POPE AND THE BOOKSELLERS.

161

I know it was anciently the custom to sleep in temples for those who would consult the Oracles. "Who dictates to me slumber. ing," &c.1

You are an ill Catholic, or a worse geographer for I can assure you, Ireland is not Paradise, and I appeal even to any Spanish divine, whether Addresses were ever made to a friend in Hell or Purgatory. And who are all those enemies you hint at? I can only think of Curll, Gildon, Squire Burnet, Blackmore, and a few others, whose fame I have forgot-tools, in my opinion, as necessary for a good writer as pen, ink, and paper. And, besides, I would fain know whether every draper does not show you three or four damned pieces of stuff to set off his good one? However, I will grant that one thorough bookselling rogue is better qualified to vex an author than all his contemporary scribblers in critic or satire, not only by stolen copies of what was incorrect or unfit for the public, but by downright laying other men's dulness at your door.2

I had a long design upon the ears of that Curll, when I was in credit, but the rogue would never allow me a fair stroke at them, although my penknife was ready drawn and sharp. I can hardly believe the relation of his being poisoned, although the historian pretends to have been an eye-witness. But I beg pardon, sack might do it, although ratsbane would not. I

1 Par. Lost, ix., 23. On this passage Dr. Warton remarks that "this is the only time that Swift ever alludes to Milton, who was of an order of writers very different from what Swift admired and imitated;" an assertion which it may not be improper to controvert. To pass over an allusion to Milton's Prose Works, he twice mentions Paradise Lost with commendation.-Nichols. There was in existence, at the beginning of this century, a copy of the Par. Lost, annotated by Swift, in MS, for the use of " "Stella, as appears from the information of one of Milton's commentators, Todd.

2 Edmund Curll, the notorious pirate-bookseller of the day, had lately pub. lished a volume of Town Eclogues, with Pope's name on the title page, whereas it included but one of the poet's productions. He is gibbeted in the Dunciad as "shameless Curll," &c.

3 This story originated in a practical joke, said to have been played off by Pope upon Carll, who gave him an emetic in a glass of sack. See the Account of the Poisoning of Edmund Curll, vol. xiii. [of Scott's Ed. of Swift's Works].-S.

M

never saw the thing you mention as falsely imputed to you, but I think the frolics of merry hours, even when we are guilty, should not be left to the mercy of our best friends, until Curll and his resemblers are hanged.

With submission to the better judgment of you and your friends, I take your project of an employment under Langallerie to be idle and unnecessary. Have a little patience, and you will find more merit and encouragement at home, by the same methods. You are ungrateful to your country. Quit but your own religion and ridicule ours, and that will allow you a free choice for any other; or for none at all, and pay you well into the bargain. Therefore, pray do not run and disgrace us among the Turks, by telling them you were forced to leave your native home, because we would oblige you to be a Catholic; whereas we will make it appear to all the world, that we only compelled you to be a Whig. There is a young ingenious Quaker in this town, who writes verses to his mistress, not very correct, but in a strain purely what a poetical Quaker should do, commending her look and habit, &c. It gave me a hint that a set of Quaker Pastorals might succeed, if our friend Gay could fancy it, and I think it a fruitful subject. Pray, hear what he says. I believe farther, the Pastoral ridicule is not exhausted, and that a porter, footman, or chairman's Pastoral might do well. Or what think you of a Newgate Pastoral, among the whores and thieves there? 4

2

Lastly, to conclude, I love thee never the worse for seldom writing to you. I am in an obscure scene, where you know

1 The Marquis de Langallerie, who had distinguished himself in the French army, had renounced Catholicism, and was then engaged in raising troops for the Turks.

2 Gay did write a Pastoral of this kind, which is published in his works. Warburton.

8 Swift himself wrote one of this kind, Dermot and Sheelah.-W.

This hint is said to have suggested the Beggar's Opera.-S.

VERSES TO VANESSA.

163

neither thing nor person. I can only answer yours, which I promise to do after a sort, whenever you think proper to employ me. But, I can assure you, the scene and the times have depressed me wonderfully; for I will impute no defect to those two paltry years which have slipped by since I had the happiness to see you. I am, with the truest esteem, yours, &c.

TO MISS VANHOMRIGH.

[Undated.]

I am now writing on Wednesday night, when you are hardly settled at home, and it is the first hour of leisure I have had, and it may be Saturday before you have it, and then there will be Governor Huff,1 and to make you more so, I have enclosed a letter to poor Molkin, which I will command her not to shew you, because it is a love-letter.

I reckon by this time the groves and fields and purling streams have made Vanessa romantic, provided that poor Molkin be well. Your friend sent me the verses he promised, which I here transcribe:

Nymph, would you learn the only art,

To keep a worthy lover's heart-
First to adorn your person well,

In utmost cleanliness excel:

1 This cant expression, which often occurs, and sometimes in very puzzling passages, refers to Vanessa's desire of having things her own way, in which she was but seldom indulged.-S.

2 That is Swift himself, under the character of Cadenus. He often speaks, in his mysterious manner, of Cadenus as a different person from himself. The verses formed part of the published poem, Cadenus to Vanessa.-S.

And though you must the fashions take,
Observe them but for fashion's sake.
The strongest reason will submit
To virtue, honour, sense, and wit:
To such a Nymph the wise and good
Cannot be faithless if they would;
For vices all have different ends,
But virtue still to virtue tends;
And when your lover is not true,
"Tis virtue fails in him or you :
And either he deserves disdain,
Or you without a cause complain—
But here Vanessa cannot err,

Nor are those rules applied to her—
For who could such a Nymph forsake
Except a blockhead or a rake?

Or how could she her heart bestow,

Except where wit and virtue grow?

In my opinion, these lines are too grave, and may therefore fit you who, I fear, are in the spleen. But that is not fit either for yourself or the person you tend,1 to whom you ought to read diverting things. Here is an epigram that concerns you not:Dorinda dreams of dress a-bed:

'Tis all her thought and art.

Her lace hath got within her head,

Her stays stick to her heart.

If you do not like these things, what must I say? This town yields no better. The questions, which you were used to ask me, you may suppose to be all answered, just as they used to be after half-an-hour's debate. Entendez-vous cela?

You are to have a number of parsons in your neighbourhood,

1 Her sister

CLEARS HIMSELF FROM JACOBITISM.

165

but not one that you love-for your age of loving parsons is not yet arrived. What this letter wants in length, it will have in difficulty, for I believe you cannot read it. I will write plainer to Molkin, because she is not much used to my hand. I hold a wager there are some lines in this letter you will not understand, though you can read them. So drink your coffee, and remember you are a desperate chip, and that the lady who calls you bastard will be ready to answer all your questions. It is now Sunday night before I could finish this.

TO DR. KING.

Trim, December 16, 1716.

I should be sorry to see my Lord Bolingbroke following the trade of an informer, because he is a person for whom I always had, and still continue, a very great love and esteem. For I think, as the rest of mankind do, that informers are a detestable race of people, although they may be sometimes necessary. Besides, I do not see whom his Lordship can inform against, except himself. He was three or four days at the Court of France, while he was Secretary, and it is barely possible he might then have entered into some deep negotiation with the Pretender; although I would not believe him, if he should swear it, because he protested to me, that he never saw him but once, and that was at a great distance, in public, at an opera.

As to any other of the Ministry at that time, I am confident he cannot accuse them, and that they will appear as innocent with relation to the Pretender as any who are now at the helm; and