Next year he was desirous of opening to himself new sources of
knowledge, by making himself acquainted with modern languages, and
removed for a time to London, that he might study French and
Italian, which, as he desired nothing more than to read them, were
by diligent application soon despatched. Of Italian learning he
does not appear to have ever made much use in his subsequent
studies. He then returned to Binfield, and delighted himself with
his own poetry. He tried all styles, and many subjects. He wrote a
comedy, a tragedy, an epic poem, with panegyrics on all the princes
of Europe; and, as he confesses, "thought himself the greatest
genius that ever was." Self-confidence is the first requisite to
great undertakings. He, indeed, who forms his opinion of himself in
solitude, without knowing the powers of other men, is very liable to
error; but it was the felicity of Pope to rate himself at his real
value. Most of his puerile productions were, by his maturer
judgment, afterwards destroyed. "Alcander," the epic poem, was
burnt by the persuasion of Atterbury. The tragedy was founded on
the legend of St. Genevieve. Of the comedy there is no account.
Concerning his studies, it is related that he translated "Tully on
Old Age," and that, besides his books of poetry and criticisms, he
read "Temple's Essays" and "Locke on Human Understanding." His
reading, though his favourite authors are not known, appears to have
been sufficiently extensive and multifarious, for his early pieces
show with sufficient evidence his knowledge of books. He that is
pleased with himself easily imagines that he shall please others.
Sir William Trumbull, who had been Ambassador at Constantinople, and
Secretary of State, when he retired from business, fixed his
residence in the neighbourhood of Binfield. Pope, not yet sixteen,
was introduced to the statesman of sixty, and so distinguished
himself that their interviews ended in friendship and