clare, that my verses are corrected by other men: I verily believe theirs were never corrected by any man : but indeed if mine have not, 'twas not my fault; I have endeavour'd my utmost that they should. But these things are only whifper'd, and I will not encroach upon Bays's province and pen-whispers, fo haften to conclude Your, etc. 1 LETTER VIII. From my Lord LANSDOWN. Oct. 21, 1713. I AM pleas'd beyond measure with your defign of tranflating Homer. The trials which you have already made and published on fome parts of that author have fhewn that you are equal to so great a task: and you may therefore depend upon the utmost fervices I can do you in promoting this work, or any thing that may be for your fervice. I hope Mr. Stafford, for whom you was pleased to concern yourself, has had the good effects of the Queen's grace to him. I had notice the night before I began my journey, that her Majefty had not only directed his pardon, but order'd a writ for reverfing his outlawry. 2 Your, etc. LETTER IX. To General ANTHONY HAMILTON Upon his having tranflated into French Verse the Essay on Criticism. Oct. 10, 1713. IF F I could as well exprefs, or (if you will allow me to fay it) tranflate the fentiments of my heart as you have done thofe of my head, in your excellent version of my Eflay; I should not only appear the best writer in the world, but, what I much more defire to be thought, the most your fervant of any man living. "Tis an advantage very rarely known, to receive at once a great honour and a great improvement. This, Sir, you have afforded me, having at the fame time made others take my sense, and taught me to underfland my own; if I may call that my own which is indeed more properly yours. Your verses are no more a tranflation of mine, than Virgil's are of Homer's; but are, like his, the jufteft imitation, and the noblest Commentary. In putting me into a French drefs, you have not ' only adorned my outfide, but mended my fhape; and, if I am now a good figure, I muft confider you have naturaliz'd me into a country which is famous for making every man a fine gentleman. It is by your means, that (contrary to moft young travellers) I am come back much better than I went out. I cannot but wifh we had a bill of commerce for tranflation established the next parliament; we could not fail of being gainers by that, nor of making ourfelves amends for any thing we have loft by the war. *Author of the Memoirs of the Count de Gramment, Contasy and other pieces of note in French. Nay, tho' we fhould infift upon the demolishing of Boileau's works, the French, as long as they have writers of your form, might have as good an equivalent. Upon the whole, I am really as proud, as our ministers ought to be, of the terms I have gain'd from abroad; and I defign, like them, to publifh fpeedily to the world the benefits accruing from them; for I cannot refift the temptation of printing your admirable tranflation here*; to which if you will be fo obliging to give me leave to prefix your name, it will be the only addition you can make to the honour already done me. I am Your, etc. * This was never done, for the two printed French verfions are neither of this hand. The one was done by Monfieur Roboton, private fecretary to King George the first, printed in quarto at Amfterdam, and at London 1717. The other by the Abbé Refnel, in ectavo, with a large preface and notes, at Paris, 1730. LETTERS TO AND FROM Mr. STEELE, Mr. ADDISON, Mr. CONGREVE, etc. From the Year 1712 to`1715. LETTER I. Mr. STEELE to Mr. POPE. June 1, 1712. AM at a folitude, an houfe between Hampstead and London, wherein Sir Charles Sedley died. This circumstance fet me a thinking and ruminating upon the employments in which men of wit exercise themselves. It was faid of Sir Charles, who breath'd his last in this room, Sedley has that prevailing gentle art, Till the poor vanquish'd Maid diffolves away } This was a happy talent to a man of the town; but, I dare fay, without prefuming to make uncharitable conjectures on the author's prefent condition, he would rather have had it said of him that he had pray'd, Oh thou my voice inspire, Who touch'd Isaiah's hallow'd lips with fire! I have turn'd to every verfe and chapter, and think you have preferv'd the fublime heavenly spirit throughout the whole, especially at-Hark a glad voice-and -The lamb with wolves shall graze.-There is but one line which I think is below the original, He wipes the tears for ever from our eyes. You have exprefs'd it with a good and pious, but not fo exalted and poetical a fpirit as the prophet, The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces. If you agree with me in this, alter it by way of paraphrafe or otherwise, that when it comes into a volume it may be amended. Your poem is already better than the Pollio, I am LETTER II. The Answer. Your, etc. June 18, 1712. γου have obliged me with a very kind letter, by which I find you shift the scene of your life from the town to the country, and enjoy that mix'd ftate which wife men both delight in, and are qualified for. Methinks the moralifts and philofophers have generally run too much into extremes in commending entirely either folitude, or publick life. In the former, men for |