paying two hundred pounds for every

volume.

Of the Quartos it was, I believe, ftipulated that none fhould be printed but for the author, that the fubfcription might not be depreciated; but Linto impreffed the fame pages upon a small Folio, and paper perhaps a little thinner; and fold exactly at half the price, for half a guinea each volume, books fo little inferior to the Quartos, that, by a fraud of trade, thofe Folios, being afterwards fhortened by cutting away the top and bottom, were fold as copies printed for the fubfcribers.

Lintot printed fome on royal paper in Folio for two guineas a volume; but of this experiment he repented, and his

fon fold copies of the first volume with all their extent of margin for two fhillings.

It is unpleasant to relate that the bookfeller, after all his hopes and all his liberality, was, by a very unjust and illegal action, defrauded of his profit. An edition of the English Iliad was printed in Holland in Duodecimo, and imported clandeftinely for the gratification of those who were impatient to read what they could not yet afford to buy. This fraud could only be coun teracted by an edition equally cheap and more commodious; and Lintot was compelled to contract his Folio at once. into a Duodecimo, and lofe the advantage of an intermediate gradation. The

notes, which in the Dutch copies were placed at the end of each book, as they had been in the large volumes, were now fubjoined to the text in the fame page, and are therefore more eafily confulted. Of this edition the fale was doubtlefs very numerous; but indeed great numbers were neceffary to produce confiderable profit.

Pope, having now emitted his propofals, and engaged not only his own reputation, but in fome degree that of his friends who patronifed his fubfcription, began to be frighted at his own undertaking; and finding himself at first embarraffed with difficulties, which retarded and oppreffed him, he was for a time timorous and uncafy; had his

nights disturbed by dreams of long journeys through unknown ways, and wifhed, as he faid, that fomebody would bang Lim *

This mifery, however, was not of long continuance; he grew by degrees more acquainted with Homer's images and expreffions, and practice increafed his facility of verfification. In a fhort time he reprefents himself as difpatching regularly fifty verfes a day, which would fhew him by an eafy computation the termination of his labour.

His own diffidence was not his only vexation. He that afks a fubfcription foon finds that he has enemies. All who do not encourage him defame him.

Spence.

He

He that wants money will rather be thought angry than poor, and he that wishes to fave his money conceals his avarice by his malice. Addifon had hinted his fufpicion that Pope was too much a Tory; and fome of the Tories fufpected his principles because he had contributed to the Guardian, which was carried on by Steele.

To those who cenfured his politicks were added enemies yet more dangerous, who called in queftion his knowledge of Greek, and his qualifications for a tranflator of Homer. To these he made no publick oppofition; but in one of his Letters escapes from them as well as he can. At an age like his, for he was not more than twenty-five, with an irregular