great) Honour or distinction whatever, which those of their rank can bestow on one of mine; and which indeed they are apt to over-rate, but never so much, as when they imagine us under any obligation to fay one untrue word in their favour.

I can only thank you, my Lord, for the kind tranfition you make from common business, to that which is the only real bufinefs of every reasonable creature. Indeed I think more of it than you imagine, tho' not fo much as I ought. I am pleas'd with thofe Latin verfes extremely, which are so very good that I thought them yours, 'till you call'd them an Horatian Cento, and then I recollected the disjecta membra poeta. I won't pretend I am fo totally in those fentiments which you compliment me with, as I yet hope to be: You tell me I have them, as the civileft method to put me in mind how much it fits me to have them. I ought, firft, to prepare my mind by a better knowledge even of good profane writers, especially the Moralifts, &c. before I can be worthy of tasting that fupreme of books, and fublime of all writings. In which, as in all the intermediate ones, you may (if your friendship and charity toward me continue fo far) be the best guide to Your, &c.

LET

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LETTER XX.

From the Bishop of ROCHESTER,

July 30, 1722.

Have written to the Duchefs a just as you

defir'd, and referr'd her to our meeting in town for a further account of it. I have done it the rather because your opinion in the case is fincerely mine; and if it had not been fo, you yourself should not have induced me to give it. Whether, and how far fhe will acquiefce in it, I cannot say especially in a cafe where she thinks the Duke's honour concern'd; but should she seem to perfift a little at prefent, her good fense (which I depend upon) will afterwards fatisfy her that we are in the right.

I go to morrow to the Deanry, and, I believe, I shall stay there, till I have said Dust to duft, and shut up that b last scene of pompous vanity.

'Tis a great while for me to stay there at this time of year; and I know I fhall often say to myself, while I am expecting the funeral,

2 Duchefs of Buckingham. at which the Bishop officiated b This was the funeral of as Dean of Westminster in

the Duke of Marlborough, | Aug. 1722. P.

O Rus

O Rus, quando ego te afpiciam! quandoque licebit Ducere follicite jucunda oblivia vita!

In that cafe I fhall fancy I hear the ghoft of the dead, thus intreating me,

At tu facrata ne parce malignus arenæ
Offibus & capiti inhumato

Particulam dare

Quanquam feftinas, non eft mora longa; licebit,
Injecto ter pulvere, curras.

or

There is an answer for me fomewhere in Hamlet to this request, which you remember, tho' I don't. Poor Ghoft! thou shalt be fatisfied! fomething like it. However that be, take care you do not fail in your appointment, that the company of the living may make me fome amends for my attendance on the dead.

I know you will be glad to hear that I am well: I should always, could I always be here--Sed me

Imperiofa trahit Proferpina: vive, valeque.

You are the first man I sent to this morning, and the last man I defire to converse with this evening, tho' at twenty miles distance from you.

Te, veniente die, Te, decedente, requiro:

LET

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LETTER XXI.

From the Bishop of ROCHESTER.

DEAR SIR, The Tower, April 10, 1723

Thank for all the inftances of your

you

friendship, both before, and fince my miffortunes. A little time will complete them, and feparate you and me for ever. But in what part of the world foever I am, I will live mindful of your fincere kindness to me; and will please myself with the thought, that I still live in efteem and affection, as much as ever your I did; and that no accident of life, no distance of time, or place, will' alter you in that respect. It never can me; who have lov'd and valued you, ever fince I knew you, and shall not fail to do it when I am not allowed to tell you fo: as the cafe will foon be. Give my faithful fervices to Dr. Arbuthnot, and thanks for what he fent me, which was much to the purpose, if any thing can be faid to be to the purpose, in a cafe that is already determined. Let him know my Defence will be fuch, that neither my friends need blush for me, nor will my enemies have great occafion of Triumph, tho' fure of the Victory. I fhall want his advice before I go abroad, in many things. But I question whe

ther

ther I fhall be permitted to fee him, or any
body, but fuch as are abfolutely neceffary to-
wards the dispatch of my private affairs. If so,
God bless
you both! and may no part of the
ill fortune that attends me, ever pursue either
of you! I know not but I may call upon
you at my hearing, to say somewhat about my
way of spending my time at the Deanry, which
did not seem calculated towards managing plots
and confpiracies. But of that I fhall confider---
You and I have spent many hours together up-
on much pleasanter fubjects; and, that I may
preferve the old custom, I shall not part with
you now till I have clos'd this letter, with three
lines of Milton, which you will, I know, readily
and not without fome degree of concern apply
to your ever affectionate, &c.

Some natral Tears he dropt, but wip'd them foon:
The World was all before him, where to chufe
His place of reft, and Providence his Guide.

LET