friend, is the moft pleafing one I could be put upon. Since you are fo near going into Shropshire, (whither I fhall not care to write of this matter for fear of the mifcarriage of any letters) I must defire your leave to give you a plain and fincere account of what I have found from a more serious app'ication to them. Upon comparison with the former volume, I find much more repeated than I till now imagin'd, 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 line, both in this and the other part. But if you order me not to cross the lines, or would any way elfe limit my commiffion, you will oblige me by doing it in your next letter; for I am at once equally fearful of fparing you, and of offending you by too impudent a correction. Hitherto however I have crofs'd 'em fo as to be legible, because you bade me. When I think all the repetitions are struck out in a copy, I fometimes find more upon dipping in the firft volume, and the number encreases fo much, that, I believe, more fhortning will be requifite than you may be willing to bear with, un'efs you are in good earneft refolv'd to have no thought repeated. Pray, forgive this freedom, which as I must be fincere in this case so I could not but take; and let me know if I am to go on at this rate, or if you would prescribe any other method.

I am very glad you continue your resolution 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 efteemable, together with frequent infirmities and pains, hinder me from being in your abfence. 'Tis (I am fure) a real truth, that my sickness cannot

make

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 fee how freely and with how little care I ta'k 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 fame time be sure of it. Indeed I do not know whether or no the letters of friends are the worfe for being fit for none else to read. 'Tis an argument of the truft repofed in a friend's good-nature, when one writes fuch things to him as require a good portion of it. I have experienced yours fo often and fo long, that I can now no more doubt of the greatnefs of it, than I hope you do of the greatnefs of my affection, or of the fincerity with which I am, &c.

LETTER XXV.

From Mr. WYCHERLEY.

You

April 27, 1710.

U 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; amongft which, (you fay) you find numerous Repetitions of the fame thoughts and fubjects; all which, I muft confefs, my want of memory has prevented me from imagining, as well as made me capable of commiting: fince, of all figures, that of Tautology is the laft I would use, or leaft forgive myself for. seeing is believing; wherefore I will take some pains

upon

to examine and compare thofe 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 yourself and others. Now as to your remarks the whole volume of my papers; all that I defire of you is to mark in the margin (without defacing the copy at all) either any repetition of words, matter, 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 deficiencies of fenfe, with the infallibility of yours; which if you do, you will most infinitely oblige me, who almoft repent the trouble I have given you, fince fo much. Now as to what you call freedom with me, (which defire me to forgive) you may be affur'd I would not forgive you unless you did use it; for I am fo far from thinking your plainnefs an offence to me, that I think it a charity and an obligation; which I fhall always acknowledge, with all fort of gratitude for it; who am, &c.

you

to you

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

LET

LETTER XXVI.

May 2, 1710.

AM forry you perfift to take ill my not accepting your invitation, and to find (if I mistake not) your exception not unmix'd with fome fufpicion. Be certain I fhall moft carefully observe your request, not to cross over, or deface the copy of your papers for the future, and only to mark in the margin the. Repetitions. But as this can ferve no further than to get rid of those repetitions, and no way rectify the Method, or 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 unjuft, 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 lose no time in proceeding upon the correction. I will go on the fame way, if you please; tho' truly it is (as I have often told you) my fincere opinion, that the greater part would make a much better figure as Single Maxims and Reflections in profe, after the manner of your favourite Rochefoucault, than in verfe *: And this, when nothing more is done but

* Mr. Wycherley lived five years after, to December, 1715, but little progrefs was made in this defign, thro' his Old age, and the increase of his infirmities.

marking the repetitions in the margin, will be an eafy task to proceed upon, notwithstanding the bad Memory you complain of. I am unfeignedly, dear Sir, Your, &c.

A. POPE.

However, fome of the Verses, which had been touch'd by Mr. P. with cccv111 of these Maxims in Prose were found among his papers, which having the misfortune to fall into the hands of a Mercenary, were published in 1728 in octavo, under the Title of The Pofthumous Works of William Wycherley, Efq;

P.

LETTER S