title: An Apology For Poetry (Or The Defence Of Poesy): Revised and Expanded Third Edition
author: R. W. Maslen
description: <br />R. W. Maslen is Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Glasgow<br />
zlib_text: Incognita
  1
  Incognita
  By William Congreve
    
  TO THE HONOURED AND WORTHILY ESTEEM'D MRS.
  KATHARINE LEVESON.
  
  Incognita
  2
  Madam,
  A Clear Wit, sound Judgment and a Merciful Disposition, are things so
  rarely united, that it is almost inexcusable to entertain them with any thing
  less excellent in its kind.  My knowledge of you were a sufficient
  Caution to me, to avoid your Censure of this Trifle, had I not as intire a
  knowledge of your Goodness.  Since I have drawn my Pen for a
  Rencounter, I think it better to engage where, though there be Skill enough
  to Disarm me, there is too much Generosity to Wound; for so shall I have
  the saving Reputation of an unsuccessful Courage, if I cannot make it a
  drawn Battle.  But methinks the Comparison intimates something of a
  Defiance, and savours of Arrogance; wherefore since I am Conscious to
  my self of a Fear which I cannot put off, let me use the Policy of Cowards
  and lay this Novel unarm'd, naked and shivering at your Feet, so that if it
  should want 