Reviewers are forever telling authors they can't understand them. The author might often reply: Is that my fault?

a.

J. C. and A. W. HARE-Guesses at

Truth. The readers and the hearers like my books, But yet some writers cannot them digest; But what care I? for when I make a feast, I would my guests should praise it, not the cooks.

b. SIR JOHN HARRINGTON-Against Writers that Carp at other Men's Books.

'Tis not the wholesome sharp morality,
Or modest anger of a satiric spirit,
That hurts or wounds the body of a state,
But the sinister application

Of the malicious, ignorant, and base
Interpreter; who will distort and strain
The general scope and purpose of an author
To his particular and private spleen.

In such a time as this it is not meet That every nice offence should bear his comment.

Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world-though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst-the cant of criticism is the most tormenting.