for Shakespeare's plays in six quarto volumes. Nor did his
expectation much deceive him, for, of seven hundred and fifty which
he printed, he dispersed a great number at the price proposed. The
reputation of that edition indeed, sunk, afterwards so low, that one
hundred and forty copies were sold at sixteen shillings each. On
this undertaking, to which Pope was induced by a reward of two
hundred and seventeen pounds twelve shillings, he seems never to
have reflected afterwards without vexation; for Theobald a man of
heavy diligence, with very slender powers, first, in a book called
"Shakespeare Restored," and then in a formal edition, detected his
deficiencies with all the insolence of victory; and as he was now
high enough to be feared and hated, Theobald had from others all the
help that could be supplied, by the desire of humbling a haughty
character. From this time Pope became an enemy to editors,
collators, commentators, and verbal critics, and hoped to persuade
the world that he miscarried in this undertaking only by having a
mind too great for such minute employment.

Pope in his edition undoubtedly did many things wrong, and left many
things undone; but let him not be defrauded of his due praise. He
was the first that knew, at least the first that told, by what helps
the text might be improved. If he inspected the early editions
negligently, he taught others to be more accurate. In his preface
he expanded with great skill and elegance the character which had
been given of Shakespeare by Dryden; and he drew the public
attention upon his works, which, though often mentioned, had been
little read. Soon after the appearance of the "Iliad," resolving
not to let the general kindness cool, he published proposals for a
translation of the "Odyssey," in five volumes, for five guineas. He
was willing, however, now to have associates in his labour, being