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The Iliad was published volume by volume, as thè tranflation proceeded; the four first books appeared in 1715. The expectation of this work was undoubtedly high, and every man who had connected his name with criticism, or poetry, was defirous of fuch intelligence as might enable him to talk upon the popular topick. Halifax, who, by having been first a poet, and then a patron of poetry, had acquired the right of being a judge, was willing to hear fome books while they were yet unpublished. Of this rehearsal Pope afterwards gave the following account *.

"The famous Lord Halifax was rather a pretender "to taste than really poffeffed of it.-When I had "finished the two or three first books of my tranflation "of the Iliad, that Lord defired to have the pleasure "of hearing them read at his houfe-Addifon, Con

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greve, and Garth, were there at the reading. In "four or five places, Lord Halifax ftopt me very civilly, and with a speech each time, much of the "fame kind, I beg your pardon, Mr. Pope; but "there is fomething in that paffage that does not "quite please me. Be fo good as to mark the place, " and confider it a little at your leifure.-I am fure

you can give it a little turn.'-I returned from Lord "Halifax's with Dr. Garth, in his chariot; and, as "we were going along, was faying to the Doctor, "that my Lord had laid me under a good deal of dif

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ficulty by fuch loofe and general obfervations; that "I had been thinking over the paffages almost ever "fince, and could not guess at what it was that of"fended his Lordfhip in either of them. Garth laughed heartily at my embarraffinent; faid, I had

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"not been long enough acquainted with Lord Halifax "to know his way yet; that I need not puzzle myself "about looking thofe places over and over, when I 66 got home. All you need do (fays he) is to leave "them just as they are; call on Lord Halifax two or "three months hence, thank him for his kind obfer"vations on thofe paffages, and then read them to him "as altered. I have known him much longer than 66 you have, and will be anfwerable for the event." "I followed his advice; waited on Lord Halifax fome "time after; faid, I hoped he would find his objections to thofe paflages removed; read them to "him exactly as they were at firft: and his Lordship "was extremely pleased with them, and cryed out, "Ay, now they are perfectly right: nothing can be better."

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It is feldom that the great or the wife fufpect that they are defpifed or cheated. Halifax, thinking this a lucky opportunity of fecuring immortality, made fome advances of favour and fome overtures of advantage to Pope, which he feems to have received with fullen coldness. All our knowledge of this tranfaction is derived from a fingle Letter (Dec. 1, 1714), in which Pope fays, "I am obliged to you, both for "the favours you have done me, and those you in"tend me. I diftruft neither your will nor your memory, when it is to do good; and if I ever become "troublefome or folicitous, it must not be out of ex"pectation, but out of gratitude. Your Lordship may caufe me to live agreeably in the town, or contentedly in the country, which is really all the dif"ference I fet between an eafy fortune and a small 66 one. It is indeed a high ftrain of generosity in you

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to think of making me eafy all my life, only be

" caufe

caufe I have been fo happy as to divert you fome "few hours: but, if I may have leave to add it is be❝ caufe you think me no enemy to my native country, "there will appear a better reafon; for I muft of "confequence be very much (as I fincerely am) yours &c."

Thefe voluntary offers, and this faint acceptance, ended without effect. The patron was not accustomed to fuch frigid gratitude, and the poet fed his own pride with the dignity of independence. They probably were fufpicious of each other. Pope would not dedicate till he faw at what rate his praife was valued; he would be troublefome out of gratitude, not expectation, Halifax thought himself entitled to confidence; and would give nothing, unless he knew what he should receive. Their commerce had its beginning in hope of praise on one fide, and of money on the other, and ended because Pope was lefs eager of money than Halifax of praife. It is not likely that Halifax had any perfonal benevolence to Pope; it is evident that Pope looked on Halifax with fcorn and hatred.

The reputation of this great work failed of gaining him a patron; but it deprived him of a friend. Addifon and he were now at the head of poetry and criticifm; and both in such a state of elevation, that, like the two rivals in the Roman ftate, one could no longer bear an equal, nor the other a fuperior. Of the gradual abatement of kindnefs between friends, the beginning is often scarcely difcernible by themfelves, and the procefs is continued by petty provocations, and incivilities fometimes peevishly returned, and fometimes contemptuously neglected, which would efcape all attention but that of pride, and drop from any memory

but that of refentment. That the quarrel of those two wits should be minutely deduced, is not to be expected from a writer to whom, as Homer fays, nothing but rumour has reached, and who has no personal knowledge.

Pope doubtless approached Addison, when the reputation of their wit first brought them together, with the respect due to a man whofe abilities were acknowledged, and who, having attained that eminence to which he was himself aspiring, had in his hands the distribution of literary fame. He paid court with fufficient diligence by his Prologue to Cato, by his abufe of Dennis, and with praise yet more direct, by his poem on the Dialogues on Medals, of which the im mediate publication was then intended. In all this there was no hypocrify; for he confeffed that he found in Addison fomething more pleafing than in any other

man.

It may be fuppofed, that as Pope faw himself favoured by the world, and more frequently compared his own powers with those of others, his confidence increased, and his fubmiffion leffened; and that Addifon felt no delight from the advances of a young wit, who might foon contend with him for the highest place, Every great man, of whatever kind be his greatness, has among his friends those who officioufly, or infiduoufly, quicken his attention to offences, heighten his difguft, and ftimulate his refentment. Of fuch adherents Addison doubtlefs had many, and Pope was now too high to be without them.

From the emiffion and reception of the Propofals for the Iliad, the kindness of Addison seems to have abated. Jervas the painter once pleafed himself (Aug. 20, 1714) with imagining that he had re-established their friend

fhip;

fhip; and wrote to Pope that Addison once fufpected him of too close a confederacy with Swift, but was now fatisfied with his conduct. To this Pope answered, a week after, that his engagements to Swift were fuch as his fervices in regard to the fubfcription demanded, and that the Tories never put him under the neceffity of asking leave to be grateful. But, fays he, as Mr. Addifon must be the judge in what regards himself, and feems to have no very just one in regard to me, fo I must own to you I expect nothing but civility from bim. In the fame Letter he mentions Philips, as having been busy to kindle animofity between them; but, in a Letter to Addison, he expreffes fome consciousness of behaviour, inattentively deficient in refpect.

Of Swift's induftry in promoting the fubfcription there remains the teftimony of Kennet, no friend to either him or Pope.

“Nov. 2, 1713, Dr. Swift came into the coffee-houfe, "and had a bow from every body but me, who, I con"fefs, could not but despise him. When I came to "the antichamber to wait, before prayers, Dr. Swift "was the principal man of talk and business, and acted "as master of requests.-Then he instructed a young "nobleman that the best Poet in England was Mr. Pope "(a papift), who had begun a tranflation of Homer into "English verfe, for which he must have them all fubfcribe; for, fays he, the author fhall not begin to print "till I have a thousand guineas for him."

About this time it is likely that Steele, who was, with all his political fury, good-natured and officious, procured an interview between these angry rivals, which ended in aggravated malevolence. On this occaston, if the reports be true, Pope made his complaint with

frankness

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