1808. ] 
My most humble service to the good fa- 
mily—and also make commemoration of Mr. 
Browne. 
Lor John Caryll, jun. Esq. at 
Ladyholt, in Sussex. 
DEAR SIR, Nov. 8,1712. 
THERE Is a passage in your last letter 
which I may reasonably say makes it the 
kindest | ever received ; butas people are 
never more apt to take little exceptions 
than when they Jove most, so there are 
two things m yours which I'l] blame no 
farther than in barely mentioning them. 
That compliment you pass upon my wit, 
as if Ll writt rather to sooth my own va- 
nity than to prove my affection; and the 
excuse you seem to make for not writiug 
sooner: asif J pretended to so ridiculous 
a dominion over your time, or expected 
you to be very punctual, where you are 
not debt. One might as well be dis- 
pleas’d at the sun for not shining out 
evry day we would wish him to do so, 
tho’ he be always serviceable to us 
when most he seems retiu’d; as ata 
friend, who 1s ever in a kind disposition 
towards us, for not manifesting It every 
day by writing. But if the inclination of 
a friend towards us, and his bare good 
will and benevolence, be ever to be ac- 
Knowledged; how much more that con- 
vineing rhetoric of action; and protec- 
tion! which, you so gallantly slurr over 
with the gay term of wrestling for a 
friend? But consider, Sir, your person 
and limbs are not absolutely your owne, 
there’s a lady has her part in them, who 
would lament much more, if hut a nerve 
of yours were sprain’d, than all the friends 
I have would ever do, tho’ my brains were 
beatout. Tor (to tell you the plain truth) 
this is the opinion I entertain of almost 
all those who generally are styl’d such in 
the world; our nominal, unperforming 
friends! As for my own part, whom have 
I been ever able to oblige? whom have I 
ever serv’d to that degree? by what right 
or meritt can I pretend to expect a signal 
service from any man? I am seriously far 
from imagining, that because people have 
twice or thrice been civill to me, they are 
bound always to serve me; the prior ob- 
ligation was miue, nottheirs. Or Gfthey 
like my poetry) that because they laugh 
with me, they will therefore cry for me. 
But I must be content totake my fortune, 
with all my own sins upon my own head. 
Sir Plume blusters, [ hear; nay, the cele- 
brated lady herselfis offended, and which 
is stranger, not at herself but me; Mr. 
W. (they say) is gloomy upon the matter, 
Original Letters of Alexander Pope, Esq. 521 
the tyrant meditates revenge, nay the 
distressed dame herself has been taught 
to suspect I serv’d her but by halves, and 
without prudence. Is not this enough 
to make a man for the future neither pre- 
sume to blame injustice, or pity innocence; 
as in Mr. W’s. case to make a writer ne= 
ver be tender of another’s character or 
fame? asin Belinda’s. To act with more 
reserve, and write with less? I have ano- 
ther storm too rising from the bigottes, 
the most violent of animalls, on the 
score of not having altered some true 
lines in the second edition @f the Essay on 
Criticisme. Yet (as to the two first quar- 
rels) I can be satisfy’d in my conscience 
of haying acted with honour, and (as to 
the last) I dare stand to posterity in the 
character of an un-bigotted Roman Ca- 
tholick and impartial critick; I dare trust 
future times, and lye down contented un- 
der the impotence of my present censurers, 
which, like other impotence, would natu- 
rally vex and teize one more, the less it 
can do. As to my writings, 1 pray God 
they may never have other enemies than 
those they have yet met with; which are, 
first priests, secondly women, (who are 
the fools of priests) and thirdly beaus and 
fops (who are the fools of women). 
You see, I write in some heat; but I 
would not do so, if I had nota great opi- 
nion of the friendship of him to whom I 
write, This frankness, the more indis- 
creet.it 1s, is the more an act of trust in 
me to you. My temper is really a little 
sowerd by all this, and yet more by a 
piece of surprizing news Mr. Southcote 
yesterday sent me, that the rascally scrib- 
bler of the Flying Post has maliciously re- 
flected upon Mr. Caryll, on account of 
his crossing the seas at this time. Whe- 
ther he is yet returned I know not, but if 
he be, I begg you to offer hiny my utmost 
service (if he can think me capable of 
any) with the only weapon I have, my 
pen, in reply to, or raillery upon, that 
scoundrell: and in whatever method he 
thinks most proper. I am on fire to 
snatch the first opportunity I ever had of 
doing something (at least endeavouring to 
do something) for your father, and my 
friend. I hope he is not new to be told 
with what ardour I love, and with what 
esteem I honour him, any more than you 
how sincerely and affectionately I shall 
ever be, Dear Sir, : 
Your most faithfull, obedient, 
and obliged humble Servant, 
A. Pore. 
The verses you inquire about were never 
wi-.$ten upon you any where else tuan in the 
letter 
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