above thofe Critics, I was fo vain as to believe it; and yet I may not be fo humble as to think myself quite below their notice. For critics, as they are birds of prey, have ever a natural inclination to carrion: and tho' fuch poor writers as I are but beggars, no beggar is fo poor but he can keep a cur, and no author is fo beggarly but he can keep a critic. I am far from thinking the attacks of fuch people either any honour or dishonour even to me, much less to Mr. Dryden. I agree with you, that whatever leffer Wits have rifen fince his death, are but like ftars appearing when the fun is fet, that twinkle only in his abfence, and with the rays they have borrowed from him. Our wit (as you call it) is but reflection or imitation, therefore scarce to be called ours. True Wit, I believe, may be defined a juftness of thought, and a facility of expreffion; or (in the midwives phrase) a perfect conception, with an easy delivery . However, this is far from a complete definition; pray help me to a better, as, I doubt not, you

can.

f This is no definition of wit at all, but of good writing in general.

Mr. Locke had given a better. But his Effay was a

I am, &c.

work our young Poet did not then relish. He had met with it early; but he used to fay, it was quite infipid to him.

LETTER II.

From Mr. WY CHERLEY.

Jan. 25, 1704-5.

Have been so busy of late in correcting and transcribing fome of my madrigals for a great man or two who defired to see them, that I have (with your pardon) omitted to return you an answer to your most ingenious letter: fo fcriblers to the public, like bankers to the public, are profuse in their voluntary loans to it, whilft they forget to pay their more private and particular, as more juft debts, to their best and nearest friends. However, I hope, you who have as much good-nature as good fenfe (fince they generally are companions) will have patience with a debtor who has an inclination to pay you his obligations, if he had wherewithal ready about him; and in the mean time should confider, when you have obliged me beyond my prefent power of returning the favour, that a debtor may be an honest man, if he but intends to be just when he is able, tho' late. But I should be less just to you, the more I thought I could make a return to fo much profufeness of Wit and Humanity together; which tho' they feldom accompany each other in other men a, are

a Good-nature and good fanfe generally are compa:

nions, yet wit and humanity feldom accompany each other.

in

you fo equally met, I know not in which you most abound. But fo much for my opinion

of you, which is, that your Wit and Ingenuity is equalled by nothing but your Judgment, or Modefty, which (tho' it be to please myself) I must no more offend, than I can do either right.

Therefore I will fay no more now of them, than that your good wit never forfeited your good judgment, but in your partiality to me and mine; fo that if it were poffible for a hardened fcribler to be vainer than he is, what you write of me would make me more conceited than what I fcrible myself: yet, I must confess, I ought to be more humbled by your praise than exalted, which commends my little fenfe with so much more of yours, that I am difparaged and disheartened by your commendations; who give me an example of your wit in the first part of your letter, and a definition of it in the laft; to make writing well (that is, like you) more difficult to me than ever it was before. Thus the more great and just your example and definition of wit are, the less I am capable to follow them. Then the best way of fhewing my judgment, after having feen how you write, is to

But they might keep company or not, juft as they

pleafed, for the Author was gone in fearch of Witticifms.

B 4

leave

leave off writing; and the best way to fhew my friendship to you, is to put an end to your trouble, and to conclude

Yours, &c.

LETTER III.

March 25, 1705.

WHEN I write to you, I forcfece a long

letter, and ought to beg your patience before-hand; for if it proves the longest, it will be of course the worst I have troubled you with. Yet to express my gratitude at large for your obliging letter, is not more my duty than my intereft; as fome people will abundantly thank you for one piece of kindness, to put you in mind of bestowing another. The more favourable you are to me, the more distinctly I fee my faults: Spots and blemishes, you know, are never fo plainly discovered as in the brighteft funshine. Thus I am mortified by those commendations which were defigned to encourage me: for praise to a young wit, is like rain to a tender flower; if it be moderately bestowed, it chears and revives; but if too lavishly, overcharges and depreffes him. Most men in years, as they are generally difcouragers of youth, are like old trees, that, being past bear

a

ing themselves, will fuffer no young plants to flourish beneath them: but, as if it were not enough to have out-done all your coevals in wit, you will excel them in good-nature too. As for my green effays, if you find any pleafure in them, it must be fuch as a man naturally takes in obferving the first shoots and buddings of a tree which he has raised himself: and 'tis impoffible they should be esteemed any otherwise, than as we value fruits for being early, which nevertheless are the most insipid, and the worst of the year. In a word, I must blame you for treating me with fo much compliment, which is at beft but the smoke of friendship. I neither write, nor converse with you, to gain your praise, but your Affection. Be fo much my friend as to appear my enemy, and tell me my faults, if not as a young Man, at least as an unexperienced Writer.

I am, &c.

LETTER IV.

From Mr. WY CHERLEY.

.March 29, 1705.

UR letter of the twenty-fifth of March

You

I have received, which was more wel

His Paftorals, written at fixteen years of age. P.

come