Stowe MS 964

BACON'S ESSAYS; With the Characters of Julius Cæsar and Augustus at the end, and preceded by the dedication to the Duke of Buckingham and "Elogies" on the author by Ben Jonson and by A. Cowley, in his poem to the Royal Society. A printed edition, with the title-page torn out. On one of the fly leaves is written in capitals "Essays of Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam: To Mrs. Newsham [sister of James Craggs, Secretary of State, and wife successively to John Newsham, Robert Knight, and Robert Nugent, aft. Viscount Clare and Earl Nugent] from her servant A: Pope. In the year 1725." On a fly leaf at the end is written, in Pope's hand, the poem addressed to Martha Blount on her birthday, 1723. The version here given is, however, different from both those published [cf. Elwin and Courthope's edition of Pope, vol. iv. p. 495]. It agrees with the earlier version (published in 1726) in consisting of 14 lines only, and therefore in being nominally a sonnet, but only the first four lines are the same; the next six recur in the latter part of the longer version, and the last four differ from both. It is here entitled "A Wish, to Mrs. M.B. on her Birthday, June [at first written March] 15." Oh be thou blest with all that Heav'n can send! Long Health, long Youth, long Pleasure, and a Friend: Not with those Toys the Woman-world admire, Riches that vex, and Vanities that tire. Let Joy, or Ease; let Affluence, or Content, And the gay Conscience of a Life well-spent, Calme ev'ry Thought, inspirit ev'ry Grace, Glow in thy Heart, and smile upon thy Face! Let Day improve on Day, and Year on Year, Without a Pain, a Trouble, or a Fear. And oh! since Death must that dear Frame destroy, Dye, by a sudden Extasy of Joy! Let the mild Soul in some soft dream remove, And be thy latest Gasp a Sigh of Love !

A copy of the same version, with verbal differences in ll. 11 and 13, occurs in Harley MS. 7316, f. 150. Paper; ff. 90. Bound in crimson morocco, very finely tooled. Small Octavo.

Alexander Pope: Inscription in a copy of Bacon's Essays, and poem to Martha Blount: 1725.: Autogr.

Bindings ENGLISH: Morocco, tooled: 18th cent.

Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans: Essays: Printed with autogr. inscription by A. Pope.