The Preface.

The following fable, in which what I have said is described at length, was printed about fifteen years ago This was written in 1714. in a six-penny pamphlet called The Grumbling Hive; or, Knaves Turned Honest. Soon after, it was pirated and sold about the streets in a half-penny sheet. Since its first publication, I have encountered several people who, either willfully or ignorantly misunderstanding the purpose, argued that its intent was a satire upon virtue and morality, and that the whole thing was written to encourage vice. This made me resolve that, whenever it was reprinted, I would find some way to inform the reader of the real intent with which this little poem was written.

I do not dignify these few loose lines with the name of poem because I want the reader to expect any actual poetry in them, but simply because they rhyme; in reality, I am puzzled as to what name to give them. They are neither heroic nor pastoral, neither satire, burlesque, nor heroi-comic. As a tale, they lack probability, and the whole work is rather too long for a fable. All I can say of them is that they are a story told in doggerel, which I have endeavored to do in as easy and familiar a manner as possible, without the least intention of being witty. The reader is welcome to call them whatever he pleases. It was said of Montaigne that he was quite well-versed in the defects of mankind but unacquainted with the excellencies of human nature. If I am treated no worse than that, I shall consider myself well-treated.