From his works our conversation turned on his monument; upon which Shakespeare, shaking his sides, and addressing himself to Milton, cried out, “On my word, brother Milton, they have brought a noble set of poets together; they would have been hanged erst have convened such a company at their tables when alive.” “True, brother,” answered Milton, “unless we had been as incapable of eating then as we are now.”
“A Journey from this World to the Next,” Chapter viii. Miscellanies, 1743.
THOMAS EDWARDS, 1747
(1699-1757)
Canon I. A Professed Critic has a right to declare that his Author wrote whatever He thinks he ought to have written, with as much positiveness as if he had been at his elbow.
Canon II. He has a right to alter any passage which He does not understand.
Canon III. These alterations He may make in spite of the exactness of measure.
Canon IV. Where He does not like an expression, and yet cannot mend it, He may abuse his Author for it.
Canon V. Or He may condemn it as a foolish interpolation.
Canon VI. As every Author is to be corrected into all possible perfection, the Professed Critic is the sole judge; He may alter any word or phrase, which does not want amendment, or which will do, provided He can think of anything which He imagines will do better.