 those who are
poorer than ourselves) or, to see it under the most opprobrious Colours, robbing
the Spittal.
    Since therefore upon the strictest Examination, my own Conscience cannot lay
any such pitiful Theft to my Charge, I am contented to plead guilty to the
former Accusation; nor shall I ever scruple to take to my self any Passage which
I shall find in an ancient Author to my Purpose, without setting down the Name
of the Author from whence it was taken. Nay, I absolutely claim a Property in
all such Sentiments the Moment they are transcribed into my Writings, and I
expect all Readers henceforwards to regard them as purely and entirely my own.
This Claim however I desire to be allowed me only on Condition, that I preserve
strict Honesty towards my poor Brethren, from whom if ever I borrow any of that
little of which they are possessed, I shall never fail to put their Mark upon
it, that it may be at all Times ready to be restored to the right Owner.
    The Omission of this was highly blameable in one Mr. Moore, who having
formerly borrowed some Lines of Pope and Company, took the Liberty to transcribe
six of them into his Play of the Rival Modes. Mr. Pope however very luckily
found them in the said Play, and laying violent Hands on his own Property,
transferred it back again into his own Works; and for a further Punishment,
imprisoned the said Moore in the loathsome Dungeon of the Dunciad, where his
unhappy Memory now remains, and eternally will remain, as a proper Punishment
for such his unjust Dealings in the poetical Trade.
 

                                   Chapter II

 In which, tho' the Squire doth not find his Daughter, something is found which
                          puts an End to his Pursuit.
 
The History now returns to the Inn at Upton, whence we shall first trace the
Footsteps of Squire Western; for as he will soon arrive at an End of his
Journey, we shall have then full Leisure to attend our Heroe.
    The Reader may be pleased to remember, that the said Squire departed from
the Inn in great Fury, and in that Fury he pursued his Daughter. The Hostler
having informed him that she had crossed the Severn, he likewise past that River
with his Equipage, and rode full Speed, vowing the utmost Vengeance against poor
Sophia, if he should but overtake her.
    He had not gone far, before he arrived at a Cross-way. Here he called a
short Council of War, in which, after hearing different Opinions, he at last
gave the Direction of his Pursuit to Fortune, and struck directly into the
Worcester Road
