lieve of the paffions and pride of mankind in general, that (did but the fame interests go along with them) they would carry the learn ed world to as violent extremes, animofities, and even perfecutions, about variety of opinions in Criticism, as ever they did about Religion and that, in defect of Scripture to quarrel upon, we should have French, Italian, and Dutch Commentators ready to burn one another about Homer, Virgil, Terence, and Horace.

I do not wonder your Grace is fhock'd at the flight of Hector upon the first appearance of Achilles in the twenty-fecond Iliad. However (to fhew myself a true Commentator, if not a true Critic) I will endeavour to excufe, if not to defend it in my Notes on that book. And to fave myself what trouble. I can, instead of doing it in this letter, I will draw up the fubstance of what I have to fay for it in a separate. paper, which I'll shew Grace when next your we meet. I will only defire you to allow me, that Hector was in an abfolute certainty of death, and deprefs'd over and above with the confcience of being in an ill cause. heart be fo great, as not to grant the first of these will fink the spirit of a Hero, you'll at leaft be fo good, as to allow the second may. But, I can tell your Grace, no less a Hero than Lord Peterborow, when a perfon compli

my

If your

mented

mented him for never being afraid, made this answer; "Sir, fhew me a danger that I think "an imminent and real one, and I promise you "I'll be as much afraid as any of you."

I am your Grace's, &c.

I

LETTER XIV.

From Dr. ARBUTHNOT.

London, Sept. 7, 1714.

Am extremely obliged to you for taking notice of a poor old diftreffed courtier, commonly the most despifeable thing in the world. This blow has fo rous'd Scriblerus that he has recover'd his fenfes, and thinks and talks like other men. From being frolickfome and gay he is turn'd grave and morofe. His lucubrations lie neglected among old news-papers, cafes, petitions, and abundance of unanswerable letters. I wish to God they had been among the papers of a noble Lord fealed up. Then might Scriblerus have pafs'd for the Pretender, and it would have been a most excellent and laborious work for the Flying Poft or fome fuch author, to have allegoriz'd all his adventures into a plot, and found out myfteries fomewhat like the Key to the Lock. Martin's

4

office

office is now the second door on the left hand in Dover-street, where he will be glad to fee Dr. Parnelle, Mr. Pope, and his old friends, to whom he can still afford a half pint of claret. It is with some pleasure that he contemplates the world still busy, and all mankind at work, for him. I have feen a letter from Dean Swift; he keeps up his noble fpirit, and tho' like a man knock'd down, you may behold him still with a stern countenance, and aiming a blow at his adverfaries. I will add no more, being in haste, only that I will never forgive you if you don't use my aforefaid houfe in Doverstreet with the fame freedom as you did that in St. James's; for as our friendship was not begun upon the relation of a courtier, fo I hope it will not end with it. I will always be proud to be reckon'd amongst the number of your friends and humble fervants.

Am

LETTER XV.

To Dr. ARBUTHNOT.

Sept. 10.

I am glad your Travels delighted you;

im

prove you, I am fure, they could not; you are not so much a youth as that, tho' you run about with a King of fixteen, and (what makes

him still more a child) a King of Frenchmen. My own time has been more melancholy, spent in an attendance upon death, which has feized one of our family: my mother is fomething better, though at her advanced age every day is a climacteric. There was joined to this an indifpofition of my own, which I ought to look upon as a flight one compared with my mother's, because my life is not of half the confequence, to any body that her's is to me. All these incidents have hinder'd my more speedy reply to your obliging letter.

The article you enquire of, is of as little concern to me as you defire it should; namely the railing papers about the Odyssey. If the book has merit, it will extinguish all such nasty scandal; as the Sun puts an end to stinks, merely by coming out.

I wish I had nothing to trouble me more; an honeft mind is not in the power of any difhonest one. To break its peace, there must be fome guilt or consciousness, which is inconfiftent with its own principles. Not but malice and injustice have their day, like some poor short-lived vermine that die in fhooting their own ftings. Falfhood is Folly (fays Homer) and liars and calumniators at last hurt none but themselves, even in this world: in the next, 'tis charity to say, God have mercy on them! they

were

were the devil's vicegerents upon earth, who is the father of lies, and, I fear, has a right to difpofe of his children.

I've had an occafion to make these reflections of late more juftly than from any thing that concerns my writings, for it is one that concerns my morals, and (which I ought to be as tender of as my own) the good character of another very innocent perfon, who I'm fure fhares your friendship no less than I do. No creature has better natural difpofitions, or would act more rightly or reasonably in every duty, did the act by herself, or from herself; but you know it is the misfortune of that family to be governed like a fhip, I mean the Head guided by the Tail, and that by every wind that blows in it.

LETTER XVI.

Mr. POPE to the Earl of OXFORD,

Y

MY LORD,

Oct. 21, 1721.

OUR Lordship may be furpriz'd at the liberty I take in writing to you: tho' you' will allow me always to remember, that you once permitted me that honour, in conjunction' with fome others who better deserved it.

I

hope