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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.

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April 27, 1710.

me, in com

COU give me an account in your letter of the

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trouble you have undergone for me, in.comparing 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 some 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

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fubjects of your own, whereby you will much better entertain yourself and others. Now as to your remarks upon 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 supply 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 almost repent the trouble I have given you, fince 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 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 shall always acknowledge, with all fort of gratitude you for it; who am, &c. am an Hon

to

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 Phyficians fay) will certainly carry him off fuddenly.

LET

I

LETTER XXVI.

May 2, 1710.

Am forry you perfift to take ill my not accepting your invitation, and to find (if I miftake not) your exception not unmixt with fome fufpicion. Be certain I fhall moft carefully obferve 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 thofe 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.

200

Do not be fo unjust, as to imagine from hence that I would decline any part of this tafk; 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 please; tho' truly it is (as I have often told you) my fincere opinion, VOL. VIII.

E

that

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

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A. POPE.

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. However, fome of the Verfes, which had been touch'd by Mr. P. with cccvIII of thefe Maxims in Profe, 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;

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Mr. WALSH to Mr. WYCHERLEY.

1.M 0 H2J 4 April 20, 1705.

Return you the + Papers you favour'd me with

I and had fene them to you yesterday morning, but

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that I thought to have brought them to you laft night myself. I have read them over feveral times with great fatisfaction. The Preface is very judicious and very learned; and the Verfes very tender

Of Abberley in

Queen Anne

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orcestershire, Gentleman of the Horfe in Author of feveral beautiful pieces in Profe and Verfe, and the opinion of Mr. Dryden (in his Postscript to Virgil) the beft critic of our Nation in his time.

+ Mr. Pope's Paftorals.

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and

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