son more easy, more poetical, and more sublime. But I will say no more on such a thread-bare subject, as your late performance is at this time. I am, &c. LETTER XXII. MR. GAY TO MR. POPE. (EXTRACT.) July 8, 1715. I have just set down Sir Samuel Garth at the opera. He bid me tell you that every body is pleased with your translation, but a few at Button's; and that Sir Richard Steele told him, that Mr. Addison said the other translation was the best that ever was in any language.* He treated me with extreme civility, and out of kindness gave me a squeeze by the fore-finger. I am informed that at Button's your character is made very free with as to morals, &c., and Mr. Addison says, that your translation and Tickell's are both very well done, but that the latter has more of Homer.+ I am, &c. * Sir Richard Steele afterwards, in his preface to an edition of the Drummer, a comedy by Mr. Addison, shews it to be his opinion, that "Mr. Addison himself was the person who translated this book." Pope. + Mr. Addison might have said this with great sincerity. Bowles. LETTER XXIII DR. ARBUTHNOT TO MR. POPE. (EXTRACT.) July 9, 1715. -I congratulate you upon Mr. T-'s first book. It does not indeed want its merit; but I was strangely disappointed in my expectation of a translation nicely true to the original; whereas, in those parts where the greatest exactness seems to be demanded, he has been the least careful, I mean the History of Ancient Ceremonies and Rites, &c. &c., in which you have with great judgment been exact. I am, &c. LETTER XXIV. DEAR POPE, MR. GAY TO MR. POPE. (1716.) Too late I see, and confess myself mistaken in relation to the comedy;* yet I do not think, had I followed your advice, and only introduced the mummy, that the absence of the crocodile had saved it. I cannot help laughing myself, (though the vulgar do not consider it was designed to look ridiculous) to think how the poor monster and mummy were dashed at their reception; and, when the cry was loudest, I thought that if the * Three Hours after Marriage. thing had been written by another, I should have deemed the town in some measure mistaken; and, as to your apprehension that this may do us future injury, do not think of it; the doctor has a more valuable name than can be hurt by any thing of this nature, and yours is doubly safe. I will, if any shame there be, take it all to myself, and indeed I ought, the motion being first mine, and never heartily approved by you. LETTER XXV. MR. POPE TO DR. SWIFT. June 20, 1716. I CANNOT suffer a friend to cross the Irish seas without bearing a testimony from me of the constant esteem and affection I am both obliged and inclined to have for you. It is better he should tell you than I, how often you are in our thoughts and in our cups, and how I learn to sleep less and drink more whenever you are named among us. I look upon a friend in Ireland, as upon a friend in the other world, whom (popishly speaking) I believe constantly well disposed towards me, and ready to do me all the good he can, in that state of separation, though I hear nothing * Mr. Jervas, who paid a visit to Ireland soon after the date of this letter. † Alluding to his constant custom of sleeping after dinner. Warburton. from him, and make addresses to him but very rarely. A protestant divine cannot take it amiss that I treat him in the same manner with my patron saint. I can tell you no news, but what you will not sufficiently wonder at, that I suffer many things as an author militant: whereof in your days of probation you have been a sharer, or you had not arrived in that triumphant state you now deservedly enjoy in the Church. As for me, I have not the least hopes of the Cardinalat, though I suffer for my religion in almost every weekly paper. I have begun to take a pique at the Psalms of David, if the wicked may be credited, who have printed a scandalous one* in my name. This report I dare not discourage too much, in a prospect I have at present of a post under the Marquis de Langallerie, wherein if I can do but some signal service against the Pope, I may be considerably advanced by the Turks, the only religious people I dare confide in. If it should happen hereafter that I should write for the holy law of Mahomet, I hope it may make no breach between you and Warburton. * In Curll's Collection. † Warton says, "It is observable that he does not deny his being the writer of it." I have little doubt that he was so. The Psalm is printed in the Additions to Pope's Works. Bowles. A scandalous volume, published in 1757, mostly reprinted from Curll's surreptitious editions; containing many pieces certainly not Pope's, and concluding with the farce of Three Hours after Marriage. since. One who made a noise then, as Count Bonneval has done me; every one must live, and I beg you will not be the man to manage the controversy against me. The Church of Rome I judge (from many modern symptoms, as well as ancient prophecies) to be in a declining condition; that of England will in a short time be scarce able to maintain her own family: so churches sink as generally as banks in Europe, and for the same reason; that religion and trade, which at first were open and free, have been reduced into the management of companies, and the roguery of directors. I do not know why I tell you all this, but that I always loved to talk to you; but this is not a time for any man to talk to the purpose. Truth is a kind of contraband commodity, which I would not venture to export, and therefore the only thing tending that dangerous way which I shall say, is, that I am, and always will be, with the utmost sincerity, Yours, &c. DEAR SIR, LETTER XXVI. MR. POPE TO DR. PARNELLE. London, July 29, (1716). I WISH it were not as ungenerous as vain, to complain too much of a man that forgets me, but I could expostulate with you a whole day upon your inhuman silence; I call it inhuman; nor would you think it less, if you were truly sensible of the uneasiness it gives me. Did I know you so |