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the greater part would make a much better Figure as Single Maxims and Reflections in Profe, after the manner of your Favourite Rochefoucaut, than in Verfe: And this, when nothing more is done but marking the Repetitions in the Margin, will be an eafy Task for your felf to proceed upon, notwithftanding the bad Memory you complain of.

I am unfeignedly, dear Sir,

Your, &c.

But little Progrefs was made in this Design by Mr. Wycherley, thro' bis old Age, and the Increase of bis Infirmities. He died 1715, and was buried in the Vault of St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden.

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LETTERS

OF

* Mr. WALSH and Mr.

POPE.

From 1705, to 1707

Mr. Walsh to Mr. Pope.

April 20, 1705.

Return you the +Papers you favour'd me with, and had fent them to you yesterday morning, but that I thought to have brought them to you laft night my felf. I have read them over feveral

*Of Abberley in Worcestershire, Gentleman of the Horfe in Queen Anne's reign, Author of feveral beautiful pieces in Profe and Verfe, and in the Opinion of Mr. Dryden, (in his Poftfcript to Virgil,) the beft Critic of

our Nation in his Time.

† Mr. Pope's Paftorals:

times

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times with great fatisfaction. The Preface is very judicious, and very learned; and the Verfes very tender and eafy. The Author feems to have a particular Genius for that kind of Poetry, and a Judgment that much exceeds the years you told me he was of. He has taken very freely from the Ancients, but what he has mixt of his own with theirs, is no way inferior to what he has taken from them. 'Tis no flattery at all to fay, that Virgil had written nothing fo

good at his *Age. I fhall take it as a favour if you will bring me

*Sixteen.

acquainted with him; and if he will give himfelf the trouble any morning to call at my Houfe, I fhall be very glad to read the Verfes over with him, and give him my opinion of the particulars more largely, than I can well do in this Letter. I am, Sir,

Your most faithful

and most humble Servant,

W. WALSH,

Mr.

C 3

I

Mr. Walsh to Mr. Pope.

June 24, 1706.

Received the favour of your Letter, and shall be very glad of the continuance of a correfpondence, by which I am like to be fo great a gainer. I hope when I have the happiness of feeing you again in London, not only to read over the Verfes I have now of yours, but more that you have written fince; for I make no doubt but any one who writes fo well, muft write more. Not thatI think the most voluminous Poets always the best: I believe the contrary is rather true. I mentioned fomewhat to you in London of a Paftoral Comedy, which I fhould be glad to hear you had thought upon fince. I find Menage in his obfervations upon Taffo's Aminta, reckons up fourfcore Paftoral Plays in Italian; and in looking over my old Italian Books, I find a great many Paftorals and Pifcatory Plays, which I fuppofe Menage reckons together. I find alfo by Menage, that Tallo is not the first that writ in that kind; he mentioning another before him, which he himself had never feen, nor indeed have I. But as the Aminta, Paftor Fido, and Filli di Sciro of Bonarelli are the three beft; fo I think there is no difpute but Aminta is the beft of the three: Not but that the Difcourfes in Paftor Fido are more entertaining and copious in feveral peoples opinion, tho' not fo proper for Paftoral; and the Fable of Bonarelli more furprising. I do not remember many in other Languages, that have written in this kind with fuccefs. Rancan's Bergeries are are much inferior to his Lyrick Poems: And the Spaniards are all too full of Conceits. Rapin

will

will have the defign of Paftoral Plays to be taken from the Cyclops of Euripides. I am fure there is nothing of this kind in English worth mentioning, and therefore you have that Field open to your felf. You fee I write to you without any fort of constraint or method, as things come into my head; and therefore pray ufe the fame freedom with me, who am, &c.

I

Mr. Pope to Mr. Walsh.

July 2, 1706. Cannot omit the firft opportunity of making you my acknowledgments for reviewing thofe Papers of mine. You have no lefs right to correct me, than the fame hand that rais'd a Tree has to prune it. I am convinced as well as you, that one may correct too much; for in Poetry as in Painting, a Man may lay Colours one upon another, 'till they stiffen and deaden the Piece. Befides to beftow heightning on every part is monftrous: Some parts ought to be lower than the reft; and nothing looks more ridiculous, than a Work, where the Thoughts, however different in their own nature, feem all on a level: 'Tis like a Meadow newly mown, where Weeds, Grafs, and Flowers are all laid even, and appear undistinguifh'd. I believe too, that fometimes our first Thoughts are the beft; as the firft fqueezing of the Grapes makes the finest and richest Wine.

I have not attempted any thing of Paftoral Comedy, because I think the Tafte of our Age will not relish a Poem of that fort. People feek for what they call it, on all fubjects, and in all

places;

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