From the emiffion and reception of the Propofals for the Iliad, the kindness of Addison feems to have abated. Jervas the painter once pleafed himfelf (Aug. 20, 1714) with imagining that he had re-established their friendship; and wrote to Pope that Addifon once fufpected him of too clofe a confederacy with Swift, but was now fatisfied with his conduct. To this Pope anfwered, a week after, that his engagements to Swift were fuch as his fervices in regard to the fubfcription demanded, and that the Torics never put him under the neceffity of afking leave to be grateful. fays he, as Mr. Addifon must be the judge in what regards himself, and feems to have no very just one in regard to me, fo I must

But,

own to you I expect nothing but civility. from him. In the fame Letter he mentions Phillips, as having been busy to. kindle animofity between them; but, in. a Letter to Addifon, he expreffes fome confcioufnefs of behaviour, inattentively deficient in refpect..

Of Swift's induftry in promoting the fubfcription there remains the teftimony of Kennet, no friend to either him or Pope.

"Nov. 2, 1713, Dr. Swift came into. "the coffec-houfe, and had a bow from

every body but me, who, I confefs,

"could not but defpife him. When I

6.6

came to the anti-chamber to wait, be

"fore prayers, Dr. Swift was the prin"cipal man of talk and bufinefs, and: " acted

G. 3

"acted as mafter of requests.-Then he "inftructed a young nobleman that the

beft Poet in England was Mr. Pope (a σε papist), who had begun a tranflation "of Homer into English verfe, for which "he must have them all fubfcribe; for, "fays he, the author shall not begin to "print till I have a thoufand guineas "for him."

About this time it is likely that Steele, who was, with all his political fury, good-natured and officious, procured an interview between these angry rivals, which ended in aggravated malevolence. On this occafion, if the reports be true, Pope made his complaint with frankness and fpirit, as a man undefervedly neglected or oppofed; and

Addifon affected a contemptuous unconcern, and, in a calm even voice, reproached Pope with his vanity, and telling him of the improvements which his early works had received from his own remarks and thofe of Steele, faid, that he, being now engaged in publick bufinefs, had no longer any care for his poetical reputation; nor had any other defire, with regard to Pope, than that his fhould not, by too much arrogance, alienate the publick.

To this Pope is faid to have replied with great keennefs and feverity, upbraiding Addison with perpetual dependance, and with the abuse of those qualifications which he had obtained at the publick coft, and charging him with

mean endeavours to obftruct the progrefs of rifing merit. The contcft rofe fo high, that they parted at last without any interchange of civility.

The first volume of Homer was (1715) in time published; and a rival verfior of the firft Iliad, for rivals the time of their appearance inevitably made them,. was immediately printed, with the name of Tickell. It was foon perceived that, among the followers of Addifon, Tickell. had the preference, and the criticks and poets divided into factions. I, fays Pope,. bave the town, that is, the mob, on my fide; but it is not uncommon for the smaller party to fupply by industry what it wants in numbers. I appeal to the people as my rightful judges, and, while they are not inclined

3.