Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/202

128 of those free conferences Dr Bentley held with Mr Bennet is full and home: and I do assure our learned critic, that whatever becomes of Phalaris's Letters, this of Dr King's is not spurious. I have the original of it by me, under his own hand, as I have the originals, too, of the other papers; which shall be at Dr Bentley's or any man's service, that pleases to command a sight of 'em.

And now had I not reason to say what I did, and much more than I did, of Dr Bentley, in my Preface to Phalaris? Could I resent the harsh treatment he had given me, in gentler terms than I there made use of? Since he had denied me so common a favour, and spoken of me with so much contempt, I was at liberty, I think, to have returned his civilities in what way I pleased, and to have given him any language whatever that it was not below me to give; and that is a restraint which I hope I shall always be able to lay upon myself whatever the provocation be.

Dr Bentley, then, considering all things, was really obliged to me for using him with so much tenderness. What way did he take of owning his obligations? He immediately entered upon the honourable and