About this time it is likely that Steele, who was, with all his
political fury, good-natured and officious, procured an interview
between these angry rivals, which ended in aggravated malevolence.
On this occasion, if the reports be true, Pope made his complaint
with frankness and spirit, as a man undeservedly neglected or
opposed; and Addison affected a contemptuous unconcern, and in a
calm, even voice reproached Pope with his vanity, and, telling him
of the improvements which his early works had received from his own
remarks and those of Steele, said that he, being now engaged in
public business, had no longer any care for his poetical reputation,
nor had any other desire with regard to Pope than that he should
not, by too much arrogance, alienate the public.

To this Pope is said to have replied with great keenness and
severity, upbraiding Addison with perpetual dependence, and with the
abuse of those qualifications which he had obtained at the public
cost, and charging him with mean endeavours to obstruct the progress
of rising merit. The contest rose so high that they parted at last
without any interchange of civility.

The first volume of "Homer" was (1715) in time published; and a
rival version of the first "Iliad," for rivals the time of their
appearance inevitably made them, was immediately printed, with the
name of Tickell. It was soon perceived that, among the followers of
Addison, Tickell had the preference, and the critics and poets
divided into factions. "I," says Pope, "have the town, that is, the
mob, on my side; but it is not uncommon for the smaller party to
supply by industry what it wants in numbers. I appeal to the people
as my rightful judges, and, while they are not inclined to condemn