volume. (See Nichols, _Illustrations of the Literary History of the
Eighteenth Century_, ii., p. 221). Pope, however, had not encouraged his
advances. In the same letter Theobald states that he had no design of
commenting on Shakespeare till he saw "how incorrect an edition Mr. Pope
had given the publick." This remark was prompted by a note in the
_Dunciad_ of 1729, where it was stated that "during the space of two
years, while Mr. Pope was preparing his Edition of Shakespear, and
published advertisements, requesting all lovers of the author to
contribute to a more perfect one, this Restorer (who had then some
correspondence with him, and was solliciting favours by letters) did
wholly conceal his design, 'till after its publication." But if Theobald
had not thought of issuing comments on Shakespeare's plays till Pope's
edition appeared, he must have known them well already, for _Shakespeare
Restored_ is not a hasty piece of work.

Despite the aggressiveness of the title, Theobald protests his regard for
Pope in such passages as these:

"It was no small Satisfaction therefore to me, when I first heard
Mr. _Pope_ had taken upon him the Publication of _Shakespeare_. I
very reasonably expected, from his known Talents and Abilities,
from his uncommon Sagacity and Discernment, and from his unwearied
Diligence and Care of informing himself by an happy and extensive
Conversation, we should have had our Author come out as perfect,
as the want of _Manuscripts_ and _original Copies_ could give us a
Possibility of hoping. I may dare to say, a great Number of
_Shakespeare_'s Admirers, and of Mr. _Pope_'s too, (both which I
sincerely declare myself,) concurred in this Expectation: For
there is a certain _curiosa felicitas_, as was said of an eminent
_Roman_ Poet, in that Gentleman's Way of working, which, we
presum'd, would have laid itself out largely in such a Province;
and that he would not have sate down contented with performing, as
he calls it himself, the _dull Duty_ of an _Editor_ only."

"I have so great an Esteem for Mr. _Pope_, and so high an Opinion
of his Genius and Excellencies, that I beg to be excused from the
least Intention of derogating from his Merits, in this Attempt to
restore the true Reading of _Shakespeare_. Tho' I confess a
Veneration, almost rising to Idolatry, for the writings of this
inimitable Poet, I would be very l