PREFACE.

They that are for lessening the truedignity of mankind, are not sure ofbeing successful, but with regard to oneindividual in it. It is this conduct: thatjustly makes a wit a term of reproach.

Which puts me in mind of Plato’sfable of the birth of Love ; one of theprettiest sables of all antiquity; whichwill hold likewise with regard to modernPoetry. Love, fays he, is the fon of theGoddess Poverty, and the god Riches ;he has from his father , his daring Ge-nius, his Elevation of thought, hisbuilding castles in the Air; his pro-digality; his neglect of things seriousand useful; his vain opinion of his ownmerit, and his affectation of preference,and distinction. From his mother , heinherits his indigence, which makes hima constant beggar of savours; that im-portunity, with which he begs; his

flattery;