on the head with a Piss-pot*, than by a Thunderbolt. As to greater Oppreffors, they are like Kites or Eagles, one expects mifchief from them; but to be squirted to death (as poor Wycherley faid to me on his death-bed) by Apothecaries Apprentices, by the understrappers of under-fecretaries to fecretaries who were no fecretaries—this would provoke as dull a dog as Ph-st himself.

So much for enemies, now for friends. Mr. L— thinks all this indifcreet: the Dr. not fo; he loves mischief the best of any good-natured man in England. Lord B. is above trifling: when he writes of any thing in this world, he is more than mortal: if ever he trifles, it must be when he turns a Divine. Gay is writing Tales for Prince William: I fuppofe Mr. Phillips will take this very ill, for two reafons; one that he thinks all childish things belong to him, and the other because he'll take it ill to be taught that one may write things to a child without being childish. What have I more to add? but that Lord Oxford defires earnestly to fee you: and that many others whom you do not think the worst of, will be gratified by it none more, be affured, than

Yours, etc.

P.S. Pope

* Dr. Delany, from his partiality to Swift, is of opinion, that the Dean caught his love of grofs and filthy objects from Pope. The contrary feems to be the fact. One would think this love contagious; fee two paffages in the View of Lord Bolingbroke's Philofophy, Letter II. pages 67 and 120. WARTON.

+ Phillips.

P. S. Pope and you are very great Wits, and I think very indifferent Philofophers: if you despised the world as much as you pretend, and perhaps believe, you would not be fo angry with it. The founder of your sect*, that noble Original whom you think it fo great an honour to resemble', was a flave to the worst part of the world, to the Court; and all his big words were the language of a flighted Lover, who defired nothing fo much as a reconciliation, and feared nothing fo much as a rupture. I believe the world hath used me as fcurvily as moft people, and yet I could never find in my heart to be thoroughly angry with the fimple, falfe, capricious thing. I fhould blush alike to be discovered fond of the world, or piqued at it. Your definition of Animal rationis capax, instead of the common one Animal Rationale, will not bear exarnination: define but Reafon, and you will fee why your diftinction is no better than

that

Very different is the opinion that Lord Shaftesbury has given of Seneca, the perfon here alluded to. ""Tis not," fays he finely," the perfon, character, or genius, but the style and manner of this great man, which we presume to cenfure. We acknowledge his noble sentiments and worthy actions: we own the Patriot and good Minister; but we reject the Writer. Where an univerfal Monarchy was actually eftablished, and the intereft of a whole world concerned; he furely muft have been esteemed a Guardian Angel, who, as a Prime Minifter, could, for several years, turn the very worst of Courts, and worst-conditioned of all Princes, to the fatherly care and just government of mankind. Such a Minister was Seneca, under an Agrippina and a Nero.”Characteristics, vol. iii. p. 23.

! Seneca.

WARTON. WARBURTON.

that of the Pontiff Cotta; between mala ratio, and bona ratio. But enough of this: make us a vifit, and I'll subscribe to any fide of these important questions which you please. We differ lefs than you imagine, perhaps, when you wished me banished again: but I am not less true to you and to Philofophy in England, than I was in France.

LETTER XV.

FROM DR. SWIFT.

Yours, etc. B.

London, May 4, 1726.

I

HAD rather live in forty Irelands than under the frequent difquiets of hearing you are out of order. I always apprehend it most after a great dinner; for the leaft Tranfgreffion of yours, if it be only two bits and one fup more than you stint, is a great debauch; for which you certainly pay more than those fots who are carried dead drunk to bed. My Lord Peterborow spoiled every body's dinner, but especially mine, with telling us that you were detained by fickness. Pray let me have three lines under any hand or pot-hook that will give me a better account of your health which concerns me more than others, because I love and esteem you for reasons that most others have

little to do with, and would be the fame although you had never touched a pen further than with writing to

me.

I am gathering up my luggage, and preparing for my journey I will endeavour to think of you as little as I can, and when I write to you, I will ftrive not to think of you; this I intend in return to your kindness; and further, I know nobody has dealt with me fo cruelly as you, the confequences of which usage I fear will last as long as my life, for fo long fhall I be (in spite of my heart) entirely Yours.

LETTER XVI.

August 22, 1726.

MANY a fhort figh you coft me the day I left you,

and many more you will coft me, till the day you return. I really walked about like a man banished, and when I came home found it no home. 'Tis a fenfation like that of a limb lopped off, one is trying every minute unawares to use it, and finds it is not. I may say you have used me more cruelly than you have done any other man; you have made it more impoffible for me to live at eafe without you: habitude itself would have done that, if I had lefs friendship in my nature than I have. Befides my natural memory of you, you have made a local one,

which presents you to me in every place I frequent ; I fhall never more think of Lord Cobham's, the woods of Ciceter, or the pleasing profpect of Byberry, but your Idea must be joined with 'em; nor fee one feat in my own garden, or one room in my own houfe, without a Phantom of you, fitting or walking before me. I travelled with you to Chefter. I felt the extreme heat of the weather, the inns, the roads, the confinement and clofenefs of the uneafy coach, and wished a hundred times I had either a Deanry or a Horfe in my gift. In real truth, I have felt my foul peevish ever fince with all about me, from a warm uneafy defire after you. I am gone out of myself to no purpofe, and cannot catch you. Inbiat in pedes was not more properly applied to a poor dog after a hare, than to me with regard to your depart ure. I wish I could think no more of it, but lie down and fleep till we meet again, and let that day (how far foever off it be) be the morrow. Since I cannot, may it be my amends that every thing you wifh may attend you where you are, and that you may find every friend you have there, in the ftate you wish him, or her: fo that your vifits to us may have no other effect, than the progress of a rich man

to

Cirencester.

+ Bybury.

Is it poffible Pope could feel all this, or Swift believe it? Swift had been on a vifit to Pope, but left him abruptly; as he fays himself, because "two fick friends" cannot do together. Pope was perhaps fearful of fome offence having been taken, and therefore fhews the greater kindness and regret on his departure.