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VERSES TO BE PREFIXED BEFORE BERNARD LINTOT'S NEW MISCELLANY by ALEXANDER POPE

Poet Analysis

First Line: SOME COLINAEUS PRAISE, SOME BLEAU
Last Line: FOR SOME FOLKS READ, BUT ALL FOLKS SH --.
Subject(s): BLEAU, WILLEM JANSZOON (1571-1638); BOOKS; ELZEVIER, LOUIS (1540-1617); MANUTIUS, ALDUS (1450-1515); PLANTIN, CHRISTOPHE (1514-1589); PRINTING AND PRINTERS; READING; MANUZIO, ALDO; MANNUCCI, ALDO;

Some Colinaeus praise, some Bleau,
Others account 'em but so so;
Some Plantin to the rest prefer,
And some esteem Old-Elzevir;
Others with Aldus would besot us;
I, for my part, admire Lintottus. --
His Character's beyond Compare,
Like his own Person, large and fair.
They print their Names in Letters small,
But LINTOT stands in Capital:
Author and he, with equal Grace,
Appear, and stare you in the Face:
Stephens prints Heathen Greek, 'tis said,
Which some can't construe, some can't read:
But all that comes from Lintot's Hand
Ev'n Ra -- son might understand.
Oft in an Aldus, or a Plantin,
A Page is blotted, or Leaf wanting:
Of Lintot's Books this can't be said,
All fair, and not so much as read.
Their Copy cost 'em not a Penny
To Homer, Virgil, or to any;
They ne'er gave Sixpence for two Lines,
To them, their Heirs, or their Assigns:
But Lintot is at vast Expence,
And pays prodigious dear for -- Sense.
Their Books are useful but to few,
A Scholar, or a Wit or two:
Lintot's for gen'ral Use are fit;
For some Folks read, but all Folks sh --.



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