before your book was out, imagined it a lost piece of labour. If you will still have it, you need only write me word.
I have here seen the first book of Homer, which came out at a time when it could not but appear as a kind of setting up against you. My opinion is, that you may, if you please, give them thanks who writ it. Neither the numbers nor the spirit have an equal mastery with yours; but what surprises me more is, that, a scholar being concerned, there should happen to be some mistakes in the author's sense; such as putting the light of Pallas's eyes into the eyes of Achilles, making the taunt of Achilles to Agamemnon (that he should have spoils when Troy should be taken), to be a cool and serious proposal; the translating what you call ablutions by the word offals, and so leaving water out of the rite of lustration, &c. but you must have taken notice of all this before. I write not to inform you, but to show I always have you at heart.
POPE TO LORD OXFORD.
My Lord, Oct. 21, 1721.
Your lordship may be surprised at the liberty I take in writing to you, though you will allow me always to remember, that you once permitted me
