MEMOIR OF POPE.1 BY THE REV. ALEXANDER DYCE. “L'Art quelquefois frivole, et quelquefois divin, L'Art des vers est dans Pope utile au genre humain.” VOLTAIRE. ALEXANDER POPE was born in Lombard Street London, on the 21st, or, according to some authorities, on the 22d of May, 1688. His father, who having been placed in youth with a merchant at Lisbon, had become a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, was an eminent linen-draper: the paternal grandfather of the poet was a clergyman of the Church of England, settled in Hampshire. His mother, who had been formerly married to a Mr. Rackett, was the daughter of William Turner, Esq. of York.o An only child of very delicate and sickly frame, In this Memoir, I have attempted little more than to throw together, within certain limits, all the most important particulars which are to be found concerning Pope in the writings of Ayre, Ruffhead, Spence, Johnson, Warton, Bowles, Roscoe, and others. To the Life of our author by Mr. Roscoe I am particularly indebted. 2 In the Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, Pope says that his Pope naturally was the object of his parents' fondest affection and most anxious care; for which, in after life, his filial attentions made an ample return. During his early years he was remarkable for the engaging mildness of his temper; and, on account of the melody of his voice, he used to be called by his family the little nightingale. When about three years old, he narrowly escaped being killed by a cow, that was driven past the place where he happened to be at play. "He was then filling a little cart with stones. The cow struck at him; carried off his hat and feather with her horns, and flung him down on the heap of stones he had been playing parents were of good family, an assertion which has been controverted by some of his biographers: Of gentle blood (part shed in honour's cause, "Mr. Pope's To these lines he appended the following note. father was of a gentleman's family in Oxfordshire, the head of which was the Earl of Downe, whose sole heiress married the Earl of Lindsay. His mother was the daughter of William Turner, Esq. of York. She had three brothers: one of whom was killed; another died in the service of King Charles; the eldest, following his fortunes, and becoming a general officer in Spain, left her what estate remained, after the sequestrations and forfeitures of her family." 66 As to my father," Pope tells Lord Hervey, "I could assure you, my Lord, that he was no mechanic, neither a hatter, nor, which might please your lordship yet better, a cobbler, but, in truth, of a very tolerable family; and my mother of an ancient one, as well born and educated as that lady whom your lordship made choice of to be the mother of your own children."-Letter to a Noble Lord. |