I LETTER XXIII. June 10, 1709. Have receiv'd part of the Verfion of Statius, and return you my thanks for your Remarks; which I think to be just, except where you cry out (like one in Horace's Art of Poetry,) Pulchre, bene, recte! There I have fome fears, you are often, if not always, in the wrong. One of your objections, namely on that paffage, The reft, revolving years shall ripen into fate, may be well grounded, in relation to its not being the exact sense of the words * Cætera reliquo ordine ducam. But the duration of the Action of Statius's poem may as well be excepted against, as many things befide in him, (which I wonder Boffu has not obferved.) For instead of confining his Narration to one year, it is manifeftly exceeded in the very first two books. The Narration begins with Oedipus's Prayer to the Fury to promote discord betwixt his Sons; afterwards the poet exprefsly defcribes their entering into the agreement of reigning a year by turns; and Polynices takes his flight from Thebes on his Brother's refufal to refign the Throne. All this is in the first book; in the next, Tydæus is fent Ambaffador to Etheocles, and demands his refignation in these terms, * See the firft Book of Statius, Verfe 302. Aftriferum velox jam circulus orbem But Boffu himself is mistaken in one particular, relating to the Commencement of the Action; faying in book 2. cap. 8. that Statius opens it with Europa's Rape, whereas the Poet at most deliberates whether he should or not? Unde jubetis Ire Dea? gentifne canam primordia dire, but then expressly passes all this with a longa retro feries fays Limes mibi carminis efto Oedipoda confufa domus and Indeed there are numberless particulars blameworthy in our Author, which I have try'd to soften in the version. Dubiamque jugo fragor impulit Oeten In latus, & geminis vix fluctibus obftitit Ifthmus, is most extravagantly hyperbolical: Nor did I ever read a greater piece of Tautology than Vacua cum folus in aula Refpiceres jus omne tuum, cunctofque minores, G In the journey of Polynices is fome geographical error, - In mediis audit due litora campis could hardly be; for the Ifthmus of Corinth is full five miles over: and Caligantes abrupto fole Mycenas, is not confiftent with what he tells us, in Lib. 4. lin. 305: "That thofe of Mycænæ came not to the war at this time, because they were then in con"fufion by the divifions of the brothers, Atreus and Thyeftes: Now from the raifing the Greek Army against Thebes, back to the time of this journey of Polynices, is (according to Statius's own account) three years. Yours, &c. I' LETTER XXIV. August 19, 1709. F I were to write to you as often as I think of you, my letters wou'd be as bad as a rent-charge; but tho' the one be but too little for your good-nature, the other wou'd be too much for your quiet, which is one bleffing good-nature shou'd indifpenfably receive from mankind, in return for those many it gives. I have been informed of late, how much I am indebted to that quality of yours in fpeaking well of me in my abfence; the only thing by which you prove your felf no Wit or Critic: Tho' indeed I have often thought, that a friend will show. just as much indulgence (and no more) to my faults when I am absent, as he does feverity to 'em when I am prefent. To be frank with you, Sir, I muft own, that where I receiv'd fo much civility at first, I could hardly have expected fo much fincerity afterwards. But now I have only to wish, that the last were but equal to the first, and that as you have omitted nothing to oblige me, so you would omit nothing to improve me. I caus'd an acquaintance of mine to enquire twice of your welfare, by whom I have been inform'd, that you have left your fpeculative angle in the Widow's coffee-house, and bidding adieu for fome time to all the Rehearsals, Reviews, Gazettes, &c. have march'd off into Lincolnshire. Thus I find you vary your life in the scene at least, tho' not in the action; for tho' life, for the most part, like an old play, be ftill the fame, yet now and then a new scene may make it more entertaining. As for myself, I would not have my life a very regular play, let it be a tolerable farce, and a fig for the critical Unities! For the generality of men, a true modern life is like a true modern play, neither Tragedy, Comedy, nor Farce, nor one, nor all of thefe: Every Actor is much better known by his having the same face, than by keeping the same character: We change our minds as often as they do their parts, and he who was yesterday Cæfar, is to day Sir John Daw. So that one might ask the fame queftion of a modern life, that Rich did of a modern play; "Pray do me the favour, Sir, to inform me; "Is this your Tragedy or your Comedy ?” I have dwelt the longer upon this, because I perfwade my self it might be useful, at a time when we have no other Theatre, to divert our felves at this great one. What a glorious ftanding Comedy of fools! at which every man is heartily merry, and thinks himself an unconcern'd fpectator, and which (to our fingular comfort) neither my Lord Chamberlain, nor the Queen her felf can ever shut up, or filence. Your, &c. I LETTER XXV. October. 19, 1709. May truly say I am more oblig'd to you this Summer than to any of my acquaintance. The only companions I had were thofe Mufes, of whom Tully fays, Adolefcentiam alunt, fenectutem oblectant, fecundas res ornant, adverfis perfugium ac folatium præbent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobifcum, peregrinantur, rufticantur: which indeed is as much as ever Í expected from them; for the Mufes, if you take them as companions, are very pleasant and agreeable; but whoever should be forc'd to live or depend upon 'em, would find himself in a very bad condition. That Quiet, which Cowley calls the Companion of Obscurity, was not wanting to me, unless it was interrupted by those fears you so juftly guess I had for our friend's welfare. 'Tis extreamly kind in you to tell me the news you heard of him, and you have deliver'd me from more anxiety than he imagines me capable of on his account, as I am convinc'd by his long filence. However the love of fome things rewards itfelf, as of Virtue, and of Mr. Wycherley. I am furpriz'd at the danger you tell me he has been in, and muft agree with you, that our Nation would have loft in him alone, as much wit, and probity, as would have remain'd (for ought I know) in all the reft of it. My concern for his friendship will excufe me (fince I know you honour him so much, and fince you know I love him above all men) if I vent a part of my uneafinefs to you, and tell you, that there has not been wanting one to infinuate malicious untruths of me to Mr. Wycherley, which I fear may have had some effect upon him. If fo, he will have a greater punishment for his credulity than I could with him, in that fellow's acquaintance. The lofs of a faith |