nd Mr. Tickell, of Queen's, to translate that poet, and aid him
with his own known scholarship and skill?(130) It was natural that Mr.
Addison should doubt of the learning of an amateur Grecian, should have a
high opinion of Mr. Tickell, of Queen's, and should help that ingenious
young man. It was natural, on the other hand, that Mr. Pope and Mr. Pope's
friends should believe that this counter-translation, suddenly advertised
and so long written, though Tickell's college friends had never heard of
it--though, when Pope first wrote to Addison regarding his scheme, Mr.
Addison knew nothing of the similar project of Tickell, of Queen's--it was
natural that Mr. Pope and his friends, having interests, passions, and
prejudices of their own, should believe that Tickell's translation was but
an act of opposition against Pope, and that they should call Mr. Tickell's
emulation Mr. Addison's envy--if envy it were.

And were there one whose fires
True genius kindles and fair fame inspires,
Blest with each talent and each art to please,
And born to write, converse, and live with ease;
Should such a man, too fond to rule alone,
Bear like the Turk no brother near the throne;
View him with scornful yet with jealous eyes,
And hate, for arts that caused himself to rise;
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike;
Alike reserved to blame as to commend,
A timorous foe and a suspicious friend;
Dreading even fools, by flatterers besieged,
And so obliging that he ne'er obliged;
Like Cato give his little senate laws,
And sit attentive to his own applause;
While wits and templars every sentence raise,
And wonder with a foolish face of praise;
Who but must laugh if such a man there be,
Who would not weep if Atticus were he?

"I sent the verses to Mr. Addison," said Pope, "and he used me very
civilly ever after." No wonder he did. It was shame very likely more than
fear that silenced him. Johnson recounts an interview between Pope and
Addison after their quarrel, in which Pope was angry, and Addison tried to
be contemptuous and calm. Such a weapon as Pope's must have pierced any
scorn. It flashes for ever, and quivers in Addison's memory. His great
figure looks out on us from the past--stainless but for that--p