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ry, the epithet ισοθέος seems to have been added by Homer, in order to reconcile us to the meanness of the action, by reminding us of the high character of the person who is engaged in it; and, as Mr. Addison observes of Virgil's husbandman, that "he "toffes about his dung with an air of grace"fulness;" one may, with the same truth, fay of Homer's hero, that he lights his fire with an air of dignity.

I intended to have closed these hasty objections, with laying before you fome of those passages, where Mr. Pope seems to have equalled, or excelled his original. But I perceive I have already extended my letter beyond a reasonable limit: I will referve therefore that more pleasing, as well as much eafier task, to some future occafion. In the mean time, I defire you will look upon these remarks, not as proceeding from a fpirit of cavil (than which I know not any more truly contemptible) but as an instance of my having red your favorite poet with that attention, which his own unequalled merit and your judicious recommendation most deservedly claim. I am, &c.

LET

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LETTER XLIV.

TO PALAMEDES.

HAVE had occafion a thousand times since I saw you, to wish myself in the land where all things are forgotten; at least, that I did not live in the memory of certain restless mortals of your acquaintance, who are visitors by profession. The misfortune is, no retirement is so remote, nor fanctuary so sacred, as to afford a protection from their impertinence: and the one were to fly to the defart, and take refuge in the cells of faints and hermits, one should be alarmed with their unmeaning voice, crying even in the wilderness. They spread themselves, in truth, over the whole face of the land, and lay waste the fairest hours of conversation. For my own part (to fpeak of them in a style fuitable to their taste and talents) I look upon them, not as paying visits, but vifitations; and am never obliged to give audience to one of this species, that I do not confider myself as under a judgment for those numberless hours, which I

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have spent in vain. If these sons and daughters of idleness and folly would be perfuaded to enter into an exclufive society among themselves, the rest of the world might possess their moments unmolested : but nothing less will fatisfy them than opening a general commerce, and failing into every port where choice or chance may drive them. Were we to live, indeed, to the years of the antediluvians, one might afford to resign some part of one's own time, in charitable relief of the unfufferable weight of theirs; but since the days of man are shrunk into a few hasty revolutions of the fun, whole afternoons are much too confiderable a facrifice to be offered up to tame civility. What heightens the contempt of this character, is, that they who have so much of the form, have always least of the power of friendship: and tho they will craze their chariot wheels (as Milton expresses it) to destroy your repose; they would not drive half the length of a street to affift your distress.

It was owing to an interruption from one of these obfequious intruders, that I was prevented keeping my engagement with you yesterday; and you must indulge me in this discharge of my invective against the ridiculous occasion of so mortifying a disappointment. Adieu.

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LETTER XLV.

To HORTENSIUS.

To be able to fuppress my acknowledg ments of the pleasure I received from your approbation, were to shew that I do not deserve it: for is it possible to value the praise of the judicious as one ought, and yet be filent under its influence? I can with strict truth say of you, what a Greek poet said of Plato, who, reading his performance to a circle where that great philosopher was present, and finding himself deferted at length by all the rest of the company, cried out, " I will proceed " nevertheless; for Plato is himself an au" dience."

TRUE fame, indeed, is no more in the gift than in the poffeffion of numbers, as it is only in the disposal of the wife and the impartial.

impartial. But if both those qualifications must concur to give validity to a vote of this kind, how little reason has an author to be either depressed or elated by general censure or applause ?

THE triumphs of genius are not like those of antient heroism, where the meanest captive made a part of the pomp, as well as the noblest. It is not the multitude, but the dignity of those that compofe her followers, that can add any thing to her real glory; and a fingle attendant may often render her more truly illuftrious, than a whole train of common admirers. I am fure at least, I have no ambition of drawing after me vulgar acclamations; and whilst I have the happiness to enjoy your applause, I shall always confider myself in poffeffion of the truest fame. Iam, &c.

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LETTER XLVI.

TO CLYTANDER.

You who never forget any thing, can tell me, I dare say, whose observa

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tion it is, that " of all the actions of our