Introduction. That 'tis as great a fault to judge ill, as to write v. 1. ill, and a more dangerous one to the public,
v. 9 to 18 That a true Taste is as rare to be found, as a true Genius.
v. 19 to 25 That most men are born with some Taste, but spoiled by false Education.
v. 26 to 45 The multitude of Critics, and causes of them.
v. 46 to 67. That we are to study our own Taste, and know the Limits of it.
v. 68 to 87 Nature the best guide of Judgment.
v. 88 Improv'd by Art and Rules,--which are but methodis'd Nature.
v. id, to 110 Rules derived from the Practice of the Ancient Poets.
v. 120 to 138 That therefore the Ancients are necessary to be studyd, by a Critic, particularly Homer and Virgil.
v. 140 to 180 Of Licenses, and the use of them by the Ancients.
v. 181, etc. Reverence due to the Ancients, and praise of them.
v. 208 1. Pride. v. 215 2. Imperfect Learning.
v. 233 to 288 3. Judging by parts, and not by the whole.
v. 288, 305, Critics in Wit, Language, Versification, only. 399, etc.
v. 384 4. Being too hard to please, or too apt to admire.
v. 394 5. Partiality--too much Love to a Sect,--to the Ancients or Moderns.
v. 508, etc. Against Envy, and in praise of Good-nature.
v. 526, etc. When Severity is chiefly to be used by Critics.
v. 563 Rules for the Conduct of Manners in a Critic.
v. 584 2. When one's Counsel is to be restrained.
v. 600 Character of an incorrigible Poet.
v. 610 And of an impertinent Critic, etc.
v. 645. The History of Criticism, and Characters of the best Critics, Aristotle,
v. 693 Of the Decay of Criticism, and its Revival. Erasmus,
'Tis hard to say, if greater want of skill Appear in writing or in judging ill; But, of the two, less dang'rous is th' offence To tire our patience, than mislead our sense. Some few in that, but numbers err in this, 5 Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss; A fool might once himself alone expose, Now one in verse makes many more in prose.
'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none Go just alike, yet each believes his own. 10 In Poets as true genius is but rare, True Taste as seldom is the Critic's share; Both must alike from Heav'n derive their light, These born to judge, as well as those to write. Let such teach others who themselves excel, 15 And censure freely who have written well. Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true, But are not Critics to their judgment too?