Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/17

 or self-interest; the gratification of publick pre­judices, or private passions; the flattery of the un­deserving, or the insult of the unfortunate. If I have written well, let it be consider'd that 'tis what no man can do without good sense, a qua­lity that not only renders one capable of being a good writer, but a good man. And if I have made any acquisition in the opinion of any one under the notion of the former, let it be continued to me under no other title than that of the latter.

But if this publication be only a more solemn funeral of my Remains, I desire it may be known that I die in charity, and in my senses; without any murmurs against the justice of this age, or any mad appeals to posterity. I declare I shall think the world in the right, and quietly submit to every truth which time shall discover to the prejudice of these writings; not so much as wish­ing so irrational a thing, as that every body should be deceiv'd, meerly for my credit. However, I desire it may then be consider'd, that there are very few things in this collection which were not written under the age of five and twenty; so that my youth may be made (as it never fails to be in Executions) a case of compassion. That I was never so concern'd about my works as to vindicate them in print, be­lieving if any thing was good it would defend it­self, and what was bad could never be defended.