his
adversary, Truth receives the insult. But there is another point more
essential to inculcate in literary controversy. Ought we to look
too scrupulously into the motives which may induce an inferior
author to detect the errors of a greater? A man from no amiable
motive may perform a proper action: Ritson was useful after Warton;
nor have we a right to ascribe it to any concealed motives, which,
after all, may be doubtful. In the present instance, our much-abused
Ralph Brooke first appears to have composed his elaborate work
from the most honourable motives: the offer he made of his Notes to
Camden seems a sufficient evidence. The pride of a great man first led
Camden into an error, and that error plunged him into all the
barbarity of persecution; thus, by force, covering his folly.
Brooke over-valued his studies: it is the nature of those peculiar
minds adapted to excel in such contracted pursuits. He undertook an
ungracious office, and he has suffered by being placed by the side
of the illustrious genius with whom he has so skilfully combated
in his own province; and thus he has endured contempt, without
being contemptible. The public are not less the debtors to such
unfortunate, yet intrepid authors.[401]

FOOTNOTES:

[396] This work was not given to the public till 1724, a small quarto,
with a fine portrait of Brooke. More than a century had
elapsed since its forcible suppression. Anstis printed it
from the fair MS. which Brooke had left behind him. The
author's paternal affection seemed fondly to imagine its
child might be worthy of posterity, though calumniated by
its contemporaries.

[397] "Verum enimvero de his et hoc genere hominum ne verbum amplius
addam, tabellam tamen summi illius artificis Apellis, cum
colorum vivacitate depingere non possim, verbis leviter
adumbrabo et proponam, ut Antiphilus noster, suique similes,
et qui calumniis credunt, hanc, et in hac seipsos semel
simulque intueantur.

"Ad dextram sedet quidam, quia credulus, auribus praelongis
insignis, quales fere illae Midae feruntur. Manum porrigit
procul accedenti Calumniae. Circumstant eum mulierculae duae,
Ignorantia ac Suspicio. Adit aliunde propius Calumnia eximie
compta, vultu ipso et gestu corporis efferens rabiem, et iram
aestuanti conceptam pectore prae se ferens: sinistra facem
t