; as Fox-hunters, who alone would understand it, will
easily suggest it to themselves.
 

                                    Book XI

                          Containing about three Days.
 

                                   Chapter I

                            A Crust for the Critics.
 
In our last initial Chapter, we may be supposed to have treated that formidable
Set of Men, who are called Critics, with more Freedom than becomes us; since
they exact, and indeed generally receive, great Condescension from Authors. We
shall in this, therefore, give the Reasons of our Conduct to this august Body;
and here we shall perhaps place them in a Light, in which they have not hitherto
been seen.
    This Word Critic is of Greek Derivation, and signifies Judgement. Hence I
presume some Persons who have not understood the Original, and have seen the
English Translation of the Primitive, have concluded that it meant Judgment in
the legal Sense, in which it is frequently used as equivalent to Condemnation.
    I am the rather inclined to be of that Opinion, as the greatest Number of
Critics hath of late Years been found amongst the Lawyers. Many of these
Gentlemen, from Despair, perhaps, of ever rising to the Bench in
Westminster-hall, have placed themselves on the Benches at the Playhouse, where
they have exerted their judicial Capacity, and have given Judgment, i.e.
condemned without Mercy.
    The Gentlemen would perhaps be well enough pleased, if we were to leave them
thus compared to one of the most important and honourable Offices in the
Commonwealth, and if we intended to apply to their Favour we would do so; but as
we design to deal very sincerely and plainly too with them, we must remind them
of another Officer of Justice of a much lower Rank; to whom, as they not only
pronounce, but execute their own Judgment, they bear likewise some remote
Resemblance.
    But in reality there is another Light in which these modern Critics may with
great Justice and Propriety be seen; and this is that of a common Slanderer. If
a Person who prys into the Characters of others, with no other Design but to
discover their Faults, and to publish them to the World, deserves the Title of a
Slanderer of the Reputations of Men; why should not a Critic, who reads with the
same malevolent View, be as properly stiled the Slanderer of the Reputation of
Books?
    Vice hath not, I believe, a more abject Slave; Society produces not a more
odious Vermin; nor can the Devil receive a Guest more worthy of him, nor
possibly more welcome to him, than a Slanderer. The World, I am afraid, regards
not this Monster with half
