your Grace. When I did this, your Grace was at Bath, and I forgot ever fince to tell you of it, 'till now, when the book's coming out, put me in mind of it. * If you can excuse this fault, I fincerely think I shall not err this way again, 'till such another great man as Bononcini arises, (for whenever that happens, I doubt not the English will use him as fcurvily,) but that your Grace needs not apprehend, during our lives. I am, with the fincerest respect, Madam, Your Grace's most obliged, moft obedient fervant, A. POPE. I LETTER X. MR. POPE TO LORD MY LORD, HAD (the best kind of honour) the pleasure of both your letters. I never was more earnest for any innocent thing than to enjoy the fylvan bower this season. One defire only overcame it, that of having you a witness of the pleasure I fhould take in it. The moment I find myself difappointed of that hope, I fly thither. Accordingly we lie there tonight. I can't tell you in what a manner I am affected by His Cantatas. every every thing you fay to me. I begin to wish I defired more things, to give you the pleasure of gratifying me in 'em. The ladies I talk'd of have disappointed me (that is, disappointed you) in taking away my expectation of seeing them. I'll not fay a word more for fear of writing like thofe that mean nothing, that is, writing in all the terms of respect and gratitude for the rogues (as Montaign fays) have got all thofe expreffions in their poffeffion, and have left no honest man wherewithal to speak his mind unfufpectedly. I'd rather fend you any thing elfe, as you'll fee by the pains I have prevailed on Mr. Gay to take in the enclosed, who is as I am, with truth and esteem, Your, etc. LETTER XI. A. POPE. I TO HENRY CROMWELL, ESQ. DEAR SIR, June 10th, 1711. WAS extremely concern'd to leave you ill when I parted from the town, and defir'd Mr. Thorold to give me an account of the ftate of your health by the next coach: he omitted to do it, and I have not been fince at Mr. Englefyld's, till yesterday, when I receiv'd the ill news that you continu'd ill, or much as I left you: I hope this is not true, and shall be very uneafy in my fears for your health till I have a farther account from yourself, which I beg you not to defer. I hope the air of this forest may perfectly recover you, and wish you would to that end try it fooner than the end of the month; if you defire Mr. Thorold, he will at a day's warning take a place for you. My father joins in this request, and Mr. Englefyld is overjoy'd with the hopes of feeing you at his house. When I have your company I cannot but be well, and hope from the knowledge of this, that you can't be very ill in mine. I beg you to believe no man can take a greater intereft in your welfare, or be more heartily affected towards you than myself; who am, with all the esteem and tenderness of a friend, dear Sir, Your faithful humble fervant, DEAR SIR, LETTER XII. TO THE SAME. A. POPE. January 25, 1711. IF my letter pleas'd you, yours overjoy'd me; and I expect impatiently your kind vifit: a little room. and a little heart are both at your fervice, and you may be fecure of being eafy in 'em at least, tho' not happy. For you fhall go juft your own way, and keep your own hours, which is more than can be done often in places of greater entertainment-As to your as you. your letter of Critical Remarks on Dryden's Virgil, I can only fay, most of what you observe are true enough, but of no great confequence (in my opinion at least). Line 250." And fanctify the fhame"-feems to me very beautiful; and fo does" 'tis doubly to be "dead." Line 946. "And bandy'd words ftill beat "about his ears."-This I have thought grofs as well I agree with you that the 993d line, " And "clos'd her lids at laft in endless night"-is contradictory to the sense of Virgil; for fo, as you fay, Iris might have been fpar'd. And in the main 'tis to be confefs'd that the tranflator has been freer with the character of Dido than his modeft author wou'd allow. I am just taking horfe to fee a friend five miles off, that I may have no little vifits abroad to interrupt my happiness at home when you are here. So that I can but just assure you, how pleas'd I am in the expectation of it, and how fincerely I fhall ever be, dear Sir, Your most oblig'd and affectionate servant, A. POPE. P. S. Pray bring a very confiderable number of pint bottles with you; this might feem a strange odd requeft, if you had not told me you wou'd stay but as many days as you brought bottles; therefore you can't bring too many, tho' we are here no drunkards. 'Tis a fine thing to have a learned quotation for every occafion, and Horace helps me to one now : L 3 -Non -Non ego te meis Immunem meditor tingere poculis, Plena dives ut in domo. And to another, Ep. 5. 1. 1. Ode 12. 1. 4. Hac ego procurare & idoneus imperor, & non And once more, Sat. 2. 1. 2. bene erat, non pifcibus urbe petitis, Sed pullo atque hædo; tum penfilis uva fecundas Nil mihi refcribas, attamen ipfe veni. P. S. Mr. Lintot favoured me with a fight of Mr. Dennis's piece of fine fatire* before 'twas published; I defire you to read it, and give me your opinion, in what manner fuch a critick ought to be answered? LETTER XIII. TO THE SAME DEAR SIR,' I SEND this only to let you know how much our whole family defire to hear of your fafe arrival in London, and the continuance of your health: you have without compliment obliged us all fo much * Remarks on the Effay on Criticism. |