truth) all the world speaks well of you, and I should be under a necessity of doing the same, whether I cared for you or not. As to what you have said of me, I shall never believe that the author of Cato can speak one thing and think another. As a proof that I account you sincere, I beg a favour of you: it is, that you would look over the two first books of my translation of Homer,* which are in the hands of my Lord Halifax. I am sensible how much the reputation of any poetical work will depend upon the character you give it: it is therefore some evidence of the trust I repose in your goodwill, when I give you this opportunity of speaking ill of me with justice: and yet expect you will tell me your truest thoughts, at the same time that you tell others your most favourable ones.† I have a farther request, which I must press with earnestness. My bookseller is reprinting the Essay on Criticism, to which you have done too * This must have been a mortifying and an embarrassing request to Addison, if at that time he had actually translated the first book of Homer. This is the last letter to Addison in this collection. Warton. † Instead of answering this letter, Addison took an opportunity of speaking to Pope, and informing him that he had already perused a translation of the first book of Homer, by Mr. Tickell, and could not therefore peruse Pope's. On which Pope observed, that Mr. Tickell had certainly as good a right to translate Homer as he had, but that as he had only translated the first book, he hoped Mr. Addison would not object to peruse the second for him, to which Addison consented, and returned it in a few days, with very high commendation. Vide Spence's Anec. p. 147, Singer's Ed. much honour in your Spectator of No. 253. The period in that paper, where you say, "I have admitted some strokes of ill-nature into that Essay," is the only one I could wish omitted of all you have written; but I would not desire it should be so, unless I had the merit of removing your objection. I beg you but to point out those strokes to me, and, you may be assured, they shall be treated without mercy. Since we are upon proofs of sincerity (which I am pretty confident will turn to the advantage of us both in each other's opinion) give me leave to name another passage in the same Spectator, which I wish you would alter. It is where you mention an observation upon Homer's Verses of Sisyphus's Stone, as never having been made before by any of the critics:* I happened to find the same in Dionysius of Halicarnassus's Treatise, Пɛρì σvvbéσɛwç ovoμárov, who treats very largely upon these verses. I know you will think fit to soften your expression, when you see the passage; which you must needs have read, though it be since slipt out of your memory. I am, with the utmost esteem, Your, &c. * These words are since left out in Mr. Tickell's Edition, but were extant in all during Mr. Addison's life. Pope. There is a long note of Broome's in the Eleventh Book of the Odyssey, on the first verses of this description being clogged with spondees, and long syllables, and an hiatus; whereas, in the last line, there is but one spondee, not one monosyllable, nor one hiatus. Warton. FEW persons appear to have enjoyed a greater share of the confidence and friendship of Pope than the younger Craggs; who, although educated with a view to public life rather than the studies of literature, evinced a degree of judgment and discrimination in the latter, that induced Pope to consult him on many occasions where he conceived himself in want of the advice of a judicious and able friend. After enjoying several confidential employments, and being sent to Hanover in 1714 with an account of the queen's illness, he was appointed Secretary of State, and died in the year 1720. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. See his Epitaph by Pope, ante, vol. iii. p. 367, where a further account of him is given. "Mr. Craggs," says Warburton, "had no learned education. He wanted to improve himself in letters, and desired Mr. Pope to chuse him out a polite scholar, by whose conversation and instruction he might profit. Mr. Pope recommended Mr. Fenton; but Mr. Craggs's untimely death prevented the two latter from receiving the mutual benefits of this connexion." Nearly twenty years after that event, Pope has recalled the memory of Craggs in such a manner as to pay the highest possible compliment both to his dead friend and his living one: Pleas'd let me own, in Esher's peaceful grove, I sit, and dream I see my Craggs anew. Epil. to the Satires. |