half the honours which perfons of higher rank beftow on me; and for which one generally pays a litde too much of what they cannot bestow, Time and Life. Were I arrived to that happier circumftance, you would see me at Widcombe, and not at Bath. But whether it will be as much in my power as in my wish, God knows. I can only fay, I think of it with the pleasure and fincerity becoming one who is, &c. THE LETTER XCIII. Mr. POPE to Mr. ALLEN. Nov. 24, 1737 HE event of this week or fortnight has filled every body's mind, and mine fo much that I could not get done what you defired as to Dr. P. but as foon as I can get home, where my books lie, I will fend them to Mr. K. The death of great perfons is fuch a fort of furprise to all, as every one's death is to himself, tho' both fhould equally be expected and prepared for. We begin to efteem and commend our fuperiors, at the time that we pity them, becaufe then they feem not above ourfelves. The Queen fhewed, by the confeffion of all about her, the utmost firmness and temper to her last moments, and thro' the course of great torments. *The Que n's death, What character hiftorians will allow her, I do not know; but all her domeftic fervants, and those neareft her, give her the best teftimony, that of fincere tears, But the public is always hard; rigid at beft," even when juft, in its opinion of any one. The only pleasure which any one, either of high or low rank, muft depend upon receiving, is in the candour or partiality of friends, and that small circle we are converfant in: and it is therefore the greatest satisfaction to fuch as wish us well, to know we enjoy that. I therefore thank you particularly for telling me of the continuance, or rather increase of those bleffings which make your domeftic life happy. Į have nothing fo good to add, as to affure you I pray for it, and am always faithfully and affectionately, &c. Twickenham, April 28, 1738. and still bear too often, in the fame complaint, gives me a very feeling fenfe of it. I hope we agree in every other sensation befides this; for your heart is always right, whatever your body may be. I will venture too to say, my body is the worst part of me, or God have mercy on my foul. I can't help tell an increase to it by catching cold. I am truly forry to find that neither yours nor Mrs. A's diforder is totally removed: but God forbid your pain fhould continue to return every day, which is worse by much than I expected to hear. I hope your next will give me a better account. Poor Mr. Bethel too is very ill in Yorkshire. And, I do affure you, there are not two men I wish better to. I have known and esteemed him for every moral virtue these twenty years and more. He has all the charity, without any of the weakness of —; and, I firmly believe, never faid a thing he did not think, nor did a thing he could not tell. I am concerned he is in fo cold and remote a place, as in the Wolds of Yorkfhire, at a hunting-feat. If he lives till fpring, he talks of returning to London, and, if I poffibly can, I would get him to lie out of it at Twickenham, tho' we went backward and forward every day in a warm coach, which would be the propereft exercise for both of us, fince he is become fo weak as to be deprived of riding a horse. L. Bolingbroke ftays a month yet, and I hope Mr. Warburton will come to town before he goes. They will both be pleased to meet each other; and no thing in all my life, has been fo great a pleasure to my nature, as to bring deserving and knowing men together. It is the greatest favour that can be done, either to great genius's or useful men. I wish too, he were a while in town, if it were only to lye a little in the way of fome proud and powerful per fons, to fee if they have any of the best fort of pride left, namely, to ferve learning and merit, and by that means diftinguish themselves from their predeceffors. I am, &c. I LETTER XCVI. Mr. POPE to Mr. ALLEN. March 6. Thank you very kindly for yours. I am fure we fhall meet with the fame hearts we ever met; and I could with it were at Twickenham, tho' only to see you and Mrs. Allen twice there inftead of once. But, as matters have turned out, a decent obedience to the government has fince obliged me to refide here, ten miles out of the capital; and therefore I must see you here or no where. Let that be an additional reason for your coming and staying what time you can. The utmost I can do, I will venture to tell you in your ear. I may flide along the Surrey fide (where no Middlesex juftice can pretend any cognizance) to Battersea, and thence cross the water for an hour or two, in a close chair, to dine with you or fo. But to be in town, I fear, will be imprudent, and thought infolent. Atleaft, hitherto, all comply with the proclamation *. * On the Invafion, at that time threatened from France and the Pretender. |