Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

jealoufy. I am, in my inquiry, like old Sir Bernard Gascoign, who used to say, that when he was grown too old to have his vifits admitted alone by the ladies, he always took along with him a young man to enfure his welcome to them; for had he come alone, he had been rejected, only because his vifits were not fcandalous, to them. So I am (like an old rook, who is ruined by gaming) forced to live on the good fortune of the puthing young men, whofe fancies are fo vigorous that they enfure their fuccefs in their adventures with the Mufes, by their strength of imagination.

Your papers are fafe in my cuftody (you may be fure) from any one's theft but my own; for 'tis as dangerous to trust a fcribler with your wit, as a gamefter with the cuftody of your money.-If you happen to come to town, you will make it more difficult for me to leave it, who am

Your, &c.

LETTER

VI.

April 30. 1705.

I

Cannot contend with you: You must give me leave

at once to wave all your compliments, and to collect only this in general from them, that your defign is to encourage me. But I feparate from all the reft that paragraph or two, in which you make me fo warm an offer of your friendship. Were I poffeffed of that, it would put an end to all thofe fpeeches with which you now make me blush; and change them to wholfome advices, and free fentiments, which might

make me wiser and happier. I know 'tis the general: opinion, that friendship is beft contracted betwixt perfons of equal age, but I have fo much intereft to be of another mind, that you must pardon me if I cannot for. bear telling you a few notions of mine, in opposition to that opinion.

In the first place, 'tis obfervable, that the love we bear to our friends, is generally caused by our finding the fame difpofitions in them, which we feel in ourfelves.

This is but felf-love at the bottom: whereas, the affection betwixt people of different ages cannot well be fo, the inclinations of fuch being commonly various. The friendship of two young men, is often occafioned by love of pleafure or voluptuoufnefs, each being defirous for his own fake of one to affift or encourage him in the courses he purfues; as that of two old men is frequently on the score of fome profit, lucre, on design upon others. Now, as a young man, who is lefs acquainted with the ways of the world, has in all probability lefs of intereft; and an old man, who may be weary of himself, has, or should have less of felf-love; fo the friendship between them is the more likely to be true, and unmixed with too much felfregard. One may add to this, that fuch a friendship is of greater use and advantage to both; for the old man will grow gay and agreeable, to please the young one; and the young man more discreet and prudent by the help of the old one; fo it may prove a cure of. thofe epidemical difeafes of age and youth, fournefs and madness. I hope you will not need many arguments to convince you of the poffibility of this; one alone

abundantly satisfies me, and convinces to the heart; which is, that young as I am, and old as you are,, I am your entirely affectionate, &c.

LETTER VII.

June 23. 1 705..

I

Should believe myself happy in 'your good opinion, but that you treat me fo much in a style of compliment. It hath been obferved of women, that they are more fubject in their youth to be touched with vanity than men, on account of their being generally treated this way; but the weakest women are not more weak than that clafs of men, who are thought to pique themfelves upon their Wit. The world is never wanting, when a coxcomb is accomplishing himself, to help to give him the finishing.

ftroke.

Every man is apt to think his neighbour overftock'd with vanity, yet, I cannot but fancy there are certain times, when most people are in a difpofition of being informed; and 'tis incredible what a vaft good a little truth might do, fpoken in fuch feafons. A fmall alms will do a great kindness to people in extreme neceffity.

I could name an acquaintance of yours, who would at this time think himself more obliged to you for the information of his faults, than the con

* Mr Wycherley was now about 70 years old, Mr Pope under 17.

frmation of his follies.

If you would make those the fubject of a letter, it might be as long as I could. wish your letters always were.

I do not wonder you have hitherto found fome difficulty (as you are pleased to fay) in writing to me, fince you have always chofen the task of commending me take but the other way, and, I dare engage, you will find none at all.

But I

As for my verses, which you praise fo much, I may truly fay, they have never been the cause of any vanity in me, except what they gave me when they firft occafioned my acquaintance with you. have several times fince been in danger of this vice; as often, I mean, as I received any letters from you. 'Tis certain, the greatest magnifying glaffes in the world are a man's own eyes, when they look upon his own perfon; yet, even in thofe, I cannot fancy myself fo extremely like Alexander the great, as you would perfuade me. If I must be like him, 'tis you will make me fo, by complimenting me into a better opi nion of myself than I deferve: They made him think he was the fon of Jupiter, and you affure me I am a man of parts. But is this all you can say to my honour? you faid ten times as much before, when you call'd me your friend. After having made me believe I poffefs'd a fhare in your affection, to treat me with compliments and fweet fayings, is like the proceeding with poor Sancho Panca: they perfuaded him that he enjoy'd a great dominion, and then gave him nothing to fubfift upon but wafers and marmalade. In our days the greatest obligation you can lay upon a Wit, is to make a fool of him.

For as when madmen are found incurable, wife men give them their way, and please them as well as they can; fo when thofe incorrigible things, Poets, are once irrecoverably be-mus'd, the best way both to quiet them, aud fecure yourself from the effects. of their frenzy, is to feed their varity; which indeed, for the most part, is all that is fed in a poet.

You may believe me, I could be heartily glad that all you fay were as true, applied to me, as it would be to yourself, for feveral weighty reafons; but for none fo much, as that I might be to you what you deferve whereas I can now be no more than is confiftent with the fmall, tho' utmost capacity of, &c..

I

LETTER VIII.

Oct. 26. 1705..

Have now changed the fcene from the town to› the country; from Will's coffee-houfe to Windfor foreft. I find no other difference than this, be-twixt the common town-wits, and the downright. country fools; that the firft are pertly in the wrong, with a little more flourish and gayety; and the last neither in the right nor the wrong, but confirm'd in a ftupid fettled medium betwixt both. However, methinks, these are most in the right, who quiet. ly and eafily refign themfelves over to the gentle reign of dulnefs, which the Wits muft do at laft, though after a great deal of noise and refiftance. Ours are a fort of modeft inoffenfive people, who neither have fenfe, nor pretend to any, but enjoy a jovial fort of dulness: They are commonly known in the

[ocr errors]
« ZurückWeiter »