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other men: I verily believe theirs were ne ver corrected by any man! But indeed, if mine have not, 'twas not my fault, I have endeavoured my utmost that they fhould. But these things are only whifpher'd, and I will not encroach upon Bayr's province and pen Whispers, for haften to conclude y

Your, &c. Long

Sir WILLIAM TRUMBULL to

I

Mr. POPE.

March 6, 1713.

Think a hafty fcribble fhows more what flows from the heart, than a let ter after Balzac's manner in studied phra fes; therefore I will tell you as faft as I can, that I have received your favour of the 26th paft, with your kind prefent of The Rape of the Lock. You have given me the trueft fatisfaction imaginable, not only in making good the juft opinion I have ever had of your reach of thought, and my Idea of your comprehenfive genius; but likewife in that pleafure I take as an Engglish Man to fee the French, even Boileau himself in his Lutrin, outdone in your Poem: For you defcend, leviore plectro,to all the nicer

touches

touches, that your own obfervation and wit furnih, on fuch a fubject as requires the fineft ftrokes, and the livelieft imagination. But I must fay no more (tho I could a great deal) on what pleases me fo much : and henceforth T hope you will never condemn me of partiality, fince I only swim with the ftream, and approve what all men of good tafte (notwithstanding the jarring of Parties) muft and do univerfally-applaud. I now come to what is of vaft moment, I mean the prefervation of your health, and beg of you earnestly to get out of all Tavern-company, and fly away tan quam ex incendio. What a mifery it is for you to be deftroyed by the foolish kindness fetis all one whether real or pretended) of those who are able to bear the Poifon of bad Wine, and to engage you in fo unequal a combat? As to Homer, by all I can learn your bufinefs is done; therefore come away and take a little time to breathe in the country. I beg now for my own fake, but much more for yours; methinks Mr.-has faid to you more than once,

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Heu fuge, nate dea, teque bis, air, eripe flam

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Your, &c.

Mr. POPE to Sir WILLIAM TRUMBUL L.

T

March 12, 1713

to

Hough any thing you write is fure be a pleasure to me, yet I muft own your last letter made me uneafy: You real ly use a style of compliment, which I expect as little as I deserve it. I know 'tis a common opinion that a young fcribler is as ill pleas'd to hear truth of a young Lady. From the moment one fets up for an author, one must be treated as ceremoniously, that it is, as unfaithfully,

As a King's Favourite, or as a King:

This proceeding, join'd to that natural va nity which fit makes a man an author, is certainly enough to render him a coxconib for life. But I must grant it is but a juft judgment upon Poets, that they whofe chief pretence is Wit, fhou'd be treated juft as they themselves treat Fools, that is, be cajol'd with praises. And I believe, Poets are the only poor fellows in the world whom any body will fatter.

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I would not be thought to fay this, as if the obliging letter you fent me deferv'd this imputation, only it put me in mind of it and I fancy one may apply to one's friend what Cafar faid of his Wife. It was not!! fufficient that be knew her to be chaft, himself, but he fhou'd not be fo much as fufpected by

others.

As to the wonderful discoveries, and all the good news you are pleas'd to tell me of myself; I treat it as you who are in the Secret treat common news, groundless reports of things at a distance, which I who look into the true fprings of the affair at home, in my own breaft, know to have no foundation at all. For Fame tho it be as Milton finely calls it, The laft Infirmity of noble Minds, is fcarce fo ftrong a temp tation as to warrant our lofs of time here: It can never make us lie down contentedly on a death-bed (as fome of the ancients are faid to have done with that thought.) You, Sir, have yourself taught me, that an eafy fituation at that hour, can proceed from no ambition lefs noble than that of an eternal felicity, which is unattainable by the strongest endeavours of the Wit, but may be gain'd by the fincere intentions of the Heart only. As in the next world, fo in this, the only folid bleffings are owing to the goodness of the mind, not the ex

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tent

tent of the capacity: Friendship here is an emanation from the fame fource as Beatitude there: the fame benevolence and grateful difpofition that qualifies us for the one, if extended farther, makes us partakers of the other. The utmoft point of my defire's in my prefent ftate terminates in the fociety and good will of worthy men, which I look upon as no ill earneft and fore-tafte of the fociety and alliance of happy fouls hereafter.

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The continuance of your favours to me is what not only makes me happy, but causes me to fet fome value upon myself as a part of your care. The inftances I daily meet with of thefe agreeable awakenings of friendship, are of too pleafing a nature not to be acknowledged whenever I think of you. I am,

Your, &c.

I

25

To the fame.

April 30, 1713.

Have been almost every day employ'd in following your advice, and amufing myfelf in Painting, in which I am moft parti

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cularly

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