A dialogue between Dean Swift and Tho. Prior, Esq. in the isles of St. Patrick's Church, Dublin, on that memorable day, October 9th, 1753 / By a friend to the peace and prosperity of Ireland.

Date:: 1753

Credit: A dialogue between Dean Swift and Tho. Prior, Esq. in the isles of St. Patrick's Church, Dublin, on that memorable day, October 9th, 1753 / By a friend to the peace and prosperity of Ireland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$[8] Swtrt. Dr. Jom, they never gave me a moment’s Pain, for the Truth is, I was too proud to be affront- ed, and had too high a Spirit to be humbled, by fuch Infults, or elfe indeed I -had met with Opportunities enough to make me pafsmy Time very uneafily, But in the next place thofe who Writ againft me, were mere toothlefs Animals, or at leaft a Sort of Jrifh Vi- pers, that tho’ they lov’d to Bite, yet they wanted the pungent Venom which gives the Torment. Many of their Tracts were the pooreft Produétions that ever difgraced the Prefs ; without Style, or Wit, or Senfe, or Argument. I remember one of them, where both {, and the Subject he writ on, were equally ill-treated, begun like a Hebrew Book at the wrong End, with an Apology for the Author’s inability to handle fuch weighty Points as they deferved ; and indeed Yom, that fingle Confeffion was the only Thing that look’d like ‘Truth or Modefty in the whole Performance. How could I be affronted by fuch miferable Efforts of Ma- | lice? ‘and above all, if the natural elevation of my Mind, had not enabled me to look down on them with Difdain, the Dignity and ufefulnefs of my Life, help’d me tofmile on them as impotent and harmlefs. I was fo far from being mortified by their bafe revilings, that I think, I wrote the better for them, and with higher Spirit, as a well mettled Horfe moves the _ brifker for being lafhed. Befides, as I often wrote for the fervice of the World, and the Interefts of Man- kind ; I always appeared with every Advantage, that Candour, Honefty, and Courage,cou’d’give'me againft Injuftice, Oppreflion, and Tyrany. I wrote for Truth and Reafon, for Liberty, and the Rights of my Country$