correspondence. Pope was, through his whole life, ambitious of
splendid acquaintance; and he seems to have wanted neither diligence
nor success in attracting the notice of the great, for, from his
first entrance into the world, and his entrance was very early, he
was admitted to familiarity with those whose rank or station made
them most conspicuous.

From the age of sixteen the life of Pope, as an author, may be
properly computed. He now wrote his pastorals, which were shown to
the poets and critics of that time. As they well deserved, they
were read with admiration, and many praises were bestowed upon them
and upon the preface, which is both elegant and learned in a high
degree; they were, however, not published till five years
afterwards.

Cowley, Milton, and Pope are distinguished among the English poets
by the early exertion of their powers, but the works of Cowley alone
were published in his childhood, and, therefore, of him only can it
be certain that his puerile performances received no improvement
from his maturer studies.

At this time began his acquaintance with Wycherley, a man who seems
to have had among his contemporaries his full share of reputation,
to have been esteemed without virtue, and caressed without good
humour. Pope was proud of his notice. Wycherley wrote verses in
his praise, which he was charged by Dennis with writing to himself,
and they agreed for a while to flatter one another. It is pleasant
to remark how soon Pope learned the cant of an author, and began to
treat critics with contempt, though he had yet suffered nothing from
them. But the fondness of Wycherley was too violent to last. His