is immediately treated as a common enemy, instead of being looked upon as a common friend; and affaulted as generally as if his whole defign were to prejudice the State or ruin the Public. I will venture to say, no man ever rose to any degree of perfection in writing, but through obstinacy and an inveterate resolution against the stream of mankind: fo that if the world has received any benefit from the labours of the learned, it was in its own despite. For when first they effay their parts, all people in general are prejudiced against new beginners; and when they have got a little above contempt, then fome particular perfons, who were before unfortunate in their own attempts, are fworn foes to them only because they fucceed-Upon the whole, one may fay of the best writers, that they pay a fevere fine for their fame, which it is always in the power of the most worthless part of mankind to levy upon them when they please.

LETTER XX.

I am, etc.

I

TO MR. JERVAS.

July 28, 1714.

AM juft entered upon the old way of life again, sleep and mufing. It is my employment to revive the old of past ages to the prefent, as it is yours to tranfmit

tranfmit the young of the present, to the future. I am copying the great Mafter in one art, with the fame love and diligence with which the Painters hereafter will copy you in another.

Thus I fhould begin my Epistle to you, if it were a Dedicatory one. But as it is a friendly letter, you are to find nothing mentioned in your own praise but what one only in the world is witnefs to, your particular good-natured offices to me.

I am cut out from any thing but common acknowledgments, or common difcourfe: the first you would take ill, though I told but half what I ought: fo, in fhort, the last only remains.

And as for the last, what can you expect from a man who has not talked these five days? who is withdrawing his thoughts, as far as he can, from all the present world, its customs, and its manners, to be fully poffeffed and abforpt in the past? When people talk of going to Church, I think of facrifices and libations; when I fee the parfon, I address him as Chryfes priest of Apollo; and inftead of the Lord's

prayer, I

begin,

God of the filver bow, etc.

While you in the world are concerned about the Protestant Succeffion, I confider only how Menelaus may recover Helen, and the Trojan war be put to a speedy conclufion. I never inquire if the Queen be well or not, but heartily wish to be at Hector's funeral. The

only things I regard in this life, are whether my friends are well? whether my Tranflation go well on? whether Dennis be writing criticisms? whether any body will answer him, fince I don't? and whether Lintot be not yet broke?

LETTER XXI.

TO THE SAME.

I am, etc.

Auguft 16, 1714.

I THANK YOU

for

your good offices, which are numberlefs. Homer advances fo faft, that he begins to look about for the ornaments he is to appear in, like a modifh modern author.

Picture in the front,

With bays and wicked rhyme upon't.

I have the greatest proof in nature at prefent of the amufing power of Poetry, for it takes me up fo entirely, that I scarce fee what paffes under my nofe, and hear nothing that is faid about me. To follow poetry as one ought, one must forget father and mother, and cleave to it alone. My Reverie has been fo deep, that I have scarce had an interval to think myself uneafy in the want of your company. I now and then just miss you as I ftep into bed; this minute

indeed

indeed I want extremely to fee you, the next I shall dream of nothing but the taking of Troy, or the recovery of Brifeis.

and think and talk most

I fancy no friendship is so likely to prove lasting as ours, because, I am pretty fure, there never was a friendship of so easy a nature. We neither of us demand any mighty things from each other; what Vanity we have expects its gratification from other people. It is not I that am to tell you what an Artist you are, nor is it you that are to tell me what a Poet I am; but 'tis from the world abroad we hope (piously hope) to hear these things. At home we follow our business, when we have any; of each other when we have none. 'Tis not unlike the happy friendship of a stayed man and his wife, who are feldom fo fond as to hinder the business of the house from going on all day, or fo indolent as not to find confolation in each other every evening. Thus well-meaning couples hold in amity to the last, by not expecting too much from human nature; while romantic friendships, like violent loves, begin with difquiets, proceed to jealoufies, and conclude in animofities. I have lived to see the fierce advancement, the fudden turn, and the abrupt period, of three or four of these enormous friendships, and am perfectly convinced of the truth of a maxim we once agreed in, that nothing hinders the conftant agreement of people who live together, but merely vanity; a secret infisting upon what they think their dignity of merit, and

an inward expectation of fuch an Over-measure of deference and regard, as anfwers to their own extravagant falfe fcale; and which nobody can pay, because none but themselves can tell, exactly, to what pitch it amounts.

I am, etc.

1

LETTER XXII.

MR. JERVAS TO MR. POPE.

August 20, 1714.

HAVE a particular to tell you at this time, which pleases me so much, that you must expect a more than ordinary alacrity in every turn. You know I could keep you in fufpence for twenty lines, but I will tell you directly, that Mr. Addifon and I have had a converfation, that it would have been worth your while to have been placed behind the wainscot, or behind fome half-length picture, to have heard. He affured me, that he would make ufe not only of his interest, but of his art, to do you some service ; he did not mean his art of poetry, but his art at Court; and he is fenfible that nothing can have a better air for himself than moving in your favour, especially fince infinuations were fpread, that he did not care you should profper too much as a Poet. He protests that it fhall not be his fault, if there is not the

beft