tion to one year, it is manifeftly exceeded in the very first two books: The narration begins with Edipus's prayer to the Fury to promote difcord betwixt his fons; afterwards the Poet exprefsly describes their entering into the agreement of reigning a year by turns*; and Polynices takes his flight from Thebes on his brother's refusal to resign the throne. All this is in the first book; in the next Tydeus is fent ambasfador to Eteocles, and demands his refignation in these terms: Aftriferum velox jam circulus orbem Torfit, et amife redierunt montibus umbræ, But Boffu himself is mistaken in one particular, relating to the commencement of the action; saying, in book ii. cap. 8. that Statius opens with Europa's Rape, whereas the Poet at most only deliberates whether he fhould or not ". Unde jubetis Ire, Dex? gentifne canam primordia diræ, but then exprefsly paffes all this with a longa retro feries-and fays, limes * Warton fays, "It is rather frange that our Poet fhould make no mention of the Pheniffe of Euripides." In fact, the extent of Pope's claffical erudition, at the time he wrote thefe Letters, is fufficiently obvious. That was the fame to Boflu's purpose; which was only to shew, that there were Epic Poets fo ignorant, or fo negligent of compofition, as not to know where their fubje&t fhould begin. WARBURTON. limes mihi carminis efto Oedipodæ confusa domus. Indeed there are numberlefs particulars blame-worthy in our author, which I have tried to foften in the verfion : dubiamque jugo fragor impulit Oeten In latus, et geminis vix fluctibus obftitit Ifthmus, is most extravagantly hyperbolical: Nor did I ever read a greater piece of tautology, than Vacua cum folus in aula Refpiceres jus omne tuum, cunctofque minores, In the journey of Polynices is fome geographical error: lin. 305. In mediis audit duo litora campis could hardly be; for the Ifthmus of Corinth is full five miles over: And caligantes abrupto fole Mycenas, is not confiftent with what he tells us, in lib. iv. "that thofe of Mycena came not to the war at this time, because they were then in con"fufion by the divifions of the brothers, Atreus and Thyeftes." Now from the raising the Greek army. against Thebes, back to the time of this journey of Polynices, is (according to Statius's own account) 66 three years. Yours, etc. LETTER VIII. July 17, 1709. THE HE morning after I parted from you, I found myself (as I had prophefied) all alone, in an uneasy Stage-coach; a doleful change from that agreeable company I enjoyed the night before! without the least hope of entertainment but from my last resource in fuch cases, a Book. I then began to enter into acquaintance with your Moralifts, and had just received from them fome cold confolation for the inconveniencies of this life, and the uncertainty of human affairs; when I perceived my vehicle to stop, and heard from the fide of it the dreadful news of a fick woman preparing to enter it. 'Tis not eafy to guess at my mortification, but being fo well fortified with philofophy, I ftood refigned with a ftoical conftancy to endure the worst of evils, a fick woman. I was indeed a little comforted to find by her voice and dress, that she was young and a gentlewoman; but no fooner was her hood removed, but I faw one of the finest faces I ever beheld, and, to increase my furprize, heard her falute me by my name. I never had more reason to accufe nature for making me fhort-fighted than now, when I could not recollect I had ever seen those fair eyes which knew me fo well, and was utterly at a loss how to address myself; till with a great deal of fimplicity and innocence fhe let me know (even before I discovered my ignorance), that she was the daughter of one in our neighbourhood, lately married, who having been confulting her phyficians in town, was returning into the country, to try what good air and a husband could do to recover her. My father, you must know, has fometimes recommended the study of phyfic to me, but I never had any ambition to be a doctor till this instant. I ventured to prescribe some fruit (which I happened to have in the coach), which being forbidden her by her doctors, she had the more inclination to. In fhort, I tempted, and she eat; nor was I more like the Devil than fhe like Eve. Having the good fuccefs of the aforefaid tempter before my eyes, I put on the gallantry of the old ferpent, and in spite of my evil form accosted her with all the gaiety I was master of; which had fo good effect, that in lefs than an hour fhe grew pleasant, her colour returned, and fhe was pleased to fay my prescription had wrought an immediate cure: In a word, I had the pleasantest journey imaginable. Thus far (methinks) my letter has fomething of the air of a romance, though it be true. But I hope you will look on what follows as the greatest of truths, that I think myself extremely obliged by you in all points; especially for your kind and honourable information and advice in a matter of the utmost concern to me, which I fhall ever acknowledge as the highest proof at once of your friendship, justice, and fincerity. At the fame time be affured, that Gentleman we spoke of, fhall never by any alteration in me discover any knowledge of his mistake; the hearty forgiving of which is the only kind of return I can poffibly make him for fo many favours: And I may derive this pleasure at least from it, that whereas I muft otherwise have been a little uneafy to know my incapacity of returning his obligations, I may now, by bearing his frailty, exercife my gratitude and friendship more than himself either is, or perhaps ever will be, fenfible of. Ille meos, primus qui me fibi junxit, amores Abftulit; ille habeat fecum, servetque fepulchro! But in one thing, I must confefs you have yourself obliged me more than any man, which is, that you have shewed me many of my faults, to which as you are the more an implacable enemy, fo much the more you are a kind friend to me. I could be proud in revenge, to find a few flips in your verses, which I read in 1 Mr. Wycherley. From his last Letters to Mr. Pope, the reader may perceive fomething of a growing coldness and difguft, apparently proceeding from the liberties his young friend had taken with his verfification and compofition. Little virtue, and an exceffive affectation of being witty, joined to the common infirmities of old age, jealousy and lofs of memory, are fufficient to account for the inftability of his friendship, though we were not to suppose (what was the fact) that our Poet had ill offices done him by those who were generally about the old man. For (as Mr. Pope rightly obferves) each ill Author is as bad a Friend. WARBURTON. |