THE POETICAL WORKS OF OF ALEXANDER POPE. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR Two VOLS. IN ONE BOSTON: PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, AND COMPANY 1857. 118 Phryne 138735 CONTENTS OF VOLUME II. THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER POPE THIS illustrious poet was born at London in 1688 and was descended from a good family of tnat name in Oxfordshire, the head of which was the Earl of Downe, whose sole heiress married the Earl of Lindsey. His father, a man of primitive simplicity and integrity of manners, was a merchant of London, who, upon the Revolution, quitted trade, and converted his effects into money, amounting to near 10,000l. with which he retired into the country; and died in 1717, at the age of seventy-five. Our poet's mother, who lived to a very advanced age, being ninety-three years old when she died, in 1733, was the daughter of William Turner, Esq. of York. She had three brothers, one of whom was killed, another died in the service of King Charles; and the eldest, following his fortunes, and becoming ■ general officer in Spain, left her what estate remained after sequestration and forfeitures of her family. To these circumstances our poet alludes in his Epistles to Dr. Arbuthnot, in which he mentions his parents: Of gentle blood (part shed in honour's cause, Each parent sprang-What fortune, pray?-their own; And better got than Bestia's from the throne. Born to no pride, inheriting no strife, Nor marrying discord in a noble wife; Stranger to civil and religious rage, The good man walk'd innoxious through his age: |