The Letters and Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1837. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... I never applied that name to her in any verse of mine, public or private, and I firmly believe not in any letter or conversation. Whoever could invent a falsehood to support an accusation I pity; and whoever can believe such a character to be their's I pity still more. God forbid the court or town should have the complaisance to join in that opinion! Certainly I meant it only of such modern Sapphos as imitate much more the lewdness, than the genius of the antient one, and upon whom their wretched brethren frequently bestow both the name and the qualification there mentioned." Dr. Joseph Warton and Dr. Johnson f concur in condemning the prevarication with which Pope evaded every direct charge of his ungrateful behaviour to those whose patronage he had once servilely solicited; and even his panegyrical commentator, Dr. Warburton, % confessed that there were allegations against him, which "he was not quite clear of." The opinion of Dr. Johnson, from his known love of truth, in most instances, carries an assurance with it. He allows that "Pope was some Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope, v. ii. p. 258. t Prefaces to the Poets, vol. iv. p. 159. % Life of Pope in the Biographia Britannica, vol. v. p. 3413, written by Warburton. In his edition of the letters, written by Pope to several ladies, the 10th, 20th, 21st, and 22d, are addressed to Lady M. W. M.; and letter 11th to the Duke of Buckingham, as far as relates to the description of the old house, is exactly the same as one of Pope's to Lady Mary published in Warton's edition. times wanton in his attacks, and before Chandos, Lady Mary Wortley, and Hill, -J" was mean in his retreat." Does not the falsity of the exculpatory declaration after the wanton attack constitute the meanness imputed to him, since, had h...