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Critic, but only in fome little raillery; not in defence of you, but in contempt of him. But indeed your opinion that 'tis intirely to be neglected, would have been my own had it been my own cafe: but I felt more warmth here than I did when firft I faw his book against myself, (tho' indeed in two minutes it made me heartily merry.) He has written against every thing the world has approv'd these many years. I apprehend but one danger from Dennis's difliking our fenfe, that it may make us think fo very well of it, as to become proud and conceited, upon his disapprobation.

I must not here omit to do juftice to Mr. Gay, whose zeal in your concern is worthy a friend and honourer of you. He writ to me in the most preffing terms about it, though with that juft contempt of the Critic that he deferves. I think in these days one honest man is obliged to acquaint another who are his friends; when fo many mifchievous infects are daily at work to make people of merit fufpicious of each other; that they may have the fatisfaction of seeing them look'd upon no better than them felves. I

am.

Your, &c.

* This relates to the Paper occafion'd by Dennis's Remarks upon Cato, call'd, Dr. Norris's Narrative of the Frenzy of John Dennis.

LETTER

I

LETTER XI.

Mr. Addison to Mr. Pope..

October 26, 1713.

Was extreamly glad to receive a letter from you, but more fo upon reading the contents of it. The Work you mention will I dare fay very fufficiently recommend itself when your name appears with the Propofals: And if you think I can any way contribute to the forwarding of them, you cannot lay a greater obligation upon me than by employing me in fuch an office. As I have an ambition of having it known that you are my friend, I fhall be very proud of fhowing it by this, or any other inftance. I question not but your Tranflation will enrich our Tongue and do honour to our Country; for I conclude of it already from thofe performances with which you have oblig'd the publick. I would only have you confider how it may moft turn to your advantage. Excufe my impertinence in this particular, which proceeds from my zeal for your eafe and happiness. The work would coft you a great deal of Time, and unless you undertake it, will I am afraid never be executed by any other; at least I know none of this age that is equal to it befides yourself.

I am at present wholly immersed in country bufiness, and begin to take delight in it. I wish I might hope to fee you here fome time, and will not de

*The Tranflation of the Iliad.

fpair of it, when you engage in a work that will require folitude and retirement. I am

Your, &c.

I

LETTER

XII.

Mr. Addison to Mr. Pope.

Nov. 2, 1713.

Have received your letter, and am glad to find that you have laid fo good a fcheme for your great undertaking. I queftion not but the Profe will require as much care as the Poetry, but the variety will give your felf some relief, and more pleasure to your readers.

You gave me leave once to take the liberty of a friend, in advifing you not to content yourself with one half of the Nation for your admirers when you might command them all. If I might take the freedom to repeat it, I would on this occafion. I think you are very happy that you are out of the Fray, and I hope all your undertakings will turn to the better account for it.

You fee how I prefume on your friendship in taking all this freedom with you: But I already fancy that we have lived many years together, in an unreferved converfation, and that we may do fo many more, is the fincere wish of

Your, &c.

LET

Yo

LETTER XIII.

To Mr. Addison.

OUR laft is the more obliging, as it hints at fome little niceties in my conduct, which your candor and affection prompt you to recommend to me, and which (fo trivial as things of this nature feem) are yet of no flight confequence, to people whom every body talks of, and every body as he pleafes. 'Tis a fort of Tax that attends an estate in Parnaffus, which is often rated much higher than in proportion to the fmall poffeffion an author holds. For indeed an author, who is once come upon the town, is enjoy'd without being thank'd for the pleafure, and fometimes ill-treated by those very perfons that first debauched him. Yet to tell you the bottom of my heart, I am no way displeased that I have offended the violent of all parties already; and at the fame time I affure you confcientiously, I feel not the leaft malevolence or refentment against any of those who mifreprefent me, or are diffatisfied with me. This frame of mind is fo eafy, that I am perfectly content with my condition.

As I hope, and would flatter myself, that you know me and my thoughts fo entirely as never to be miftaken in either, fo 'tis a pleasure to me that you guefs'd fo right in regard to the author of that Guardian you mentioned. But I am forry to find it has taken air that I have fume hand in those papers, because I write fo very few as neither to deferve the credit of fuch a report with fome people, nor the difrepute of it with others. An honeft Jacobite spoke to me the sense or

nonsense

nonsense of the weak part of his party very fairly, that the good people took it ill of me, that I writ with Steele, tho' upon never fo indifferent subjects. This I know you will laugh at as well as I do; yet I doubt not but many little calumniators and perfons of fower difpofitions will take occafion hence to befpatter me. I confess I fcorn narrow fouls, of all parties, and if I renounce my reafon in religious matters, I'll hardly do it in any other.

I can't imagine whence it comes to pass that the few Guardians I have written are fo generally known for mine that in particular which you mention I never discovered to any man but the publisher, till very lately yet almost every body told me of it.

As to his taking a more Politick turn, I cannot any way enter into that fecret, nor have I been let into it, any more than into the rest of his politicks. Tho' 'tis faid, he will take into these papers alfo feveral fubjects of the politer kind, as before: But I affure you as to myfelf, I have quite done with 'em for the future. The little I have done, and the great refpect I bear Mr. Steele as a man of wit, has rendered me a fufpected Whig to fome of the violent, but (as old Dryden faid before me) 'tis not the violent I defign to please.

I generally employ the mornings in painting with Mr. Jervas; and the evenings in the converfation of fuch as I think can most improve my mind, of whatever denomination they are. I ever muft fet the higheft value upon men of truly great, that is honeft principles, with equal capacities. The best way I know of overcoming calumny and misconstruction, is by a

time.

See the Epistle to him in Verfe, writ about this

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