This work in its full extent--being now afflicted with an asthma,
and finding the powers of life gradually declining--he had no longer
courage to undertake; but, from the materials which he had provided,
he added, at Warburton's request, another book to the "Dunciad," of
which the design is to ridicule such studies as are either hopeless
or useless, as either pursue what is unattainable, or what, if it be
attained, is of no use. When this book was printed (1742) the
laurel had been for some time upon the head of Cibber, a man whom it
cannot be supposed that Pope could regard with much kindness or
esteem, though in one of the imitations of Horace he has liberally
enough praised the "Careless Husband." In the "Dunciad," among
other worthless scribblers, he had mentioned Cibber, who, in his
"Apology," complains of the great Poet's unkindness as more
injurious, "because," says he, "I never have offended him."

It might have been expected that Pope should have been in some
degree mollified by this submissive gentleness, but no such
consequence appeared. Though he condescended to commend Cibber
once, he mentioned him afterwards contemptuously in one of his
satires, and again in his "Epistle to Arbuthnot," and in the fourth
book of the "Dunciad" attacked him with acrimony, to which the
provocation is not easily discoverable. Perhaps he imagined that,
in ridiculing the Laureate, he satirised those by whom the laurel
had been given, and gratified that ambitious petulance with which he
affected to insult the great. The severity of this satire left
Cibber no longer any patience. He had confidence enough in his own
powers to believe that he could disturb the quiet of his adversary,
and doubtless did not want instigators, who, without any care about
the victory, desired to amuse themselves by looking on the contest.
He therefore gave the town a pamphlet, in which he declares his