without any manner of provocation on his side, and attacked in his
person instead of his writings, by one who was wholly a stranger to
him, at a time when all the world knew he was persecuted by fortune;
and not only saw that this was attempted in a clandestine manner,
with the utmost falsehood and calumny, but found that all this was
done by a little, affected hypocrite, who had nothing in his mouth
at the same time but truth, candour, friendship, good-nature,
humanity, and magnanimity. How the attack was clandestine is not
easily perceived, nor how his person is depreciated; but he seems to
have known something of Pope's character, in whom may be discovered
an appetite to talk too frequently of his own virtues. The pamphlet
is such as rage might be expected to dictate. He supposes himself
to be asked two questions; whether the essay will succeed, and who
or what is the author.

Its success he admits to be secured by the false opinions then
prevalent; the author he concludes to be "young and raw."

"First, because he discovers a sufficiency beyond his little
ability, and hath rashly undertaken a task infinitely above his
force. Secondly, while this little author struts and affects the
dictatorian air, he plainly shows that at the same time he is under
the rod: and, while he pretends to give laws to others, is a
pedantic slave to authority and opinion. Thirdly, he hath, like
schoolboys, borrowed both from living and dead. Fourthly, he knows
not his own mind, and frequently contradicts himself. Fifthly, he
is almost perpetually in the wrong."

All these positions he attempts to prove by quotations and remarks;
but his desire to do mischief is greater than his power. He has,