retreat in an ancient mansion of the Harcourts,
then fast falling to decay. In a letter to Lady
Mary Wortley Montague, written from this place
in November 1718, he describes the ruinous and
desolate scene of his labours, -a picture more
fanciful than true; he adds that for many years
rats have been the only inhabitants, "whose very
age renders them worthy of the venerable mansion,
for the very rats of this ancient seat are grey;"
and he expresses a hope that "at least this house
may stand during the small remainder of days
these poor animals have to live, who are now too
infirm to remove to another." He occupied the
topmost room in the tower over the domestic
chapel, which portion of the mansion is still
remaining, and is known by the appellation of
"Pope's Study." He spent two summers in this
quiet retreat, occasionally receiving visits from his
friend Gay, who was then staying with the Har-
courts, at Cokethorpe. It was during Pope's resi-
dence at Stanton Harcourt that the two lovers
were killed by lightning (A.D. 1718), an event
which he commemorated in an epitaph inscribed
on their monument in the parish church.*
1718 he finished the fifth volume of the Iliad,
which circumstance he recorded on a pane of red
glass, in his study window, in these words:-

"In the year 1718 Alexander Pope finished here
the Fifth Volume of Homer." +

In

The work was completed in six volumes, one of which appeared every year from 1715 to 1720.

*See Epitaphs, p. 525.

This interesting relic has been removed from its original position, and is now preserved at Nuneham Courtney, another seat of the Harcourt family.

Formerly he had written for fame, but when he engaged in the translation of Homer, he sought profit also. At that time he was absolutely poor. His religion debarred him from holding any civil appointment, and the allowance his father made him, although liberal in proportion to his means, was not sufficient to meet his requirements. He therefore determined to publish his translation by subscription, and is supposed to have realized above £5,000 by his labours.

The "Dunciad," the most famous of his works, drew upon him great opprobium. The poem had its origin thus. In 1727 Pope's "Treatise of the Bathos; or the Art of Sinking in Poetry," appeared in a volume of Miscellanies, published by himself and Dean Swift. This treatise ridiculed the poets of the day, ranging them in different classes, to which certain initial letters were affixed. So open and unfriendly an attack called forth the just indignation of those who were, or who fancied they were, the subjects of his ridicule, and produced a number of libels and pamphlets against him. By publishing the "Dunciad," it was Pope's intention to revenge himself on those enemies he had himself stirred up. He thus describes its reception :-"On the day the book was first vended a crowd of authors besieged the shop; entreaties, advices, threats of law and battery, nay cries of treason, were all employed to hinder the coming out of the Dunciad. On the other side, the booksellers and hawkers made as great an effort to procure it." While exulting in the storm he had raised, Pope, was perhaps insensible

to the scorn and clamorous indignation of his enemies; yet their biting sarcasms on his personal appearance, and his works, disturbed and embittered the latter part of his days.

In the spring of 1716 Pope had removed with his parents from Binfield to Twickenham. His father had disposed of his small property at Binfield, and from the proceeds of its sale, together with Alexander's literary earnings, had taken a long lease of that house and five acres of ground since familiarly known as "Pope's Villa." It was a simple residence of moderate size, but the grounds, under Pope's skill in ornamental gardening, were soon tastefully laid out and planted, and became the pleasing resort of those eminent men he numbered among his friends. The public road from London to Hampton Court ran through the grounds, and to connect them he formed the grotto-in itself a little gem, but scarcely in character with the adjoining gardens.

Soon after Pope's removal to Twickenham, his father died suddenly, October 23, 1717, not, however, before he had had the satisfaction of rejoicing in his son's fame and prosperity. His widow survived him fifteen years, and expired June 7, 1733, at the advanced age of ninety-four. Pope, while sorrowing over his loss, wrote to Richardson the artist, begging him to come and sketch his mother as she lay dead, "before this winter-flower is faded." The great love and respect the poet ever manifested towards his parents, is one of the most pleasing traits in his character.

In 1739 Pope felt his health gradually decaying and his end approaching. To the natural infirmi

ties which had attended him through life, were added a severe asthma and dropsy on the chest. With his health his genius also seemed to fail, and the spirit of poetry no longer to come at his bidding. Wishing to leave the world without any loss of that fame, to which his poetic powers entitled him, he wisely determined to attempt nothing new, but to employ his time on an improved edition of his works already published. This was his last undertaking, and his strength failing him during its progress, he was unable to finish it.

On Wednesday, May 30, 1744, he expired in his villa at Twickenham, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. He was buried, near his parents, in the middle aisle of Twickenham Church, where a plain stone,-on which only the letter P is inscribed, — marks the poet's grave.

J. L.