found fecrets, in an unusual turn of reasoning and ftyle. The firft leaf was infcribed with these words, Codicillus, feu Liber Memorialis, Martini Scribleri. The Book was of fo wonderful a nature, that it is incredible what a defire I conceived that moment to be acquainted with the Author, who I clearly perceived was fome great Philofopher in difguife. I several times endeavoured to speak to him, which he as often industriously avoided. At length I found an opportunity (as he stood under the Piazza by the Dancing-room in St. James's) to acquaint him in the Latin tongue, that his Manufcript was fallen into my hands; and faying this, I prefented it to him, with great Encomiums on the learned Author. Hereupon he took me aside, furveyed me over with a fixed attention, and opening the clafps of the Parchment cover, spoke (to my great furprize) in English, as follows: "Courteous ftranger, whoever thou art, I em"brace thee as my best friend; for either the Stars "and my Art are deceitful, or the deftined time is come which is to manifeft Martinus Scriblerus to "the world, and thou the person chofen by fate for "this talk. What thou feeft in me is a body ex"hausted by the labours of the mind. I have found "in Dame Nature not indeed an unkind, but a very coy Mistress: Watchful nights, anxious days, flen"der meals, and endless labours, must be the lot of "all who purfue her, through her labyrinths and "meanders. My first vital air I drew in this ifland (a foil fruitful of Philofophers,) but my complexion "is become aduft, and my body arid, by vifiting "lands (as the Poet has it) alio fub fole calentes. I "have, through my whole life, paffed under several "disguises and unknown names, to fcreen myself "from the envy and malice which mankind express "against those who are poffeffed of the Arcanum Magnum. But at prefent I am forced to take Sanctuary in the British Court, to avoid the Revenge of a cruel Spaniard, who has pursued me "almoft through the whole terraqueous globe. Being about four years ago in the City of Madrid in quest of natural knowledge, I was informed of a Lady who was marked with a Pomegranate upon "the infide of her right Thigh, which bloffomed, "and, as it were, feemed to ripen in the due feason. "Forthwith was I poffeffed with an insatiable curiosity to view this wonderful Phenomenon. I felt the "ardour of my paffion increase as the feafon ad"vanced, till, in the month of July, I could no "longer contain. I brib'd her Duenna, was admitted to the bath, faw her undress'd, and the wonder "difplayed. This was foon after discovered by the "hufband, who finding fome letters I had written to "the Duenna, containing expreffions of a doubtful "meaning, fufpected me of a crime most alien from "the Purity of my Thoughts. Incontinently I left "Madrid "Madrid by the advice of friends, have been pur 68 fued, dogged, and way-laid through feveral Na"tions, and even now fcarce think myself fecure "within the facred walls of this Palace. It has "been my good fortune to have feen all the grand "Phenomena of Nature, excepting an Earthquake, "which I waited for in Naples three years in vain; "and now by means of fome British ship (whose "Colours no Spaniard dare approach *) I impatiently "expect a fafe paffage to Jamaica, for that benefit. "To thee, my Friend, whom Fate has marked for my Historiographer, I leave thefe my Commenta"ries, and others of my works. No more-be "faithful and impartial." He foon after performed his promife, and left me the Commentaries, giving me alfo further lights by many Conferences; when he was unfortunately fnatched away (as I before related) by the jealousy of the Queen's Ministry. Though I was thus to my eternal grief deprived of his converfation, he for fome years continued his Correfpondence, and communicated to me many of his * The nation had been long impatient for a war with Spain; all the aggreffions, infolencies, and threats of that power were exaggerated by those who wifhed to inflame the paffions of the people. At length, war was declared in 1739, which fhews the time this introduction was written. The Memoirs were begun, in conjunction with Swift and Arbuthnot, in the time of Queen Anne. his Projects for the benefit of mankind. He fent me fome of his Writings, and recommended to my care the recovery of others, ftraggling about the world, and affumed by other men. The last time I heard from him was on occafion of his Strictures on the (Dunciad: fince when, feveral years being elapfed, I have reafon to believe this excellent perfon is either dead, or carried by his vehement thirst of knowledge into fome remote, or perhaps undifcovered Region of the world. In either cafe, I think it a debt no longer to be delayed, to reveal what I know of this Prodigy of Science, and to give the hiftory of his life, and of his extenfive merits to mankind; in which I dare promise the Reader, that whenever he begins to think any one chapter dull, the ftyle will be immediately changed in the next. MEMOIRS OF MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS. BOOK I. CHAP. I. OF THE PARENTAGE AND FAMILY OF SCRIBLERUS, HOW HE WAS BEGOT, WHAT CARE WAS TAKEN OF HIM BEFORE HE WAS BORN, AND WHAT PRODIGIES ATTENDED HIS BIRTH. אן the City of Munster in Germany, lived a grave and learned Gentleman, by Profeffion an Antiquary; who, among all his invaluable Curiofities, esteemed none more highly, than a Skin of the true Per Memoirs] Mr. Pope, Dr. Arbuthnot, and Dr. Swift, in conjunction, formed the project of a fatire on the abuses of human learning; and to make it the better received, proposed to execute it in the manner of Cervantes (the original author of this species of fatire), under a continued narrative of feigned adventures. They had obferved that thofe abuses ftill kept their ground againft all that the ableft and graveft Authors could fay to discredit them; they concluded therefore, the force of ridicule was wanting to quicken their difgrace; and ridicule was here in its place, when the abufes had been already detected by fober reafoning; and Truth in no danger to fuffer by the premature use of so powerful an inftrument. But the feparation of our Author and his friends, which foon after happened, with the death of one, and the infirm |