I have lived much by myself of late, partly thro' ill health, and partly to amuse myself with little improvements in my garden and house, to which poffibly I fhall (if I live) be foon more confined. When the Dunciad may be published I know not. I am more defirous of carrying on the best, that is your edition of the reft of the Epifles and Effay on Criticism, &c. I know it is there I fhall be feen moft to advantage. But I infift on one condition, that you never think of this when you can employ yourself in finishing that noble work of the Divine Legation (which is what, above all, iterum iterumque monebo) or any other useful scheme of your own. It would be a fatisfaction to me at prefent only to hear that you have fupported your health among thefe epidemical diforders, which, tho' not mortal to any of my friends, have afflicted almost every

one.

LETTER CXVI.

June 5.

I

WISH that, instead of writing to you once in two months, I could do you fome fervice as often; for I am arrived to an age when I am as fparing of words as moft old men are of money, though I daily find lefs occafion for any. But I live in a time when benefits are not in the power of an honeft man to bestow; nor indeed of an honeft man to receive, confidering on what terms they are generally to be had. It is certain you have a full right to any I could do you, who not only monthly, but weekly of late, have loaded me with favours of that kind, which are most acceptable to veteran Authors; thofe garlands which VOL. IX.

S

Com

Commentator weaves to hang about his Poet, and which are flowers both of his own gathering and painting too; not blossoms fpringing from the dry Author:

:

It is very unreasonable after this, to give you a fecond trouble in revifing the * Essay on Homer. But I look upon you as one fworn to fuffer no errors in me and tho' the common way with a Commentator be to erect them into beauties, the beft office of a Critic is to correct and amend them. There being a new edition coming out of Homer, I would willingly render it a little less defective, and the bookfeller will not allow me time to do fo myself.

Lord B. returns to France very speedily, and it is poffible I may go for three weeks or a month to Mr. Allen's in the fummer; of which I will not fail to advertise you, if it fuits your conveniency to be there and drink the waters more beneficially.

Forgive my fcribling fo haftily and fo ill. My eyes are at least as bad as my head: and it is with my heart only that I can pretend to be, to any real purpose,

Your, &c.

You

LETTER CXVII.

July 18.

OU may well expect letters from me of thanks: but the kind attention you fhew to every thing that concerns me is fo manifeft, and so repeated, that you cannot but tell yourself how neceffarily I must pay them in my heart, which makes

*The Editor did revife and correct it as it now ftands - in the last edition.

it

and none more

it almost impertinent to fay fo. Your alterations to the Preface and Effay * are just ; obliging to me than where you prove your concern, that my notions in my firft writings fhould not be repugnant to thofe in my laft. And you will have the charity to think, when I was then in an error, it was not so much that I thought wrong or perversely, as that I had not thought fufficiently. What I could correct in the diffipated life I am forced to lead here, I have: and fome there are which still want your help to be made as they fhould be.-Mr. Allen depends on you at the end of the next month or in September, and I will join him as soon as I can return from the other party. I believe not till September at foonest.-You will pardon me (dear Sir) for writing to you but just like an attorney or agent. I am more concern'd for your Finances + than your Fame; because the firft, I fear, you will never be concerned about yourself; the second is fecure to you already, and (whether you will or not) will follow you.

I have never faid one word to you of the public. I have known the greater world too long to be very fanguine. But accidents and occafions may do what Virtue would not; and God fend they may! Adieu. Whatever becomes of public Virtur, let us preferve our own poor fhare of the private. Be affured, if I have any, I am with a true fense of your merit and friendship, &c.

*Prefix'd to his Homer's Iliad.

+ His debt from the Executor of Mr. G.

I

all

Heartily thank you for yours, from which I learn'd your fafe arrival. And that you found yours in health, was a kind addition to the account; as I truly am interested in whatever is, and deferves to be dear to you, and to make a part of your happiness. I have many reasons and experiences to convince me, how much you wish health to me, as well as long life to my writings. Could you make as much a better man of me as you can make a better author, I were fecure of Immortality both here and hereafter by your means. The Dunciad I have ordered to be advertised in quarto. Pray order as many of them as you will; and know that whatever is mine is yours.

A

LETTER CXIX.

Jan. 12, 1743

N unwillingness to write nothing to you, whom I refpect; and worse than nothing which would afflict you) to one who wishes me fo well, has hitherto kept me filent. Of the Public I can tell you nothing worthy the reflection of a reasonable man; and of myself only an account that would give you pain; for my asthma has increased every week fince you last heard from me, to the degree of confining me totally to the fire-fide; fo that I have hardly feen any of my friends but two, who happen to be divided from the world as much as myself, and are conftantly retired at Bat

terfea.

terfea. There I have paft moft of my time, and often wifh'd you of the company, as the best I know to make me not regret the lofs of all others, and to prepare me for a nobler scene than any mortal greatness can open to us. I fear by the account you gave me of the time you defign to come this way, one of them (whom I much with you had a glympfe of) will be gone again, unless you pass some weeks in London before Mr. Allen arrives there in March. My prefent indifpofition takes up almost all my hours, to render a very few of them fupportable: yet I go on foftly to prepare the great edition of my Things with your Notes, and as fast as I receive any from you, I add others

in order.

I am told the Laureat is going to publish a very abufive pamphlet. That is all I can defire; it is enough, if it be abufive and if it be his. He threatens you; but, I think, you will not fear or love him fo much as to answer him, though you have answered one or two as dull. He will be more to me than a dose of hartfhorn: and as a stink revives one who has been oppreffed with perfumes, his railing will cure me of a courfe of flatteries.

I am much more concerned to hear that fome of your Clergy are offended at a verfe or two of mine*, because I have a respect for your Clergy, (though the verses are harder upon ours.) But if they do not blame you for defending thofe verfes, I will wrap myself up in the layman's cloak, and fleep under your fhield.

I am forry to find by a letter two posts fince from Mr. Allen, that he is not quite recovered yet of all remains of his indifpofition, nor Mrs. Allen quite. well. Don't be difcouraged from telling me how you are: for no man is more yours than, &c.

* Ver. 355 to 358. fecond book of the Dunciad.

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