Public Domain Poetry And Stories - Alexander Pope
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Alexander Pope

21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744


Poetry Listing

Please Note: This list is not comprehensive, but is an ongoing work of the love of poetry.

Within this area you will be able to read, and give your thoughts on the poetry listed.

Please, if you find an error, let me know.


Read More About Alexander Pope below poetry list
Poem TitleFirst LinesPeriod# Lines# Reads
1: A Dialogue. Since my old friend is grown so great, 8514
2: A Farewell To London Dear, damn'd, distracting town, farewell! 52721
3: A Fragment Of A Poem. O Wretched B----, jealous now of all, 1740 100445
4: A Fragment. What are the falling rills, the pendant shades, 8460
5: A Prologue - To A Play For Mr Dennis's Benefit, In 1733, When He Was Old, Blind, And In Great Distress, A Little Before His Death. As when that hero, who, in each campaign, 24403
6: An Essay On Criticism Tis hard to say if greater want of skill 1202
7: An Essay On Man: Epistle I. Awake, my St John! leave all meaner things 334488
8: An Essay On Man: Epistle II. I. know then thyself, presume not God to scan; 367503
9: An Essay On Man: Epistle III. Here then we rest: 'The Universal Cause 348404
10: An Essay On Man: Epistle IV. O Happiness! our being's end and aim! 456406
11: Answer To The Following Question Of Mrs Howe. Tis a bledam, 11449
12: Argus When wise Ulysses, from his native coast 1003
13: Argus. When wise Ulysses, from his native coast 18470
14: Autumn - The Third Pastoral, Or Hylas And Ægon Beneath the shade a spreading Beech displays, 1244
15: Book I. Epistle VII. Tis true, my lord, I gave my word, 85370
16: Book II. Satire VI. The First Part Imitated In The Year 1714, By Dr Swift; The Latter Part Added Afterwards. I've often wish'd that I had clear, 221452
17: Book IV. Ode I. To Venus. Again? new tumults in my breast? 48453
18: Celia Celia, we know, is sixty-five, 1015
19: Chorus Of Athenians Ye shades, where sacred truth is sought; 919
20: Chorus Of Youths And Virgins Oh Tyrant Love! hast thou possest 1010
21: Couplets On Wit But our Great Turks in wit must reign alone 930
22: Elegy To The Memory Of An Unfortunate Lady What beck’ning ghost, along the moon-light shade 843
23: Eloisa To Abelard In these deep solitudes and awful cells, 892
24: Epigram Engraved On The Collar Of A Dog Which I Gave To His Royal Highness I am his Highness' dog at Kew; 861
25: Epigram From The French. Sir, I admit your general rule, 4744
26: Epigram On One Who Made Long Epitaphs.[129] Friend, for your epitaphs I'm grieved, 4436
27: Epigram On The Feuds About Handel And Bononcini. Strange! all this difference should be 2455
28: Epigram On The Toasts Of The Kit-Cat Club, Anno 1716. Whence deathless 'Kit-cat' took its name, 8425
29: Epigram, Engraved On The Collar Of A Dog Which I Gave To His Royal Highness. I am His Highness' dog at Kew; 2461
30: Epigram. A Bishop, by his neighbours hated, 81038
31: Epigram. You beat your pate, and fancy wit will come; 2403
32: Epilogue To Mr Rowe's 'Jane Shore.' Prodigious this! the frail one of our play 50373
33: Epilogue[177] To The Satires. In Two Dialogues. Not twice a twelvemonth you appear in print, 1788 188403
34: Epilogue[177] To The Satires. In Two Dialogues. DIALOGUE II. Not yet, my friend! to-morrow, faith, it may; 1788 283369
35: Epistle II: To A Lady ( Of The Characters Of Women ) Nothing so true as what you once let fall, 862
36: Epistle To Dr Arbuthnot; Or, Prologue To The Satires. Shut, shut the door, good John! fatigued, I said, 499401
37: Epistle To James Craggs, Esq., Secretary Of State. A soul as full of worth, as void of pride, 17680
38: Epistle To Miss Blount, With The Works Of Voiture.[1] In these gay thoughts the Loves and Graces shine, 80510
39: Epistle To Mr Jervas, With Mr Dryden's Translation Of Fresnoy's 'Art Of Painting.' This verse be thine, my friend, nor thou refuse 78681
40: Epistle To Mrs Teresa Blount. On Her Leaving The Town After The Coronation.[1] As some fond virgin, whom her mother's care 50379
41: Epistle To Robert Earl Of Oxford And Earl Mortimer. Such were the notes thy once-loved Poet sung, 40648
42: Epistles To Several Persons: Epistle Iv, To Richard Boyle, Tis strange, the miser should his cares employ 895
43: Epistles To Several Persons: Epistle To Dr. Arbuthnot Shut, shut the door, good John! fatigu'd, I said, 884
44: Epitaph I. On Charles Earl Of Dorset, In The Church Of Withyam, In Sussex. Dorset, the grace of courts, the Muses' pride, 14418
45: Epitaph II. On Sir William Trumbull.[1] A pleasing form; a firm, yet cautious mind; 12438
46: Epitaph III. On The Hon. Simon Harcourt, Only Son Of The Lord Chancellor Harcourt, At The Church Of Stanton Harcourt, In Oxfordshire, 1720. To this sad shrine, whoe'er thou art, draw near; 8416
47: Epitaph IV. On James Craggs, Esq. In Westminster Abbey. Statesman, yet friend to Truth! of soul sincere, 6453
48: Epitaph IX. On General Henry Withers, In Westminster Abbey, 1729. Here, Withers, rest! thou bravest, gentlest mind, 12418
49: Epitaph On Gay. Well, then, poor G---- lies under ground! 4442
50: Epitaph On Lord Coningsby. Here lies Lord Coningsby--be civil! 2384
51: Epitaph V. Intended For Mr Rowe, In Westminster Abbey. Thy relics, Rowe, to this fair urn we trust, 8399
52: Epitaph VI. On Mrs Corbet, Who Died Of A Cancer In Her Breast. Here rests a woman, good without pretence, 10437
53: Epitaph VII. On The Monument Of The Honourable Egbert Digby, And His Sister Mary. Go! fair example of untainted youth, 22413
54: Epitaph VIII. On Sir Godfrey Kneller, In Westminster Abbey, 1723. Kneller, by Heaven, and not a master, taught, 8384
55: Epitaph X. On Mr Elijah Fenton,[1] At Easthamstead, In Berks, 1730. This modest stone, what few vain marbles can, 10417
56: Epitaph XI. On Mr Gay, In Westminster Abbey, 1732. Of manners gentle, of affections mild; 12435
57: Epitaph XII. Intended For Sir Isaac Newton, In Westminster Abbey. Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night 7482
58: Epitaph XIII. On Dr Francis Atterbury,[1] Bishop Of Rochester, Who Died In Exile At Paris, 1732. Yes, we have lived--one pang, and then we part! 10373
59: Epitaph XIV. On Edmund Duke Of Buckingham, Who Died In The Nineteenth Year Of His Age, 1735. If modest youth, with cool reflection crown'd, 14446
60: Epitaph XV. For One Who Would Not Be Buried In Westminster Abbey. Heroes and kings! your distance keep: 4393
61: Epitaph XVI. Another, On The Same. Under this marble, or under this sill, 8407
62: Epitaph XVII. On Two Lovers Struck Dead By Lightning.[1] When Eastern lovers feed the funeral fire, 24677
63: Essay On Man Awake, my St. John!(1) leave all meaner things 897
64: Extemporaneous Lines On A Portrait Of Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Painted By Kneller. The playful smiles around the dimpled mouth, 10395
65: Farewell To London Dear, damn'd distracting town, farewell! 942
66: From An Essay On Man Heav'n from all creatures hides the book of fate, 886
67: Imitations Of English Poets. Earl Of Dorset: Artemisia. Though Artemisia talks, by fits, 49757
68: Imitations Of English Poets. Earl Of Rochester: On Silence. Silence! coeval with eternity; 42658
69: Imitations Of English Poets. Waller: Of A Lady Singing To Her Lute. Fair charmer, cease! nor make your voice's prize, 28679
70: Imitations Of Horace: The First Epistle Of The Second Book While you, great patron of mankind, sustain 872
71: Impromptu To Lady Winchelsea. In vain you boast poetic names of yore, 12422
72: Impromptu, To Lady Winchelsea In vain you boast Poetic Names of yore, 834
73: In Imitation Of Chaucer Women ben full of Ragerie, 1247
74: In Imitation Of Cowley : The Garden Fain would my Muse the flow'ry Treasures sing, 1232
75: In Imitation Of Dr. Swift : The Happy Life Of A Country Parson Parson, these things in thy possessing 1121
76: In Imitation Of E. Of Dorset : Artemisia Tho' Artemisia talks, by fits, 1228
77: In Imitation Of E. Of Rochester : On Silence Silence! coeval with Eternity; 1175
78: In Imitation Of Spenser : The Alley In ev'ry Town, where Thamis rolls his Tyde, 1287
79: Inscription On A Grotto, The Work Of Nine Ladies. Here, shunning idleness at once and praise, 1141
80: January And May. From Chaucer.[58] - Translations And Imitations. There lived in Lombardy, as authors write, 820435
81: Lines On A Grotto, At Crux-Easton, Hants. Here shunning idleness at once and praise, 8389
82: Lines On Curll So when Curll’s Stomach the strong Drench o’ercame, 889
83: Lines On Receiving From The Eight Hon. The Lady Frances Shirley[63] A Standish And Two Pens. Yes, I beheld the Athenian queen 32360
84: Lines Sung By Durastanti, When She Took Leave Of The English Stage. Generous, gay, and gallant nation, 14507
85: Lines Written In Windsor Forest All hail, once pleasing, once inspiring shade! 1197
86: Lines Written In Windsor Forest. All hail, once pleasing, once inspiring shade, 8401
87: Macer : A Character When simple Macer, now of high renown, 1237
88: Macer: A Character. When simple Macer, now of high renown, 26416
89: Mary Gulliver To Captain Lemuel Gulliver. An Epistle. Welcome, thrice welcome, to thy native place! 110360
90: Messiah. A Sacred Eclogue, In Imitation Of Virgil's 'Pollio.' Ye Nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: 112775
91: Moral Essays. Epistle I.--To Sir Richard Temple, Lord Cobham. Yes, you despise the man to books confined, 280401
92: Moral Essays. Epistle II. - To A Lady. Of The Characters Of Women. Nothing so true as what you once let fall 316383
93: Moral Essays. Epistle III.[20] - To Allen Lord Bathurst. Who shall decide, when doctors disagree, 439441
94: Moral Essays. Epistle IV. - To Richard Boyle, Earl Of Burlington. Tis strange, the miser should his cares employ 213372
95: Moral Essays. Epistle V. To Mr Addison. See the wild waste of all-devouring years! 55408
96: Occasioned By Some Verses Of His Grace The Duke Of Buckingham Muse, 'tis enough: at length thy labour ends, 1110
97: Occasioned By Some Verses Of His Grace The Duke Of Buckingham. Muse, 'tis enough: at length thy labour ends, 8361
98: Ode On Solitude Happy the man, whose wish and care 970
99: Ode On St. Cecilia's Day Descend ye Nine! descend and sing; 1054
100: Ode To Quinbus Flestrin, The Man Mountain,[87] By Titty Tit, Poet-Laureate To His Majesty Of Lilliput. Translated Into English. In amaze, Lost I gaze! 50441
101: On A Certain Lady At Court I know a thing that’s most uncommon; 876
102: On A Certain Lady At Court. I know the thing that's most uncommon; 12383
103: On A Fan Of The Author's Design Come gentle Air! th' AEolian shepherd said, 1083
104: On An Old Gate. Erected In Chiswick Gardens. O gate, how cam'st thou here? 7386
105: On Bentley's 'Milton.' Did Milton's prose, O Charles! thy death defend? 6405
106: On Certain Ladies When other fair ones to the shades go down, 1116
107: On Drawings Of The Statues Of Apollo, Venus, And Hercules, Made For Pope By Sir Godfrey Kneller. What god, what genius did the pencil move, 4426
108: On His Grotto At Twickenham Thou who shalt stop, where Thames' translucent wave 1075
109: On His Grotto At Twickenham, Composed Of Marbles, Spars, Gems, Ores, And Minerals. Thou who shalt stop, where Thames' translucent wave 23431
110: On Mr. Gay Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; 1044
111: On Mrs Tofts, A Celebrated Opera Singer. So bright is thy beauty, so charming thy song, 4438
112: On Seeing The Ladies Crux-Easton Walk In The Woods By The Grotto. Authors the world and their dull brains have traced 1037
113: On The Countess Of Burlington Cutting Paper Pallas grew vapourish once, and odd, 1145
114: On The Countess Of Burlington Cutting Paper. Pallas grew vapourish once, and odd; 20485
115: Part Of The Ninth Ode Of The Fourth Book. Lest you should think that verse shall die, 16361
116: Phyrne Phryne had talents for mankind, 1123
117: Prayer Of Brutus. From Geoffrey Of Monmouth. Goddess of woods, tremendous in the chase, 8379
118: Prayer Of St. Francis Xavier Thou art my God, sole object of my love; 1033
119: Preface Let such teach others, who themselves excel, 2344
120: Prologue To 'The Three Hours After Marriage' Authors are judged by strange capricious rules; 38424
121: Prologue To Mr Addison's 'Cato.' To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, 46381
122: Prologue To Mr Addison's Tragedy Of Cato. To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, 46733
123: Prologue To Thomson's 'Sophonisba.'[59] When Learning, after the long Gothic night, 32388
124: Prologue, Designed For Mr D'Urfey's Last Play. Grown old in rhyme, 'twere barbarous to discard 28345
125: Roxana, Or The Drawing-Room. An Eclogue. Roxana, from the Court returning late, 52360
126: Sandys Ghost ; A Proper Ballad On The New Ovid's Metamorphosis Ye Lords and Commons, Men of Wit, 1044
127: Sandys' Ghost;[82] Or, A Proper New Ballad On The New Ovid's Metamorphoses: As It Was Intended To Be Translated By Persons Of Quality. Ye Lords and Commons, men of wit 76362
128: Sappho To Phaon (Ovid Heroid XV) Say, lovely youth, that dost my heart command, 1045
129: Sappho To Phaon. From The Fifteenth Of Ovid's Epistles. - Translations And Imitations. Say, lovely youth, that dost my heart command, 259347
130: Satires And Epistles Of Horace Imitated. - Satire I. To Mr Fortescue.[121] There are (I scarce can think it, but am told) 164384
131: Satires And Epistles Of Horace Imitated. - Satire II. To Mr Bethel. What, and how great, the virtue and the art 180362
132: Sir, I admit your general rule, Sir, I admit your general rule, 1233
133: Solitude Happy the man, whose wish and care 933
134: Solitude: An Ode How happy he, who free from care 869
135: Song, By A Person Of Quality Flutt'ring spread thy purple Pinions, 907
136: Song, By A Person Of Quality, Written In The Year 1733. Fluttering, spread thy purple pinions, 1733 32407
137: Sound And Sense True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, 978
138: Spring - The First Pastoral ; Or Damon First in these fields I try the sylvan strains, 1082
139: Summer - The Second Pastoral; or Alexis A Shepherd's Boy (he seeks no better name) 946
140: Sylvia, A Fragment. Sylvia my heart in wondrous wise alarm'd 20364
141: The Balance Of Europe. Now Europe balanced, neither side prevails; 2478
142: The Basset-Table : An Eclogue The Basset-Table spread, the Tallier come; 906
143: The Basset-Table.[62] An Eclogue. The basset-table spread, the tallier come; 130376
144: The Challenge, A Court Ballad. To one fair lady out of Court, 57385
145: The Challenge: A Court Ballad To one fair lady out of Court, 942
146: The Descent Of Dullness In vain, in vain--the all-composing Hour 30364
147: The Dunciad: Appendix It will be found a true observation, 642373
148: The Dunciad: Book I The Mighty Mother, and her son who brings 1160
149: The Dunciad: Book III But in her Temple's last recess inclos'd, 964
150: The Dunciad: Book IV Yet, yet a moment, one dim ray of light 863
151: The Dunciad: Book The Fourth. Yet, yet a moment, one dim ray of light 697416
152: The Dunciad: Book The Second. High on a gorgeous seat, that far out-shone 439363
153: The Dunciad: Book The Third. But in her temple's last recess enclosed, 392375
154: The Dunciad: Preface, letters and Notes It is with pleasure I hear that you have procured a correct copy of 'The Dunciad,' 1304411
155: The Dunciad:[234] Book The First. The mighty mother, and her son, who brings 437375
156: The Dying Christian To His Soul Vital spark of heav'nly flame, 844
157: The Fable Of Dryope - Ovid's Metamorphoses Book 9, (v - 324-393) She said, and for her lost Calanthis sighs, 874
158: The Fable Of Dryope.[56] From The Ninth Book Of Ovid's Metamorphoses. - Translations And Imitations. She said, and for her lost Galanthis sighs; 103421
159: The First Book Of Statius's Thebais. - Translations And Imitations. Fraternal rage, the guilty Thebes' alarms, 867402
160: The First Epistle Of The First Book Of Horace. St John, whose love indulged my labours past, 189476
161: The First Epistle Of The Second Book Of Horace. While you, great patron of mankind! sustain 424395
162: The Fourth Epistle Of The First Book Of Horace.[128] Say, St John, who alone peruse 38401
163: The Iliad: Book VI (Excerpt) He said, and pass'd with sad presaging heart 897
164: The Lamentation Of Glumdalclitch For The Loss Of Grildrig. A Pastoral. Soon as Glumdalclitch miss'd her pleasing care, 78455
165: The Looking-Glass. With scornful mien, and various toss of air, 14433
166: The Looking-Glass. : On Mrs. Pulteney With scornful mien, and various toss of air, 985
167: The Messiah : A Sacred Eclogue Ye nymphs of Solyma! begin the song, 1313
168: The Rape of the Lock What dire Offence from am'rous Causes springs, 1141
169: The Rape of the Lock (Canto 2) Not with more glories, in th' etherial plain, 873
170: The Rape of the Lock (Canto 3) Close by those meads, for ever crown'd with flow'rs, 829
171: The Rape of the Lock (Canto 4) But anxious cares the pensive nymph oppress'd, 831
172: The Rape of the Lock (Canto 5) She said: the pitying audience melt in tears, 892
173: The Rape Of The Lock. An Heroi-Comical Poem What dire Offence from am'rous Causes springs, 841
174: The Rape Of The Lock: Canto 1 What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, 1138
175: The Riddle Of The World Know then thyself, presume not God to scan 1061
176: The Satires Of Dr John Donne, Dean Of St Paul's, Versified. Satire IV. Well, if it be my time to quit the stage, 287390
177: The Satires Of Dr John Donne, Dean Of St Paul's,[171] Versified. Yes; thank my stars! as early as I knew 131396
178: The Second Epistle Of The Second Book Of Horace. Dear Colonel, Cobham's and your country's friend! 327383
179: The Sixth Epistle Of The First Book Of Horace. Not to admire, is all the art I know, 134386
180: The Temple Of Fame In that soft season, when descending show'rs 816
181: The Three Gentle Shepherds Of gentle Philips will I ever sing, 1096
182: The Three Gentle Shepherds. Of gentle Philips will I ever sing, 10453
183: The Translator. Ozell, at Sanger's call, invoked his Muse, 11357
184: The Universal Prayer. Deo Opt. Max. Father of all! in every age, 52498
185: The Wife Of Bath, Her Prologue. From Chaucer. - Translations And Imitations. Behold the woes of matrimonial life, 439414
186: To A Lady, With The 'Temple Of Fame.' What's fame with men, by custom of the nation, 4372
187: To Erinna. Though sprightly Sappho force our love and praise, 7401
188: To Lady Mary Wortley Montagu In beauty, or wit, 906
189: To Lady Mary Wortley Montague. In beauty or wit, 30374
190: To Mr C.,[1] St James's Place. Few words are best; I wish you well: 12395
191: To Mr Gay, Who Had Congratulated Pope On Finishing His House And Gardens. Ah, friend! 'tis true--this truth you lovers know 14426
192: To Mr John Moore, Author Of The Celebrated Worm-Powder. How much, egregious Moore, are we 40400
193: To Mr Lemuel Gulliver, The Grateful Address Of The Unhappy Houyhnhnms, Now In Slavery And Bondage In England. To thee, we wretches of the Houyhnhnm band, 39360
194: To Mr. Thomas Southern, On His Birth Day Resign'd to live, prepar'd to die, 850
195: To Mrs. M. B. On Her Birthday Oh be thou blest with all that Heav'n can send, 927
196: To The Author Of A Poem Entitled Successio Begone, ye Critics, and restrain your spite, 861
197: Translation Of A Prayer Of Brutus Goddess of woods, tremendous in the chase, 1010
198: Two Or Three: A Recipe To Make A Cuckold Two or three visits, and two or three bows, 1024
199: Umbra.[85] Close to the best known author Umbra sits, 16454
200: Universal Prayer Father of all! In every age, 1525
201: Upon The Duke Of Marlborough's House At Woodstock. See, sir, here's the grand approach, 16372
202: Verbatim From Boileau. Once (says an author--where I need not say) 12346
203: Verses Left By Mr Pope. On His Lying In The Same Bed Which Wilmot, The Celebrated Earl Of Rochester, Slept In At Adderbury, Then Belonging To The Duke Of Argyll, July 9, 1739. With no poetic ardour fired, 12386
204: Verses Left By Mr. Pope With no poetic ardour fir'd 1038
205: Vertumnus and Pomona : Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 14 (v. 623-771) The fair Pomona flourish'd in his reign; 850
206: Vertumnus And Pomona, From The Fourteenth Book Of Ovid'S Metamorphoses. - Translations And Imitations. The fair Pomona flourish'd in his reign; 123352
207: Weeping While Celia's Tears make sorrow bright, 1119
208: Windsor Forest Thy forests, Windsor! and thy green retreats, 893
209: Winter - The Fourth Pastoral, Or Daphne Thyrsis, the music of that murm'ring spring, 1145
210: You Know Where You Did Despise You know where you did despise 1028




About:
Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744) is generally regarded as the greatest English poet of the early eighteenth century, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third most frequently quoted writer in the English language, after Shakespeare and Tennyson. Pope was a master of the heroic couplet.

Alexander pope


His father was Alexander Pope Senior (1646–1717), a linen merchant of Plough Court, Lombard Street, London, and his mother Edith (née Turner) (1643–1733), who were both Catholics. Edith's sister Christiana was the wife of the famous miniature painter Samuel Cooper. Pope's education was affected by the Test Acts, which upheld the status of the established Church of England and banned Catholics from teaching, attending a university, voting, or holding public office on pain of perpetual imprisonment. Pope was taught to read by his aunt, and went to Twyford School in about 1698/99. He then went to two Catholic schools in London. Such schools, while illegal, were tolerated in some areas.

In 1700, his family moved to a small estate at Popeswood in Binfield, Berkshire, close to the royal Windsor Forest. This was due to strong anti-Catholic sentiment and a statute preventing Catholics from living within 16 km of either London or Westminster. Pope would later describe the countryside around the house in his poem Windsor Forest. Pope's formal education ended at this time, and from then on he mostly educated himself by reading the works of classical writers such as the satirists Horace and Juvenal, the epic poets Homer and Virgil, as well as English authors such as Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare and John Dryden. He also studied many languages and read works by English, French, Italian, Latin, and Greek poets. After five years of study, Pope came into contact with figures from the London literary society such as William Wycherley, William Congreve, Samuel Garth, William Trumbull, and William Walsh.

At Binfield, he also began to make many important friends. One of them, John Caryll (the future dedicatee of The Rape of the Lock), was twenty years older than the poet and had made many acquaintances in the London literary world. He introduced the young Pope to the ageing playwright William Wycherley and to William Walsh, a minor poet, who helped Pope revise his first major work, The Pastorals. He also met the Blount sisters, Teresa and (his alleged future lover) Martha, both of whom would remain lifelong friends.

From the age of 12, he suffered numerous health problems, such as Pott's disease (a form of tuberculosis that affects the bone), which deformed his body and stunted his growth, leaving him with a severe hunchback. His tuberculosis infection caused other health problems including respiratory difficulties, high fevers, inflamed eyes, and abdominal pain. He grew to a height of only 1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) tall. Pope was already removed from society because he was Catholic; his poor health only alienated him further. Although he never married, he had many female friends to whom he wrote witty letters. Allegedly, his lifelong friend, Martha Blount, was his lover.
Alexander pope


In May, 1709, Pope's Pastorals was published in the sixth part of Tonson's Poetical Miscellanies. This brought Pope instant fame, and was followed by An Essay on Criticism, published in May 1711, which was equally well received.

Around 1711, Pope made friends with Tory writers John Gay, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Parnell and John Arbuthnot, who together formed the satirical Scriblerus Club. The aim of the club was to satirise ignorance and pedantry in the form of the fictional scholar Martinus Scriblerus. He also made friends with Whig writers Joseph Addison and Richard Steele. In March 1713, Windsor Forest was published to great acclaim.

Pope's next well-known poem was The Rape of the Lock, first published in 1712, with a revised version published in 1714. This is sometimes considered Pope's most popular poem because it was a mock-heroic epic, written to make fun of a high-society quarrel between Arabella Fermor (the "Belinda" of the poem) and Lord Petre, who had snipped a lock of hair from her head without her permission. In his poem he treats his characters in an epic style; when the Baron steals her hair and she tries to get it back, it flies into the air and turns into a star.

During Pope's friendship with Joseph Addison, he contributed to Addison's play Cato, as well as writing for The Guardian and The Spectator. Around this time he began the work of translating the Iliad, which was a painstaking process – publication began in 1715 and did not end until 1720.

In 1714, the political situation worsened with the death of Queen Anne and the disputed succession between the Hanoverians and the Jacobites, leading to the attempted Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. Though Pope as a Catholic might have been expected to have supported the Jacobites because of his religious and political affiliations, according to Maynard Mack, "where Pope himself stood on these matters can probably never be confidently known". These events led to an immediate downturn in the fortunes of the Tories, and Pope's friend, Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke fled to France.

Alexander pope


Pope's house at Twickenham, showing the grotto. From a watercolour produced soon after his death.


Resource:- Wikipedia.




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