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M MARTHA BLOUNT

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verfary with ill Language, or when I could not "attack a Rival's Works, encouraged Reports against his Morals. To conclude, if this Volume perifh, let it ferve as a Warning to the Criticks, 66 not to take too much Pains for the future to de"ftroy fuch Things as will die of themselves; and "a Memento mori to fome of my vain Cotemporaries "the Poets, to teach them that when real Merit is "wanting, it avails nothing to have been encourag'd "by the Great, commended by the Eminent, and "favour'd by the Publick in general."

And now we beg Leave, it being in proper Course, to mention the feveral Epiftles wrote by our Author, where he has treated different Subjects in an exceeding beautiful Manner; fome of them were wrote when he was very young, one to Mifs Blount whert he was but 17 Years of Age, and another at the Coronation, about which hereafter we fhall take Occafion to speak.

On Mr. Cragg's being advanced to be Secretary of State, he wrote him a fhort complimental Epiftle, where, fpeaking of his Abilities and Virtue, he adds:

All this thou wert; and being this before,

Know Kings, and Fortune cannot make thee more. This Gentleman was one between whom and Mr. Pope there was an unlimited Freedom, and a Life-enduring Friendship. It may be feen how familiar they were, by a Letter which Mr. Secretary Cragg's wrote to Mr. Pope from Paris, dated September 2rgj 1716.

LAST Poft brought me the Favour of your Letter of the 10th of Aug. O. S. It would be taking too much upon me to decide, that 'twas a witty one; I never pretend to more Judgment than VOL. II. C

to know what pleases me, and can affure you, it was a very agreeable one. The Proof I can give you of my Sincerity in this Opinion, is, that I hope and defire you would not stop at this, but continue more of them.

I am in a Place where Pleafure is continually flowing. The Princes fet the Example, and the Subjects follow at a Distance. The Ladies are of all Parties, by which Means the Converfation of Men is much foftened and fashioned from thofe blunt Difputes on Politicks, and rough Jefts, we are fo guilty of; while the Freedom of the Women takes away all Formality and Conftraint. I must own, at the fame Time, these Beauties are too artificial for my Tafte; you have seen a French Picture, the Original is more painted, and fuch a Cruft of Powder and Effence in their Hair, that you can fee no Difference between Black and Red. By difufing Stays, and indulging themselves at a Table, they are run out of all Shape; but as to that, they may give a good Reafon, they prefer Conveniency to Parade, and are by this Means as ready, as they are generally willing to be charitable.

I am furpriz'd to find I have wrote fo much Scandal; I fancy I am either fetting up for a Wit, or imagine I must write in this Stile to a Wit; I hope you'll prove a good natur'd one, and not only let me hear from you fometimes, but forgive the fmall Encouragement you meet with. If you'll compleat your Favours, pray give my humble Services to Lords Warwick, St. John, and Harley. I have had my Hopes and Fears they would have abufed me before this Time; I am fure it is not my Bufinefs to meddle with a Neft of Bees (I fpeak only of the Honey.) I won't trouble myfelf to finifh finely, a true Com

pliment

pliment is better than a good one, and I can affure you without any, that I am very fincerely,. Sir, Yours, &c.

CRAGGS.

He died February the 16th, 1720, and was buried in Westminster-Abbey. The Epitaph upon his Monument was wrote by Mr. Pope.

Statefman, yet Friend to Truth! of Soul fincere,
In Action faithful, and in Honour clear!
Who broke no Promife, ferv'd no private End;
Who gain'd no Title, and who loft no Friend;
Ennobled by himself, by all approv❜d,

Prais'd, wept, and honour'd, by the Mufe he lov'd.

A. POPE.

In the Year 1715, at which Time Mr. Addifon intended to publifh his Book of Medals, Mr. Pope wrote him an Epiftle on that Subject, which appears printed with them; it was long before Mr. Addifon was Secretary of State, and while a great Show of Friendship was kept up by that Gentleman for our Author. This Epiftle points out the Usefulness of ftudying Medals, because they preferve the Memory of Things much longer than Arches, Temples, and Tombs, which vanifh like the Living and the Dead, and foon in Comparison of Medals, lofe their fading Inscriptions and Statues: Mr. Pope's Thoughts are these.

Ambition figh'd: She found it vain to trust The faithlefs Column and the crumbling Bust; Huge Moles, whofe Shadow stretch'd from Shore to

Shore,

Their Ruius ruin'd, and their Place no more!

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Convinc'd, fhe now contracts her vaft Design,
And all her Triumphs fhrink into a Coin.
A narrow Orb each crouded Conqueft keeps,
Beneath her Palm here fad Judea weeps,
Now fcantier Limits the proud Arch confine,
And scarce are seen the proftrate Nile or Rhine,
A fmall Euphrates through the Piece is roll'd,
And little Eagles wave their Wings in Gold.

The Poetry of these Lines in a Manner speak the Author, there is fine Painting in them; nay, Painting, the Sifter Art to Poetry, was not unknown to him, he took Delight when a Child in Drawing, and afterward having had Masters for that Purpose, made a tolerable good Progrefs foon; but becoming intimate with Mr. Jervas, (at whofe House he was in Town) he improv'd fo much, that he grew afham'd of his firft Works in this Art, for fome Time of every Day that he was with Mr. Jervas, he employ'd in Painting, it was generally in the Morning; this will be beft express'd in his own Words to Mr. Gay, August 23, 1713.

Dear Sir,

UST as I received your's, I was fet down to

you infift

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long deferr'd it. But I can hardly repent my Neglect, when it gives me the Knowledge how little upon Ceremony, and how much a greater Share in your Memory I have than I deferve. I have been near a Week in London, where I am like to remain, till I become, by Mr. Jervas's Help, Elegans formarum Spectator. I begin to discover Beauties that were till now imperceptible to me. Every Corner of an Eye, or Turn of a Nole or Ear, the fmallest Degree of Light or Shade on a Cheek, or in

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