HE was a stout Man, who first ventur'd to Eat an Oyster; was the saying of a Crown'd Head: And without all doubt, 'tis as True, as Witty: for all Men know, that every Work is most difficult in the Commencement; and that 'tis easier to Imitate, than Invent: Tho I never saw any thing of that Nature, but what came very short of its Original: 'tis like the fancy'd Ghost of a departed Author, so much unlike, and so wrapt up in its infernal Accoutrements, so very Thin, and Pale, so Ghastly Horrid; that every man who sees, and reads it, is as much Scar'd, and Frighted, as if he had been Bug-bear'd by some Stygian Spectre; Or as the Celestial Author of the Winged-Won­der-Working-Angels has it; As if a man had enjoy'd a Sucubus in the shape of a Handsome Woman. For which reason, I suppose a late Au­thor call'd his Burlesque, Butlers Ghost; and certainly 'twas a proper Name for it too; for I believe, it as much deserves to be Entituled the Fourth part of Hudibras, as the Pilgrims Progress merits to be the Fifth, to that Number; and this I say (not to lessen the Credit of the Ghost, or its Author) but because no man can do too much Honour, to the me­mory of the Ingenious, and Learned, though (much to be Lamented) Un­fortunate Mr. Butler

And next to him, I can't but mention the Admir'd Mr. Cotton, whose Scarronides are more to be valu'd, than all the English Burlesque now Extant, setting Mr. Butlers self aside: And since my doing of Lucian, I have seen a little Book Intituled, the Scoffer Scoft (as I believe) written by the same Author; being Lucian's Dialogues of the God's, in the same Bur­lesque: And truly had I seen it before, I shou'd not have ventur'd upon a­ny of the Dialogues under that Title. Knowing all that I cou'd expect from so doing, must be only to publish to the World, my Dulness; and draw a weak Copy, after so great a Master, without I cou'd have found some unintelligible Title to have aton'd for the Presumption (like that of the before-mention'd Ghost); nor can I now be contented (being much delighted with things of that Nature) without begging the Favour of Mr. Cotton, to be so distinguished: Though perhaps some Pharisaical Criticks may object against the Reasonableness of it; as if 'tis impossible for a man, while Living, to Fright the World with his wandring Ghost: But since I desire to be so Honour'd, I hope he will grant me the favour, and the World forgive me; for a Ghost is a Ghost still.

But now, perhaps it may be expected I should say something in behalf of my own; but in the first place, I don't think they deserve it: 'Tis your Business kind Reader, if ye like 'em: If ye Refuse it, I shall be content with the Pleasure I took in Writing 'em; though I believe they would have pleas'd better, had the Parenthesis in the Title, been left out; especially those who don't understand a word of that Antient Language; but however, you see I am modest, as to my Learning. But the Bawdy of the First Part has given Offence (I hear) to some of our Aged Ingenioso's, though they at the same time, are not wholly guiltless in things of the like Nature; but grant­ing [Page]there is a sprinkling of it in some of the First Dialogues, I hope it is more excusable in Youth, and Gingling Burlesque, than in Argumen­tal Dialoguing Prose done by Experienc'd Age: For such is Lucians Works, and such was Lucian.

Perhaps it might now seem reasonable for me, to give ye an account of Lucian and his Works; but for two Reasons I decline it. First, Be­cause the Illiterate don't deserve it: And Secondly, The Learned, (if I shou'd) wou'd find nothing therein (to them) Novel: But if any of 'em desire it, I must refer 'em to the late Learned and Ingenious Translater Mr. Ferrand Spence.; where (if they can understand English) they may be abun­dantly satisfied.

And now give me leave to tell you, I did at the first design a Dedica­tion, to these Dialogues: But for some Reasons I met with in the Interval, I thought it wou'd not be worth my while. First, Because the Patrons of this Age, the less they deserve; the more they expect to be Complemented. And tho Speed and Baker are not able to furnish one with History e­nough to entail 'em, to an honest Family; 'tis impossible to please, with­out two or three Pages in Praise of their Ancestors; when all the help too a man has for such a Task, is only to be found in such like Authors. For another Reason too, because if the Writer be a man, who pretends to Po­etry, and has a little more sense, than the drudging Man of Money can express over a Tedious Quart of Claret; 'Tis ten to one but he must be forc'd to take up with an Old Proverb for his pains, Poet and Pennyless: And if he be not so at that time, 'tis as many more, to nothing; but his Patron shall endeavour to make him so for the future.

And in the next place, for a Story (something like this) a Friend told me the other day.

A Young Scribler in Rhyme, after some Pains and Study, having finish'd a short Poem on the Times; thought it convenient, as well as fashionable, to Dedicate it to one of his Old Bottle-Companions, one that he had spent much Money with in all sort of Fashionable Conversation the Town cou'd allow, and was as frolicksomly Vicious a man, as one wou'd wish to drink withal. Many Complements he gave him, and told him he was as Discreet and Judicous, as a Man wou'd desire to be. But see the effects of things of this Nature; This Patron of wit, (being a Man of discerning faculties) in heat of Wine, (at which time some People are very Witty) was pleas'd to tell one of his Female Conveniencies, That this little Spark of a Poet, did expect a Present for his Dedication; but he swore, he shou'd be bawk'd: for, for that Reason, he wou'd not so much as give him a Bottle of Wine, or ever drink with him again. A mighty loss, without all doubt! which puts me in mind of a Piece of Modern Burlesque.

But this I fear is Tyresome, being a little out of the Method (Kind Rea­der) You were us'd to be Treated in; but if I can, I'le make you amends some other time; upon Condition, you'l pardon me now.

And so I humbly take my leave.