title: An Essay on Criticism
author:  Alexander Pope 
description: Privately printed by John Henry Nash in an edition limited to 250 numbered copies as a Christmas book for William Andrews Clark, Jr. Nash Printings p.60 . Includes an introduction by Williams, a bibliographical note by Cora Edgerton Sanders, a bibliography of Pope, a chronology of the life of Pope, followed by the text of An Essay on Criticism printed in reda and black and typeset by Nash. This is accompanied by a seperate 8vo. facsimilie of the first edition prepared from the copy in Williams' collection. Ornamental borders outline the frontispiece and title page. The frontispiece is a dry-point etching of Pope by William H. Wilke. Some foxing of vellum. Bookplate removed from front pastedown. Slipcase worn with damaged spots. iv ,43, 5 ; frontispiece, xlix,36, 2 pages. each bound in quarter vellum with paper-covered boards, in a 4to. paper-covered slipcase.. 4to. and 8vo..
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  # THE DUNCIAD
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Alexander Pope
  
  
  This page copyright © 2002 Munsey's.
  
  
  http://www.munseys.com
  
  Book the First.
  
  
    
  ARGUMENT TO Book the First.
  
  
  Book the Second.
  
  
    
  ARGUMENT.
  
  
  Book the Third.
  
  
    
  ARGUMENT.
  
  
  Book the Fourth.
  
  
    
  ARGUMENT.
  
  
  TO Dr. JONATHAN SWIFT.
  
  
  ## Book the First.
  
  
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  ### ARGUMENT TO Book the First.
  
  
  
  
  
  THE Proposition, the Invocation, and the Inscription. Then the
  
  
  Original of the great Empire of Dulness, and cause of the continuance
  
  
  thereof. The College of the Goddess in the City, with her private
  
  
  Academy for Poets in particular; the Governors of it, and the four
  
  
  Cardinal Virtues. Then the Poem hastes into the midst of things,
  
  
  presenting her, on the evening of a Lord Mayor's day, revolving the
  
  
  long succession of her Sons, and the glories past and to come. She
  
  
  fixes her eye on Bays to be the Instrument of that great Event which
  
  
  is the Subject of the Poem. He is desc