relates to you, if you but mark the place with a, when you send back the paper to, EVER since I returned home, I have been in almost roaring pain, with a violent rheumatism in my shoulder, so that all I am able to do is to return you thanks for yours. The satisfaction it gave me is proportioned to the regard I have for you. I will not praise your poem further than to say, the generosity of its sentiments must charm every man: its other merit you know well. You will pardon the few doubts I start in the interlinings; they are such as you can efface as easily as they may deserve. I wish to tell my Lord Peterborough (who has so long honoured me with so particular and familiar an acquaintance) the honour done him. I am very desirous to leave out that Note, if you like so. The two lords, and one gentleman, who really took and printed that edition, I can (I doubt not) bring easily to it. The chief objection I have to what you say of myself in this poem, is, that the praise is too strong. I may well compound for the rest. Suffer me to send the young lady the Odyssey, full of faults as I know it to be, before she grows old enough to know how mean a present it is. I am, with great truth, Sir, Your, &c. 5 Probably a Poem of Aaron Hill's, intitled, Advice to the Poets, in which Pope is highly complimented. LETTER IX. TO MR. HILL. SIR, March 2, 1731, I AM extremely pleased with the favour you have done me in sending me your Poem, and the more, as it gives me the opportunity of assuring you I never did, or meant you the least injury; in which I should have fully satisfied you long since, had you asked me the question. I remember Mr. Lintot showed me a piece of yours, of which (he said) you desired my opinion. I was just then in a great hurry, going a journey out of town upon business for a few days; and therefore told him I would call for it in a day or two, to read carefully: however, I cast my eye on some parts of it, which I liked, and told him so. This was all, to the best of my memory, that passed between us; and you may imagine it was some surprize to me when I saw your Preface a very short time after. I think it incumbent on any well-meaning man to acquit himself of an ill-grounded suspicion in another, who perhaps means equally well, and is only too credulous. I am sincerely so far from resenting this mistake, that I am more displeased at your thinking it necessary to treat me so much in a style of compliment as you do in your letter. I will say nothing of the poem you favour me with, for fear of being in the wrong; but I am sure the person who is capable of writing it can need no man to judge it. I am, with all respect, Sir, Your, &c. I received yours but four days since, it being directed to Chiswick, where I have not lived this twelvemonth. DEAR SIR, LETTER X. TO MR. HILL. Twickenham, March 14, 1731. I AM not more happy, nor feel a greater ease in comparison of my former pain, in the recovery from my rheumatism, than in that from your displeasure. Be assured, no little offenders ever shall be distinguished more by me. Your dedication pleases me almost equally with the poem; our hearts beat just together, in regard to men of power and quality: but a series of infirmities (for my whole life has been but one long disease) has hindered me from following your advices. I this day have writ to Lord Peterborough a letter with your poem. The familiarity in which we have lived some years, makes it not unusual, in either him or me, to tell each other any thing that pleases us: otherwise you might think it arrogant in me to pretend to put so good a thing into his hands, in which I have no merit. Your mention of our friend Mr. Mallet I thank you for, and should be glad he would give me an opportunity of thanking you in person, who am, with sincerity, Sir, Your, &c. 6 Alluding apparently to a passage in Hill's poem, in which he advises Pope to disregard the feeble attacks of his enemies : "Let half-soul'd poets still on poets fall, And teach the willing world to scorn them all; DEAR SIR, LETTER XI. TO MR. HILL. Twickenham, April 4, 1731. IT is a serious pleasure to me to find you concerned that I should do your good sense and discernment the justice it deserves. It is impossible for me not to think just what you would have me on this head; the whole spirit and meaning of your poem shows all little thoughts to be strangers to your soul. I happen to know many particulars relating to the Earl of Peterborough's conduct, and just glory, in that scene you draw so well: but no man ought (I think) to attempt what you aim at, or can pretend to do him more honour than what you yourself here have done', except himself. I have long pressed him to put together many papers lying by him, to that end. On this late occasion he told me you had formerly endeavoured the same, and it comes into my mind, that on many of those papers I have seen an endorsement, A. H. which I fancy might be those you overlooked. My Lord spoke of you with great regard, and told me how narrowly you both missed of going together on an adventurous expedition. The real reason I carried him your poem was, that I imagined you would never send it him, of all mankind; and that I was truly pleased with it. I am troubled to reflect, how unequal a correspondent I am to you, partly through want of health, (for I have since had a fever,) partly through want of spirits, and want of solitude; for the last thing we poets care to own, is the other want, that of abilities. 7 Referring to a passage in Hill's Advice to the Poets, in which Lord Peterborough is alluded to with great applause. Hill also wrote a poem, intitled Camillus, addressed to Lord Peterborough, and celebrating his exploits in Spain. 8 On an expedition to the West Indies.-Warton. But I am sensibly pleased with your letter, not only with that which seemed to prompt it, but with the things said in it: and I thank you for both. Believe me desirous to see you: when, and where, you shall determine; though I wish it were here. You will see a place seeming more fit for me than it is; looking poetical, yet too much in the world: romantic and not retired however, I can lock up all avenues to it sometimes, and I know no better reason for doing so, or for shutting out the world, than to enjoy such a one as yourself. I am, Sir, with esteem and sincerity, LETTER XII. Your, &c. TO MR. HILL. Sept. 1, 1731. I COULD not persuade myself to write to you since your great loss, till I hoped you had received some alleviation to it, from the only hand which can give any, that of Time. Not to have mentioned it, however fashionable it may be, I think unnatural, and in some sense inhuman; and I fear the contrary custom is too much an excuse, in reality, for that indifference we too usually have for the concern of another: in truth, that was not my case. I know the reason of one man is of little effect towards the resignation of another; and when I compared the forces of yours and mine, I doubted not which had the advantage, even though in your own concern. It is hard, that even in these tender afflictions, the greatness of the mind and the goodness are opposite to each other; and that while reason and the consideration upon what conditions we receive all the goods of this life operate towards our quiet, even 9 The death of Mrs. Hill. |