verest part of the winter. I am truly forry that your time, which you can employ fo much better, fhould be spent in the drudgery of correcting the printers; for as to what you have done yourself, there will nothing of that nature be necessary. I wish you could find a few minutes leifure to let me hear from you fometimes, and to acquaint me how your Homer draws on towards a publication, and all things relating thereunto. I intreat you to return my humble fervice to Mr. Jervas. I ftill flatter myself that he will take an opportunity, in a proper feafon, to fee us, and review his picture, and then to alter fome things fo as to please himself; which I know will not be, till every thing in it is perfect; no more than I can be, till you believe me to be with that fincerity and efteem, that I am, and will ever continue, your most faithful friend. LETTER VII. December 16, 1715. ઃઃ T was one of the Enigmas of Pythagoras, “ When IT "the Winds rife, worship the Echo." A modern writer explains this to fignify, "When popular tu"mults begin, retire to folitudes, or fuch places where "Echos are commonly found, rocks, woods, etc." I am rather of opinion it fhould be interpreted, "When 66 rumours "rumours increase, and when there is abundance of “ noise and clamour, believe the second report :" this I think agrees more exactly with the echo, and is the more natural application of the fymbol. However it be, either of these precepts is extremely proper to be followed at this feafon; and I cannot but applaud your refolution of continuing in what you call your cave in the foreft, this winter; and preferring the noise of breaking ice to that of breaking statesmen, the rage of storms to that of parties, the fury and ravage of floods and tempefts, to the precipitancy of fome, and the ruin of others, which, I fear, will be our daily profpects in London. I fincerely wish myself with you, to contemplate the wonders of God in the firmament, rather than the madness of man on the earth. But I never had fo much caufe as now to complain of my poetical star, that fixes me, at this tumultuous time, to attend the gingling of rhymes and the measuring of fyllables: to be almoft the only trifler in the nation; and as ridiculous as the poet in Petronius, who, while all the reft in the fhip were either labouring or praying for life, was scratching his head in a little room, to write a fine description of the tempeft. You tell me, you like the found of no arms but thofe of Achilles: for my part I like them as little as any other arms. I lifted myself in the battles of Homer, and I am no fooner in war, but, like most other folks, I wish myself out again. I heartily I heartily join with you in wishing Quiet to our native country: Quiet in the state, which, like Cha rity in religion, is too much the perfection and hap piness of either, to be broken or violated, on any pretence or prospect whatsoever. Fire and fword, and fire and faggot, are equally my averfion *. I can pray for oppofite parties, and for oppofite religions, with great fincerity. I think to be a lover of one's country is a glorious elogy, but I do not think it fo great an one as to be a lover of mankind. I fometimes celebrate you under thefe denominations, and join your health with that of the whole world; a truly catholic health, which far excels the poor narrow-fpirited, ridiculous healths now in fashion, to this church, or that church. Whatever our teachers may say, they must give us leave at least to wish generously. These, dear Sir, are my general difpofitions; but whenever I pray or wifh for particulars, you are one of the first in the thoughts and affections of Your, etc. * A fentiment that does him, as much honour as the fineft of his verses. I LETTER VIII. FROM SIR WILLIAM TRUMBULL. January 19, 1715-16. SHOULD be afhamed of my long idleness, in not acknowledging your kind advice about Echo, and your most ingenious explanation of it relating to popular tumults, which I own to be very useful; and yet give me leave to tell you, that I keep myself to a shorter receipt of the fame Pythagoras, which is Silence; and this I fhall observe, if not the whole time of his discipline, yet at least till your return into this country. I am obliged further to this method, by the most severe weather I ever felt; when, though I keep as near by the fire-fide as may be, yet gelidus concrevit frigore fanguis; and often I apprehend the circulation of the blood begins to be stopped. I have further great loffes (to a poor farmer) of my poor oxen-Intereunt pecudes, ftant circumfufa pruinis Corpora magna boum, etc. Pray comfort me if you can, by telling me that your fecond volume of Homer is not frozen; for it must be expressed very poetically, to say now, that the preffes sweat. I cannot forbear to add a piece of artifice I have been guilty of on occafion of my being obliged to congratulate the birth-day of a friend of mine; when finding finding I had no materials of my own, I very frankly fent him your imitation of Martial's epigram on Antonius Primus". This has been applauded fo much, that I am in danger of commencing Poet, perhaps laureat, (pray defire my good friend Mr. Rowe to enter a caveat,) provided you will further increase my ftock in this bank. In which proceeding I have laid the foundation of my eftate, and as honestly, as many others have begun theirs. But now being a little fearful, as young beginners often are, I offer to you (for I have concealed the true author) whether you will give me orders to declare who is the father of this fine child or not? Whatever you determine, my fingers, pen, and ink are so frozen, that I cannot thank you more at large. You will forgive this and all other faults of, dear Sir, Your, etc. d Fam numerat placido felix Antonius ævo, etc. '} P. |