parish, who Englished it thus, Let it be given to the worthieft. And his comment was, that the author meant his works fhould be dedicated to the fublimest genius of the age, for wit, learning, judgment, eloquence, and wisdom. I called at a poet's chamber, (who works for my fhop) in an alley hard by, fhewed him the tranflation, and desired his opinion, who it was that the author could mean. He told me, after fome confideration, that vanity was a thing he abhorred; but, by the defcription, he thought himself to be the perfon aimed at; and, at the fame time, he very kindly offered his own affillance gratis towards penning a dedication to himself. I defired him, however, to give a fecond guefs. Why then, faid he, it must be I, or my Lord Sommers. From thence I went to feveral other wits of my acquaintance, with no fmall hazard and weariness to my perfon, from a prodigious number of dark, winding ftairs; but found them all in the fame ftory, both of your Lordship and themselves. Now, your Lordship is to understand, that this proceeding was not of my own invention; for I have fome where heard, it is a maxim, That thofe to whom every body allows the fecond place, have an undoubted title to the firft.

This infallibly convinced me, that your Lordship was the perfon intended by the author. But, being very unacquainted in the ftyle and form of dedications, I employed thofe wits aforefaid, to furnish me with hints and materials towards a panegyric upon your Lordship's

virtues.

In two days they brought me ten sheets of paper, filled up on every fide. They wore to me, that they had ranfacked whatever could be found in the characters of Socrates, Ariftides, Epaminondas, Cato, Tully, Atticus, and other hard names, which I cannot now recollect. However, I have reason to believe, they imposed upon my ignorance; because, when I came to read over their collections, there was not a fyllable there, but what I and every body elfe knew as well as themselves. Therefore I grievously fufpect a cheat; and that these authors of mine ftole and transcribed every word from the univerfal report of mankind. So that I look upon myself, as fifty fhillings out of pocket to no manner of purpofe.

B. 2

If,

If, by altering the title, I could make the fame materials ferve for another dedication, (as my betters have done), it would help to make up my lofs; but I have made feveral perfons dip here and there in thofe papers; and before they read three lines, they have all affured me plainly, that they cannot poffibly be applied to any perfon befides your Lordship.

I expected, indeed, to have heard of your Lordship's bravery at the head of an army; of your undaunted courage, in mounting a breach, or fcaling a wall; or to have had your pedigree traced in a lineal defcent from the house of Auftria; or of your wonderful talent at drefs and dancing; or your profound knowledge in algebra, metaphyfics, and the oriental tongues. But to ply the world with an old beaten story of your wit, and elc quence, and learning, and wisdom, and juftice, and politenefs, and candor, and evennefs of temper in all scenes of life; of that great difcernment in difcovering, and readinefs in favouring deferving men; with forty other common topics; I confefs, I have neither confcience, nor countenance to do it because there is no virtue, either of a public or private life, which fome circumstan ces of your own have not often produced upon the flage of the world; and thofe few, which, for want of occafions to exert them, might otherwife have paffed unfeen or unobferved by your friends, your enemies * have at length brought to light.

It is true, I fhould be very loth, the bright example of your Lordship's virtues fhould be loft to after ages, both for their fake and your own; but chiefly, because they will be so very neceffary to adorn the history of a Late reign and that is another reason why I would forbear to make a recital of them here; because I have been told by wife men, that, as dedications have run

In 1701, Lord Sommers was impeached by the Commons, who either finding their proofs defective, or for other reasons, delayed coming to a trial; and the Lords thereupon proceeded to the trial. without them, and acquitted him. Hawkef.

+ K. William's; whofe memory he defended in the house of Lords, against fome invidious reflections of the Earl of Notting ham. Hawkes.

for

for fome years past, a good hiftorian will not be apt to have recourse thither, in search of characters.

There is one point, wherein I think we dedicators would do well to change our measures ; I mean, instead of running on fo far upon the praife of our patrons liberality, to spend a word or two in admiring their patience. I can put no greater compliment on your Lordship's, than by giving you fo ample an occafion to exercise it at prefent. Though perhaps I fhall not be apt to reckon much merit to your Lordship upon that fcore, who having been formerly used to tedious harangues and fometimes to as little purpose, will be the readier to pardon this; especially when it is offered by one, who is, with all refpect and veneration,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's most obedient,

and most faithful servant,

The Bookfeller.

* Sir John Sommers was Attorney-General; then made Lord Keeper of the Seals in 1692, and Lord High Chancellor and i Baron of Evesham, in April 1697. Hawkef.

20

The BOOKSELLER to the READER.

T is now fix years* fince these papers came first to

Imy hand, which feems to have been about a twelve

month after they were written: for the author tells us in his preface to the first treatise, that he hath calculated it for the year 1697 and in several paffages of that difcourfe, as well as the fecond, it appears they were written about that time.

As to the author, I can give no manner of fatisfaction. However, I am credibly informed, that this publication is without his knowledge; for he concludes the copy is loft, having lent it to a perfon, fince dead, and being never in poffeffion of it after: fo that whether the work received his last hand, or whether he intended to fill up the defective places, is like to remain a fecret.

If I fhould go about to tell the reader, by what accident I became master of thefe papers, it would, in this unbelieving age, pafs for little more than the cant or jargon of the trade. I therefore gladly spare both him and myfelf fo unneceffary a trouble. There yet remains a difficult queftion, Why I published them no fooner? I forbore upon two accounts: first, because I thought I had better work upon my hands; and fecondly, because I was not without fome hope of hearing from the author, and receiving his directions. But I have been lately alarmed with intelligence of a furreptitious copy †, which a certain great wit had new polished and refined; or, as our present writers exprefs themselves, fitted to the humour of the age; as they have already done, with great felicity, to Don Quixote, Boccalini, La Bruyere, and other authors. However, I thought it fairer dealing to offer the whole work in its naturals. If any gentleman will please to furnifh me with a key, in order to explain the more difficult parts, I fhall very gratefully acknow ledge the favour, and print it by itfelf.

* The Tale of a Tub was first published in 1704. Hawkes. ↑ See the Apology, p. 11.

The

The EPISTLE DEDICATORY,

To His Royal Highness

PRINCE

I

SIR,

POSTERITY.

Here prefent your Highness with the fruits of a very few leifure-hours, ftolen from the fhort intervals of a world of business, and of an employment quite alien from fuch amufements as this, the poor production of that refuse of time which has lain heavy upon my hands, during a long prorogation of parliament, a great dearth of foreign news, and a tedious fit of rainy weather. For which, and other reasons, it cannot chufe extremely to deferve fuch a patronage as that of your Highnefs, whofe numberlefs virtues, in fo few years, make the world look upon you as the future example to all princes. For although your Highness is hardly got clear of infancy, yet has the univerfal learned world already refolved upon appealing to your future dictates with the lowest and most refigned fubmiffion; fate having decreed you fole arbiter of the productions of human wit, in this polite and most accomplished age. Methinks, the number of appellants were enough to shock and startle any judge of a genius lefs unlimited than yours. But, in order to prevent fuch glorious trials, the perfon, it seems, to whofe care the education of your Highness is committed, has refolved (as I am told) to keep you in almost an univerfal ignorance of our ftudies, which it is your inherent birthright to inspect.

The citation out of Irenæus in the title page, which feems to be all gibberish, is a form of initiation, ufed anciently by the 'Marcofian heretics. W. Wotton.

It is the usual style of decried writers, to appeal to Pofterity; who is here reprefented as a prince in his nonage, and Time as his governor; and the author begins in a way very frequent with him, by perfonating other writers, who fometimes offer fuch reafons and excufes for publishing their works, as they aught chiefly to conceal, and be afhamed of,

It