Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/291

 plagiary from Nevelettus and Camerarius, will appear much more unjust, than what he says here about my pillaging Vizzanius and his own poor notes; his grimace there about Socrates will be shewn more impertinent, if possible, than his long banter here, "that Dr B. cannot be the author of the Dissertation." Which insipid banter seems rather to have been writ in a tavern than in a study; and is not fit to be answered by me. But if another should answer him in his own way, and pretend to prove that Mr B. is not the author of the Examination, from the variety of styles in't, from its contradictions to his edition of Phalaris, from its contradictions to itself, from its contradictions to Mr B.'s character, and to his title of Honourable, and from several other topics; it would be taken perhaps for no railery, but too serious a repartee; or at least might pass for a true jest, though intended only for a merry one.

Mr B. has been pleased to threaten me with the resentments of "a whole society," and "a great body of learned men." I must own I do not well know what apprehensions to have of this threat. For as I have done no injury to any society, so I think I have