his Diffolution (as I am told) or with lefs oftentation yielded up his Being. The great Modefty wch you know was natural to him, and y great Contempt he had for all Sorts of Vanity & Parade, never appeared more than in his laft moments: He had a confcious Satisfaction (no doubt) in acting right, in feeling himself honeft, true, & un-pretending to more than was his own. So he dyed, as he lived, with that fecret, yet fufficient, Con tentment. As to any Papers left behind him, I dare fay they can be but few; for this reason, He never wrote out of Vanity, or thought much of the Applaufe of Men. I know an Inftance where he did his utmoft to conceal his own merit that way; and if we join to this his na tural Love of Eafe, I fancy we must expect little of this fort: at least I hear of none except fome few further remarks on Waller (wh his cautious integrity made him leave an order to be given to Mr. Tonfon) and perhaps, tho tis many years fince I faw it, a Tranflation of ye first Book of Oppian. He ch had begun a Tragedy of Dion, but made small progress in it. As to his other Affairs, he dyed poor, but honeft, leaving no Debts, or Legacies; except of a few pds to Mr. Trumbull and my Lady, in token of respect, Gratefulness, & mutual Efteem. I shall with pleasure take upon me to draw this amiable, quiet, deferving, unpretending, Chriftian and Philofophical character, in His Epitaph. There Truth may be spoken in a few words: as for Flourish, & Oratory, & Poetry, I leave them to younger and more lively Writers, fuch as love writing for writ<< ing fake, & w rather show their own Fine Parts, y Report the valuable ones of any other man. So the Elegy I renounce. I condole with you from my heart, on the lofs of fo worthy a man, and a Friend to us both. Now he is gone, I muft tell you he has done you many a good office, & fet your character in y faireft light, to fome who who either miftook you, or knew you not. I doubt not he has done the fame for me. : Adieu Let us love his Memory, and profit by his example. I am very fincerely DR SIR Your affectionate & real Servant A. POPE. AUG 29th 1730. |