Mr. Dryden us'd in converfation, of feathers in the crowns of the wild Indians, which they not only chufe for the beauty of their colours, but place them in fuch a manner as to reflect a lustre on each other. I will not disguise any of my fentiments from you: to methodize in your cafe, is full as neceffary as to ftrike out; otherwife you had better destroy the whole frame, and reduce them into fingle thoughts in profe, like Rochefoucault, as I have more than once hinted to you.

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LETTER XVI.

From Mr. WY CHERLE Y.

Feb. 28, 1707-8.

Have had yours of the 23d of this instant, for which I give you many thanks, fince I find by it, that even abfence (the ufual bane of love, or friendship) cannot leffen yours, no more than mine. As to your hearing of my being ill, I am glad, and forry for the report: in the first place, glad that it was not true; and in the next, forry that it fhou'd give you any disturbance, or concern more than ordinary for me; for which, as well as your concern for my future well-being or life, I think myself most eternally

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eternally oblig'd to you; affuring, your concern for either will make me more careful of both. Yet for your fake I love this life fo well, that I fhall the lefs think of the other; but 'tis. in your power to ensure my happiness in one and the other, both by your fociety, and good example, so not only contribute to my felicity here, but hereafter.

Now as to your excufe for the plainness of your style, I must needs tell you, that friendship. is much more acceptable to a true friend than wit, which is generally false reasoning; and a friend's reprimand often shews more friendship than his compliment: nay love, which is more than friendship, is often feen by our friend's correction of our follies or crimes. Upon this. teft of your friendship I intend to put you when I return to London, and thence to you at Binfield, which, I hope, will be within a month.

Next to the news of your good health, I am pleas'd with the good news of your going to print fome of your Poems, and proud to be known by them to the public for your friend; who intend (perhaps the fame way) to be revenged of you for your kindness; by taking your name in vain in some of my future madrigals: yet fo as to let the world know, my love or esteem for you are no more poetic than my talent in fcribling. But of all the arts of fiction,

fiction, I defire you to believe I want that of feigning friendship, and that I am fincerely

Your, &c.

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LETTER XVII.

From Mr. WYCHERLEY.

May 13, 1708.

Have receiv'd yours of the firft of May, Your Paftoral muse outshines in her modeft and natural drefs all Apollo's court-ladies, in their more artful, labour'd, and coftly finery. Therefore I am glad to find by your letter you defign your country-beauty of a muse shall appear at court and in public: to out-shine all the farded, lewd, confident, affected Town-dowdies, who aim at being honour'd only to their fhame: but her artful innocence (on the contrary) will gain more honour as she becomes public; and, in fpite of cuftom, will bring modefty again into fashion, or at least make her fifter-rivals of this age blufh for fpite, if not for fhame. As for As for my stale, antiquated, poetical pufs, whom you would keep in countenance by faying fhe has once been tolerable, and wou'd yet pafs mufter by a little licking over; it is true that (like most vain antiquated

jades which have once been paffable) the yet affects youthfulness in her age, and wou'd ftill gain a few admirers (who the more she feeks or labours for their liking, are but more her contemners.) Nevertheless she is refolv'd henceforth to be fo cautious as to appear very little more in the world, except it be as an Attendant on your Mufe, or as a foil, not a rival to her wit, or fame: fo that let your Countrygentlewoman appear when he will in the world, my old worn-out jade of a lost reputation fhall be her attendant into it, to procure her admirers; as an old whore, who can get no more friends of her own, bawds for others, to make sport or pleasure yet, one way or other, for mankind. I approve of your making Tonyour mufe's introductor into the world, or master of the ceremonies, who has been fo long a pimp, or gentleman-usher to the Muses.

fon

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This, and what follows, is a full Confutation of John Dennis and others, who afferted that Mr. Pope wrote these verses on himself (tho' publish'd by Mr. Wycherley fix years before his death.) We find here, it was a voluntary Act of his, promis'd before-hand, and written while Mr. Pope was abfent. The first Broüillon of those

| verfes, and the second Copy with corrections, are both yet extant in Mr. Wycherley's own hand: In another of his letters of May 18, 1708, are these words. "I "have made a damn'd "Compliment in verfe up"on the printing your Pa"ftorals, which you fhall "fee when you fee me." P.

I wish you good fortune; fince a man with ftore of wit, as ftore of money, without the help of good fortune, will never be popular; but I wish you a great many admirers, which will be fome credit to my judgment as well as your wit, who always thought you had a great deal, and am

Your, &c.

LETTER XVIII.

From Mr. WY CHERLEY.

May 17, 1709.

Muft thank you for a book of your Mifcellanies, which Tonfon fent me, I fuppofe, by your order; order; and all I can tell you of it is, that nothing has lately been better receiv'd by the public, than your part of it. You have only difpleas'd the critics by pleasing them too well; having not left them a word to say for themfelves, against you and your performances; fo that, now your hand is in, you must persevere, 'till my prophecies of you be fulfill'd. earnest, all the best judges of good sense or poetry, are admirers of yours; and like your part of the book fo well, that the rest is lik'd the worse. This is true upon my word, without compli

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