I

LETTER XXXI.

Dec. 21, 1711.

But

F I have not writ to you fo foon as I ought, let my writing now atone for the delay; as it will infallibly do, when you know what a facrifice I make you at this time, and that every moment my eyes are employ'd upon this paper, they are taken off from two of the fineft faces in the universe. indeed 'tis fome confolation to me to reflect, that while I but write this period, I efcape fome hundred fatal darts from thofe unerring eyes, and about a thoufand deaths or better. Now you, that delight in dying, would not once have dreamt of an absent friend in thefe circumftances; you that are so nice an admirer of beauty, or (as a Critic would fay after Terence) fo elegant a fpectator of forms; you must have a fober dish of coffee, and a folitary candle at your fide, to write an epiftle lucubratory to your friend; whereas I can do it as well with two pair of radiant lights, that outfhine the golden god of day and filver goddess of night, and all the refulgent eyes of the firmanent.-You fancy now that Sappho's eyes are two of thefe my tapers, but it is no fuch matter; these are eyes that have more persuafion in one glance than all Sappho's oratory and gefture together, let her put her body into what moving poftures fhe pleases. Indeed, indeed, my friend, you could never have found fo improper a

time to tempt me with intereft or ambition: let me but have the reputation of thefe in my keeping, and as for my own, let the devil, or let Dennis, take it for ever. How gladly would I give all I am worth, that is to fay, my Paftorals, for one of them, and my Effay for the other? I would lay out all my Poetry in Love; an Original for a Lady, and a Tranflation for a Waiting-maid! Alas! what have I to do with Jane Gray, as long as Mifs Molly, Mifs Betty, or Mifs Patty are in this world? Shall I write of beauties murdered long ago, when there are those at this inftant that murder me? I'll e'en compofe my own Tragedy, and the poet fhall appear in his own perfon to move compaffion: Twill be far more effectual than Bays's entring with a rope about his neck, and the world will own, there never was a more miferable object brought npon the stage.

Now you that are a critic, pray inform me, in what manner I may connect the foregoing part of this letter with that which is to follow, according to the rules? I would willingly return Mr. Gay my thanks for the favour of his poem, and in particular for his kind mention of me; I hoped, when I heard a new Comedy had met with fuccefs upon the stage, that it had been his, to which I really wish no lefs; and (had it been any way in my power) should have been very glad to have contributed to its introduction into the world. His verfes to * Lintot have put

* These verfès are printed in Dr. Swift's, and our Author's Mifcellanies.

a whim into my head, which you are like to be troubled with in the oppofite page: take it as you find it, the production of half an hour t'other morning. I defign very foon to put a task of a more serious nature upon you, in reviewing a piece of mine that may better deserve criticism; and by that time you have done with it, I hope to tell you in perfon with how much fidelity I am

Your, &c.

myself obliged to inform you at the fame time of one of the many excellencies you poffefs without knowing of them. You are but too good a Painter already; and no picture of Raphael's was ever fo beautiful, as that which you have form'd in a certain heart of my acquaintance. Indeed it was but

* Most of these were printed without the Author's Confent, and no doubt are the fame upon which the cenfure is passed in the Preface. "That they have too much of a juvenile ambition "of Wit, and affectation of Gaiety." And it is pleaded in Excufe," that they were written very young, and the folly was "foon over,"

jut that the fineft lines in nature should be drawn upon the most durable ground, and none could ever be met with, that would fo readily receive, or fo faithfully retain them, as this Heart. I may boldly fay of it, that you will not find its fellow in all the parts of the body in this book. But I must complain to you of my hand, which is an arrant traitor to my heart; for having been copying your picture from thence and from Kneller these three days, it has done all poffible injury to the finest face that ever was made, and to the livelieft image that ever was drawn. I have imagination enough in your absence to trace fome refemblance of you; but I have been fo long as'd to lofe my Judgment at the fight of you, that 'tis paft my power to correct it by the life. Your picture feems leaft like when placed before your eyes; and, contrary to all other pictures, receives a manifest difadvantage by being fet in the faireft light in the world. The Painters are a very vain generation, and have a long time pretended to rival nature, but to own the truth to you, fhe made fuch a finifh'd piece about three and twenty years ago (I beg your pardon, Madam ; I proteft, I mean't but two and twenty) that 'tis in vain for them any longer to contend with her. I know you indeed made one fomething like it, betwixt five and fix years paft: 'Twas a little girl, done with abundance of spirit and life, and wants nothing but time to be an admirable piece: but, not to flatter your work, I don't think 'twill ever come up to what your father