can now no more doubt of the greatness of it, than I hope you do of the greatness of my affection, or of the fincerity with which I am, &c.

YOU

From Mr. Wycherley.

April 27, 1710. OU give me an account in your letter of the trouble you have undergone for me, in comparing my papers you took down with you, with the old printed volume, and with one another, of that bundle you have in your hands; amongst which (you fay) you find numerous Repetitions of the fame thoughts and fubjects; all which I must confefs my want of memory has prevented me from imagining, as well as made me capable of committing: fince, of all figures, that of Tautology is the laft I would ufe, or least forgive my self for. But feeing is believing, wherefore I will take fome pains to examine and compare thofe papers in your hands with one another, as well as with the former printed copies or books of my damn'd Mifcellanies; all which (as bad a memory as I have) with a little more pains and care I think I can remedy. Therefore I would not have you give your felf more trouble about them, which may prevent the pleafure you have and may give the world in writing upon new fubjects of your own, whereby you will much better entertain your felf and others. Now as to your re. marks upon the whole volume of my papers; all that I defire

I defire of you is to mark in the margin (without defacing the copy at all) either any repetition of words, matter, or sense, or any thoughts, or words too much repeated; which if you will be fo kind as to do for me, you will fupply my want of Memory with your good one, and my deficiencies of sense, with the infallibility of yours; which if you do you will mot infinitely oblige me, who almoft repent the trouble I have given you, fince fo much. Now as to what you cal freedom with me, (which you defire me to forgive) you may be affur'd I would not forgive you unless you did ufe it; for I am so far from thinking your plainness an offence to me, that I think it a charity and an obligation; which I fhall always acknowledge, with all fort of gratitude to you for it; who am, &c.

All the news I have to fend you, is, that poor Mr. Betterton is going to make his Exit from the flage of this world, the Gout being gotten up into his head, and (as the Phyficians fay) will certainly carry him off fuddenly.

I

LETTER XXVI.

May 2, 1710.

Am forry you perfift to take ill my not accepting your invitation, and to find (if I miitake not) your exception not unmixt with fome fufpicion. Be certain I fhall most carefully obferve your requeit, not to cross over, or deface the copy of your papers for the future, and only to mark in the margin the Repetitions. But as this can ferve no further than to get rid of thofe repetitions, and no way rectify the Method, nor connect the Matter, nor improve the

Poetry

Poetry in expreffion or numbers, without further blotting, adding, and altering; fo it really is my opinion and defire, that you should take your papers out of my hands into your own, and that no alterations may be made but when both of us are present; when you may be fatisfied with every blot, as well as every addition, and nothing be put upon the papers but what you shall give your own sanction and affent to, at the fame time.

Do not be fo unjuft, as to imagine from hence that I would decline any part of this task: on the contrary you know, I have been at the pains of tranfcribing fome pieces, at once to comply with your defire of not defacing the copy, and yet to lose no time in proceeding upon the correction. I will go on the fame way if you please; tho' truly it is (as I have often told you) my fincere opinion, that the greater part would make a much better figure as Single Maxims and Reflections in profe, after the manner of your favourite Rochefoucaut, than in verse : * And this, when nothing more is done but marking the repetitions in the margin, will be an eafy task to proceed upon, notwithitanding the bad Memory you complain of.

I am unfeignedly, dear Sir,

Your, &c.

A. Pope.

* Mr.Wycherley lived five years after, to December 1715, but little progress was made in this design, thro' bis Old age, and the increase of his infirmities. How

ever fome of the Verfes which had been touch'd by Mr. P. with 308 of thefe Maxims in Prose were found among his papers, which having the misfortune to fall into the bands of a Mercenary, were published in 1728 in octavo, under the Title of The pofthumous Works of William Wycherley, Efq;

LETTER

LETTERS

I

TO and FROM

W. WALSH, Esq;*

From 1795, to 1707.

* LETTER. I.

Mr. WALSH to Mr. WY CHERLE Y.

Apr. 20. 1705. Return you the + Papers you favour'd me with, and had fent them to you yesterday morning, but that I thought to have brought them to you last night my self. I have read them over feveral times with great fatisfaction. The Preface is very judicious and very learned; and the Verfes very tender and eafy.

*Of Abberley in Worcestershire, Gentleman of the Horfe in Queen Anne's reign, Author of feveral beautiful pieces in Profe and Verfe, and in the opinion of Mr. Dryden, (in his Poftfcript to Virgil,) the best Critic of our Nation in his time.

+ Mr. Pope's Paftorals.

The