that is to fay, without any ceremony, I am (I say) before the Lord, Ladies, Your most faithful, infignificant, humble fervant. I LETTER XXVI. TO MARTHA BLOUNT. Friday, 3d of June. MADAM, DARE not pretend to inftruct a Lady when to take any thing kindly. Their own hearts are always the best directors. But if I might, I would tell you, that if ever I could have any merit with you, it is in writing to you at a time when I am studying to forget every creature I ever loved or esteemed; when I am concerned for nothing in the world, but the life of one or two who are to be impeached, and the health of a Lady that has been sick; when I am to be entertained only with that jade whom every body thinks I love as a miftrefs, but whom in reality I hate as a wife, my Mufe. Pity me, Madam, who am to lie in of a poetical child for at leaft two months. As foon as I am up again, I'll wait upon you; but in the mean time I beg to hear if you are quite recovered from your ague, the only thing I defire to hear from any one in my prefent ftate of oblivion. Not Not that I am fo vain as to expect a favour from your hands, which I never yet received; I do not fay, never merited to receive; for I know both how little, and how much I deserve at your hands, though it is impoffible you should. But if you will fend those books of mine, which you are weary of, by one of your fervants, he may at the fame time inform me of your health. He may add to my fatisfaction, by acquainting me of that of Mr. Blount, Mrs. Blount, and your fair fifter. This Letter may very poffibly be the only thing that hinders you from a total forgetfulnefs of me. I would to God I could as eafily forget Maple-Durham is within ten miles of me. I am just in the condition of the poor people in purgatory : Heaven is in fight, and the pain of lofs the greatest I endure. I hope to be happy in a little time, and live in that hope. Your's and Mrs. Terefa's moft obedient, faithful fervant. I defire Mr. Blount not to fend for his first volume of Homer to London. I fhall have one for him on a better paper than ordinary, by Thursday next. LETTER XXVII. TO THE SAME. London, Tuesday. Yet AM very glad I did not defer feeing Mr. Bethel. I found him last night fo bad, and panting for breath, that I can scarce imagine he ever will recover. this morning he is quite another man, and fo much mended, that it is fcarce conceivable he is the fame perfon. So it seems it is with him, but much worse in town than on the road. It was impoffible to get him to Twitnam: he ftays but one day more, and fets out on Thursday morning. I wifh to God could borrow Lady A―'s chariot to-morrow,' just to look at him in the morning, and return to her to dinner. He lodges next door to Lord Shelburne's. He does not expect this; but I think it would be a fatisfaction to your own mind, and perhaps we fhall never fee him more. God's will must be obeyed; but I am exceffively wounded by it. Adieu. you I LETTER XXVIII. TO TERESA BLOUNT*. MADAM, WONDER you should imagine I thought you had done any thing amifs; when the Letter I fent you laft fo fully explained my meaning. I think that fhews you it is unreasonable I fhould trouble you fo frequently; and I can't think you so much a woman, as to expect I should continue to act unreasonably, only because I have done fo too long already. I will wait upon you before noon; and am very truly and honestly what I profess myself, Madam, Your most faithful friend, and fincere humble servant. This, and the two following Letters, appear to be part of the correfpondence which took place when Pope and Terefa had exafperated each other by neglect, either intended or accidental. If we allow, with Mr. Ruffhead, that his affection for thefe Ladies was “innocent and pure," furely it was at the fame time prepof. terous and abfurd. He treated them, we have seen, with the language of love and of licentioufuefs. Did they accept the one, without refenting the other? Some intrigues are myfterious, only until they are explained: Pope's and Swift's captivations are myfterious after all the light that can be thrown upon them. C. LETTER XXIX. TO THE SAME. DEAR MADAM, Chifwick, 4 o'clock, Tuesday, "Is really a great concern to me, that IS you miftook me fo much this morning. I have fincerely an extreme efteem for you; and, as you know I am distracted in one refpect, for God's fake don't judge and try me by the methods of unreasonable people. Upon the faith of a man who thinks himself not difhonest, I meant no disrespect to you. I have been ever fince fo troubled at it, that I could not help writing the minute I got home. home. Believe me, much more than I am my own, Yours. I LETTER XXX. TO THE SAME. DEAR MADAM, SEND you your book, and have not forgot to give commiffion about the lavender. I find I shall stay a little longer than I intended, my mother being fo much mended by change of air, both as to her cough |