man in England. Lord Bol. is above triffling : when he writes of any thing in this world, he is more than mortal; if ever he trifles, it must be when he turns a Divine. Gay is writing Tales for Prince William: I fuppofe Mr. Philips will take this very ill, for two reafons; one that he thinks all childish things belong to him; and the other, because he'll take it ill to be taught that one may write things to a child without being childish. What have I more to add? but that Lord Oxford defires earneftly to fee you: and that many others whom you do not think the worft of, will be gratified by it; none more, be affured, than yours, &c. P. S. Pope and you are very great Wits, and I think very indifferent Philofophers: If you defpifed the world as much as you pretend, and perhaps believe, you would not be fo angry with it. The founder of your fect, that noble Original whom you think it so great an honour to resemble, * was a flave to the worft part of the world, to the Court; and all his big words were the language of a flighted Lover, who defired nothing so much as a reconciliation, and feared nothing so much as a rupture. I believe the world hath used me as fcurvily as most people, and yet I could never find in my heart to be thoroughly angry with the fimple, false, capricious thing. I fhould blush alike, to be discovered fond of the world, or piqued at it. Your definition of † Animal Rationis, *Seneca. An Animal of Reason. Rationis, instead of the common one* Animal Rationale, will not bear examination: define but Reason, and you will fee why your diftinction is no better than that of the Pontiff Cotta, between || mala ratio, and § bona ratio. But enough of this; make us a vifit, and I'll fubfcribe to any fide of these important questions which you please. We differ lefs than you imagine, perhaps, when you wish me banish'd again but I am not lefs true to you and to Philosophy in England, than I was in France. Yours, &c. BOLINGBROKE. I LETTER XIV. Dr. SWIFT to Mr. POPE. London, May 4, 1726. Had rather live in forty Irelands than under the frequent difquiets of hearing you are out of order. I always apprehend it most after a great dinner; for the leaft Tranfgreffion of yours, if it be only two bits and one fup more. than your ftint, is a great debauch; for which you certainly pay more than those fots who are carried dead drunk to bed. My Lord Peterborow spoiled every body's dinner, but efpecially mine, with telling us that you were detain *A rational Animal. ed ed by fickness. Pray let me have three lines, under any hand or pot-hook that will give me a better account of your health; which concerneth me more than others, because I love and esteem you for reafons that most others have little to do with, and would be the fame although you had never touched a pen, further than with writing to me. prepar I am gathering up my luggage, and ing for my journey: I will endeavour to think of you as little as I can, and when I write to you, I will strive not to think of you; this I intend in return to your kindness; and further, I know no body hath dealt with me fo cruelly as you, the confequences of which usage I fear will last as long as my life, for fo long shall I be (in fpite of my heart) entirely Yours. MAN LETTER XV. Mr. POPE to Dr. SwIFT. Aug. 22, 1726. ANY a fhort figh you coft me the day I left you, and many more you will coft me till the day you return. I really walked about like a man banished, and when I came home, found it no home. 'Tis a fenfation like that of a limb lopped off, and one is trying every minute unawares to ufe it, and finds it is I may fay you have used me more cruelly than you have done any other man; you have made it more impoffible for me to live at ease not. with you, without you : Habitude it self would have done that, if I had less friendship in my nature than I have. Besides my natural memory of you, you have made a local one, which presents you to me in every place I frequent: I fhall never more think of lord Cobham's, the woods of Ciceter, or the pleafing profpect of Byberry, but your Ideas must be joined with them; nor fee one feat in my own garden, or one room in my own House without a Phantome of fitting or walking before me. I travelled with you to Chester, I felt the extream Heat of the Weather, the Inns, the Roads, the Confinement and Closeness of the uneafy Coach, and wished a hundred Times I had either a Deanry or a Horse in my gift. In real truth, I have felt foul peevish ever fince with all about me, from a warm uneafy defire after you. I am gone out of myself to no purpose, and cannot catch. you. * Inbiat in pedes was not more properly applied to a poor dog after a hare, than to me with regard to your departure. I wish I could think no more of it, but lie down and fleep till we meet again, and let that day (how far foever off it be) be the morrow. Since I cannot, may it be my amends that every thing you wish may attend you where you are, and that you may find every friend you have there, in the ftate with him or her; fo that your visit to us may have no other effect, than the progrefs of a rich man to a remote eftate, which my you *Devours the Scent. he he finds greater than he expected; which knowledge only serves to make him live happier where he is, with no difagreeable profpect if ever he should chufe to remove. May this be your state, till it becomes what I wish. But indeed I cannot express the warmth, with which I wish you all things, and myself you. Indeed you are engraved elsewhere than on the Cups you fent me, (with fo kind an inscription) and I might throw them into the Thames without injury to the giver: I am not pleased with them, but take them very kindly too: And had I suspected any fuch ufage from you, I should have enjoyed your company lefs than I really did, for at this rate I may fay *Nec tecum poffum vivere, nec fine te. I will bring you over just such another prefent, when I go to the Deanry of St. Patrick's, which I promise you to do, if ever I am enabled to return your kindnefs. § Donarem pateras, &c. Till then I'll drink (or Gay fhall drink) daily healths to you, and I'll add to your infcription the old Roman Vow for years to come, VOTIS X. VOTIS XX., My Mother's age gives me authority to hope it for yours. All thofe of your friends whom I have feen are conftant in their remembrance and good wishes *I neither can live with thee nor without thee. § I would make you a Prefent of Dishes. |
