Sir WILLIAM TRUMBULL, Mr. STEELE, Mr. ADDISON, and Mr. POPE. From 1711 to 1715. * Sir WILLIAM TRUMBULL to Mr. POPE. I HAVE this moment receiv'd the fac vour of of the 8th inftant; and yours will make you a true excufe, (tho' per haps no very good one) that I defer'd the troubling you with a letter, when I fent back your Papers, in hopes of feeing you at Binfield before this time. If I had met with any fault in your performance, I fhould freely now (as I have done too prefumptuously in converfation with you) tell *Secretary of State to King William the Third. you ₹ you my opinion; which I have frequently ventur'd to give you, rather in compliance with your defires, than that I could think it reafonable. For I am not yet fatisfied upon what grounds I can pretend to judge of Poetry, who never have been practis'd in the Art. There may poffibly be fome happy genius's, who may judge of fome of the natural beauties of a Poem, as a man may of the proportions of a building, without having read Vitruvius, or knowing any thing of the rules of architecture: But this, tho' it may fometimes be in the right, must be subject to many mistakes, and is certainly but a fuperficial knowledge; with out entring into the art, the methods, and the particular excellencies of the whole compofure, in all the parts of it. ,934 of Befides my want of skill, I have another reason why I ought to fufpect my felf, by reafon of the great affection I have for you, which might give too much biafs, to be kind to every thing that comes from you, but after all, I muft fay (and I do it with an old-fashion'd fincerity) that I entirely approve of your Tranflation of thofe Pieces of Homer, both as to the verfification and the true fenfe that fhines thro' the whole; nay I am confirmed in my former application to you, and give me leave to renew it upon this occafion, that you wou'd 4 wou'd proceed in tranflating that incomparable Poet, to make him speak good En glish, to drefs his admirable characters in your proper, fignificant, and expreffive conceptions, and to make his works as ufeful and inftructive to this degenerate age, as he was to our friend Horace, when he read him at Prænefte, Qui, quid fit pul chrum, quid turpe, quid utile, quid non, &c. I break off with that quid non? with which I confess I am charni’d. Upon the whole matter, I intreat you to fend this presently to be added to the Mif cellanies, and I hope it will come time enough for that purpofe. I have nothing to fay of my Nephew B's obfervations, for he fent them to me fo late, that I had not time to confider them I dare fay he endeavour'd ver very faithfully (tho he told me very haftily) to execute your commands. All I can add is, that if your excess of modefty fhou'd hinder you from publishing this Effay, I fhall only be forry that I have no more credit with you, to perfuade you to oblige the publick, and very particularly, dear Sir, |