew an inftance, where at has suffered this apostrophe; before his Edition in 1747..

EXAMP. VI. Vol. 2. P. 444. We must read, as Shakespear without question wrote;

"And thyfelf, fellow Curtis."

WARB.

EXAMP. VII. Vol. 5. P. 8. 2 HENRY VI.
Certainly Shakefpear wrote, Eaft.

EXAMP. VIII. Vol. 2. P. 250. LOVE'S LABOR'S

LOST.

"It infinuateth me of infamy."

Mr.Theobald had corrected this to infanie: (from infania) Mr. Warburton's note is, "There is no "need to make the Pedant worse than Shakespear "made him; who without doubt wrote infanity." WARB.

But why, without doubt? Shakespear understood the Characters he drew; and why might not this Pedant, as well as others, choose to coin a new word; when there was an old one as good? In fhort, why