I

LETTER LI.

DR. SWIFT TO MR. POPE.

London, May 4, 1726.

HAD rather live in forty Irelands, than under the frequent disquiets of hearing you are out of order. I always apprehend it most after a great dinner; for the least transgression of yours, if it be only two bits and one sup more than you stint, is a great debauch; for which you certainly pay more than those sots who are carried dead drunk to bed. My Lord Peterborough spoiled every body's dinner, but especially mine, with telling us that you were detained by sickness. Pray let me have three lines under any hand or pot-hook that will give me a better account of your health : which concerns me more than others, because I love and esteem you for reasons that most others have little to do with, and would be the same, although you had never touched a pen further than with writing to me.

I am gathering up my luggage, and preparing for my journey: I will endeavour to think of you as little as I can, and when I write to you, I will strive not to think of you: this I intend in return to your kindness; and further, I know nobody has dealt with me so cruelly as you, the consequences of which usage I fear will last as long as my life, for so long shall I be (in spite of my heart) entirely yours.

SIR,

LETTER LII.

MR. CONGREVE TO MR. POPE.

Ashley, Monday.

I HAD designed to have waited on you today, but have been out of order since Saturday, as I have been most of the summer; and as the days are now, unless I am able to rise in a morning, it will be hard to go and come, and have any pleasure between the whiles. The next day after I had known from you where Lady Mary was, I sent to know how she did; but by her answer I perceive she has the goodness for me to believe I have been all this summer here, though I had been here but a fortnight, when you came to see me. Pray give her my most humble service. If I can, I will wait on you. I am your, &c.

LETTER LIII.

MR. CONGREVE TO MR. POPE.

Surrey Street, Jan. 29.

I RETURN you a thousand thanks for

ter about Spa-water. Dr. Arbuthnot has ordered me at present to drink salt-water, so I cannot expressly say when I shall want the Spa; but if the person mentioned by you, imports any quantity

for himself at any time, I shall be glad to know of it. I am sorry you did not keep your word in letting me see you a second time. I am always, dear Sir. Your, &c.

LETTER LIV.

MR. CONGREVE TO MR. POPE.

May 6, (1726).

I

HAVE the pleasure of your very kind letter. I have always been obliged to you for your friendship and concern for me, and am more affected with it, than I will take upon me to express in this letter. I do assure you there is no return wanting on my part, and am very sorry I had not the good luck to see the Dean before I left the town: it is a great pleasure to me, and not a little vanity, to think that he misses me. As to my health, which you are so kind to inquire after, it is not worse than in London: I am almost afraid yet to say that it is better, for I cannot reasonably expect much effect from these waters in so short a time; but in the main they seem to agree with me. Here is not one creature that I know, which next to the few I would chuse, contributes very much to my satisfaction. At the same time that I regret the want of your conversation, I please myself with thinking that you are where you first ought to be, and

engaged where you cannot do too much. Pray give my humble service and best wishes to your good mother. I am sorry you do not tell me how Mr. Gay does in his health; I should have been glad to have heard he was better. My young amanuensis, as you call him, I am afraid will prove but a wooden one: and you know ex quovis ligno, &c. You will pardon Mrs. R―'s pedantry, and believe me to be Yours, &c.

P. S. By the inclosed you will see I am like to be impressed, and enrolled in the list of Mr. Curll's authors but I thank God I shall have your company. I believe it is high time you should think of administering another emetic.*

if

DEAR SIR,

LETTER LV.

DR. YOUNG TO MR. POPE.

May 2.

HAVING been often from home, I know not you have done me the favour of calling on me;

• We cannot but wish for more of Mr. Congreve's letters, written with the true and proper ease of an epistolary style, and therefore totally different from those of his master, Wycherley, whom he too closely imitated in his comedies. Congreve is said to have written nothing in the Tatler, Spectator, or Guardian, but the well-drawn character of Aspasia, in the forty-second number of the Tatler. Warton.

but be that as it will, I much want that instance of your friendship I mentioned in my last, a friendship I am very sensible I can receive from no one but yourself.* I should not urge this thing so much, but for very particular reasons; nor can you be at a loss to conceive how a trifle of this nature may be of serious moment to me; and while I am in hopes of the great advantage of your advice about it, I shall not be so absurd as to take any farther step without it. I know you are much engaged, and only hope to hear from you at your entire leisure. I am, &c.

LETTER LVI.

LORD BOLINGBROKE TO THE THREE YAHOOS†

OF TWICKENHAM.

JONATHAN, ALEXANDER, JOHN, MOST EXCELLENT

TRIUMVIRS OF PARNASSUS.

July 23, 1726.

THOUGH

HOUGH you are probably very indifferent where I am, or what I am doing, yet I resolve to believe

* This, I imagine, may relate to the request of a Prologue. So, in one of the Satires, he says:

"Three things another's modest wishes bound,

Your Friendship, and a Prologue, and-Ten pound."

Bowles.

From this address to the three poets, then residing together, under the name of Yahoos, it is plain that Swift's manuscript of