God be thanked I have yet no Parliamentary bufinefs, and if they have done with me, I fhall never seek their acquaintance. I have not been very fond of them for fome years past, not when I thought them tolerably good, and therefore if I can get leave to be absent, I fhall be much inclined to be on that fide, when there is a Parliament on this: but truly I muft be a little easy in my mind before I can think of Scriblerus.

You are to understand that I live in the corner of a vast unfurnished houfe; my family confists of a steward, a groom, a helper in the stable, a footman, and an old maid, who are all at board-wages, and when I do not dine abroad, or make an entertainment (which last is very rare) I eat a mutton pye, and drink half a pint of wine: My amusements are defending my small dominions against the Archbishop, and endeavouring to reduce my rebellious Choir. Perditur hæc inter mifero lux. I defire you will prefent my humble fervice to Mr. Addifon, Mr. Congreve, and Mr. Rowe, and Gay. I am, and will be always, extremely yours, &c.

I

LETTER III.

Mr. POPE to Dr. SwIFT.

June 20, 1716.

Cannot fuffer a friend to cross the Irish feas

without bearing a teftimony from me of the constant esteem and affection I am both obliged and inclined to have for you. It is better he fhould tell you than I, how often you are in our thoughts and in our cups, and how I learn to fleep less a and drink more whenever you are named among us. I look upon a friend in Ireland as upon a friend in the other world, whom (popishly speaking) I believe constantly well disposed towards me, and ready to do me all the good he can, in that state of feparation, though I hear nothing from him, and make addreffes to him but very rarely. A proteftant divine cannot take it amifs that I treat him in the fame manner with my patron Saint.

I can tell you no news, but what you will not sufficiently wonder at, that I fuffer many things as an author militant: whereof in your days of probation you have been a sharer, or you had not arrived to that triumphant state

• Alluding to his conftant custom of fleeping after dinner.

you

This

you now deservedly enjoy in the Church. As for me, I have not the least hopes of the Cardinalat, tho' I fuffer for my religion in almost every weekly paper. I have begun to take a pique at the Pfalms of David (if the wicked may be credited, who have printed a scandalous one b in my name.) name.) This report I dare not discourage too much, in a profpect I have at present of a poft under the Marquis de Langallerie c, wherein if I can but do fome fignal fervice against the Pope, I may be confiderably advanced by the Turks, the only religious people I dare confide in. If it should happen hereafter that I should write for the holy law of Mahomet, I hope it may make no breach between you and me; every one must live, and I beg you will not be the man to manage versy against me. The Church of Rome I judge (from many modern fymptoms, as well as ancient prophecies) to be in a declining condition; that of England will in a short time be scarce able to maintain her own family: fo Churches fink as generally as Banks in Europe, and for the fame reafon; that Religion and Trade, which at first were open and free, have

b In Curl's Collection. One who made a noise

the contro

then, as Count Bonnival has done fince.

been

been reduced into the Management of Companies, and the Roguery of Directors.

I don't know why I tell you all this, but that I always loved to talk to you; but this is not a time for any man to talk to the purpose. Truth is a kind of contraband commodity, which I would not venture to export, and therefore the only thing tending that dangerous way which I fhall fay, is, that I am, and always will be, with the utmost fincerity,

Your's, &c.

LETTER IV.

From Dr. SWIFT to Mr. POPE.

Aug. 30, 1716.

Had the favour of yours by Mr. F. of

I whom, before any other queftion relating

to

your health or fortune, or fuccefs as a Poet, I enquired your principles in the common form, "Is he Whig or a Tory?" I am forry to find they are not fo well tallied to the present juncture as I could wish. I always thought the the terms of Fatto and Jure had been introduced by the Poets, and that Poffeffion of any

fort

you

fort in Kings was held an unexceptionable title in the Courts of Parnaffus. If you do not grow a perfect good fubject in all its present làtitudes, I fhall conclude you are become rich, and able to live without dedications to men in power, whereby one great inconveniency will follow, that and the world and pofterity will be utterly ignorant of their Virtues. For, either your brethren have miferably deceived us these hundred years paft, or Power confers Virtue, as naturally as five of your Popish facraments do Grace. You fleep lefs and drink more But your mafter Horace was Vinum fomnique benignus: and, as I take it, both are proper for your trade. As to mine, there are a thousand poetical texts to confirm the one and as to the other, I know it was anciently the custom to fleep in Temples for those who would confult the Oracles, "Who dictates to me flumbering a," &c.

e;

You are an ill Catholick, or a worse Geographer, for I can affure you, Ireland is not Paradife, and I appeal even to any Spanish divine whether Addreffes were ever made to a friend in Hell, or Purgatory? And who are all these enemies you hint at? I can only think of Curl, Gildon, Squire Burnet, Blackmore, and

a Milton.

a few