pique at the Pfalms of David (if the wicked may be credited, who have printed a fcandalous one* in my name.) This report I dare not difcourage too much, in a profpect 1 have at present of a post under the Marquis de Langalleriet, 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 fhould hap pen 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 the controversy against me. The Church of Rome I judge (from many modern symptoms, as well as ancient prophecies) to be in a declining condition; that of England will in a fhort time be scarce able to maintain her own family: fo Churches fink as generally as Banks in Europe, and for the fame reason; that Religion and Trade, which at firft were open and free, have 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 utmoft fincerity,

*In Curl's Collection.

Your's, &c.

+ One who made a noise then, as Count Bonnival has done fince.

LETTER IV.

From Dr. SWIFT to Mr. POPE.

Aug. 30, 1716.

Had the favour of yours by Mr. F. of whom, before any other question 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 terms of Fatto and Jure had been introduced by the Poets, and that Poffeffion of any 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 latitudes, I fhall conclude you are become rich, and able to live without dedications to men in power, whereby one great inconvenience will follow, that you and the world and pofterity will be utterly ignorant of their Virtues. For, either your brethren have miferably deceived us thefe hundred years paft, or Power confers Virtue, as naturally as five of your Popish facraments do Grace.-You fleep less and drink more. -But your mafter Horace was Vini 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 Tem ples for those who would confult the Oracles, "Who dictates to me flumbering," &c.

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?

* Milton.

And

And who are all thefe enemies you hint at? I can only think of Curl, Gildon, Squire Burnet, Blackmore, and a few others whofe famę I have forgot; Tools, in my opinion as neceffary for a good writer, as pen, ink, and paper. And befides, I would fain know whether every Draper doth not fhew you three or four damn'd pieces of ftuff to fet off his good one? However, I will grant, that one thorough Bookfelling-Rogue is better qualified to vex an author, than all his cotemporary fcriblers in Critic or Satire, not only by ftolen Copies of what was incorrect or unfit for the public, but by downright laying other mens dulnefs at your door. I had a long defign upon the Ears of that Curl, when I was in credit, but the Rogue would never allow me a fair ftroke at them, although my penknife was ready drawn and sharp. I can hardly believe the relation of his being poisoned, although the Hiftorian pretends to have been an eye-witnefs: But I beg pardon, Sack might do it, although Rats-bane would hot. I never faw the thing you mention as falfely imputed to you; but I think the frolicks of merry hours, even when we are guilty, fhould not be left to the mercy of our best friends, until Curl and his resemblers are hang'd.

With fubmiffion to the better judgment of you and your friends, I take your project of an employment under the Turks to be idle and unneceffary. Have a little patience, and you will find more merit and encouragement at home by the fame methods. You are ungrateful to your country; quit but your own Religion, and ridicule ours, and that will allow you a free choice for any other, or for none at all, and pay you well into the bargain. Therefore pray do not run and disgrace us among the Turks, by telling them you were forced to leave your native home, because we would oblige you to be a Chriftian; whereas we will make it appear to

all,

all the world, that we only compelled you to be a Whig.

There is a young ingenious Quaker in this town who writes verfes to his miftrefs, not very correct, but in a strain purely what a poctical Quaker should do, commending her look and habit, &c. It gave me a hint that a fett of Quaker paftorals might fucceed, if our friend Gay* could fancy it, and I think it a fruitful fubject; pray hear what he says. I believe further, the paftoral ridicule is not exhaufted; and that a porter, footman, or + chairman's paftoral might do well. Or what think you of a Newgate paftoral, among the whores and thieves there.

Laftly, to conclude, I love you never the worfe for feldom writing to you. I am in an obscure scene, where you know neither thing nor person. I can only anfwer yours, which I promise to do after a fort whenever you think fit to employ me. But I can affure you, the scene and the times have depreffed me wonderfully, for I will impute no defect to those two paltry years which have flipt by fince I had the happiness to fee you. I am, with the trueft esteem,

Your's, &c.

*Gay did write a pastoral of this kind, which is pub lifhed in his works.

+ Swift wrote one of this kind, intitled Dermot and Sheelah.

LET

LETTER V.

From Dr. SWIFT to Mr. POPE.

A

upon

Dublin, Jan. 10, 1721.

Thousand things have vexed me of late years, which I am determined to lay open my mind to you. I rather chufe to appeal to you than to my Lord Chief Juftice Whitfhed, under the fituation I am in. For, I take this caufe properly to lie before you: You are a much fitter Judge of what concerns the credit of a Writer, the injuries that are done him, and the reparations he ought to receive. Befides, I doubt whether the Arguments I could fuggeft to prove my own innocence would be of much weight from the gentlemen of the Longrobe to those in Furs, upon whose decision about the difference of Style or Sentiments, I fhould be very unwilling to leave the merits of my Cause.

Give me leave then to put you in mind (although you cannot eafily forget it) that about ten weeks before the Queen's death, I left the town, upon occafion of that incurable breach among the great men at Court, and went down to Berkshire, where you may remember that you gave me the favour of a vifit. While I was in that retirement, I writ a Difcourfe which I thought might be useful in such a juncture of affairs, and fent it up to London; but, upon fome difference in opinion between me and a certain great Minifter now abroad, the publishing of it was deferred fo long that the Queen died, and I recalled my copy, which hath been ever fince in fafe hands. In a few weeks after the lofs of that excellent Princess, I came to my ftation here; where

This Letter Mr. Pope never received. P. nor did he believe it was ever fent.

I have