Page:Poems on Several Occasions - Broome (1739, 2nd edition).djvu/18

 with Sir Henry Saville, that various Lections are now grown so voluminous, that we begin to value the first Editions of Books as most correct, because least corrected.

There are other Critics who think them-selves obliged to see no Imperfections in their Author: from the moment they undertake his Cause, they look upon him, as a Lover upon his Mistress, he has no Faults, or his very Faults improve into Beauties: This, indeed, is a well-natur'd Error, but still blameable, because it misguides the Judgment: Such Critics act no less erroneously, than a Judge who should resolve to acquit a Person whether innocent or guilty, who comes before him upon his Trial. It is frequent for the partial Critic to praise the Work as he likes the Author; he admires a Book as an Antiquary a Medal, solely from the impression of the Name, and not from the intrinsic Value: the Copper of a favourite Writer shall be more esteem'd than the finest Gold of a less acceptable Author: for this reason