vour a reconciliation by a ludicrous poem, which might bring both the parties to a better temper. In compliance with Caryl's request, though his name was for a long time marked only by the first and last letter, C—1, a poem of two cantos was written (1711), as is faid, in a fortnight, and fent to the of fended Lady, who liked it well enough to fhew it; and, with the ufual procefs of literary tranfactions, the author, dreading a furreptitious edition, was forced to publifh it.

The event is faid to have been fuch as was defired; the pacification and diverfion of all to whom it related, except Sir George Brown, who complained

with fome bitterness that, in the character of Sir Plume, he was made to talk nonfenfe. Whether all this be true, I have fome doubt; for at Paris, a few years ago, a niece of Mrs. Fermor, who prefided in an English Convent, mentioned Pope's work with very little gratitude, rather as an infult than an honour; and she may be fuppofed to have inherited the opinion of her family.

At its first appearance it was termed by Addison merum fal. Pope, however, faw that it was capable of improvement; and having luckily contrived to borrow his machinery from the Roficrucians, imparted the fcheme with which his head was teeming to Addison, who told

him that his work, as it ftood, was a delicious little thing, and gave him no en

couragement to retouch it.

This has been too hastily confidered as an inftance of Addison's jealoufy; for as he could not guefs the conduct of the new defign, or the poffibilities of pleasure comprised in a fiction of which there had been no examples, he might very reasonably and kindly perfuade the author to acquiefce in his own profperity, and forbear an attempt which he confidered as an unneceffary hazard..

Addison's counfel was happily rejected. Pope forefaw the future efflorefcence of imagery then budding in his mind, and refolved to fpare no art, or industry of cultivation. The foft

luxuriance of his fancy was already fhooting, and all the gay varieties of diction were ready at his hand to colour and embellifh it.

His attempt was juftified by its fuc cefs. The Rape of the Lock ftands for ward, in the claffes of literature, as the moft exquifite example of ludicrous. poetry. Berkley congratulated him upon the difplay of powers more truly poeti cal than he had fhewn before; with ele gance of defcription and juftness of precepts, he had now exhibited boundless. fertility of invention.

He always considered the intertexture of the machinery with the action as his moft fuccessful exertion of poetical art. He indeed could never afterwards pro

duce

duce any thing of fuch unexampled excellence. Thofe performances, which ftrike with wonder, are combinations of fkilful genius with happy cafualty; and it is not likely that any felicity, like the discovery of a new race of preternatura} agents, fhould happen twice to the fame

man.

Of this poem the author was, I think, allowed to enjoy the praise for a long time without difturbance. Many years afterwards Dennis publifhed fome remarks upon it, with very little force, and with no effect; for the opinion of the publick was already fettled, and it was no longer at the mercy of criticism.

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