SOURCE: Dennis, John. A Defence of Sir Fopling Flutter, a Comedy Written by Sir George Etherege. London: T. Warner, 1722, 24 p.

In the following essay, originally published as an anonymous pamphlet, Dennis conducts a thoroughgoing defense of The Man of Mode from Richard Steele's condemnation of the play in the Spectator.

A Certain Knight, who has employ'd so much of his empty Labour in extolling the weak Performances of some living Authors, has scurriously an inhumanly in the 65th Spectator, attack'd one of the most entertaining Comedies of the last Age, written by a most ingenious Gentleman, who perfectly understood the World, the Court, and the Town, and whose Reputation has now for near thirty Years together, surviv'd his Person, and will, in all Probability, survive it as long as Comedy shall be in vogue; by which Proceeding, this worthy Knight has incurr'd the double Censure, that Olivia in...