Alexander Pope's titlepage for his edition of Shakespeare's Works

Pope was able to profit greatly from his publications, which included his edition of Shakespeare's works, though this was less successful. In its preface he wrote: "every single character in Shakespeare is as much an Individual as those in Life itself; it is as impossible to find any two alike; and such as from their relation or affinity in any respect appear most to be Twins will upon comparison be found remarkably distinct. To this life and variety of Character we must add the wonderful Preservation of it; which is such throughout his plays that had all the Speeches been printed without the very names of the persons I believe one might have apply'd them with certainty to every speaker." Samuel Johnson learned much for his Shakespeare edition from such criticism by Pope, but Pope "corrected" his texts far too freely, without much knowledge or respect for the First Folio editors.