THE WORKS O F ALEXANDER POPE, Efq; VOL. I. WITH Explanatory NOTES and ADDITIONS Hæc ftudia adolefcentiam alunt, fenectutem oblectant; fe- Tully. LONDON: PREFACE. I Am inclined to think that both the writers of books, and the readers of them, are generally not a little unreasonable in their expectations.' The first feem to fancy that the world muft approve whatever they produce, and the latter to imagine that authors are obliged to please them at any rate. Methinks as on the one hand, no fingle man is born with a right of controuling the opinions of all the reft; fo on the other, the world has no title to demand, that the whole care and time of any particular perfon fhould be facrificed to its entertainment. Therefore I cannot but believe that writers and readers are under equal obligations, for as much fame, or pleasure, as each affords the other. Every one acknowleges, it would be a wild notion to expect perfection in any work of man: and yet one would think the contrary was taken for granted, by the judgment commonly past upon Poems. A Critic fuppofes he has done his part, if he proves a writer to have fail'd in an expreffion, |