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take pity at once both of my readers and me, in shortning my barren abundance, and increafing their patience by it, as well as the obligations I have to you: And fince no madrigaller can entertain the head, unless he pleases the ear; and fince the crowded Operas have left the best Comedies with the leaft audiences, 'tis a fign found can prevail over fenfe; therefore foften my words, and ftrengthen my sense, and

Eris mihi magnus Apollo.

I

LETTER XXIV.

April 15. 1710.

Received your most extreme kind letter but juft now. It found me over those papers you mention, which have been my employment ever fince Eastermonday; I hope before Michaelmas to have difcharg'd my task; which upon the word of a friend, is the most pleasing one I could be put upon. Since you are so near going into Shropshire, (whither I fhall not care to write of this matter for fear of the miscarriage of any letters) I muft defire your leave to give you a plain and fincere account of what I have found from a more ferious application to them. Upon comparison with the former volume, I find much more repeated than I till now imagined, as well as in the prefent volume, which, if (as you told me laft) you would have me dash over with a line, will deface the whole copy extremely, and to a degree that (I fear) may displease you. I have every where mark'd in the margins the page and

When

fine, both in this and the other part. But if you order me not to cross the lines, or would any way else limit my commiffion, you will oblige me by doing it in your next letter; for I am at once equally fearful of sparing you, and of offending you by too impudent a correction. Hitherto however I have cross'd 'em fo as to be legible, because you bade me. I think all the repetitions are ftruck out in a copy, I fometimes find more upon dipping in the firft volume, and the number increases so much, that I believe more fhortning will be requisite than you may be willing to bear with, unless you are in good earnest resolv'd to have no thought repeated. Pray, forgive this freedom, which as I must be fincere in this cafe, fo I could not but take; and let me know if I am to go on at this rate, or if you would prefcribe any other method.

I am very glad you continue your refolution of feeing me in my Hermitage this fummer; the fooner you return, the fooner I fhall be happy, which indeed my want of any company that is entertaining or esteemable, together with frequent infirmities and pains, hinder me from being in your absence. 'Tis (I am fure) a real truth, that my fickness cannot make me quite weary of myself when I have you with me; and I fhall want no company but yours, when you are here.

You see how freely and with how little care I talk rather than write to you: this is one of the many advantages of friendship, that one can fay to one's friend the things that stand in need of pardon, and at the VOL. V.

F

fime time be fure of it. Indeed, I do not know whether or no the letters of friends are the worfe for being fit for none elfe to read: 'Tis an argument of the trust reposed in a friend's good nature, when one writes fuch things to him as require a good portion of it. I have experienced yours so often and fo long, that I can now no more doubt of the greatness of it, than I hope you do of the greatness of my affection, or of the fincerity with which

I am, &c.

YOU

LETTER XXV.

From Mr WY CHERLEY.

April 27. 1710.

DU give me an account in your letter of the trouble you have undergone for me, in com paring my papers you took down with you, with the old printed volume, and with one another, of that bundle you have in your hands; amongst which, (you fay) you find numerous Repetitions of the fame thoughts and fubjects; all which, I must confefs, my want of memory has prevented me from imagining, as well as made me capable of committing: fince, of all figures that of Tautology is the laft I would ufe, or leaft forgive myself for. But feeing is believing; wherefore I will take fome pains to examine and compare those papers in your hands with one another, as well as with the former printed copies, or books of my damn'd Mifcellanies; all which (as bad a memory as I have) with a little more pains and care, I think I

can remedy. Therefore I would not have you give yourself more trouble about them, which may prevent the pleasure you have, and may give the world in writing upon new fubjects of your own, whereby you will much better entertain yourfelf and others. Now, as to your remarks upon the whole volume of my papers; all that I defire of you is, to mark on the margin (without defaeing the copy at all) either any repetition of words, inatter, or fenfe, or any thoughts, or words too much repeated; which if you will be fo kind as to do for me, you will fupply my want of Memory with your good. one, and my deficiences of sense, with the infallibility of yours; which, if you do, you will most infinitely oblige me, who almoft repent the trouble I have given you, since so much. Now, as to what you call 'freedom with me, (which you defire me to forgive) you may be affur'd I would not forgive you unlefs did ufe it; for I am fo far from thinking your plainness an offence to me, that I think it a charity and an obligation; which I fhall always acknowledge, with all fort of gratitude to you for it; who am, &c..

you

All the news I have to fend you is, that poor Mr Betterton is going to make his Exit from the ftage of this world, the Gout being gotten up into his head, and (as the Physicians fay) will certainly carry him off fuddenly.

I

LETTER XXVI.

May 10. 1710.

Am forry you persist to take ill my not accepting your invitation, and to find (if I mistake not) your exception not unmixt with fome fufpicion. Be certain I fhall most carefully observe your request, not to cross over, or deface the сору of your papers for the future, and only to mark on the margin the Repetitions. But as this can ferve no further than to get rid of those repetitions, and no way rectify the Method, nor connect the Matter, nor improve the poetry in expreffion or numbers, without further blotting, adding, and altering, fo it really is my opinion and defire, that you should take your papers out of my hands into your own, and that no alterations may be made but when both of us are prefent; when you may be fatisfied with every blot, as well as every addition, and nothing be put upon the papers but what you fhall give your own fanction and affent to, at the fame time.

Do not be fo unjust, as to imagine from hence that I would decline any part of this task; on the contrary, you know, I have been at the pains of tranfcribing fome pieces, at once to comply with your defire of not defacing the copy, and yet to lofe no time in proceeding upon the correction. I will go on the fame way, if you pleafe; tho' truly it is (as I have often told you) my fincere opinion, that the greater part would make a much better