All I had to say of my writings is contained in my preface to the first
of these volumes, printed for J. Tonson, and B. Lintot in quarto and
folio in the year 1717; and all I have to say of myself will be found in
my last Epistle.[1] I have nothing to add, but that this volume, and the
above-mentioned contain whatsoever I have written, and[2] designed for
the press, except my translation of the Iliad (with my preface and
notes), of twelve books of the Odyssey, with the postscript (not the
notes), the preface to Shakespeare, and a few Spectators[3] and
Guardians. Whatever besides I have written, or joined in writing with
Dr. Swift, Dr. Arbuthnot, or Mr. Gay (the only persons with whom I ever
wrote in conjunction) are to be found in the four volumes of
Miscellanies by us published.[4] I think them too inconsiderable to be
separated and reprinted here; nevertheless, that none of my faults may
be imputed to another, I must own that of the prose part, the Thoughts
on Various Subjects at the end of the second volume, were wholly mine;
and of the verses, the Happy Life of a Country Parson, the Alley in
imitation of Spenser, the characters of Macer, Artimesia, and Phryne,
the Verses to Mrs. M[artha] B[lount] on her Birth-day, and a few
epigrams.[5] It will be but justice to me to believe that nothing more
is mine, notwithstanding all that has been published in my name, or
added to my[6] miscellanies since 1717,[7] by any bookseller whatsoever.
A. POPE.
_Jan. 1, 1734-{5}._