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The Excelles to which an unchriftian Revenge

HERE is nothing fo lamentable as to behold

is but too apt to hurry Mankind, when they have not the mild Difpofition of the Gospel before their Eyes. There we are taught to think that all Chriftians are our Neighbours, and that we ought to love them as ourselves: Therefore, how much foever Papishes may be mistaken in their Opinions, we ought not to give them bodily Perfecution or ill Ufage, but leave them to the Laws of the Land ; for although mistaken, they are ftill fome Sort of Chriftians.

O! that this pious Confideration could have withheld the Hands of two Proteftant Gentlemen from offering opprobrious Violence to the Body of Mr. Pope; which however, we hope, will be no Reflection on the Proteftant Religion abroad.

The barbarous Fact was as follows,

Laft Thursday, being a pleasant Evening, Mr. Sauny Pope, a great Poet (as we are informed) was walking in Ham-Walks, meditating Verfes for the Publick Good, when two Gentlemen came up to him, (whofe Names we cannot certainly learn) and knowing him perfectly well, partly by his Back, and partly by his Face, walked a Turn or two with him when entering into a Conversation (as we hear on the Dunciad, a pretty Poem of the faid Poet's Writing) on a fudden, one of the Gentlemen hoifted poor Master Pope, the Poet, on his Back, whilft the other drew out, from under his Coat, a long Birchen Rod, (as we are informed made out of a Stable Broom) and with the fame long Rod, did, with great Violence and an unmerciful Hand, ftrike Mafter Pope fo hard on his naked Pofteriors, that he voided vaft Quantities of Ichor, or Blood, which being Yellow, one Dr. Arbuthnot his Physician, has

fince affirmed, had a great Proportion of Gall mix'd with it, which occafioned the faid Colour.

As foon as this inhuman Whipping was over, the two Gentlemen made off, and left poor Mafter Pope weltering in his own yellow Blood When Mrs. Blount, a good charitable Woman, and near Neighbour of Mafter Pope's at Twickenham, chancing to come by, took him up in her Apron, and buttoning up his Breeches, carried him to the Water-fide, where she got a Boat to convey him home.

We hear that Master Pope has been ever fince greatly difordered; occafioned, as it is fuppofed, by the faid Whipping, which has driven the Humour upwards, and affected his Head in fuch a Manner, that the poor Man continually raves for Pen, Ink, and Paper; and although they have been allowed him by his own Physician Dr. Arbuthnot, who miftook his Cafe; yet he is now ftrictly forbid the Ufe of them, by the learned Dr. Hale of Lincoln'sInn-Fields, under whofe Care he is at prefent, and who doubts not (God willing) to restore the poor Man to his Senfes.

It is impoffible for any charitable Chriftian not to compaffionate the Cafe of this unfortunate Poet, although he differs from us in Religion; but we cannot too much admire the Wisdom of Providence, which brings this Man to the Lafh, whofe want of Wit has been lashing of others. And that this Madness eads him to rave for Pen, Ink, and Paper; whereof he has made fo ill a Ufe, and which has been the Caufe of the present Misfortune he labours under. We hope when he returns to his Senfes, he will make a better Use of them, and then he may say with holy David, It is good for me that I have been afflicted.

Thus far the public Account; which caus'd the VOL. I. 名 following

following Advertisement in the Daily Poft of Friday, June 14, 1728.

Wered about the Streets under the Title of 4 POPP upon POPE, infinuating, that I was whipped in Ham-Walks, on Thursday last. This is to give Notice, that I did not ftir out of my Houfe at Twickenham all that Day, and the fame is a malicious and ill-grounded Report.

HERAS there has been a fcandalous Paper

A. P.

If this were true it was a very unlawful Resentment, and in many Countries would be return❜d by an Affaffination of the Perfons concern'd; who, if they concealed themselves, must have loft great Part of their Revenge, by his not knowing who were the Caufes of his Suffering.

Thus was he perfecuted by many, fome covertly, fome openly; nay, Concanen accufed him of Treason, only because two Vacancies of Afterifis might poffibly be filled up with the Names of GEORGE and CAROLINE.

Though he wanted very little Affistance, several Friends appeared for him, particularly his old one Scriblerus:

But if a Genius rife, whofe pointed Wit
Corrects your Morals, and all Taftes fhall fit,
Claim then the Privilege to be his Foes,
Ye cannot shine, but when ye Worth oppofe.
When ye deny him Fame, ye fix your own,
And to be fatiris'd, is to be known.
Some hold, they're better in a curfed State,
Than to be totally annihilate;

Thrice

Thrice happy then, ye deathlefs, duncely Train!
The Subjects of the higher DUNCIAD's Strain.
How many, who have Reams of Paper spoil'd,
Have often fleepless Nights obfcurely toil'd,
And buried in their Eggs, like Silk-worms, lay,
'Till his warm Satire fhew'd them Life and Day?
Here then, my Sons, is all your living Hope,
To be immortal Scribblers, rail at POPE.

He introduces Narciffus (the fame with Lord Fanny) waking the Laureat fleeping on the Lap of Dullnefs, and conjuring him by all Things dear, at laft

rouzes him:

Dear Laureat, roufe, the Enemy's at Hand, "Another DUNCIAD travels round the Land, "Whence all the fole Proprietors of Trash,

..

Thy Friends and mine, most justly fear the Lash.' Vain are his Efforts yet again he tries,

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Thy Odes!-oh fave thy Odes !--dear Laureat, rife; "If not for Odes—yet for Love's Riddle wake"Nor that?-thy Careless Hufband's then at Stake." All would not do his foft Diftrefs preferr'd, Nor the great Mother, nor the Laureat heard; For on her Lap fo daintily he lay,

His Senfes, breath'd into her, ftole away;
All Aims at a Recovery were vain,

'Till fhe vouchfaf'd to breathe them back again.
One gentle Imprecation more, and then,
He cries, Farewell the Laureat and his Pen :
Thy Country calls, if thou refign'ft thy Sense,
"Yet roufe to be a Man of Confequence.
"Who calls thee Dunce abufes too thy King,
"Whofe Praises, by thy Place, thou'rt bound to fing;
"O! grant me Aid, aflume the pleasing Task,
"In thy Nonjuror's fav'rite Name I ask."

Z 2

Thrice

Thrice groan'd the Ompha, and in Thunder fpoke,
The Blaft his Senfe return'd, and Slumber broke;
Nonjure! That Word alone unbinds the Charms,
For Party Dullness always founds to Arms,
Upftarts the Sire, "Miftake me not he cries,
"Whoever says I was afleep-he lies;

"You know, my Lord, how I my Wits exert,
"How always pleafing, and how always pert;
"I know your Grief before the Caufe is told;
"Then here my Pen in Readiness I hold.
"Since by Defire I enter thus the Lists,

"I vow Revenge,-know, COLLEY ne'er defifts:
"Then I'll pursue him with my latest Breath,
"Nor drop this Pen 'till quite benumb'd with Death.”

How far the Laureat has kept his Word, concerning his not dropping his Pen, we shall obferve in its Place, and imagining that Mr. Pope has lull'd his Dunces for a Time afleep, give a little Reft to the Reader, and finish here our firft Volume.

The End of the FIRST VOLUME.

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