Yea, even direct oppositions in religion, principles, and politics, have equally been supposed in him inherent. Surely a most rare and singular character! Of which let the reader make what he can.

Doubtless most Commentators would hence take occasion to turn all to their Author's advantage, and from the testimony of his very Enemies would affirm, That his Capacity was boundless, as well as his Imagination; that he was a perfect master of all Styles, and all Arguments; and that there was in those times no other Writer, in any kind, of any degree of excellence, save he himself. But as this is not our own sentiment, we shall determine on nothing; but leave thee, gentle reader, to steer thy judgment equally between various opinions, and to chuse whether thou wilt incline to the Testimonies of Authors avowed, or of Authors concealed; of those who knew him, or of those who knew him not.

 

 

Notes

1 Giles Jacob's Lives of Poets, vol. ii. in his Life.

 

2 Dennis's Reflect. on the Essay on Crit.

 

3 Dunciad dissected, p. 4.

 

4 Guardian, N° 40.

 

5 Jacob's Lives etc. vol. ii.

 

6 Dunciad dissected, p. 4.

 

7 Farmer P. and his son.

 

8 Dunc. dissect.

 

9 Characters of the times, p. 45.

 

10 Female Dunc, p. ult.

 

11 Dunc. dissect.

 

12 Roome, Paraphrase on the 4th of Genesis, printed 1729.

 

13 Character of Mr. P. and his Writings, in a Letter to a Friend, printed for S. Popping, 1716. p. 10. Curl, in his Key to the Dunciad (first edit. said to be printed for A. Dodd) in the 10th page, declared Gildon to be author of that libel; though in the subsequent editions of his Key he left out this assertion, and affirmed (in the Curliad, p. 4. and 8.) that it was writ by Dennis only.

 

14 Reflections critical and satyrical on a Rhapsody called An Essay on Criticism. Printed for Bernard Lintot, octavo.

 

15 Essay on Criticism in prose, octavo, 1728. by the author of the Critical History of England.

 

16 Preface to his Poems, p. 18, 53.

 

17 Spectator, N° 253.

 

18 Letter to B.B. at the end of the Remarks on Pope's Homer, 1717.

 

19 Printed 1728, p. 12.

 

20 Alma, Cant.