THE class of Letters here given under the title of "Letters to several Ladies," contains but few of those included under that head in the former editions; it having been thought advisable to divide the others to the particular classes of correspondence to which they more properly belong. Of the thirty-three letters which composed that collection, not more than five are here retained; the rest will be found with the other letters of the person to whom they are addressed. Respecting these letters, Pope has himself admitted that " they have too much of a juvenile ambition of wit, and affectation of gaiety," for which he apologizes by observing, "that they were written when very young, and the folly was soon over." The same excuse which the author intended for the whole, may still be thought applicable to some of the letters that are here retained. I SEND you the book of rudiments of Drawing, which you were pleased to command, and think myself obliged to inform you at the same time of one of the many excellences you possess without knowing of them. You are but too good a painter already; and no picture of Raphael's was ever so beautiful, as that which you have formed in a certain heart of my acquaintance. Indeed it was but just that the finest lines in nature should be drawn upon the most durable ground, and none could ever be met with, that * From the date of this letter it appears to have been written before Pope was seventeen years of age, and the style of it may therefore be considered as a specimen of that of the times; which it was natural for him to imitate till his judgment was better formed. To whom this and the two following Letters were addressed, it is not perhaps now possible to discover; but it sufficiently appears that she was a young married woman, whom Pope thought he must compliment by all those topics of gallantry which had been introduced at the court of Charles II. and which still continued to infest the literature of the country. would so readily receive, or so faithfully retain them, as this heart. I may boldly say of it, that you will not find its fellow in all the parts of the body in this book. But I must complain to you of my hand, which is an arrant traitor to my heart; for having been copying your picture from thence and from Kneller these three days, it has done all possible injury to the finest face that ever was made, and to the liveliest image that ever was drawn. I have imagination enough in your absence, to trace some resemblance of you; but I have been so long used to lose my judgment at the sight of you that it is past my power to correct it by the life. Your picture seems least like when placed before your eyes; and, contrary to all other pictures, receives a manifest disadvantage by being set on the fairest light in the world. The painters are a very vain generation, and have a long time pretended to rival nature; but to own the truth to you, she made such a finished piece about three and twenty years ago, (I beg your pardon, Madam; I protest, I meant but two and twenty,) that it is in vain for them any longer to contend with her. I know you indeed made one something like it, betwixt five and six years past: it was a little girl, done with abundance of spirit and life, and wants nothing but time to be an admirable piece: but, not to flatter your work, I do not think it will ever come up to what your father made. However, I would not discourage you; it is certain you have a strange happiness, of making fine . things of a sudden and at a stroke, with incredible It is too much a rule in this town, that when a lady has once done a man a favour, he is to be rude to her ever after. It becomes our sex to take upon us twice as much as yours allow us: by this method I may write to you most impudently, because you once answered me modestly; and if you should never do me that honour for the future, I am to think (like a true coxcomb) that your silence gives consent. Perhaps you wonder why this is addressed to you rather than to Mrs. M with whom I have the right of an old acquaintance, whereas you are a fine lady, have bright eyes, &c. First, Madam, I make choice of you rather than of your mother, because you are younger than your mother. Secondly, because I fancy you spell better, as having been at school later. Thirdly, because you have nothing to do but to write if you please, and possibly it may keep you from employing yourself worse: it may save some honest neighbouring gentleman from three or four of your pestilent glances. Cast your eyes upon paper, Madam; there you may look innocently: men are seducing, books are dangerous; the amorous ones soften you, and the godly ones give you the spleen: |