But he may also have been under the impression that all the mystery of apparently spurious editions would excite public curiosity.

He adopted other devices for avoiding unpleasant consequences.

It was possible that his victims might appeal to the law.

In order to throw dust in their eyes, two editions appeared in Dublin and London, the Dublin edition professing to be a reprint from a London edition, whilst the London edition professed in the same way to be the reprint of a Dublin edition.

To oppose another obstacle to prosecutors, he assigned the Dunciad to three noblemen--Lords Bathurst, Burlington, and Oxford--who transferred their right to Pope's publisher.