ot to be content with the applause of half the nation'. He used to
talk much and often to me, of moderation in parties: and used to
blame his dear friend Steele for being too much of a party man. He
encouraged me in my design of translating the _Iliad_, which was
begun that year, and finished in 1718."--POPE (_Spence's Anecdotes_).

128 "Addison, who was no stranger to the world, probably saw the
selfishness of Pope's friendship; and, resolving that he should have
the consequences of his officiousness to himself, informed Dennis by
Steele that he was sorry for the insult."--JOHNSON (_Life of
Addison_).

129 "While I was heated with what I had heard, I wrote a letter to Mr.
Addison, to let him know 'that I was not unacquainted with this
behaviour of his; that if I was to speak of him severely in return
for it, it should not be in such a dirty way; that I should rather
tell him himself fairly of his faults, and allow his good qualities;
and that it should be something in the following manner.' I then
subjoined the first sketch of what has since been called my satire
on Addison. He used me very civilly ever after; and never did me any
injustice, that I know of, from that time to his death, which was
about three years after."--POPE (_Spence's Anecdotes_).

130 "That Tickell should have been guilty of a villany seems to us
highly improbable; that Addison should have been guilty of a villany
seems to us highly improbable; but that these two men should have
conspired together to commit a villany, seems, to us, improbable in
a tenfold degree."--MACAULAY.

131 LORD BOLINGBROKE TO THE THREE YAHOOS OF TWICKENHAM.

"July 23, 1726.

"JONATHAN, ALEXANDER, JOHN, MOST EXCELLENT TRIUMVIRS OF PARNASSUS,--

"Though you are probably very indifferent where I am, or what I am
doing, yet I resolve to believe the contrary. I persuade myself that
you have sent at least fifteen times within this fortnight to Dawley
farm, and that you are extremely mortified at my long silence. To
relieve you, therefore, from this great anxiety of mind, I can do no
less than write a few lines to you; and I please myself beforehand
with the vast pleasure which this epistle must needs give you. That
I may add to this pleasure, and give further proofs of my beneficent