Lines, but I will tell you directly that Mr Addifon and I have had a Converfation, that it would have been worth your while to have been plac'd behind the Wainscot, or behind fome half-length Picture to have heard. He affur'd me that he wou'd make use not only of his Intereft, but of his Art, to do you fome Service; he did not mean his Art of Poetry, but his Art at Court; and he is fenfible that nothing can have a better Air for himself, than moving in your Favour, efpecially fince Infinuations were fpread, that he did not care you should profper too much as a Poet. He protefts that it fhall not be his Fault, if there is not the beft Intelligence in the World, and the moft hearty Friendship, &c. He owns he was afraid Dr Swift might have carry'd you too far among the Enemy during the Heat of the Animofity, but now all is fafe, and you are efcap'd even in his Opinion. I promis'd in your Name, like a good Godfather, not that you should renounce the Devil and all his Works, but that you would be delighted to find him your Friend merely for his own fake; therefore prepare yourself for fome Civilities.

I have done Homer's Head, fhadow'd and heighten'd carefully; and I inclofe the Out-line of the fame Size, that you may determine whether you wou'd have it so large, or reduc'd to make room for a Feuillage, or Laurel, round the Oval, or about. the Square of the Bufto? Perhaps there is fomething more folemn in the Image itself, if I can get it well perform'd.

If I have been inftrumental in bringing you and Mr Addifon together with all Sincerity, I value my felf upon it as an acceptable piece of Service to fuch a one as I know you to be.

Your, &c.

Mr POPE's Anfwer.

AUG. 27, 1714.

I AM juft arriv'd from Oxford, very well divertedand entertain'd there all very honeft Fellowsmuch concern'd for the Queen's Death. No Panegyrics ready yet for the King.

I admire your Whig-principles of Refiftance exceedingly, in the Spirit of the Barcelonians. I join in your Wifh for them. Mr Addifon's Verfes on Liberty, in his Letter from Italy, would be a good Form of Prayer, in my Opinion. O Liberty! thou Goddess heavenly bright! &c.

What you mention'd of the friendly Office you endeavour'd to do betwixt Mr Addifon and me, de ferves Acknowledgments on my Part. You thoroughly know my Regard to his Character, and my Propenfity to teftify it by all ways in my Power. You as thoroughly know the fcandalous Meannefs of that Proceeding which was us'd by Philips, to make a Man I fo highly value, fufpect my Difpofitions toward him. But as, after all, Mr Addison must be the Judge in what regards himself, and has feem'd to be no very juft one to me; fo. I muft own to you I expect nothing but Civility from him, how much foever I wifh for his Friendfhip: And as for any Offices of real Kindness or Service which it in his. Power to do me, I fhould be afham'd to receive: 'em from any man who had no better Opinion of my Morals, than to think me a Party-man; nor of my Temper, than to believe me capable of maligning or envying another's Reputation as a Poet. So I leave it to Time to convince him as to both, to fhew him the fhallow Depths of thofe half-witted Creatures who misinform'd him, and to prove that I

am

am incapable of endeavouring to leffen a Perfon whom I would be proud to imitate, and therefore asham'd to flatter. In a word, Mr Addison is fure of my Respect at all times, and of my real Friendship whenever he fhall think fit to know me for what I am.

For all that pafs'd betwixt Dr Swift and me,. you know the whole (without Referve) of our Correfpondence: The Engagements I had to him were fuch as the actual Services he had done me, in relation to the Subfcription for Homer, oblig'd me to. I must have leave to be grateful to him, and to any one who serves me, let him be never fo obnoxious to any Party: nor did the Tory-party ever put me to the Hardship of asking this Leave, which is the greatest Obligation I owe to it; and I expect no greater from the Whig-party than the fame Liberty.

A curfe on the Word Party, which I have been forc'd to ufe fo often in this Period! I with the present Reign may put an End to the Diftinction, that there may be no other for the future than that of Honeft and Knave, Fool, and Men of Senfe; these two forts muft always be Enemies, but for the reft, may all People do as you and I, believe what they please and be Friends.

1 am, &c.

Mr POPE to Mr ADDISON.

Остов. с. 1714.

I HAVE been acquainted by one of my Friends. who omits no Opportunities of gratifying me, that you have lately been pleas'd to speak of me in a manner which nothing but the real Respect I have

I 6

for

for you can deferve. May I hope that fome late Malevolencies have loft their Effect? Indeed it is neither for me, nor my Enemies, to pretend to tell you whether I am your Friend or not; but if you would judge by Probabilities, I beg to know which of your poetical Acquaintance has fo little Intereft in pretending to be fo? Methinks no Man fhould queftion the real Friendship of one who defires no real Service: I am only to get as much from the Whigs, as I got by the Tories, that is to fay, Civility; being neither fo proud as to be infenfible of any good Office, nor fo humble, as not to dare heartily to defpife any Man who does me an In

juftice.

I will not value myself upon having ever guarded all the Degrees of Refpect for you; (for to fay the truth) all the World fpeaks well of you, and I fhould be under the neceffity of doing the fame, whether I car'd for you or not.

As to what you have faid of me, I fhall never believe that the Author of Cato can speak one thing and think another. As a Proof that I account you fincere, I beg a Favour of you: it is, that you would look over the two first Books of my Tranflation of Homer, which are now in the Hands of my Lord Halifax. I am fenfible how much the Reputation of any poetical Work will depend upon the Character you give it: 'Tis therefore fome Evidence of the Truft I repofe in your good Will, when I give you this Opportunity of speaking ill of me with Juftice, and yet expect you will tell me your trueft Thoughts, at the fame time that tell others your most favourable ones.

you

I have a farther Requeft, which I must press with Earneftness. My Bookfeller is reprinting the Efay on Criticifm, to which you have done too much

Honour

Honour in your Spectator of N° 253. The period in that Paper, where you fay, "I have admitted "fome Strokes of ill Nature into that Effay, is the only one I could wifh omitted of all you have written: but I wou'd not defire it fhou'd be fo, unless I had the Merit of removing your Objection: I beg you but to point out those Strokes to me, and you may be affur'd they shall be treated without Mercy.

*

Since we are upon Proofs of Sincerity (which I am pretty confident will turn to the Advantage of us both in each other's Opinion) give me leave to name another Paffage in the fame Spectator, which I wish you wou'd alter. It is where you mention an Obfervation upon Homer's Verfes of Syfiphus's Stone, never having been made before by any of the Critics: I happen'd to find the fame in Dionyfius of Halicarnaffus's Treatife, wep ΣUVJETE¦ ŐVOMatov, who treats very largely upon these Verfes. I know you will think fit to foften your Expreffion, when you fee the Paffage; which you must needs have read, though it be fince flipp'd out of your Memory.

I am,

with the utmoft Esteem,

Your, &c.

*Thefe Words are fince left out in Mr Tickell's Edition, but were

extant in all during Mr Addison's Life.

Mr