VIII + 

вАФDe gustibus non est disputandum;вБ†вАФthat is, there is no disputing against Hobbyhorses; and for my part, I seldom do; nor could I with any sort of grace, had I been an enemy to them at the bottom; for happening, at certain intervals and changes of the moon, to be both fiddler and painter, according as the fly stings:вБ†вАФBe it known to you, that I keep a couple of pads myself, upon which, in their turns, (nor do I care who knows it) I frequently ride out and take the air;вБ†вАФthough sometimes, to my shame be it spoken, I take somewhat longer journies than what a wise man would think altogether right.вБ†вАФBut the truth is,вБ†вАФI am not a wise man;вБ†вАФand besides am a mortal of so little consequence in the world, it is not much matter what I do: so I seldom fret or fume at all about it: Nor does it much disturb my rest, when I see such great Lords and tall Personages as hereafter follow;вБ†вАФsuch, for instance, as my Lord A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, and so on, all of a row, mounted upon their several horses;вБ†вАФsome with large stirrups, getting on in a more grave and sober pace;вБ†вЄЇвБ†others on the contrary, tucked up to their very chins, with whips across their mouths, scouring and scampering it away like so many little particoloured devils astride a mortgage,вБ†вАФand as if some of them were resolved to break their necks.вБ†вЄЇвБ†So much the betterвБ†вАФsay I to myself;вБ†вАФfor in case the worst should happen, the world will make a shift to do excellently well without them; and for the rest,вБ†вЄЇвБ†whyвБ†вЄЇвБ†God speed themвБ†вЄЇвБ†eвАЩen let them ride on without opposition from me; for were their lordships unhorsed this very nightвБ†вАФвАЩtis ten to one but that many of them would be worse mounted by one half before tomorrow morning. + 

Not one of these instances therefore can be said to break in upon my rest.вБ†вЄЇвБ†But there is an instance, which I own puts me off my guard, and that is, when I see one born for great actions, and what is still more for his honour, whose nature ever inclines him to good ones;вБ†вАФwhen I behold such a one, my Lord, like yourself, whose principles and conduct are as generous and noble as his blood, and whom, for that reason, a corrupt world cannot spare one moment;вБ†вАФwhen I see such a one, my Lord, mounted, though it is but for a minute beyond the time which my love to my country has prescribed to him, and my zeal for his glory wishes,вБ†вАФthen, my Lord, I cease to be a philosopher, and in the first transport of an honest impatience, I wish the Hobbyhorse, with all his fraternity, at the Devil. + 

вАЬMy Lord, + 

вАЬI maintain this to be a dedication, notwithstanding its singularity in the three great essentials of matter, form, and place: I beg, therefore, you will accept it as such, and that you will permit me to lay it, with the most respectful humility, at your LordshipвАЩs feet,вБ†вАФwhen you are upon them,вБ†вАФwhich you can be when you please;вБ†вАФand that is, my Lord, whenever there is occasion for it, and I will add, to the best purposes too. I have the honour to be, + 