Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub
[ocr errors]

B

two ad: to

April 10. 1716.

Y yours of the laft Month, you defire me to felect, if poffible, fome Things from the t firft Volume of your Mifcellanies, which may be alter'd fo as to apDewalter'd pear again. I doubted your meaning in this; whether it was to pick out the best of thofe Verfes, (as that on the Idleness of Business; on Ignorance; on Laziness, &c.) to make the Method and Numbers exact, and avoid Repetitions? For tho' (upon reading 'em on this occafion) I believe they might receive fuch an Alteration with advantage; yet they would not be chang'd fo much, but any one would know 'em for the fame at firft fight. Or if you mean to improve the worft Pieces, which are fuch as to render them very good, would require a great addition, and almoft the entire new writing of them? Or, laftly, if you mean the middle fort, as the Songs and Love-Verfes? For thefe will need only to be fhortned, to omit repetition; the Words remaining very little different from what they were before. Pray let me know

† Printed in Folio, in the Year 1704.

your

your mind in this, for I am utterly at a lofs. Yet I have try'd what I could do to fome of the Songs, and the Poems on Lazinefs and Ignorance, but can't (e'en in my own partial Judgment) think my alterations much to the purpose. So that I must needs defire you would apply your Care wholly at prefent, to those which are yet unpublished, of which there are more than enough to make a confierable Volume, of full as good ones, nay, I verily believe, of better than any in Vol. I. which I could wifh you would defer, at leaft 'till you have finish'd these that are yet unprinted.

no fend you a Sample of fome few of thefe; namely, the Verfes to Mr. Waller in his old Age; your new ones on the Duke of Marlborough, and two others. I have done all that I thought could be of advantage to them: Some I have contracted, as we do Sun-beams, to improve their Energy and Force; fome I have taken quite away, as we take Branches from a Tree, to add to the Fruit; others I have entirely new exprefs'd, and turned more into Poetry. Donne (like one of his Succeffors) had infinitely more Wit than he wanted Verfification: for the great dealers

Vid. Letter of Nov. 20, 1707.

in

in Wit like thofe in Trade, take leaft Pains to fet off their Goods; while the Haberdafhers of fmall Wit, fpare for no Decorations or Ornaments. You have commiffion'd me to paint your Shop, and I have done my best to brush you up like your Neighbours. But I can no more pretend to the Merit of the Production, than a Midwife to the Virtues and good Qualities of the Child he helps into the Light.

[ocr errors]

The few Things have entirely added, you will excufe; you may take them lawi fully for your own, because they are no more than Sparks lighted up by your Fire; and you may omit them at laft, if you think them but Squibs in your Triumphs..

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

I

as kind as it is ingenious, for which therefore I moft heartily thank you: It would have been much more welcome to me, had it not inform'd me of your want of Health: But you who have a Mind fo vigorous,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

vigorous, may well be contented with its crazy Habitation; fince (you know) the old Similitude fays, The Keennefs of the Mind fooneft wears out the Body's asthe fharpeft Sword fooneft deftroys the Scabbard: So that (as I fay) you must be fatisfied with your apprehenfion of an uneafy Life, (tho I hope not a fhort one;) notwithstanding that generally you found Wits (tho' weak Bodies) are immortal hereafter, by that Genius which thortens your prefent Life to prolong that of the future. But I'yet hope, your great, vigorous, and active Mind, will not be able to deftroy your little, tender, and crazy Carcafs.

Now to fay fomething to what you write, concerning the prefent epidemick Diftemper of the Mind and Age, Calumny; I Ι know it is no more to be avoided (at one time or another of our Lives) than a Fever, or an Ague; and as often thofe Diftempers attend, or threaten the beft Conftitutions, from the worst Air; fo does that malignant Air of Calumby, footeft attack the found and elevated in Mind, as Storms of Wind the tallest and most fruitful Trees; whilft the low and weak, for bowing and moving to and fro, are, by their Weaknefs, fecure from the danger and violence of the Tempeft. But fo much for ftinking Rumour, which weakeft Minds are moft afraid

of;

I

of

as Irish-Men, tho' the naftieft of Mankind are most offended at a Fart.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

I

Mr. WYCHERLEY to Mr. POPE.

yours

Nov. 11. 1707.

s of the 9th yefterday,

Receiv'day like the reft of

which has (like the reft of your Letters) at once pleas'd and inftructed me; fo that I affure you, you can no more write too much to your abfent Friends, than fpeak too much to the prefent.This is a Truth that all Men own, who have either feen your Writings, or heard your Dif courfe; enough to make others fhow their Judgment, in ceafing to write or talk, ef pecially to you, or in your company. However, I fpeak or write to you, not to please you, but my felf; fince I provoke your Anfwers; which, whilft they humble me, give me vanity; tho' I am leffen'd by you even when you commend me; fince you commend my little Senfe with fo much more of

Ι

yours, that you put me out of Countenance, whilft you would keep me in it. So that you have found a way (against the Cuftom of great Wits) to fhew even a great deal of Good-Nature with a great deal of good Senfe.

I thank

« ПредишнаНапред »