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cularly obliged to Mr. Jervas, who gives me daily inftructions and examples. As to pocvical affairs, Itam content at prefent to be) a bare looker on, and from a practitioner turn samadmirer, which is (as the world goes) snot very ufual. Cato was not fo much the wonder of Rome in his days, as he is of Britain in ours, and tho' all the foolish industry poffible has been ufed to make it thought a Party-play, yet what the rauthor once faid of another may the most properly in the world be apply'd to him, on this occafion :

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Envy itself is dumb, in wonder loft, And Factions frive, who shall applaud him meft.

The numerous and violent claps of the Whig-party on the one fide of the theatre, were echo'd back by the Tories on the other; while the Author fweated behind the fcenes with concern, to find their applaufe proceeding more from the hand than the head. This was the cafe too ez of the Prologue writer, who was clapp'd into a ftanch Whig, at almoft ev'ry stwo lines. I believe you have heard that after all the applaufes of the oppofite Faction, my Lord Bolingbroke fence for Bouth who play'd Cato, into the box,

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abetweemone of the acts, and préfented him -with fifty guineas; in acknowledgment (as he expreft it) for defending thes caufe nof Liberty forwell against a Perpetual Dic(tator The Whigs are unwilling to be sdiftanc'd this way, (as 'tis said) and thereJefore design a prefent to the fame Cato very peedily; in the mean time they are getting ready as good a Sentence as the for-mer on their fide: So betwixt them, tis probable that Cato (as Dr. Garth exprest cit) may have fomething to live upon, after be dies. I am

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July 30, 1713. AM more joy'd at your return than I

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ba fhould be at that of the Sun, fo much ocas with for him this melancholy wet bfeafon; but 'tis his fate too, like yours, to ow be difplealing to Owls and obfcene animals, 38who cannot bear his luftre. What w me olin mind of these night-birds was John 101 Dennis, whom I think you are best reveng'd upon, as the Sun was in the fable

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upon those batts and beaftly birds abovemention'd, only by Shining on. I am fo far from efteeming it any misfortune, that I congratulate you upon having your fhare. in that, which all the great men and all the good men that ever liv'd have had their part of, Envy and Calumny. To be uncenfur'd, and to be obfcure, is the fame thing. You may conclude from what I here fay, that 'twas never in my thoughts to have offer'd you my pen in any direct reply to fuch a Critic, but only in fome little raillery; not in defence of you, but in contempt of him. * But indeed your opinion, that 'tis intirely to be neglected, would have been my own, had it been my own case; but I felt more warmth here than I did when first I saw his book against myself, (tho' indeed in two minutes it made me heartily merry.) He has written against every thing the world has approv❜d thefe many years: I apprehend but one danger from Dennis's difliking our fenfe that it may make us think fo very well of it, as to become proud and conceited, upon his difapprobation.

*This relates to the Paper occafion'd by Dennis's Remarks & N upon Cato, call'd, Dr. Norris's Narrative of the Frenzy of John Den..

Mr.

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I must not here omit to do juftice to. --whofe zeal in your concern is worthy a friend, and honourer of you. Her writ to me in the most preffing terms about it, tho' with that just contempt of the Cri tic that he deferves. I think in thefe days one honeft man is oblig'd to acquaint an other who are his friends; when fo many mifchievous infects are daily at work to make people of merit fufpicious of each s other; that they may have the fatisfaction of feeing them look'd upon no better than themselves. I am

Your, &c. bow

Mr. ADDISON to Mr. POPE..

I

October 26, 1713. Was extreamly glad to receive a letter from you, but more fo upon reading the contents of it. The Work you mention will I dare say very fufficiently recommend itself, when your name appears with the Propofals: And if you think I can any way contribute to the forwarding of them,

*The Tranflation of the Iliad.

you

you cannot lay a greater obligation tipon me, than by employing me in fuch an office. As I have an ambition of having it known that you are my Friend, I fhall be very proud of fhowing it by this, or any other inftance. I question not but your Tranflation will enrich our Tongue and do Honour to our Country: for I conclude of it already from those performances with which you have obliged the publick. would only have you confider how it may most turn to your advantage. Excufe my impertinence in this particular, which proceeds from my zeal for your cafe and happiness. The work wou'd coft you a great deal of time, and unless you undertake it will I am afraid never be executed by any other, at least 1 know none of this age that is equal to it befides yourself.

I am at prefent wholly immersed in country bufinefs, and begin to take delight in it. I wish I might hope to fee you here fomes time, and will not defpair of it, when you engage in a work that will require folitude and retirement. I am

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