* * * * *

FINIS

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ERRATA [Transcriber’s Note:  Not readable]

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THE

CREATION.

A

Pindaric Illustration
OF A

POEM,

Originally written by

MOSES,

On That SUBJECT.

WITH A

PREFACE to Mr. POPE,

CONCERNING

The Sublimity of the Ancient HEBREW POETRY,
and a material and obvious Defect in the ENGLISH.

LONDON: 

Printed for T. BICKERTON, at the Crown in Pater-noster-Row.

M. DCC.  XX.

Price One Shilling.

PREFACE to MR. POPE

Sir,

About two Years ago, upon a slight Misapprehension of some Expressions of yours, which my Resentment, or perhaps my Pride, interpreted to the Disadvantage of a Poetical Trifle, I had then newly publish’d, I suffer’d myself to be unreasonably transported, so far, as to inscribe you an angry, and inconsiderate Preface; without previous Examination into the Justness of my Proceeding.  I have lately had the Mortification to learn from your own Hand that you were entirely guiltless of the fact charg’d upon you; so that, in attempting to retaliate a suppos’d Injury, I have done a real Injustice.

The only Thing which an honest Man ought to be more asham’d of than his faults, is a Reluctance against confessing them.  I have already acknowledg’d mine to yourself:  But no publick Guilt is well aton’d, by a private Satisfaction; I therefore send you a Duplicate of my Letter, by way of the World, that all, who remember my Offence, may also witness my Repentance.

   Sir,

I am under the greatest Confusion I ever felt in my Life, to find by your Letter, that I have been guilty of a Crime, which I can never forgive Myself, were it for no other Reason, than that You have forgiven it.  I might have learnt from your Writings the Extent of your Soul, and shou’d have concluded it impossible for the Author of those elevated Sentiments, to sink beneath them in his Practice.

You are generously moderate, when you mitigate my Guilt, and miscall it a Credulity; ’twas a passionate, and most unjustifiable Levity, and must still have remain’d unpardonable, whatever Truth might have been found in its mistaken Occasion.

What stings me most, in my Reflection on this Folly, is, that I know not how to atone it; I will endeavour it, however; being always asham’d, when I have attempted to revenge an Injury, but never more proud, than when I have begg’d pardon for an Error.

If you needed an Inducement to the strengthening your Forgiveness, you might gather it from these two Considerations; First, The Crime was almost