the
exaltation of his rival.

The arrogance of Warburton excited against him every artifice of
offence, and, therefore, it may be supposed that his union with Pope was
censured as hypocritical inconstancy; but surely to think differently,
at different times, of poetical merit, may be easily allowed. Such
opinions are often admitted, and dismissed, without nice examination.
Who is there that has not found reason for changing his mind about
questions of greater importance?

Warburton, whatever was his motive, undertook, without solicitation, to
rescue Pope from the talons of Crousaz, by freeing him from the
imputation of favouring fatality, or rejecting revelation; and from
month to month continued a vindication of the Essay on Man, in the
literary journal of that time, called the Republick of Letters.

Pope, who probably began to doubt the tendency of his own work, was glad
that the positions, of which he perceived himself not to know the full
meaning, could, by any mode of interpretation, be made to mean well. How
much he was pleased with his gratuitous defender, the following letter
evidently shows:

"April 11, 1732.

"Sir,--I have just received from Mr. R. two more of your
letters. It is in the greatest hurry imaginable that I write
this; but I cannot help thanking you in particular for your
third letter, which is so extremely clear, short, and full, that
I think Mr. Crousaz ought never to have another answer, and
deserved not so good an one. I can only say, you do him too much
honour, and me too much right, so odd as the expression seems;
for you have made my system as clear as I ought to have done,
and could not. It is, indeed, the same system as mine, but
illustrated with a ray of your own, as they say our natural body
is the same still when it is glorified. I am sure I like it
better than I did before, and so will every man else. I know I
meant just what you explain; but I did not explain my own
meaning so well as you. You understand me as well as I do
myself; but you express me better than I could express myself.
Pray accept the sincerest acknowledgments. I cannot but wish
these letters were put together in one book, and intend (with
your leave) to procure a translation of part at least, or of all
of them, into French; but I shall not proceed a step without
your consent and opinion, &c."

By this fond and eager acceptance