Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Author's Senfe; fuch as putting the Light of Pallas's Eyes into the Eyes of Achilles; making the Taunt of Achilles to Agamemnon, (that he should have Spoils when Troy fhould be taken) to be a cool and serious Propofal: The tranflating what you call Ablution by the Word Offals, and fo leaving Water out of the Rite of Lustration, &c. but you muft have taken notice of all this before. I write no to inform you, but to fhew I always have you at heart..

I am, &c.

From a Letter of the Rev. Dr BERKLEY, Dean of Londonderry.

JULY 7, 1715.

Some Days ago, three or four Gentlemen and myself exerting that Right which all Readers pretend to over Authors, fate in Judgment upon the two new Tranflations of the firft Iliad. Without Partiality to my Countrymen, I affure you they all gave the Preference where it was due; being unanimoufly of Opinion, that your's was equally juft to the fenfe with Mr's, and without Comparison more eafy, more poetical, and more fublime. But I will fay no more on fuc h a thread-bare Subject, as your late Performance is

at this time.

[blocks in formation]

Extract from a Letter from Mr GẠY to Mr POPE.

JULY 8, 1715.

I have juft fet down Sir Samuel Garth at the Opera. He bid me tell you, that every body is pleas'd with your Tranflation, but a few at Button's; and that Sir Richard Steele told him, that Mr Addifon faid Tickell's Tranflation was the best that ever was in any Language*. He treated me with extream Civility, and out of Kindness gave me a fqueeze by the fore Finger-I am inform'd that at Button's your Character is made very free with as to Morals, and Mr A fays, that your Tranflation and Tickell's are both very well done, but that the latter has more of Homer.

I am, &c.

Extract from a Letter of Dr. ARBUTHNOT to Mr POPE.

JULY 9, 1715. I congratulate you upon Mr Tickel's firft Book. I does not indeed want it's merit; but I was ftrangely difappointed in my Expectation of a Tranflation nicely true to the Original; whereas in those Parts where the greatest Exactnefs feems to be demanded, he has been the least careful, I

* Sir Richard Steele afterwards, in his Preface to an Edition of the Drummer, a Comedy by Mr Addison, shews it to be his Opinion, that" not Mr Tickel but Mr Addison himself was the Perfon "that tranflated this Book."

mean

mean the Hiftory of ancient Ceremonies and Rites, &c. in which you have with great Judgment been exact.

I am, &c.

Mr POPE to the Honourable JAMES CRAGGS, Efq;

JULY 15, 1715.

I Lay hold of the Opportunity given me by my Lord Duke of Shrewsbury, to affure you of the Continuance of that Efteem and Affection I have long born you, and the Memory of fo many agreeable Converfations as we have paffed together. I wish it were a Compliment to fay fuch Converfations as are not to be found on this fide of the Water: For the Spirit of Diffenfion is gone forth among us: Nor is it a Wonder that Button's is no longer Button's, when Old England is no longer Old England, that Region of Hofpitality, Society, and good Humour. Party affects us all, even the Wits, though they gain as little by Politicks as they do by their Wit. We talk much of fine Sense, refined Senfe, and exalted Senfe; but for Ufe and Happiness give me a little common Senfe. I fay this in regard to fome Gentlemen, profeffed Wits of our Acquaintance, who fancy they can make Poetry of Confequence at this time of Day, in the midft of this raging Fit of Politicks. For they tell me, the bufy Part of the Nation are not more divided about Whig and Tory, than these idle Fellows of the Feather about Mr Tickel's and my Tranflation. I (like the Tories) have the Town in general, that is the Mob, on my fide; but 'tis ufual K 4

with

[ocr errors]

with the smaller Party to make up in Industry what they want in Number and that's the Cafe with the little Senate of Cato. However, if our Principles be well confidered, I must appear a brave Whig, and Mr Tickel a rank Tory; I tranflated Homer for the Public in general, he to gratify the inordinate Defires of one Man only. We have, it feems, a great Turk in Poetry, who can never bear a Brother on the Throne; and has his Mutes too, a Set of Nodders, Winkers, and Whisperers, whofe Bufinefs is to ftrangle all other Offsprings of Wit in their Birth. The new Tranflator of Homer is the humbleft Slave he has, that is to fay, his first Minifter; let him receive the Honours he gives him, but receive them with fear and trembling: Let him be proud of the Approbation of his abfolute Lord; I appeal to the People, as my rightful Judges and Masters; and if they are not inclined to condemn me, I fear no arbitrary high-flying Proceedings from the fmall Court-Faction at Button's. But after all I have faid of this great Man, there is no Rupture between us: We are each of us fo civil and obliging, that neither thinks he is obliged. And I for my part treat with him, as we do with the Grand Monarch; who has too many great Qualities not to be refpected, though we know he watches any Occafion to opprefs us.

When I talk of Homer, I must not forget the early prefent you made me of Monfieur de la Motte's Book. And I can't conclude this Letter without telling you a melancholy Piece of News which affects our very Entrails is dead, and Soupes are no more! You fee I write in the old familiar Way. "This is not to the Minister, but to the Friend." However, it is fome Mark of uncommon Regard to the Minister, that I fteal an Expreffion from a Secretary of State. I am, &c.

Mr

Mr POPE to Sir WILLIAM TRUMBULL,

Dic. 16, 1715

IT was one of the Enigma's of Pythagoras, When the Winds rife worship the Echo. A modern Writer explains this to fignify, "When popular "Tumults begin, retire to Solitudes, or fuch Places "where Echo's are commonly found; Rocks, Woods, " &c.". I am rather of Opinion it should be in-terpreted, "When Rumours increase, and when "there is Abundance of Noise and Clamour, be"lieve the fecond Report." This I think agrees more exactly with the Echo, and is the more natural Application of the Symbol. However it be, either. of these Precepts is extreamly proper to be followed at this Seafon; and I cannot but applaud your Refolution of continuing in what you call your Cave in the Foreft, this Winter; and preferring the Noife of breaking Ice to that of breaking Statefmen, the Rage of Storms to that of Parties, and Fury and Ravage of Floods and Tempefts, to the Precipitancy of fome, and the Ruins of others, which I fear will be our daily Prospect in London.

I fincerely wish myfelf with you, to contemplate the Wonders of God in the Firmament, rather than the Madness of Men on the Earth. But I never had fo much Caufe as now to complain of my poetical Star, that fixes me at this tumultuous Time to attend the gingling of Rhymes, and the meafuring of Syllables: To be almoft the only Trifler in the Nation; and as ridiculous as the Poet in Petronius, who while all the reft in the Ship were labouring or praying for Life, was fcratching his Head in a little Room, to write a fine Defcription of the Tempest,

K s

You

« ПредишнаНапред »