7

could not hear. But God forbid you should be
as deftitute of the focial comforts of life, as I
must when I lose my mother; or that ever
you fhou'd lofe your more ufeful acquaintance
fo utterly, as to turn your thoughts to fuch a
broken reed as I am, who could fo ill fupply
your wants. I am extremely troubled at the
returns of your deafness; you cannot be too
particular in the accounts of your health to me;
every thing you do or say in this kind obliges
me, nay, delights me, to see the justice you do
in thinking me concern'd in all
your concerns;
fo that though the pleasantest thing you can tell
me be that you are better or easier; next to
that it pleases me, that you make me the per-
you would complain to.

fon

As the obtaining the love of valuable men is the happiest end I know of this life, so the next felicity is to get rid of fools and scoundrels which I can't but own to you was one part of my defign in falling upon these Authors, whose incapacity is not greater than their infincerity, and of whom I have always found (if I may quote myself)

That each bad Author is as bad a Friend,
This Poem will rid me of those insects,

Cedite, Romani Scriptores, cedite, Graii;
Nefcio quid majus nafcitur Iliade.

I mean than my Iliad; and I call it Nefcio quid, which is a degree of modefty; but however if it filence these fellows b, it must be something greater than any Iliad in Chriftendom.

Adieu.

I

LETTER XXX.

From Dr. SWIFT.

Dublin, May 10, 1728.

Have with great pleasure shewn the new England News-paper with the two names Jonathan Gulliver, and I remember Mr. Fortescue sent you an account from the affizes, of one Lemuel Gulliver who had a Cause there, and loft it on his ill reputation of being a liar. These are not the only observations I have made upon odd ftrange accidents in trifles, which in things of great importance would have been matter for Hiftorians. Mr. Gay's Opera hath been acted here twenty times, and my Lord Lieutenant tells me, it is very well perform'd ; he hath feen it often, and approves it much.

You give a most melancholy account of your felf, and which I do not approve. I reckon

It did, in a little time, effectually filence them.

that

you

ready to

and I may

that a man fubject like us to bodily infirmities, should only occafionally converfe with great people, notwithstanding all their good qualities, eafinesses, and kindnesses. There is another race which I prefer before them, as Beef and Mutton for conftant diet before Partridges: I mean a middle kind both for understanding and fortune, who are perfectly eafy, never impertinent, complying in every thing, do a hundred little offices that often want, who dine and fit with me five times for once that I go to them, and whom I can tell without offence, that I am otherwife engaged at present. This you cannot expect from any of those that either you or I or both are acquainted with on your fide; who are only fit for our healthy feasons, and have much business of their own. God forbid I should condemn you to Ireland (Quanquam O!) and for England I despair; and indeed a change of affairs would come too late at my feafon of life, and might probably produce nothing on my behalf. You have kept Mrs. Pope longer, and have had her care beyond what from nature you could expect ; not but her lofs will be very fenfible, whenever it shall happen. I fay one thing, that both fummers and winters are milder here than with you; all things for life in general better for a middling fortune: you will have

an

an abfolute command of your company, with whatever obfequioufnefs or freedom you may expect or allow. I have an elderly housekeeper, who hath been my W-lp-le above thirty years, whenever I liv'd in this kingdom. I have the command of one or two villa's near this town: You have a warm apartment in this house, and two gardens for amufement. I have faid enough, yet not half. Except absence from friends, I confefs freely that I have, no discontent at living here; befides what arises from a filly fpirit of Liberty, which as it neither fours my drink, nor hurts my meat, nor fpoils my ftomach farther than in imagination, fo I refolve to throw it off.

You talk of this Dunciad, but I am impatient to have it volare per ora-there is now a vacancy for fame; the Beggar's Opera hath done its tafk, difcedat uti conviva fatur.

Adieu.

I

LETTER XXXI.

From Dr. SWIFT.

June 1, 1728.

Look upon my Lord Bolingbroke and us two, as a peculiar Triumvirate, who have nothing to expect, or to fear; and so far fittest

to

to converse with one another: Only he and I are a little fubject to fchemes, and one of us (I won't say which) upon very weak appearances, and this you have nothing to do with. I do profess without affectation, that your kind opinion of me as a Patriot (fince you call it fo) is what I do not deferve; because what I do is owing to perfect rage and refentment, and the mortifying fight of flavery, folly, and baseness about me, among which I am forced to live. And I will take my oath that you have more Virtue in an hour, than I in seven years; for you defpife the follies, and hate the vices of mankind, without the leaft ill effect on your temper and with regard to particular men, you are inclined always rather to think the better, whereas with me it is always directly contrary. I hope, however, this is not in you from a fuperior principle of virtue, but from your fituation, which hath made all parties and interefts indifferent to you, who can be under no concern about high and low-church, Whig and Tory, or who is firft MinifterYour long letter was the laft I receiv'd, till this by Dr. Delany, although you mention another fince. The Dr. told me your fecret about the Dunciad, which does not pleafe me, because it defers gratifying my vanity in the moft tender point, and perhaps may wholly disappoint

VOL. IX.

I