It might be imagined that fuch an employment was in itself fufficiently irkfome and hazardous; that none would be found fo malevolent as wantonly to add weight to the ftone of Sifyphus; and that few endeavours would be used to obftruct thofe advances to reputation, which must be made at fuch an expence of time and thought, with fo great hazard in the miscarriage, and with fo little advantage from the fuccefs.

Yet there is a certain race of men, that either imagine it their duty, or make it their amufement, to hinder the reception of every work of learning or, genius, who stand as centinels in the avenues of fame, and value themselves upor giving IGNORANCE and ENVY the first hotice of a prey.

To these men, who distinguish themselves by the appellation of CRITICKS, it is neceffary for a new author to find fome means of recommendation. It is probable, that the most malignant of these perfecutors might be fomewhat foftened, and prevailed on, for a short time, to remit their fury. Having for this purpofe confidered many expedients, I find in the records of ancient times, that ARGUS was lulled by mufick, and CERBERUS quieted with a fop; and am, therefore, inclined to believe that modern criticks, who, if they have not the eyes, have the watchfulness of ARGUS, and can bark as loud as CERBERUS, though, perhaps, they cannot bite with equal force, might be fub. dued by methods of the fame kind. I have heard how fome have been pacified with claret and a fupper, and others laid afleep with the foft notes of flattery.

Though

Though the nature of my undertaking gives me fufficient reafon to dread the united attacks of this virulent generation, yet, I have not hitherto perfuaded myself to take any measures for flight or treaty. For I am in doubt whether they can act against me by lawful anthority, and fufpect that they have prefumed upon a forged commiffion, ftiled themfelves the minifters of CRITICISM, without any authentick eviden.e of delegation, and uttered their own determinations as the decrees of a higher judicature.

CRITICISM, from whom they derive their claim to decide the fate of writers, was the eldest daughter of LABOUR and of TRUTH: fhe was, at her birth, committed to the care of JUSTICE, and brought up by her in the palace of WISDOM. Being foon diftingufhed by the celeftials, for her uncommon qualities, fhe was appointed the governefs of FANCY, and empowered to beat time to the chorus of the MUSES, when they fung before the throne of JUPITER.

When the MUSES Condefcended to vifit this lower world, they came accompanied by CRITICISM, to whom, upon her defcent from her native regions, JUSTICE gave a fceptre, to be carried aloft in her right hand, one end of which was tinctured with ambrofia, and inwreathed with a golden foliage of amaranths and bays; the other end was incircled with cyprefs and poppies, and dipped in the waters of oblivion. In her left hand, fhe bore an unextinguishable torch, manufactured by LABOUR, and lighted by TRUTH, of which it was the particular quality immediately to fhew every thing in its true form, however it might be dif guised to common eyes. Whatever ART could complicate

plicate, or FOLLY could confound, was, upon the first gleam of the Torch of TRUTH, exhibited in its diftinct parts and original fimplicity; it darted through the labyrinths of fophiftry, and fhewed at once all the abfurdities to which they ferved for refuge; it pierced through the robes which rhetorick often fold to falsehood, and detected the difproportion of parts which artificial veils had been contrived to cover.

Thus furnished for the execution of her office, CRITICISM came down to furvey the performances of those who profeffed themselves the votaries of the MUSES. Whatever was brought before her, fhe beheld by the steady light of the Torch of TRUTH, and when her examination had convinced her, that the laws of just writing had been obferved, fhe touched it with the amaranthine end of the fceptre, and configned it over to immortality.

But it more frequently happened, that in the works which required her infpection, there was fome impotture attempted; that falfe colours were laboriously laid, that fome fecret inequality was found between the words and fentiments, or fome diffimilitude of the ideas and the original objects; that incongruities were linked together, or that fome parts were of no ufe but to enlarge the appearance of the whole, without contributing to its beauty, folidity, or usefulness.

Wherever fuch difcoveries were made, and they were made whenever these faults were committed, CRITICISM refufed the touch which conferred the fanction of immortality, and, when the errours were frequent and grofs, reverfed the fceptre, and let drops of lethe diftil from the poppies and cyprefs a fatal VOL. IV. mildew,

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mildew, which immediately began to waste the work away, till it was at last totally deftroyed.

There were fome compofitions brought to the test, in which, when the ftrongest light was thrown upon them, their beauties and faults appeared fo equally mingled, that CRITICISM ftood with her fceptre poised in her hand, in doubt whether to fhed lethe, or ambrofia, upon them. These at last increased to fo great a number, that she was weary of attending fuch doubtful claims, and, for fear of ufing improperly the fceptre of JUSTICE, referred the cause to be confidered. by TIME.

The proceedings of TIME, though very dilatory, were, fome few caprices excepted, conformable to juftice: and many who thought themselves fecure by a fhort forbearance, have funk under his fythe, as they were pofting down with their volumes in triumph to futurity. It was observable that fome were deftroyed by little and little, and others crushed for ever by a fingle blow.

CRITICISM having long kept her eye fixed fleadily upon TIME, was at laft fo well fatisfied with his conduct, that the withdrew from the earth with her patronefs ASTREA, and left PREJUDICE and FALSE TASTE to ravage at large as the affociates of FRAUD and MISCHIEF; contenting herfelf thenceforth to shed her influence from far upon fome felect minds, fitted for its reception by learning and by virtue.

Before her departure fhe broke her fceptre, of which the fhivers, that formed the ambrofial end, were caught up by FLATTERY, and thofe that had been infected with the waters of lethe were, with equal hafle, feized

by

by MALEVOLENCE. The followers of FLATTERY, to whom she distributed her part of the fceptre, neither had nor defired light, but touched indifcriminately whatever POWER OF INTEREST happened to exhibit. The companions of MALEVOLENCE were fupplied by the FURIES with a torch, which had this quality peculiar to infernal luftre, that its light fell only upon faults.

No light, but rather darkness visible,

Serv'd only to discover fights of woe.

With these fragments of authority, the flaves of FLATTERY and MALEVOLENCE marched out, at the command of their mistreffes, to confer immortality, or condemn to oblivion. But the fceptre had now loft its power; and TIME paffes his fentence at leifure, without any regard to their determinations.

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