ill health, and partly to amuse myfelf with little im provements in my garden and house, to which pɔffibly I fhall (if I live) be foon more confined. When the Dunciad may be published I know not. I am more defirous of carrying on the beft, that is your edition of the rest of the Epifles and Effay on Criticifm, etc. I know it is there I fhall be feen moft to advantage. But I infift on one condition, that you never think of this when you can employ yourself in finishing that noble work of the Divme Legation (which is what, above all, iterum iterunque monebo 5) or any other ufeful scheme of your It would be a fatisfaction to me at prefent only to hear that you have fupported your heal.h among thefe epidemical diforders, which, though not mortal to any of my friends, have afflicted almost every one.

own.

I

LETTER XX.

June 5.

WISH that inftead of writing to you once in two months, I could do you some service as often; for I am arrived to an age when I am as fparing of words as moft old men are of money, though I daily find less occasion for any. But I live in a time when benefits are not in the power of an honeft man to beflow; nor indeed of an honeft man to receive, confidering on what terms they are generally to be had.

The judgment be here paffes on his own works is remarkable, and worth attending to.

5 Either his friendship for the Editor, or his love of Religion, made him have this very much at heart; and almoft the laft words he faid to the Editor as he was dying, was the conjuring him tọ finish the laft Volume; which, indignation, as be fuppofed, at the fcurrilities of a number of nameless fcribblers, had retarded. W.

It is certain you have a full right to any I could do you, who not only monthly, but weekly of late, have loaded me with favours of that kind, which are most acceptable to veteran Authors; thofe garlands which a Commentator weaves to hang about his Poet, and which are flowers both of his own gathering and painting too; not bloffoms fpringing from the dry Author.

It is very unreasonable after this, to give you a fecond trouble in revifing the Essay on Homer. But I look upon you as one fworn to suffer no errors in me: and though the common way with a Commentator be to erect them into beauties, the beft office of a Critic is to correct and amend them. There being a new edition coming out of Homer, I would willingly render it a little lefs defective, and the bookfeller will not allow me time to do fo myself.

Lord B. returns to France very fpeedily, and it is poffible I may go for three weeks or a month to Mr. Allen's in the fummer; of which I will not fail to advertise you, if it fuits your conveniency to be there and drink the waters more beneficially.

Forgive my fcribbling fo haflily and fo ill. My eyes are at least as bad as my head, and it is with my heart only that I can pretend to be, to any real purpose,

Your, etc.

The Editor did revife and corred it as it now ftands in the laft edition.

W.

LETTER XXI.

July 18. You ou may well expect letters from me of thanks: but the kind attention you fhew to every thing that concerns me is fo manifeft, and fo repeated, that you cannot but tell yourfelf how neceffarily I must pay them in my heart, which makes it almoft impertinent to fay fo. Your alterations to the Preface and Effay' are juft; and none more obliging to me than where you prove your concern, that my notions in my firft writings fhould not be repugnant to thofe in my last. And you will have the charity to think, when I was then in an error, it was not fo much that I thought wrong or perverfely, as that I had not thought fufficiently. What I could correct in the diffipaved life I am forced to lead here, I have: and fome there are which ftill want your help to be made as they fhould be. Mr. Allen depends on you at the end of the next month, or in September, and I will join him as foon as I can return from the other party; I believe not till September at fooneft.-You will pardon me (dear Sir) for writing to you but just like an attorney or agent. I am more concerned for your Finances than your Fame; because the first, I fear, you will never be concerned about yourself; the fecond is fecure to you already, and (whether you will or not) will follow you.

8

I have never faid one word to you of the public. I have known the greater world too long to be very

7 Prefixed to his Homer's Iliad.

His debt from the Executor of Mr. Gyles.

W.

W.

fanguine. But accidents and occafions may do what Virtue would not; and God fend they may! Adieu. Whatever becomes of public Virtue, let us preferve our own poor fhare of the private. Be affured, If I have any, I am with a true fenfe of your merit and friendship, etc.

LETTER XXII.

OЯober 7.

I

HEARTILY thank you for yours, from which I learned your fafe arrival. And that you found all yours in health, was a kind addition to the account; as I truly am interested in whatever is, and deferves to be dear to you, and to make a part of your happinefs. I have many reafons and experiences to convince me, how much you with health to me, as well as long life to my writings. Could you make as much a better man of me as you can make a better author, I were fecure of Immortality both here and hereafter by your means. The Dunciad I have ordered to be advertifed in quarto. Pray order as many of them as you will; and know that whatever is mine is yours.

་

N

LETTER XXIII.

January 12, 1743.

An unwillingness to write nothing to you, whom I refpect; and worfe than nothing (which would affli&t you) to one who wishes me fo well, has hitherto kept me filent. Of the Public I can tell you nothing worthy the reflection of a reafonable man; and of myself only an account that would give you pain : for my afthma has increafed every week fince you laft heard from me, to the degree of confining me totally to the fire-fide; fo that I have hardly feen any of my friends but two, who happen to be divided from the world as much as myself, and are conftantly retired at Batterfea. There I have past most of my time, and often wished you of the company, as the beft I know to make me not regret the lofs of all others, and to prepare me for a nobler fcene than any mortal greatnefs can open to us. I fear by the account you gave me of the time you defign to come this way, one of them (whom I much wish you had a glimpse of) will be gone again, unless you pass fome weeks in London before Mr. Allen arrives there in March. My prefent indifpofition takes up almost all my bours, to render a very few of them fupportable yet I go on foftly to prepare the great edition of my Things with your Notes, and as fast I receive any from you, I add others in order.

I am told the Laureat is going to publifh a very abufive pamphlet. That is all I can defire; it is enough, if it be abufive and if it be his. He threatens you; but, I think, you will not fear or love him fo