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think beft or moft tolerable, and look over them again; for I refolve suddenly to print fome of them, as a harden'd old gamester will (in spite of all former ill ufage by fortune) push on an ill hand in expectation of recovering himself; especially fince I have fuch a Croupier or Second to stand by me as Mr. Pope.

MR

* LETTER XIII.

Nov. 20. 1797.

R. Englefyld being upon his journey to London, tells me I must write to you by him, which I do not more to comply with his defire, than to gratify my own; tho' I did it fo lately by the mesfenger you fent hither: I take it too as an opportunity of fending you the fair copy of the poem (a) on Dulness, which was not then finifh'd, and which I should not care to hazard by the common post. Mr. Englefyld is ignorant of the contents, and I hope your prudence will let him remain fo, for my fake no less than your own: fince if you should reveal any thing of this nature, it would be no wonder reports fhould be rais'd, and there are those (I fear) who would be ready to improve them to my disadvantage. I am forry you told the great man, whom you met in the court of requests, that your papers were in my hands: no man alive fhall ever know any such

(a) The Original of it in blots, and with figures of the References from copy to copy, in Mr. Pope's band, is yet extant, among other fuch Broüillons of Mr. Wycherley's poems, corrected by bim.

thing from me; and I give you this warning befides, that tho' your felf fhould fay I had any ways affifted you, I am notwithstanding resolv'd to deny it. The method of the copy I fend you is very different from what it was, and much more regular: for the better help of your memory, I defire you to compare it by the figures in the margin, answering to the fame in this letter. The poem is now divided into four parts, mark'd with the literal figures 1. 2. 3. 4. The first contains the Praise of Dulness, and fhews how upon feveral fuppofitions, it paffes for 1. religion. 2. philofophy. 3. example. 4. wit. and 5. the caufe of wit, and the end of it. The fecond part contains the Advantages of Dulness; ift in business; and 2dly, at Court; where the fimilitudes of the Byafs of a bowl, and the Weights of a clock, are directly tending to the fubject, tho' introduced before in a place where there was no mention made of those advantages, (which was your only objecton to my adding them.) The third contains the Happinefs of Dulness in all ftations, and fhews in a great many particulars, that it is fo fortunate as to be efteem'd fome good quality or other in all forts of people; that it is thought quiet, fenfe, caution, policy, prudence, majefty, valour, circumfpection, honeity, &c. The fourth part I have wholly added, as a climax which fums up all the praife, advantage, and happinses of Dulness in a few words, and strengthens them by the oppofition of the difgrace, difadvantage, and unhappinefs of Wit, with which it concludes (b.)

Tho'

(b) This is totally omitted in the prefent Edition: Some of the lines are thefe.

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Thus

Tho' the whole be as fhort again as at first, there is not one thought omitted, but what is a repetition of fomething in your firft volume, or in this very paper fome thoughts are contracted, where they feem'd encompafs'd with too many words; and fome new exprefs'd, or added, where I thought there wanted heightning, (as you'll fee particularly in the Simile of the clock-weights; (r.)and the verfification throughout is, I believe, fuch as no body can be fhock'd at. The repeated permiffions you give me of dealing freely with you, will (I hope) excufe what I have done : for if I have not fpar'd you when I thought feverity would do you a kindness, I have not mangled you where I thought there was no abfolute need of amputation. As to particulars, I can fatisfy you better

Thus Dulness, the fafe opiate of the mind,
The laft kind refuge weary wit can find.
Fit for all ftations, and in each content,
Is fatisfy'd, fecure, and innocent ;
No pains it takes, and no offence it gives,
Un-fear'd, unhated, undisturb'd it lives, &c.

(c) It was originally thus exprefs'd:

As Clocks run fafteft when moft lead is on. in a Letter of Mr. Pope to Mr. Wycherley, dated April 3, 1705, and in a paper of verses of bis, To the Author of a Poem call'd Succeffio, which got out in a Mifcellany in 1712, three years before Mr. Wycherley died, and two after he had laid afide the whole defign of publishing any poems.

when

when we meet; in the mean time pray write to me when you can, you cannot too often.

LETTER XIV.

From Mr. Wycherley.

Nov. 22, 1707.

You OU may fee by my ftile, I had the happiness and fatisfaction to receive yefterday by the hands of Mr. Englefyld your extream kind and obliging letter of the 20th of this month; which like all the reft of yours, did at once mortify me, and make me vain; fince it tells me with fo much more wit, sense and kindness than mine can exprefs, that my letters are always welcome to you. So that even whilst your kindness invites me to write to you, your wit and judgment forbid me; fince I may return you a letter, but never an answer.

Now, as for my owning your affiftance to me, in over-looking my unmufical numbers, and harfher fenfe, and correcting them both with your genius, or judgment; I must tell you I always own it, (in spite of your unpoetick modefty) who would do with your friendship as your charity; conceal your bounty to magnify the obligation; and even whilft you lay on your friend the favour, acquit him of the debt: but that fhall not ferve your turn; I will always own, 'tis my infallible Pope has, or would redeem me from a poetical damning, the fecond time; and fave my rhimes from being condemn'd to the criticks flames to all eternity; but (by the faith you profefs) you know your works of fupererrogation, transfer'd upon

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an

an humble, acknowledging finner, may fave even him; having good works enough of your own befides, to enfure yours, and their immortality.

And now for the pains you have taken to recommend my Dulnefs, by making it more methodical, I give you a.thousand thanks; fince true and natural dulnefs is fhown more by its pretence to form and method, as the sprightlinefs of wit by its defpifing both. I thank you a thousand times for your repeated invitations to come to Binfield: You will find, it will be as hard for you to get quit of my mercenary kindness to you, as it would for me to deferve, or return to yours; however it fhall be the endeayour of my future life, as it will be to demonstrate my felf

Your, &c.

THE

LETTER XV.

Nov. 29, 1707;

HE 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 amiís, whether made to my felf, 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 repétitions;

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