to it, whilft they forget to pay their more private and particular, as more juft Debts, to their beft and nearest Friends. However, I hope, you who have as much GoodNature as Good Senfe, (fince they generally are Companions) will have Patience with a Debtor, who you think has an Inclination to pay you his Obligations, if he had wherewithal ready about him ; and in the mean time fhould confider when you have oblig'd me beyond my prefent Power of returning the Favour, that a Debtor may be an honeft Man, if he but intends to be just when he is able, tho' late. But I fhould be lefs juft to you, the more I thought I could make a Return to fo much Profufenefs of Wit and Humanity together; which though they feldom accompany each other, in other Men, are in you fo equally met, I know not in which you moft abound. But fo much for my Opinion of you, which is, that your Wit and Ingenuity is equall'd by nothing but your Judgment, or Modesty ; which (though it be to please my felf) I muft no more offend, than I can do either right.

Therefore I will fay no more now of them, than that your good Wit ne'er forfeited your good Judgment, but in your Partiality to me and mine; fo that if it

were

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were poffible for a harden'd Scribler to be vainer than he is, what you write of me would make me more conceited, than what I fcribble my felf; yet I muft confefs I ought to be more humbled by your Praife than exalted; which commends my little Sense with so much more of yours, that I am difparag'd and difhearten'd by yourCommendations; who give me an Example of your Wit in the first Part of your Letter, and a Definition of it in the laft: to make writing well (that is, like you) more difficult to me than ever it was before. Thus the more great and juft your Example and Definition of Wit are, the lefs I am capable to follow them. Then the best way of fhewing my Judgment, after having feen how you write, is to leave off writing; and the best way to fhew my Friendship to you, is to put an end to your Trouble, and to conclude

Tour, &c.

Mr. POPE's Answer.

March 25, 1705.

HEN I write to you, I forefee a

Wong Letter, and ought to beg your

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Patience

Patience beforehand; for if it proves the longeft, it will be of courfe the worst I have troubled you with. Yet to express my Gratitude at large for your obliging Letter, is not more my Duty than my Intereft, as fome People will abundantly thank you for one Piece of Kindnefs, to put you in mind of befother. The more favourable you are to me, the more diftinctly I fee my Faults; Spots and Blemishes, you know, are never fo plainly discover'd as in the brightest Sunfhine. Thus I am mortified by thofe Commendations which were defign'd to encou rage me for Praise to a young Wit, is like Rain to a tender Flower; if it be moderately beftow'd, it chears and revives; but if too lavishly, overcharges and depresses him. Moft Men in years, as they are ge nerally difcouragers of Youth, are like old Trees, that being paft Bearing themselves, will fuffer no young Plants to flourish beneath them: But as if it were not enough to have out-done all your Corvals in Wit, you will excel them in Good-Nature too. As for my (a) green Effays, if you find any pleature in 'em, it must be fuch as a Man naturally takes in obferving the firft Shoots and Buddings of a Tree which he

(a) His Paftorals, written at 16 Years of Age.

has

has rais'd himself and 'tis impoffible they fhould be efteem'd any otherwise, than as we value Fruits for being early, which ne verthelefs are the moft infipid, and the worst of the Year. In a word, I must blame you for treating me with fo much Compliment, which is at beft but the Smoak of Friendship. I neither write, nor converfe with you, to gain your Praife, but your Affection. Be fo much my Friend as to appear my Enemy, and tell me my Faults, if not as a young Man, at least as an unexperienc'd Writer.

YOUR

March 29, 1705.

OUR Letter of the Twenty-fifth of March I have received, which was more welcome to me than any thing cou'd be out of the Country, tho' it were one's Rent due that Day: and I can find no fault with it, but that it charges me with Want of Sincerity, or Juftice, for giving you your Due; who fhou'd not let your Modesty be fo unjust to your Merit, as to reject

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what

what is due to it, and call that Compliment which is fo fhort of your defert, that it is rather degrading than exalting you. But if Compliment be the Smoak only of Friendfhip, (as you fay) however you must allow there is no Smoak but there is fome Fire; and as the Sacrifice of Incenfe offer'd to the Gods wou'd not have been half fo fweet to others, if it had not been for its Smoak; fo Friendship, like Love, cannot be without fome Incenfe, to perfume the Name. it would praife and immortalize. But fince you fay you do not write to me to gain my Praife, but my Affection, pray how is it poffible to have the one without the other? We must admire before we love. You affirm, you would have me fo much your Friend as to appear your Enemy, and find out your Faults rather than your Perfections: But (my Friend) that would be so hard to do, that I who love no Difficulties, can't be perfuaded to it. Befides, the Vanity of a Scribler is fuch, that he will never part with his own Judgment to gratify another's; efpecially when he must take pains to do it: And tho' I am proud to be of your Opinion, when you talk of any Thing, or Man but your felf I e cannot fuffer you to murther your Fame, with your own hand, without oppofing you; especially when you fay your laft Let

ter