It looks rather like
ingratitude on my part, that where I have been so often obliged, I
have appeared so seldom to return my thanks, and where I was also so
sure of being well received. Somewhat of laziness was in the case,
and somewhat too of modesty; but nothing of disrespect or of
unthankfulness. I will not say that your lordship has encouraged me
to this presumption, lest, if my labours meet with no success in
public, I may expose your judgment to be censured. As for my own
enemies, I shall never think them worth an answer; and if your
lordship has any, they will not dare to arraign you for want of
knowledge in this art till they can produce somewhat better of their
own than your "Essay on Poetry." It was on this consideration that
I have drawn out my preface to so great a length. Had I not
addressed to a poet and a critic of the first magnitude, I had
myself been taxed for want of judgment, and shamed my patron for
want of understanding. But neither will you, my lord, so soon be
tired as any other, because the discourse is on your art; neither
will the learned reader think it tedious, because it is ad Clerum:
at least, when he begins to be weary, the church doors are open.
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