vage 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 so much cause 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 syllables: to be almost the only trifler in the nation; and as ridiculous as the poet in Petronius, who, while all the reft in the ship 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 join with you in wifhing Quiet to our native country: Quiet in the ftate, which, like Charity in religion, is too much the perfection and happinefs 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 opposite 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 fome 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 nare row-spirited, ridiculous healths now in fashion, to this church, or that church. Whatever our teachers may fay, they must give us leave at least to wifh generously. Thefe, 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. I LETTER VIII. FROM SIR WILLIAM TRUMBULL. January 19, 1715-16. SHOULD be afhamed of my long idlenefs, in not acknowledging your kind advice about Echo, and your most ingenious explanation of it relating to po. pular tumults, which I own to be very useful; and yet give me leave to tell you, that I keep myself to a fhorter receipt of the fame Pythagoras, which is Silence; and this I fhall obferve, 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 confort me if you can, by telling me that your fecond volume of Homer is not frozen; for it must be expreffed very poetically, to fay now, that the preffes fweat. 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 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 increafe my stock in this bank. In which proceeding I have laid the foundation of my estate, and as honestly, as many others have begun theirs. But now being a little fearful, d Fam numerat placido felix Antonius ævo, etc. At length my Friend (while Time with still career } POPE 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? gers, pen, and ink Whatever are so frozen, that I cannot thank you more at large. You will forgive this and all other faults of, dear Sir, Your, etc. |