LETTERS OF Mr POPE to Mr GAY.. From 1712 to 1730. SIR, Y Nov. 13, 1712. OU writ me a very kind Letter fome Months ago, and told me you were then upon the point of taking a Journey into Devonshire. That hinder'd my answering you, and I have fince feveral times enquir'd of you, without any Satisfaction; for fo I call the Knowledge of your Welfare, or of any thing that concerns you. I pafs'd two Months in Suffex, and fince my Return have been again very ill. I writ to Lintot in hopes of hearing of you, but had no Answer to that Point. Our Friend Mr Cromwell too has been filent all this Year; I believe he has been difpleas'd at fome or other of my Freedoms; which I very innocently take, and moft with those I think moft my Friends. L 2 But But this I know nothing of; perhaps he may have open'd to you: And, if I know you right, you are of a Temper to cement Friendships, and not to divide them. I really much love Mr Cromwell, and have a true Affection for yourfelf, which ifI had any Intereft in the World, or Power with thofe who have, I fhould not be long without manifefting to you. I defire you will not, either out of Modefty, or a vicious Diftruft of another's Value for you, (those two eternal Foes to Merit) imagine that your Letters and Converfation are not always welcome to me. There's no Man more intirely fond of good Nature or Ingenuity than myself, and I have feen too much of thofe Qualities in Mr Gay to be any thing less than his Binfield, Nov. 13, I T has been my good Fortune within this month paft, to hear more things that have pleas'd me than (I think) almoft in all my time befide. But nothing, upon my word has been fo home-felt a Satisfaction as the News you tell me of yourself: And you are not in the leaft mistaken, when you congratulate me upon your own good Succefs; for I have more People to be happy out of, than any ill-natur'd man can boaft. I may with Honesty 3 affirm 1 affirm to you, that notwithstanding the many conveniencies and Difadvantages they commonly talk of in the Res angufti domi, I have never found any other, than the Inability of giving People of Merit the only certain Proof of our Value for them, in doing 'em fome real Service. For, after all, if we could but think a little, Self-love might make. us Philofophers, and convince us, Quantuli indiget Natura! Ourfelves are eafily provided for; 'tis nothing but the Circumftantials, and the Apparatus or Equipage of human Life that cofts fo much the furnifhing. Only what a luxurious Man wants for Horfes and Foot-men, a good-natur'd Man wants for his Friends or the Indigent. I fhall fee you this Winter with much greater Pleasure than I could the laft; and I hope as much of your Time as your Attendance on the Duchefs will allow you to fpare to any Friend, will not be thought loft upon one who is as much fo as any Man. I must also put you in mind, tho' you are now Secretary to this Lady, that you are likewife Secretary to Nine other Ladies, and are to write fometimes for them too. He who is forc'd to live wholly upon thofe Ladies Favours, is indeed in as precarious a Condition as any He who does what Chaucer fays for Suftenance; but they are very agreeable Companions, like other Ladies, when a Man only paffes a Night or fo with them at his Leifure, and away. |