CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

CHAPTER I.

Date of Pope's Birth-Family of Pope-Pope's Mother-Binfield-Pope's

Wood in Windsor Forest-Infancy of Pope-Pope sees Dryden-

First Attempts at Verse-Early Poetical Lessons-Writes his Pas-

torals-Acquaintance with Wycherley-Last Illness of Wycherley-

Visits Walsh-Henry Cromwell-How he spends his Time in the

Country-Cromwell visits Binfield-Intimacy with Cromwell declines

-The Blounts of Maple-Durham-Teresa and Martha Blount-An-

other Poetical Admirer-Contrast between Town and Country-

Windsor Forest and Stonor-Illness of Martha Blount-Visit to

Oxford-Blenheim-Attachment to Martha Blount .

PAGE

1

CHAPTER II.

Tonson offers to publish the Pastorals-Essay on Criticism-Dennis the

Critic-Pope's Hatred of Intolerance-Gay-Pope's Windsor Forest

-Swift-Pope's Obligations to Swift-Letter to Steele-Addison-

Criticism in the Guardian-Ambrose Philips-Rape of the Lock-

Arabella Fermor-Pope studies Painting-Bolingbroke-Pope en-

gaged on Homer-He visits Oxford-Addison sees part of the

Translation-First Book of Pope's Homer published-Tickell's

Translation-The Rival Translators-Pope's Resentment against

Addison-Alleged Conference between Addison and Pope-The Im-

probability of Ayre's Statement-Addison praises Pope's Homer

.

56

CHAPTER III.

The Gay Period of Pope's Life-Visits to Bath-Description of a Journey

to Oxford-Lintot's Mode of Dealing with Critics-Jervas's House

in Cleveland Court-Pope's Removal to Twickenham-Pope's Villa

-His Grotto-Contributions to the Grotto-Lady Mary Wortley

Montagu-Pope corresponds with her-Lady Mary returns to Eng-

land-Description of Stanton Harcourt-Lady Mary at Twicken-

ham-Pope quarrels with Lady Mary-Rustic Lovers killed by

Lightning-Lady Mary and M. Ruremonde-Lady Mary's Treat-

ment of her Sister-Pope assists Gay in his Plays-Quarrel with

Cibber-Quarrel with Curll, the Publisher-Atterbury, Bishop of

Rochester-Pope's Sentiments on Religion-The Critics on Pope's

Homer-Gay's Congratulatory Poem-Notes to Gay's Poem

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109

CHAPTER IV.

Pope's Edition of Shakspeare-Translation of the Odyssey-Swift's Mis-

anthropy-Atterbury convicted of Treason-Pope's Farewell Letter

to Atterbury-Bolingbroke returns from France-The Farm at

Dawley-Pope projects writing a Fairy Tale-Swift again visits

England-Accident to Pope-Miscellanies by Pope and Swift-

Satirical Classification of Authors-Lampoon by James Moore-

Design of the Dunciad-Date of its Composition-Interest excited

by its Publication-Alleged Whipping in Ham Walks-Aaron Hill

remonstrates with Pope-Threats of Vengeance-The Essay on

Man-Death of Gay-Satires by Lord Hervey and Lady Mary-

Death of Pope's Mother-Pope's Letter to Lord Hervey-He denies

having satirised Lady Mary-Arbuthnot's Last Letter to Pope-

Pope's Views regarding Satire .

. 168

CHAPTER V.

Curll intends publishing a Life of Pope-Negotiates for Pope's Letters

-Curll is brought before the House of Lords-Pope advertises an

Edition of his Letters-Identity of Pope's and Curll's Editions-

Supplement to the Plot of the Letters-Curll outwitted-Letters of

Literary Men rarely published-Literary Friends of Pope-Garth

and Mallet-Young-Lord Peterborough-Imitations of Horace-

Decline of Swift's Health-Pope's Account of Himself in 1739-—Ac-

quaintance with Warburton-Pope and Warburton meet at Twick-

enham-Pope visits Bristol-Liberality to Savage-Plan of a History

of Poetry-Second Volume of Prose Works-Pope's Last Letter to

Swift.

227

Pope and Warburton at Prior Park-The New Dunciad-Cibber's reply

-Warburton assists Pope-Alterations in the Dunciad-Quarrel

with the Family at Prior Park-Pope revises his Poetical Works-

Threatened Invasion of England-Pope's Last Letter to Martha

Blount Martha Blount charged with Unkindness-Last Illness of

the Poet-His Firm Belief in the Immortality of the Soul-Death

of Pope-Duchess of Marlborough's Inquiries-The Duchess dis-

covers Pope's Treachery-Bolingbroke's Charge of Perfidy-Con-

troversy regarding Pope and Bolingbroke-Death of Teresa and

Martha Blount-Monument to Pope-Notices by Spence, Berkeley,

and Lady Hervey-Pope's Person and Household-Traits of his

Character-His Rank as a Poet-Finished Excellence his Object-

Great Popularity of Pope.

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273

APPENDIX.

1. The Last Will and Testament of Alexander Pope, Esq.

2. Letter from Mr. George Arbuthnot to Martha Blount, on Pope's

325

330

331

7.

Letters of Pope, Hugh Bethell, Ann Arbuthnot, and Teresa Blount 342

5. Pope (when young) first sees Dryden at Will's Coffee-house..to face 17

6. Pope and Sir Joshua Reynolds in an Auction Room

19

25

26

29

40

52

55

57

59

61

74

89

91

18. Pope on his way to Oxford

19. The Wits at Button's discussing the merits of the rival editions of

to face 112

113

119

121

128

23. Pope's Visit to Bath

24. Portrait of Jervas

25. Pope's Villa....

26. Seat of Lord Bathurst, Cirencester..

27. Pope commemorating the completion of the fifth volume of Homer.. 136

28. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu sitting to Kneller

137