proud to be known by them to the Publick for your Friend; who intend (perhaps the fame way) to be reveng'd of you for your kindness, by taking your Name in vain in fome of my future Madrigals: yet fo as to let the World know, my love or efteem for you are no more Poetick than my Talent in fcribbling. But of all the Arts of Fiction, I defire you to believe I want that of feigning Friendfhip, and that I am fincerely,

Four, &c.

Mr. WYCHERLEY to Mr. POPE.

I

་་

May 13, 1708...

HAVE receiv'd yours of the first of May. Your Paftoral Muse outfhines, in her modeft and natural drefs, all Apollo's Court-Ladies, in their more artful, labour'd, and coftly Finery; therefore I am glad to find by your Letter, you defign your Country-beauty of a Mufe fhall appear at Court and in Publick; to outfhine all the farded, lewd, confident, affected, Town-dowdies, who aim at being honour'd only to their Shame: But her artful Innocence (on they contrary) will gain more Honour as the becomes

D 4

becomes more publick; and in spite of Cuftom will bring Modefty again into Fafhion, or at leaft make her Sifter-rivals of this Age, blush for Spite, if not for Shame. As for my ftale, antiquated, poetical Puss, whom you would keep in countenance, by faying he has once been tolerable, and wou'd yet pafs Mufter by a little licking over; it is true that (like most vain antiquated Jades which have once been paffable) yet the affects Youthfulness, in her Age, and wou'd ftill gain a few Admirers, (who the more fhe feeks, or labours for their liking, are but more her contemners.) Neverthelefs, fhe is refolv'd henceforth to be fo cautious as to appear very lite little more in the World, except it be as an attendant on your Mufe, or as a Foil, not a Rival to her Wit, or Fame: So that let your Countrygentlewoman appear when the will in the World*, my old worn-out Jade of a loft Reputation, fhall be her attendant into it,

This and the following Extract, are a full Confutation of the Lying Spirit of John Dennis and others, who impudentby affered that Mr. Pope wrote thefe Verfes on himself, (tho publish'd by Mr. Wycherley fix Years before his Death) We find here it was a voluntary Act of his, promis'd before hand," and written while Mr. Pope was abfent. The first Brouillon of thofe Verfes, and the fecond Copy with Corrections, are both yet extant in the Harley Library, in Mr. Wycherley's own bands from which will appear, that if they received any alser ration from Mr. Pope, it was in the Omiffion of fome of his owa Praijes

to

to procure her Admirers, as an old Whore who can get no more Friends of her own, bawds for others, to make Sport or Pleafure yet, one way or other, for Mankind. I approve of your making Tonfon your Mufe's Introductor into the World, or Mafter of the Ceremonies, who has been fo long a Pimp, or Gentleman-Ufher to the Mufes.alby Holo

I wish you good Fortune; fince a Man with ftore of Wit, as ftore of Mony, without the help of good Fortune, will never be popular; but I wish you a great many Admirers, which will be fome Credit to my Judgment as well as your Wit, who always thought you had a great deal, and am

Your, &c.

Extract from two Letters of Mr. WYCHERLEY of May 18, and of July 28, 1708d non

I Verfe, upon

HAVE made a damn'd Compliment in Verfe, upon the printing your Paftorals, which you fhall fee when you fee If you fuffer my old Dowdy... pon your iprightly Lafs

mè.

of a Mufe to wait

of

of the Plains, into the Company of the Town, 'twill be but like an old City-bawd's attending a young Country beauty to Town,to gain her Admirers, when past the Hopes of pleafing the World herself...

-pino biro di ed oli my 2ndəri nk nieud end oder

Mr. WYCHERLEY to Mr. POPE.

-AM JU B4 10 9100tra

I

toren lliw dem May 17, 1709. MUST thank you for a Book of your Mifcellanies, which Tanfan fent me, I suppose by your Order; and all I can tell you of it is, that nothing has lately been better receiv'd by the Publick, than your part of it; you have only difpleas'd the Criticks by pleafing them too well; having not left them a Word to fay for them-.. felves, against you and your performances; fo that now your hand is in, you must perfevere, 'till my Prophefies of you be fulfill'd. In earneft, all the beft Judges of good Senfe, or Poetry, are Admirers of yours; and like your Part of the Book fo well that the reft is lik'd the worfe. This is true upon my word, without Compli ment fo that your firit Succefs will make you for all your Life a Poet, in fpite of your Wit; for a Poet's Succefs at first,

like a Gamefter's Fortune at firft, is like to make him a lofer at laft, and to be undone by his good fortune and merit. Lesbos

But hitherto your Mifcellanies have fafely run the Gantlet, through all the Coffeehoufes; which are now entertain'd with a whimfical new News-Paper, call'd, The Tatler, which I fuppofe you have seen. This is the newest thing I can tell you of, except it be of the Peace, which now (moft People fay) is drawing to fuch a Conclufion, as all Europe is, or must be fatisfy'd with; fo Poverty, you fee, which makes Peace in Westminster-Hall, makes it likewife in the Camp or Field, throughout the World: Peace then be to you, and to me; who am now grown peaceful, and will have no Contest with any Man, but him whỏ fays he is more your Friend, or humble Servant, than

fiero puovet you Tour, &c.

I

Mr. POPE's Anfwer.

May 20, 1709.

AM glad you receiv'd the Mifcellany, if it were only to fhow you that there

Jacob Tonfon's fixth Vol. of Mifcellany Poems.

are