upon venged upon, as the Sun was in the fable thefe bats and beaftly birds above-mentioned, only by fhining on. I am fo far from esteeming it any misfortune, that I congratulate you upon having your fhare in that, which all the great men and all the good men that ever lived have had their part of, Envy and Calumny. To be uncenfured and to be obfcure, is the fame thing. You may conclude from what I here say, that 'twas never in my thoughts to have offered you my pen in any direct reply to fuch a Critic, but only in fome little raillery; not in defence of you, but in contempt of him a. But indeed your opinion, that 'tis intirely to be neglected, would have been my own had it been my own cafe; but I felt more warmth here than I did when firft I faw his book against myself, (tho' indeed in two minutes it made me heartily merry.) He has written against every thing the world has approv'd these many years. I apprehend but one danger from Dennis's disliking our sense, that it may make us think fo very well of it, as to become proud and conceited, upon his difappro bation. 2 This relates to the pa- | rous principle of Friendship; per occafioned by Dennis's and meeting in the perfon Remarks upon Cato, called, defended, a heart incapable Dr. Norris's Narative of the of the like exertion of virtue, Frenzy of John Dennis. P. was not received with that A mean performance; but acknowledgment which fuch dictated by the moft gene- a fervice deferved. I must I must not here omit to do juftice to Mr. Gay, whofe zeal in your concern is worthy a friend and honourer of you. He writ to me in the most preffing terms about it, though with that just contempt of the Critic that he deferves. I think in these days one honest man is obliged to acquaint another who are his friends; when fo many mischievous infects are daily at work to make people of merit fufpicious of each other; that they may have the fatisfaction of feeing them look'd upon no better than themselves. I am Your, &c. I LETTER XI. Mr. ADDISOм to Mr. POPE. Oct. 26, 1713. Was extremely glad to receive a letter from you, but more fo upon reading the contents of it. The a Work you mention, will I dare fay, very fufficiently recommend itself when your name appears with the Propofals: And if you think I can any way contribute to the forwarding of them, you cannot lay a greater obligation upon me than by employing me in fuch an office. As I have an ambition of having it known that you are my friend, I shall be 2 The tranflation of the Iliad. P. very proud of fhowing it by this, or any other instance. I question not but your Translation will enrich our Tongue and do honour to our Country; for I conclude of it already from thofe performances with which you have oblig'd the public. I would only have you confider how it may most turn to your advantage. Excufe my impertinence in this particular, which proceeds from my zeal for your ease and happiness. The work would coft you a great deal of Time, and, unless you undertake it, will, I am afraid, never be executed by any other; at least I know none of this age that is equal to it befides yourself. I am at prefent wholly immerfed in country business, and begin to take delight in it. I wish I might hope to fee you here fome time, and will not defpair of it, when you engage in a work that will require folitude and retirement. I am Your, &c. I LETTER XII. Mr. ADDISON to Mr. POPE. Nov. 2, 1713. Have receiv'd your letter, and am glad to find that you have laid fo good a scheme for your great undertaking. I queftion not but the the Profe a will require as much care as the Poetry, but the variety will give yourself fome relief, and more pleasure to your readers. You gave me leave once to take the liberty of a friend, in advifing you not to content yourself with one half of the nation for your admirers when you might command them all. If I might take the freedom to repeat it, I would on this occafion. I think you are very happy that you are out of the Fray, and I hope all your undertakings will turn to the better account for it. You see how I prefume on your friendship in taking all this freedom with you: But I already fancy that we have lived many years together in an unreserved converfation, and that we may do so many more, is the fincere wish of Your, &c. LETTER XIII. To Mr. ADDISON. You OUR laft is the more obliging, as it hints which your candour and affection prompts you to recommend to me, and which (fo trivial The notes to his tranflation of Homer. as as things of this nature feem) are yet of no flight confequence, to people whom every body talks of, and every body as he pleases. 'Tis a fort of Tax that attends an estate in Parnaffus, which is often rated much higher than in proportion to the small poffeffion an author holds. For indeed an author, who is once come upon the town, is enjoy'd without being thanked for the pleasure, and fometimes illtreated by thofe very perfons who first debauched him. Yet, to tell you the bottom of my heart, I am no way displeased that I have of fended the violent of all parties already; and at the fame time I affure you confcientiously, I feel not the leaft malevolence or resentment against any of those who mifreprefent me, or are diffatisfied with me. This frame of mind is fo eafy, that I am perfectly content with my condition. As I hope, and would flatter myself, that you know me and my thoughts fo entirely as never to be mistaken in either, fo 'tis a pleasure to me that you guess'd so right in regard to the author of that Guardian you mentioned. But I am forry to find it has taken air, that I have some hand in thofe papers, because I write fo very few as neither to deferve the credit of fuch a report with fome people, nor the disrepute of it with others. An honeft Jacobite spoke |