The clearness, the closeness, and the elegance of style with
which this preface is written, render it one of the best
pieces of prose in our language. It abounds in strong good
sense, and profound knowledge of life. It is written with
such simplicity that scarcely a single metaphor is to be
found in it.--WARTON.
This preface first appeared in the Works of Pope, 4to, 1717. The poet
submitted the manuscript to Atterbury, and the bishop thus replied in
December, 1716: "I return the preface, which I have read twice with
pleasure. The modesty and good sense there is in it, must please every
one that reads it. And since there is, as I said, nothing that can
offend, I see not why you should balance a moment about printing it,
always provided that there is nothing said there which you have occasion
to unsay hereafter, of which you yourself are the best, and the only
judge. This is my sincere opinion, which I give, because you ask it, and
which I would not give, though asked, but to a man I value as much as I
do you, being sensible how improper it is, on many accounts, for me to
interpose in things of this nature, which I never understood well, and
now understand somewhat less than ever I did." The suspicion which
Atterbury hinted to his friend, that some of the sentiments expressed in
the preface might hereafter be quoted against him, probably referred to
the vaunts in the concluding paragraphs. The poet paid no regard to the
warning, and lived to violate nearly all his professions. Johnson says
that the preface is "written with great sprightliness and elegance," but
the praise of Warton is hyperbolical when he terms it "one of the best
pieces of prose in our language." The style is often faulty, and never
rises to any extraordinary pitch of excellence; the "knowledge of life,"
which Warton calls "profound," is such as a little experience would
supply; and the "strong good sense" is interspersed with obvious
thoughts and erroneous maxims. The language of Atterbury is sober, and
even in writing to the author he was not betrayed by the partiality of
friendship into the exaggerations of Warton.