MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS

HIS

Prolegomena and Illustrations

TO THE

DUNCIA D:

WITH THE

Hyper-critics of ARISTARCHUS.

DENNIS, Remarks on Pr. ARTHUR.

I

Cannot but think it the most reasonable thing in

the world, to distinguish good writers, by dif couraging the bad. Nor is it an ill-natured thing, in relation even to the very persons upon whom the reflections are made. It is true, it may deprive them, a little the fooner, of a short profit and a tranfitory reputation; but then it may have a good effect, and oblige them (before it be too late) to decline that for which they are fo very unfit, and to have recourse to fomething in which they may be more fuccessful.

CHARACTER of Mr. P. 1716.

THE Perfons whom Boileau has attacked in his writings, have been for the most part Authors, and moft of those Authors, Poets: And the cenfures he hath paffed upon them have been confirmed by all Europe.

GILDON, Pref. to his NEW REHEARSAL.

IT is the common cry of the Poetafters of the town, and their fautors, that it is an ill-natured thing to expofe the Pretenders to wit and poetry. VOL. V.

C

The Judges and Magiftrates may with full as good reafon be reproached with H-nature for putting the Laws in execution against a Thief or Impoftor.The fame will hold in the republic of Letters, if the Critics and Judges will let every ignorant pretender to fcribling pafs on the World.

THEOBALD, Letter to Mift, June 22, 1728.

ATTACKS may be levelled, either against Failures in Genius, or against the Pretenfions of writing without one.

CONCANE N, Ded. to the Author of the DUNCIAD.

A Satire upon Dulnefs is a thing that has been afed and allowed in All Ages.

Out of thine own Mouth will I judge thee, wicked Scribler

TESTIMONIES

O F

AUTHORS

CONCERNING

our POET and his WORK s.

B

M. SCRIBLERUS Lectori S.

EFORE we present thee with our exercitations on this most delectable Poem (drawn from the many volumes of our Adverfaria on modern Authors) we shall here, according to the laudable ufage of editors, collect the various judgments of the Learned concerning our Poet: Various indeed, not only of different authors, but of the fame author at different feafons. Nor fhall we gather only the Teftimonies of fuch eminent Wits, as would of course defcend to pofterity, and confequently be read without our collection; but we fhall likewife with incredible labour feek out for divers others, which, but