ΤΟ AND FROM AARON HILL, ESQ LETTER I. MR. POPE TO AARON HILL, ESQ Dear Sir, THE little thing which you take so kindly, is but a very fmall part of what I owe you; and whatever my studies, or (to use a properer word) idleness, are capable of producing, ought to be returned you in mere gratitude for the pleasure I have received from your own writings: in which give me leave to fay, your good-will to me in particular is as distinguishable, as the obligation you lay on the public in general. I am very happy in the envy and filly attacks of fuch people as have awakened the generofity of so powerful a defender. Nor am I afhamed of those weakneffes of mine, which they have expofed in print, (the greatest of which was my thinking too candidly of them, to whom I wrote my Letters with fo much unguarded friendliness, and freedom,) fince you have found a way to turn those weaknesses into virtue, by your partial regard of them. The eye of candour, like the Sun, makes all the beauties which it fees; it gives colour and brightness to the meanest objects purely by looking on them. I agree with you, that there is a pleasure in feeing the nature and temper of men in the plaineft undrefs; but few men are of confequence enough to deferve, or reward, that curiofity. I fhall indeed (and fo will all mankind) be highly pleased to see the great Czar of Mufcovy in this light, drawn by himself, like an ancient master, in rough ftrokes, without heightening or fhadowing what a fatisfaction to behold that perfect likeness, without art, affectation, or even the gloss of colouring, with a noble neglect of all that finishing and fmoothing, which any other hand would have been obliged to bestow on fo principal a figure? I write this to a man whofe judgment I am certain of, and therefore am as certain you will give the world this great depofitum, juft as you have received it: there will be no danger of your dreffing this Mars too finely, whofe armour is not gold, but adamant, and whofe ftile. in all probability is much more strong than it is polished. I congratulate you, that this great treasure is fallen into your hands; and I con gratulate all Europe, that it is to be delivered to them through the hands of one, who will think it facrilege to touch upon, much less to alter, any great lines of fuch an original. I can make you no better return for your great compliment upon me (which it would be arrogance in me to shew to any other, and dangerous even to remember remember myself) but by telling you, that it is honour enough to reward all my studies, to find my character and reputation is part of the care of that perfon to whom the fame and glory of Peter Alexiowitz was committed. SIR, I am forced to make ufe of another hand than my own in this letter, having received a wound cross all the veins of my right hand, by which the tendons of two fingers are feparated; however, it was a fine paid for my life, which has been very narrowly faved, and which may now continue me fome years longer. I was unwilling to answer your too obliging letter (which puts much too great a ftrefs upon my opinion) till I had read your play with the attention it deferves: I mean, not once, but feveral times over. In a word, to comply with my judgment will coft you no trouble, except to your modefty; which is, to act it as foon as poffible. Nothing but trifles have I to object, object, and which were fuch as did not once stop me at the first reading; the spirit, design, and characters, carrying me on, without ftop, check, or even intermiffion. You certainly are master of the art of the Stage, in the manner of forming and conducting the defign, which I think impoffible to be mended; of that great part, and of the other, the raising the pasfions, I will fay nothing to you, who know them so much better than myself. I would only point out a few particularities in thought or expreffion, as material as excepting to a button on your coat, or a loose hair. Two or three lines I have with great timoroufness written on one of your blank leaves, in black lead, half afraid to be legible, and not without fome hope that before you see them, they may be vanished: fo may perhaps my objections, every one of them. Shall I fee you foon, to tell you these nothings? Whenever I fhall fee you, I hope to find we can employ the time better, than I, in telling, or you, in hearing them. Or must I return you the play now? Your orders will be obeyed as foon as you give them. I really rejoice at your Lady's recovery: I would have her and you think, the air of Richmond is particularly good to re-establish her. Pray let Mifs Hill know, I am ready to believe all the good things her own father can see in her: I can safely trust both his judgments and his affections. I am, truly, Sir, Your, etc. |