 of the Spectator was principally
induced to prefix Greek and Latin Mottos to every Paper from the same
Consideration of guarding against the Pursuit of those Scribblers, who, having
no Talents of a Writer but what is taught by the Writing-master, are yet nowise
afraid nor ashamed to assume the same Titles with the greatest Genius, than
their good Brother in the Fable was of braying in the Lion's Skin.
    By the Device therefore of his Motto, it became impracticable for any Man to
presume to imitate the Spectators, without understanding at least one Sentence
in the learned Languages. In the same Manner I have now secured myself from the
Imitation of those who are utterly incapable of any Degree of Reflection, and
whose Learning is not equal to an Essay.
    I would not be here understood to insinuate, that the greatest Merit of such
historical Productions can ever lie in these introductory Chapters; but, in
Fact, those Parts which contain mere Narrative only, afford much more
Encouragement to the Pen of an Imitator, than those which are composed of
Observation and Reflection. Here I mean such Imitators as Rowe was of Shakespear
, or as Horace hints some of the Romans were of Cato, by bare Feet and sour
Faces.
    To invent good Stories, and to tell them well, are possibly very rare
Talents, and yet I have observed few Persons who have scrupled to aim at both;
and if we examine the Romances and Novels with which the World abounds, I think
we may fairly conclude, that most of the Authors would not have attempted to
shew their Teeth (if the Expression may be allowed me) in any other Way of
Writing; nor could indeed have strung together a dozen Sentences on any other
Subject whatever. Scribimus indocti doctique passim,11 may be more truly said of
the Historian and Biographer, than of any other Species of Writing: For all the
Arts and Sciences (even Criticism itself) require some little Degree of Learning
and Knowledge. Poetry indeed may perhaps be thought an Exception; but then it
demands Numbers, or something like Numbers; whereas to the Composition of Novels
and Romances, nothing is necessary but Paper, Pens and Ink, with the manual
Capacity of using them. This, I conceive, their Productions shew to be the
Opinion of the Authors themselves; and this must be the Opinion of their
Readers, if indeed there be any such.
    Hence we are to derive that universal Contempt, which the World, who always
denominate the Whole from the Majority, have cast on all historical Writers, who
do not draw their Materials from Records. And it is the Apprehension
