poetry and criticism, and both in such a state of elevation that,
like the two rivals in the Roman State, one could no longer bear an
equal, nor the other a superior. Of the gradual abatement of
kindness between friends, the beginning is often scarcely
discernible to themselves, and the process is continued by petty
provocations, and incivilities sometimes peevishly returned, and
sometimes contemptuously neglected, which would escape all attention
but that of pride, and drop from any memory but that of resentment.
That the quarrel of these two wits should be minutely deduced is not
to be expected from a writer to whom, as Homer says, "nothing but
rumour has reached, and who has no personal knowledge."

Pope doubtless approached Addison, when the reputation of their wit
first brought them together, with the respect due to a man whose
abilities were acknowledged, and who, having attained that eminence
to which he was himself aspiring, had in his hands the distribution
of literary fame. He paid court with sufficient diligence by his
prologue to "Cato," by his abuse of Dennis, and with praise yet more
direct, by his poem on the "Dialogues on Medals," of which the
immediate publication was then intended. In all this there was no
hypocrisy for he confessed that he found in Addison something more
pleasing than in any other man.

It may be supposed that, as Pope saw himself favoured by the world,
and more frequently compared his own powers with those of others,
his confidence increased, and his submission lessened; and that
Addison felt no delight from the advances of a young wit, who might
soon contend with him for the highest place. Every great man, of
whatever kind be his greatness, has among his friends those who
officiously or insidiously quicken his attention to offences,