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LETTER XV.

Nov. 29, 1707.

THE compliments you make me, in regard of any inconfiderable fervice I could do you, are very unkind, and do but tell me in other words, that my friend has fo mean an opinion of me, as to think I expect acknowledgments for trifles: which upon my faith I fhall equally take amifs, whether made to myself, or to any other. For God's fake (my dear friend) think better of me, and believe I defire no fort of favour fo much, as that of ferving you more confiderably than I have been yet able to do.

I fhall proceed in this manner with fome others of your pieces; but fince you defire I would not deface your copy for the future, and only mark the repetitions; I muft, as foon as I've mark'd thefe, tranfcribe what is left on another paper; and in that, blot, alter, and add all I can devife, for their improvement. For you are fenfible, the omiffion of Repetitions is but one, and the cafieft part, of yours and my defign; there remaining befides to rectify the Method, to connect the Matter, and to mend the Expreffion and Verfification. I will go next upon the pocms of Solitude, on the Public, and on the mixt Life; the bill of Fare; the praifes of Avarice, and fome others.

I must take notice of what you fay, of "my pains to "make your dulnefs methodical ;" and of your hint, "that the fprightlinefs of wit defpifes method." This is true enough, if by wit you mean no more than fancy or conceit; but in the better notion of wit, confider'd as propriety, furely method is not only neceffary for perfpicuity and harmony of parts, but gives beauty even to the minute and particular thoughts, which receive an additional advantage from thofe which precede or follow in their due place. You remember a fimile Mr. Dryden us'd in converfation, of feathers in the crowns of the wild In

dians, which they not only chuse for the beauty of their colours, but place them in fuch a manner as to reflect a luftre on each other. I will not disguise any of my fentiments from you: to methodise in your case, is full as neceffary as to ftrike out; otherwise you had better deftroy the whole frame, and reduce them into fingle thoughts in profe, like Rochefoucault, as I have more than once hinted to you.

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LETTER XVI.

From Mr. WYCHERLEY.

Feb. 28, 1707-8.

Have had yours of the 23d of this inftant, for which I give you many thanks, fince I find by it, that even absence (the ufual bane of love or friendship) cannot lesfen yours, no more than mine. As to your hearing of my being ill, I am glad, and forry for the report: in the firft place, glad that it was not true; and in the next, forry that it fhou'd give you any disturbance, or concern more than ordinary for me; for which, as well as your concern for my future well-being or life, I think myself moft eternally obliged to you: affuring, your concern for either will make me more careful of both. Yet for your fake I love this life fo well, that I fhall the lefs think of the other; but 'tis in your power to enfure my happiness in one and the other, both by your fociety, and good example, fo not only contribute to my felicity here, but hereafter.

Now as to your excufe for the plainnefs of your ftyle, I muft needs tell you, that friendfhip is much more acceptable to a true friend that wit, which is generally false reafoning; and a friend's reprimand often fhews more friendship than his compliment: nay love, which is more than friendship, is often seen by our friend's correction of our follies or crimes. Upon this teft of your friendfhip I intend to put you when I return to London, and

thence

thence to you at Binfield, which, I hope, will be within a month.

Next to the news of your good health, I am pleas'd with the good news of your going to print fome of your Poems, and proud to be known by them to the publick for your friend; who intend (perhaps the fame way), to be revenged of you for your kindnefs; by taking your name in vain in fome of my future madrigals; yet so as to let the world know, my love or efteem for you are no more poetic than my talent in feribling. But of all the arts of fiction, I defire you to believe I want that of feigning friendship, and that I am fincerely

Your, etc.

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LETTER XVII.

From Mr. WYCHERLEY.

May 13, 1708.

Have received yours of the first of May. Your Pas

toral mufe outfhines in her modeft and natural dress all Apollo's court-ladies, in their more artful, labour'd, and coftly finery. Therefore I am glad to find by your letter you design your country-beauty of a mufe fhall appear at court and in public: to outfhine all the farded, lewd, confident, affected Town-dowdies, who aim at being honour'd only to their fhame; but her artful innocence (on the contrary) will gain more honour as fhe becomes publick; and, in fpite of cuftom, will bring modefty again into fashion, or at least make her fifter-rivals of this age blush for fpite, if not for shame. As for my ftale, antiquated, poetical pufs, whom you would keep in countenance by saying she has once been tolerable, and wou'd yet pass muster by a little licking over; it is true that (like most vain antiquated jades which have once been paffable) fhe yet affects youthfulness in her age, and wou'd ftill gain a few admirers (who the more the feeks or labours for their liking, are but more her con

temners.)

temners.) Nevethelefs fhe is refolv'd henceforth to be fo cautious as to appear very little more in the world, except it be as an Attendant on your Mufe, or as a foil, not a rival to her wit, or fame: so that let your Country gentlewoman appear when the will in the world*, my old worn-out jade of a loft reputation fhall be her attendant into it, to procure her admirers; as an old whore, who can get no more friends of her own, bawds for others, to make sport or pleasure yet, one way or other, for mankind. I approve of your making Tonfon your Mufe's introductor into the world, or mafter of the ceremonies, who has been so long a pimp, or gentleman-ufher to the Muses.

I wish you good fortune; fince a Man with ftore of wit, as ftore of money, without the help of good fortune, will never be popular; but I wish you a great many admirers, which will be fome credit to my judgment as well as your wit, who always thought you had a great deal, and am Your, etc.

LETTER XVIII.

From Mr. WY CHERLEY.

May 17, 1709.

I Muft thank you for a book of your Mifcellanies, which Tonfon fent me, I suppose, by your order; and all I can tell you of it is, that nothing has lately been better receiv'd by the public, than your part of it. You have only difpleas'd the critics by pleafing them too well; having

* This, and what follows, is a full Confutation of John Dennis and ethers, who afferted that Mr. Pope wrote these verses on himself (tho' publifhed by Mr. Wycherley fix years before his death.) We find here it was a voluntary Act of his, promised before-hand, and written while Mr. Pope was abfent. The first Brouillon of thefe verfes, and the fecond Copy with corrections, are both yet extant in Mr. Wycherley's own hand: In another of his letters of May 18, 1708, are these words: "I have made a damn'd "Compliment in verfe upon the printing your Paftorals, which you shall te "when you fee me."

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not left them a word to fay for themselves, against you and your performances; fo that, now your hand is in, you muft perfevere, till my prophecies of you be fulfill'd. In earneft, all the best judges of good fenfe or poetry, are admirers of yours; and like your part of the book fo well, that the rest is lik'd the worfe. This is true upon my word, without compliment; fo that your firft fuccefs will make you for all your life a poet, in fpite of your wit; for a poet's fuccefs at first, like a gamester's fortune at firft, is like to make him a lofer at last, and to be undone by his good fortune and merit.

But hitherto your Mifcellanies have fafely run the gantlet, thro' all the coffee-houses; which are now entertain’d with a whimfical new news paper, call'd the TATLER, which I fuppofe you have feen. This is the newest thing I can tell you of, except it be of the Peace which now (moft people fay) is drawing to fuch a conclufion, as all Europe is, or muft be fatisfied with; fo Poverty, you fee, which makes peace in Westminster-hall, makes it likewise in the camp or field, throughout the world. Peace then be to you, and to me, who am now grown peaceful, and will have no conteft with any man, but him who says he is more your friend or humble fervant, than

Your, etc.

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LETTER XIX.

May 20, 1709.

Am glad you receiv'd the * Miscellany, if it were only to show you that there are as bad poets in this nation as your fervant. This modern cuftom of appearing in mifcellanies, is very ufeful to the poets, who like other thieves, escape by getting into a crowd, and herd together like Banditti, fafe only in their multitude. Methinks Strada has given a good description of these kind of collections; Nullus hodie mortalium aut nafcitur, aut moritur,

* Jacob Tonson's fixth Vol, of Mifcellany Poems.

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