upon them; and they were, though innocently, putting-off upon the public, for good wate? In this cafe, therefore, Mr. Warburton ought to make them amends; though I doubt he will plead caveat emptor, and the complement in his preface, against refunding.. I thought it proper to haften this new edition, which Mr. Warburton's ungentleman-like attack made neceffary for my defense, as much as poffible; and am proud to acknowlege, that I have received confiderable affiftance in it from a gentleman; who in a very friendly manner refented the ill ufage I have met with, as much as if it had been done to himself. I have added a few new Canons ; and given a great many more examples to the others: though, because I would neither tire my reader and myself, nor too much incroach upon Mr. Tonfon's property; I have left abundant gleanings for any body, who will give himself the trouble of gathering them. This, I hope, will answer one objection I have heard; that I had felected the only exceptionable paffages, a few faults out of great numbers of beauties, of which the eight volumes are full. This will never be faid by any perfon, who has read the eight volumes; and they, who do not care to give themselves that trouble; ought not to pafs too hafty a judgment: whether it be true or no, will appear to those who fhall perufe thefe fheets. That there are good notes in his edition of Shakefpear, Inever did deny; but as he has had the plundering of two dead 3. dead men, it will be difficult to know which are his own; fome of them, I fuppose, may be; and hard indeed would be his luck, if among fo many bold throws, he should have never a winping caft; but I do infift, that there are great numbers of fuch fhameful blunders, as difparage the reft; if they do not difcredit his title to them, and make them look rather like lucky hits, than the refult of judgment. Thus I have, for the fake of the public, at my own very great hafard, though not of life and limb, yet of reputation, ventured to attack this giant critic; who feemed to me like his brother Orgoglio, of whom Spenfer says, Book I. Canto 7. St. 9. The greatest Earth his uncouth Mother was, And fhe, after a hard labour, Brought forth this monftrous Maffe of earthly Puff'd up with empty wind, and fill'd with I have endeavoured to take him in hand, as prince Arthur did Orgoglio; and the public must judge, whether the event has been like what happened to his brother on the fame experiment: But foon as breath out of his breast did paffe, The The world will not long be impofed-on by ungrounded pretenfes to learning, or any other qualification; nor does the knowledge of words alone, if it be really attained, make a man learned: every true judge will subscribe to Scaliger's opinion; "If, fays he, a perfon's learn"ing is to be judged-of by his reading, no-body " can deny Eufebius the character of a learned "man; but if he is to be esteemed learned, "who has fhewn judgment together with his "reading, Eufebius is not fuch." I fhall conclude, in the words of a celebrated author on a like occafion; *" It was "not the purpose of thefe remarks, to caft a ble"mish on his envied fame; but to do a piece of r justice to the real merit both of the work, and "its author; by that beft and gentlest method " of correction, which nature has ordained in "fuch a cafe; of laughing him down to his proper rank and character." * Remarks on the Fefust Cabal, p. 57. 58. B SON SONNET. ONGUE-doughty Pedant; whofe ambitious TION mind Prompts thee beyond thy native pitch to foar; And, imp'd with borrow'd plumes of Index-lore, Range through the Vaft of Science unconfin'd! Not for Thy wing was fuch a flight defign'd: Much haft thou written-more than will be read; Know, who would comment well his godlike page, Critic, must have a Heart as well as Head. CANONS CANONS O F CRITICISM. A I. Profeffed Critic has a right to declare, tha this Author wrote whatever He thinks be ought to have written; with as much pofitivenefs, as if He had been at his Elbow. II. He has a right to alter any passage, which He does not understand. III. Thefe alterations He may make, in spite of the exactness of measure. IV. Where be does not like an expreffion, and yet cannot mend it; He may abuse bis Author for it. V. Or He may condemn it, as a foolish interpolation. VI. As every Author is to be corrected into all poffible perfection, and of that perfection the Profeffed Critic is the fole judge; He may alter any word or phrafe, which does not want amend B 2 ment, |