their Majesties had not had time to read, yet they were possessed with a good opinion of the play; and she would not part with the copy, expecting it would be called for every day. I must once more acknowledge the very obliging manner in which you favoured the bookseller, as well as the particular generosity to him. I can add no more, but an assurance of the sincerity with which I am, Dear Sir, Your, etc. I am hastened away, on hearing my mother is not well as soon as I return, I hope we may pass more time together. DEAR SIR, LETTER XIV. TO THE SAME. Twickenham, Dec. 22, 1731. serve, I THANK you for your tragedy, which I have now read over a sixth time, and of which I not only pre"but increase, my esteem. You have been kind to this age, in not telling the next, in your preface, the ill taste of the town, of which the reception you describe it to have given of your play (worse, indeed, than I had heard, or could have imagined), is a more flagrant instance than any of those trifles mentioned in my epistle; which yet, I hear, the sore vanity of our pretenders to taste flinches at extremely-the title you mention had been a properer to that epistle -I have heard no criticisms about it, nor do I listen after 'em. Nos hæc novimus esse nihil (I mean, I think the verses to be so): but as you are a man of tender sentiments of honour, I know it will grieve you to hear another undeservedly charged with a crime his heart is free from: for, if there be truth in the world, I declare to you, I never imagined the least application of what I said of Timon could be made to the D. of Ch-s, than whom there is scarce a more blameless, worthy, and generous, beneficent character, among all our nobility: and if I have not lost my senses, the town has lost 'em, by what I heard so late, as but two days ago, of the uproar on this head. I am certain, if you calmly read every particular of that description, you'll find almost all of 'em point blank the reverse of that person's villa. It's an aukward thing for a man to print, in defence of his own work, against a chimæra: you know not who, or what, you fight against: the objections start up in a new shape, like the armies and phantoms of magicians, and no weapon can cut a mist or a shadow. Yet it would have been a pleasure to me, to have found some friend saying a word in my justification, against a most malicious falsehood. I speak of such, as have known by their own experience, these twenty years, that I always took up their defence, when any stream of calumny ran upon 'em. If it gives the Duke one moment's uneasiness, I should think myself ill paid, if the whole earth admired the poetry; and believe me, would rather never have written a verse in my life, than that any one of 'em should trouble a truly good man. It was once my case before, but happily reconciled; and among generous minds nothing so endears friends, as the having offended one another. I lament the malice of the age, that studies to see its own likeness in every thing; I lament the dulness of it, that cannot see an excellence: the first is my unhappiness, the second yours. I look upon the fate of your piece, like that of a great treasure, which is buried as soon as brought to light; but it is sure to be dug up the next age, and enrich posterity. I have been very sensible, on these two occasions, to feel them (as I have done) at a time, when I daily feared the loss of (what is, and ought to be dearer to me than any reputation, but that of a friend, or than any thing of my own, except my morals) the loss of a most tender parent-She is alive, and that is all! I have perceived my heart in this, and you may believe me sincerely, dear Sir, Your, etc. DEAR SIR, LETTER XV. TO THE SAME. Twickenham, Nov. 13, 1732. I WRIT to you a very hasty letter, being warmed in the cause of an old acquaintance, in which I was sure you would concur, I mean John Dennis, whose circumstances were described to me in the most moving manner. I went next day with the Lord to whom you directed your letter and play, which, at my return home, I received but yesterday. I thank you for your agreeable present to my grotto, for your more agreeable letter, and your most excellent translation of Voltaire, to whom you have preserved all the beauty he had, and added the nerves he wanted. This short acknowledgment is all I can make just now I am just taken up by Mr. Thompson, in the perusal of a new poem he has brought me: I wish you were with us. The first day I see London, I will wait on you, on many accounts, but on none more than my being affectionately, and with true esteem, dear Sir, Yours. I desire Miss Urania will know me for her servant. SIR, LETTER XVI. TO THE SAME. Twickenham, May 22, 1733. YOUR very kind letter came hither in my absence, which occasioned my delay till now in acknowledging it. Your partiality to me, both as a poet, and as a man, is great; the former I deserve not, but the latter I will never forfeit. It would be wronging your modesty to say much of the verses you inclose, but it would be wronging sense and poetry, not to say they are fine ones, and such as I could not forget, having once seen them. I have almost forgot what I told you of the patent; but at the time I told it, I could not well be mistaken, having just then had the account from Mr. Davenant the envoy indeed I fancy it was only of his ances : tor's patent that he spoke (unless Sir William Davenant bought up Killigrew's); I know no way of coming to the knowledge of this affair, Mr. Davenant being now abroad, and I know not where. But if you would have me write about it, I will learn his direction. I am at all times glad to hear of you, on any occasion. I would willingly wait on you in the Park, if I knew your times: I have called twice or thrice there in vain, without being heard. I guessed you were in the country. My sincere good wishes attend you; and your agreeable family, as far as I have seen of it, I cannot but wish well to. I am, dear Sir, Your, etc. SIR, LETTER XVII. TO THE SAME. June 2, 1738. I SENT you as honest an answer as I could, to the letter you favoured me with; and am sorry you imagine any civil reproach, or latent meaning, where I meant to express with the utmost openness. I would assure you, if you please, by my oath, as well as my word, that I am in no degree displeased at any freedom you can take with me in a private letter, or with my writings in public. I again insist, that you alter or soften no one criticism of yours in my favour; nor deprive yourself of the liberty, nor the world of the profit, of your freest remarks on my errors. In what I said, I gave you a true picture of my own |