Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/59

 the imputation of writing such a burlesque upon it, will be irreparable, if the person so charged does not do it and himself justice. I say himself, for in my own conscience I acquit him from composing it. The author, I believe, is dead, and it is probable that it was writ in the year 1697, when it is said to have been written.'

His remarks about the Dedication to Lord Somers show that Wotton's sense of humour was somewhat deficient.

Swift's 'Apology' (1710)

For the fifth edition of the Tale and other pieces contained in the 1704 volume Swift wrote An Apology For the, etc,' It is an answer to Wotton's Defence. With those parts of it which concern the Tale we are not here concerned: but the following passages concern the Battle of the Books directly.

'It was determined by a fair majority that this answerer [Wotton] had, in a way not to be pardoned, drawn his pen against a certain great man then alive,