Tell me, oh tell me, how he fought alone? How were such multitudes destroy'd by one ?" 66 Nought I beheld, but heard their cries," she said, To each deep groan and agonizing sound. This is enough in conscience for this time; besides, I am desired by Mr. Pope or Mr. Lintot, I do not know which, to write to Mr. Pope on a certain affair. SIR, me. LETTER XXX. MR. POPE TO THE REV. MR. PITT, TRANSLATOR OF VIDA AND VIRGIL. Twickenham, near Hampton-Court, I RECEIVED a letter from you with satisfaction, having long been desirous of any occasion of testifying my regard for you, and particularly of acknowledging the pleasure your Version of Vida's Poetic had afforded I had it not indeed from your bookseller, but read it with eagerness, and think it both a correct and a spirited translation. I am pleased to have been (as you tell me) the occasion of your undertaking that work that is some sort of merit; and, if I have any in me, it really consists in an earnest desire to promote and produce, as far as I can, that of others. But as to my being the publisher, or any way concerned in reviewing or recommending of Lintot's Miscellany, it is what I never did in my life, though he (like the rest of his tribe) makes a very free use of my name. He has often reprinted my things, and so scurvily, that, finding he was doing so again, I corrected the sheets as far as they went, of my own only. And, being told by him that he had two or three copies of yours, which you also had formerly sent me (as he said) through his hands, I obliged him to write for your consent, before he made use of them. This was all: your second book he has just now delivered to me, the inscription of which to myself I will take care he shall leave out; and either return the rest of your verses to him, or not, as you shall like best. I am obliged to you, Sir, for expressing a much higher opinion of me than I know I deserve the freedom with which you write is yet what obliges and pleases me more; and it is with sincerity that I say, I would rather be thought by every ingenuous man in the world, his servant, than his rival. LETTER XXXI. I am, &c. MR. SPENCE TO THE REV. MR. PITT, RECTOR OF PIMPERNE, NEAR BLANDFORD, DORSETSHIRE. Twickenham, Aug. 2, 1728. I AM here, my dear Rector, in as delightful a situation for the world about me, and books, and conversation, as mortal man can wish to be. I can think of nothing at present that could add to it, except the hearing that you are very well, and entirely free from your old enemy the gout. I should not know how to leave this place, had not I the hopes of waiting upon you in a few weeks: but first I can assure you, I have a world of drudgery to go through. I had almost forgot one particular: when I was with our old friend, Mr. Pescod, the other day, he confirmed me in a thought I had, that the verses on an Old Beauty (she, you know, "who blooms in the winter of her days like Glastonbury Thorn") were written by you at New College. If they are yours, as I am very much persuaded they are, I beg you would be so good as to send me a copy of them in your answer: which I beg may be as soon as possible, because, as you may easily imagine, I do not love to be many days without hearing from you. I desire this copy the rather, because I have been asked for it since I have been in town, and have none but a very incorrect copy at present. If you have any commands here, I beg you would favour me with them, as your most affectionate friend and servant, Jo. SPENCE. SIR, I take this opportunity of assuring you, you have, at the place from whence this letter is dated, a friend and servant, A. POPE. N. B. In a letter from Mr. Spence to Mr. Pitt, dated New College, November 12, 1728, are the following words, containing Mr. Pope's opinion of Pitt's Virgil. "Before this I gave you Mr. Pope's real sentiment on your first book; I dare say it was his real sentiment, because, as I told you, I took care to ask him the question before I had mentioned my being acquainted with you; and it was literally what I told you." SIR, LETTER XXXII. MR. POPE TO MR. HOLDSWORTH *. Twitenham, Dec. 1737. As I am not so happy (though I have long desired it) to be known to you otherwise than in my 4 Author of Muscipula. poetical capacity, so you will see, it is in the merit of that only that I take the liberty of applying to you, in what I think the cause of poetry. I understand that the poetry-professorship in Oxford will be vacant, and that Mr. Harte, of St. Mary Hall, is willing to succeed in it. I think it a condescension in one who practises the art of poetry so well, to stoop to be a critic, and hope the University will do itself the credit to accept of him. Your interest is what I would beg for him as a favour to myself. You, who have used the Muses so ill as to cast them off when they were so kind to you, ought some way to atone, by promoting such good and faithful servants to them in your stead. But if Mr. Harte were not as virtuous and as blameless, as he is capable and learned, I should recommend him with an ill grace to one whose morals only have hindered his fortune, and whose modesty only prevented his fame. If ever you visit these seats of corruption in and about London, I hope you would favour me with a day or two's retirement hither, where I might try to show you, with what regard I truly am, Sir, Your, &c. |