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Force he prepared, but check'd the rash design;
For when, appearing in a form divine,
The nymph surveys him, and beholds the grace
Of charming features and a youthful face;
In her soft breast consenting passions move,
And the warm maid confess'd a mutual love.

EPISTLE S.

EPISTLE

ΤΟ

MR. ADDISON.*

OCCASIONED BY HIS DIALOGUES ON MEDALS.

SEE the wild waste of all-devouring years!
How Rome her own sad sepulchre appears!
With nodding arches, broken temples spread;
The very tombs now vanish'd like their dead!
Imperial wonders raised on nations spoil'd,
Where, mix'd with slaves, the groaning martyr
toil'd:

Huge theatres, that now unpeopled woods,
Now drain'd a distant country of her floods :

5

* This epistle was originally written in the year 1715, when Mr. Addison intended to publish his book of Medals: it was some time before he was secretary of state; but not published till Mr. Tickell's edition of his works; at which time the verses on Mr. Craggs, which conclude the poem, were added; viz. in 1720.-Pope.

1 See the wild waste. Pope's remark on this Epistle seems contradicted by the fact, that Addison died on the 17th of June, 1719, and consequently Pope could not in 1720 request to share with him in the friendship of Craggs. The explanation is, that the six concluding lines were written on a former occasion, and while both Addison and Craggs were living.

РОРЕ.

IV.

D