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In Poetry, he hath appeared under a hundred different names, of which we may one day give a Catalogue.

*

In Politicks, his Writings are of a peculiar Cast, for the most part Ironical, and the Drift of them often fo delicate and refin'd as to be mistaken by the vulgar. He once went fo far as to write a Perfuafive to people to eat their own Children, which was fo little understood as to be taken in ill part He has often written against Liberty in the name of Freeman and Algernon Sydney, in vindication of the Measures of Spain under that of Raleigh, and in praise of Corruption under thofe of Cato and Publicola.

It is true, that at his laft departure from England, in the Reign of Queen Anne, apprehending left any of these might be perverted to the Scandal of the weak, or Encouragement of the flagitious, he caft them all, without mercy, into a Bog-house near St. James's. Some however have been with great diligence recover'd, and fish'd up with a hook and line, by the Ministerial Writers, which make at present the great Ornaments of their works.

Whatever he judged beneficial to Mankind, he constantly communicated (not only during his stay among us, but ever fince his abfence) by fome method or other in which Oftentation had no part. With what incredible Modefty he concealed himfelf, is known to numbers of those to whom he addressed sometimes Epiftles, fometimes Hints, fometimes whole Treatifes, Advices to Friends, Projects to Firft Minifters, Letters to Members of Parliament, Accounts to the Royal Society, and innumerable others.

*Swift's ironical tract on that subject.

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All these will be vindicated to the true Author, in the Course of these Memoirs. I I may venture to fay they cannot be unacceptable to any, but to thofe, who will appear too much concerned as Plagiaries, to be admitted as Judges. Wherefore. we warn the publick, to take particular notice of all fuch as manifest any indecent Paffion at the appearance of this Work, as Perfons most certainly involved in the Guilt.

The End of the First Book.

MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS,

ΠΕΡΙ ΒΑΘ Ο Υ Σ :

OR,

Of the ART of

SINKING in POETRY.

Written in the Year 1727.

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MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS

ΠΕΡΙ ΒΑΘΟΥ Σ.

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CHAP. I.

T hath been long (my dear Countrymen) the fubject of my concern and furprize, that whereas numberlefs Poets, Critics, and Orators have compiled and digefted the Art of ancient Poefy, there hath not arifen among us one perfon fo publick-spirited, as to perform the like for the Modern. Although it is universally known, that our every-way industrious Moderns, both in the Weight of their writings, and in the Velocity of their judgments, do fo infinitely excel the faid An

cients.

Nevertheless, too true it is, that while a plain and direct road is paved to their os, or Sublime; no tract has been yet chalk'd out, to arrive at our Bábos, or Profund. The Latins, as they came between the Greeks and Us, make use of the word Altitudo, which implies equally height and depth. Wherefore confidering with no fmall grief, how many promifing Genius's of this age are wandering (as I may fay) in the dark without a guide, I have undertaken this arduous but neceffary task, to lead them as it were by the hand, and step by step, the gentle down-hill way to the Bathos; the bottom, the end, the central point, the non plus ultra, of true' Modern Poefy!

When I confider (my dear Countrymen) the extent, fertility, and populousness of our Low‡ M 3

lands

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