unequal to the
honours which it had received, and found it a piece to be approved
rather than admired. But the hope excited by a work of genius, being
general and indefinite, is rarely gratified. It was read at that with so
much favour that six editions were sold.

At the arrival of King George, he sang "The Royal Progress," which,
being inserted in the Spectator, is well known, and of which it is just
to say that it is neither high nor low.

The poetical incident of most importance in Tickell's life was his
publication of the first book of the "Iliad," as translated by himself,
an apparent opposition to Pope's "Homer," of which the first part made
its entrance into the world at the same time. Addison declared that the
rival versions were both good, but that Tickell's was the best that ever
was made; and with Addison, the wits, his adherents and followers, were
certain to concur. Pope does not appear to have been much dismayed,
"for," says he, "I have the town--that is, the mob--on my side." But he
remarks "that it is common for the smaller party to make up in diligence
what they want in numbers. He appeals to the people as his proper
judges, and if they are not inclined to condemn him, he is in little
care about the highflyers at Button's."

Pope did not long think Addison an impartial judge, for he considered
him as the writer of Tickell's version. The reasons for his suspicion I
will literally transcribe from Mr. Spence's Collection:--

"There had been a coldness," said Mr. Pope, "between Mr. Addison and
me for some time, and we had not been in company together, for a good
while, anywhere but at Button's Coffee House, where I used to see him
almost every day. On his meeting me there, one day in particular, he
took me aside and said he should be glad to dine with me at such a
tavern, if I stayed till those people were gone (Budgell and Philips).
He went accordingly, and after dinner Mr. Addison said 'that he had
wanted for some time to talk with me: that his friend Tickell had
formerly, whilst at Oxford, translated the first book of the Iliad; that
he designed to print it, and had desired him to look it over; that he
must therefore beg that I would not desire him to look over my first
book, because, if he did, it would have the air of double-dealing.' I
assured him that I did not at all take it ill of Mr. Tickell that he was
going to publish his translation; that he certainly had as much right to
translate any aut