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Article THE FREEMASON. ← Page 3 of 3
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The Freemason.
" In perusing a work , to examine which it contains , more good or bad ; and whether they themselves could at first have performed a better . " - If a work be rather good than otherwise , certainly the author deserves some praise far raising nature above her ordinary flight . Selfexamination woiild likewise make all Our judgments charitable ; as
, where there is no judgment the heaviest judgments proceed . It is easy , methinks , to see many inconveniencies in a house when built , hut certainly , to lay the plan thereof requires much sense , and speaks the praise of a good contriver . If we must needs censure , it is good to do it as Suetonius writes of the twelve Ca _ sars—tell both their vice ' s and virtues impartially .
A partial critic is generally an author himself : it therefore behoves him ( he thinks ) to speak well of such and such writers who speak well of him ; but these encomiums are better known by the name of Puffs ; and I am sorry to remark that this kind of fulsome panegyric is too frequent : but how much more ridiculous it is to see an author criticise upon his own works . To those who never write this may
appear paradoxical , but it is a well known fact that even mcSderh writers will exercise their pens now and then in their own praise , and , in order to escape suspicion , censure some few parts which they themselves afterwards defend . It is unnecessary to say that these authors , who practise such unworthy means of raising their names ,
are the most despicable of their fraternity ; their writings are void of all merit , and , not receiving the applause of the public , they think to force them upon the town , by discovering beauties which escaped every eye . In these criticisms it is necessary to make comparisons , whicli these kind of critic-authors generally do by comparing the best works of others with their own , and thus endeavouring to disparage their brethren and exalt themselves . Authors are so partial to
very ¦ their own productions that they seldom see any perfection ; and , though the public repeatedly cry out against them , though in fact their pieces are buried in oblivion , they exert their weak efforts to recal them . Infatuated bards , disturb not the ashes of the dead ! Endeavour to mend your former works by producing better ; and think notbfilling public prints with empty puffsto acquire
lite-, y , rary fame-T-7-think not , by abusing your superiors , to add to your own fame . It is highly ridiculous for critics to censure ere they examine a work through ; yet many condemn a book because tiie beginning did not please them . Many productions begin well , which end indifferently ; and many end wellwhich had an unpromising exordium
, . It is not from a few leaves that we can judge : whoever pretends to criticise ^ should have patience as well as judgment ; he should forget all his author ' s former faults , provided he mends as lie continues , and concludes \ yith elegance and spirit . T- ?"" Ail ' s well that ends well . ''
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemason.
" In perusing a work , to examine which it contains , more good or bad ; and whether they themselves could at first have performed a better . " - If a work be rather good than otherwise , certainly the author deserves some praise far raising nature above her ordinary flight . Selfexamination woiild likewise make all Our judgments charitable ; as
, where there is no judgment the heaviest judgments proceed . It is easy , methinks , to see many inconveniencies in a house when built , hut certainly , to lay the plan thereof requires much sense , and speaks the praise of a good contriver . If we must needs censure , it is good to do it as Suetonius writes of the twelve Ca _ sars—tell both their vice ' s and virtues impartially .
A partial critic is generally an author himself : it therefore behoves him ( he thinks ) to speak well of such and such writers who speak well of him ; but these encomiums are better known by the name of Puffs ; and I am sorry to remark that this kind of fulsome panegyric is too frequent : but how much more ridiculous it is to see an author criticise upon his own works . To those who never write this may
appear paradoxical , but it is a well known fact that even mcSderh writers will exercise their pens now and then in their own praise , and , in order to escape suspicion , censure some few parts which they themselves afterwards defend . It is unnecessary to say that these authors , who practise such unworthy means of raising their names ,
are the most despicable of their fraternity ; their writings are void of all merit , and , not receiving the applause of the public , they think to force them upon the town , by discovering beauties which escaped every eye . In these criticisms it is necessary to make comparisons , whicli these kind of critic-authors generally do by comparing the best works of others with their own , and thus endeavouring to disparage their brethren and exalt themselves . Authors are so partial to
very ¦ their own productions that they seldom see any perfection ; and , though the public repeatedly cry out against them , though in fact their pieces are buried in oblivion , they exert their weak efforts to recal them . Infatuated bards , disturb not the ashes of the dead ! Endeavour to mend your former works by producing better ; and think notbfilling public prints with empty puffsto acquire
lite-, y , rary fame-T-7-think not , by abusing your superiors , to add to your own fame . It is highly ridiculous for critics to censure ere they examine a work through ; yet many condemn a book because tiie beginning did not please them . Many productions begin well , which end indifferently ; and many end wellwhich had an unpromising exordium
, . It is not from a few leaves that we can judge : whoever pretends to criticise ^ should have patience as well as judgment ; he should forget all his author ' s former faults , provided he mends as lie continues , and concludes \ yith elegance and spirit . T- ?"" Ail ' s well that ends well . ''