1 I AM endeavouring ́on all occafions that happen in converfation, to deprefs that foofifh pride of human nature, which makes us fo apt to over-value our felves, as well as to défpife all other creatures: And I grow from every difpute more confirm'd in my own opinion, by the ignorance and conceitedness I meet with in those who contradict it. If we could imagine a pack of hounds extremely defpifing the huntfmen, and firmly believing all that noise and clutter was only intended by providence to make sport for a few dogs; the men (I fuppofe) would think them as ridiculous animals, as I do now the huntsmen for the fame reason. Therefore, in my opinion, none of their old definitions of a rational animal, or a laughing animal, expreffes the peculiar nature of man half so rightly, as that of a vain animal. For though most most despicable creatures our felves, yet we go stalking up and down defpifing all the creation befides, and fancy it was made only for our fakes: which is a fottifh fort of arrogance, that no other creature in the world befides appears to be guilty of. YET while I thus blame others, it occurs to my memory what PLATO fo wittily reply'd to DIOGENES, trampling with his dirty feet on one of his embroider'd couches, and crying out, Thus I trample on the pride of PLATO; who only fhook his head, faying, But with more pride thou doft it, good DIOGENES. For I am more jealous of it in my self than in any body else, knowing how little excuse I have for it. ON ON CRITICISM. T HERE have been always Criticks; and fome few good, among a great many bad ones; but I believe there was never fuch an age and nation for that humour as ours is at prefent. In fo great a town as London, there is always a little of the Plague in fome odd corner or other; but fometimes 'tis epidemical, and fweeps all away. Juft fo 'tis now with Criticism, which without the leaft diftinction spares nobody. That I mean, which is vented in eatinghoufes, coffee-houses, and play-houses; and is nothing in the world but a mixture of ill-nature and ignorance. But, the worst is, these bleak winds are ever blasting all our hopeful bloffoms; for they hinder the modeftest and best wits from writing; but, like winds too, they can hardly hurt what is well ripened, and come forth: For 'tis almost infallible 3 fallible that a real good thing will bear out it self, and in a little time get the better of all oppofition. Time therefore, in all-matters of writing, is the only true touchstone of merit; which at length will prevail over all the folly and faction imaginable. As in old Rome, what made fuch excellent orators above any fince, but the univer fal endeavour of all mankind then to be cloquent? So here, among fo many Criticks, 'tis impoffible but fome few must be fitted by nature for fuch an exact judgment of things; and it being fo much the fashion, they cannot fail by art and practice to improve their talent. A THE bufinefs of a Critick is mightily mistaken among us; for our Town-sparks think it confifts in nothing but finding fault, which is but the least half of their work. Every man who drinks his pot, can judge a paultry picture in an alehouse to be worth nothing; but how few can difcern the besttouches, and judge of a good collection! 'Tis furely not undecent to mention one's self, when 'tis rather with cenfure than approbation. When I came first abroad into the world, being extremely young, I thought, it a fine thing to laugh at every body, to. fhew my wit; and fancied my self the bettery as I represented others to be worfe: but now I despise that affectation, which is as ridiculous, as if a Lady would sweep out the naftiness of a room, to fhew her own neatness. Let the half-wits do it, 'tis their drudgery. I confess I am ftill very difficult in matters of writing, and feldom find any thing worth commending, because of those great Idea's I have of the Antients: which make me yet more unsatisfied with my self than with any body elfe. But when I meet with any thing that deserves it, I approve it gladly, both for the juftice of the thing, and because I give fome proof of my own candour and ⚫eafiness of humour, which (without partiality) hath nothing of the envy fo common nowa-days even among our beft wits. Yet perhaps this may proceed from a fort of vanity, of which I am as apt to fufpect my self guilty, as any body; knowing so well that all fort of writers, especially Poets, are too much inclined to it. AN ill Critick is, I think, of all forts of writers the most contemptible; a very fop of a Wit. Yet fuch as Wo--Y, &c. are even below that. They are no better than little dogs that bark at a traveller; if he be fuch : |