a week, after which I hope to return to you, calling at Reding and at Halgrove as. I return. My journey to Herefordshire, I have on second thoughts put off, the season being so far advanced. All y' acquaintance were well where I passed, and I have been so ever since my coming out. I beg to have a line of your healths directed to Dr. Evans's, St. John's College, Oxon, which will reach me in a day or two wherever I

please me, than my last day's journey; for, after having passed through my favourite woods in the forest, with a thousand reveries of past pleasures, I rid over hanging hills, whose tops were edged with groves, and whose feet watered with winding rivers, listening to the falls of cataracts below, and the murmuring of the winds above. The gloomy verdure of Stonor succeeded to these; and then the shades of evening overtook me. The moon rose in the clearest sky I ever saw; by whose solemn light I paced on slowly without company, or any interruption to the range of my thoughts. About a mile before I reached Oxford, all the bells tolled in different notes; the clocks of every college answered one another, and sounded forth, (some in deeper, some in a softer tone) that it was eleven at night. All this was no ill preparation to the life I have since led, among these old walls, memorable galleries, stone porticoes, studious walks, and solitary scenes of the University. I wanted nothing but a black gown and a salary, to be as mere a book-worm as any

I conformed myself to College hours, was rolled up in books, lay in one of the most ancient dusky parts of the University, and was as dead to the world as any hermit of the desart."

I

am.

I writ to you from Henley a week agoe, and to Mr. Rollinson. I live here very regularly in College hours, and have

LETTER III.

MR. BRIDGES TO POPE.

To MR. POPE, to be left with MR. JERVASSE, at BRIDGWATER-HOUSE, in CLEAVELAND-COURT, ST. James's,

DEAR SIR,

LONDON.

East hampst, July 2, 1715.

The ill weather having long denyed the pleasure of seeing you makes me communicate to you a proposal I lately received, Tis to meet a Gentleman, an Acquaintance of y's, at Dinner, at Sunning-Hill on Monday next. If you have no engagements, and can spåre a few moments from Homer, I will answer that your company will be reckon❜d a favour by the Gentleman.

I cannot omit repeating my thanks for the kind present of y' Homer, wch at once charms me and surprises me that you have bin able to make so renown'd an Author appear so well, that is so like himself in the English language. I beg leave

to congratulate you upon it, and to assure that I am, with all imaginable sincerity and esteem,

Upon what you told me when I was last to wait on you, I deferred treating further for the rent-charge, till you could be more certain what summe you could conveniently raise in present

If there were only three or 400 toward the purchase. [My father since tells me

* I am aware that this letter is included in Mr. Roscoe's collection, in the form it was sent to the person addressed; but I have reprinted the original draught, with Pope's alterations in Italicks; thinking it might be an amusement to the reader to observe how difficult a thing it is for a mere poet, to write a plain letter of business.

wanting, we would take yr bond, for as to a mortgage you mentioned 650" only, with security] on the my father is not qualified to take it, for by rent-charge; [for ye rest, our design is to lay an Act of Parlt [he can sell] he cannot buy land, tho' he may sell. out a near the whole sum on one fund; and I However, if you desire to make the purchase 10001i, I have a

friend

have a friend] who will lend you 10001 on the

A

same security you offer us, [so that unless you please there need be no farther delay.] If you have any other scruple, you'll please to tell

me

but

this

it fairly, if [it be your desire to] purchase [of

A

be convenient to you

A

of treating with no other

us] we shall think [no farther] and be ready

think

A

upon y answer, since I [believe] what I here propose, entirely accommodates all ye difficulty you seemed to be at.

I am,

Sir,

Y most humble Servant,

John Vand'. Bempden, Esq. present.

A. POPE.

LETTER V.

CHAMBERLEN TO

7ber 29th, 1717.

MADAM,

By y' Grace's acc' of ye Gentleman's Illness, 1 conceive his looseing 8 or ten Ounces of blood may be convenient, & I would have him to take twenty dropps of spiritt of Harts horn twice or thrice in a day, in a glass of milk water. If he would permitt me to wait on him, I would direct to ye best of my understanding, who am

Madam,

Y' Grace's most obliged

& most obedient Servant, HUGH CHAMBERLEN.*

* A physician of eminence; and much employed by the nobility. Pope says in one of his letters to the Dutchess of Buckingham, "I think myself obliged by your Grace's many condescensions of goodness to me, in particular your informing me by a line, of Dr. Chamberlen's state of health; I am really impatient to hear further of him."