Tarvin 1

POPES EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT

(pp. 2562-73)
This handout was prepared by Dr. Willia Tarvin! a retired pro"essor o" literature.
#lease visit y "ree website www.tarvinlit.$o. %ver 5&& wor's o" (eri$an and )ritish
literature are analy*ed there "or "ree.
+ote, Te-t used, W. .. (bras! ed. The +orton (ntholo/y o" 0n/lish 1iterature! 7
th

ed. 2ol. 1. +ew 3or', +orton! 2&&&.
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Dr. (rbuthnot was hopelessly ill and had written #ope a 4last re5uest6 that the
poet should $ontinue to atta$' vi$e in his satires.
2. This poe! basi$ally written durin/ the suer o" 1737! was published in
8an. 1735! less than two onths be"ore (rbuthnot9s (1667-1735) death.
3. (rbuthnot was :ueen (nne9s "avorite do$tor and later held a siilar relation
to #rin$ess ;aroline! who in 1727 be$ae :ueen ;aroline.
7. (lso durin/ 1733! #ope was the vi$ti o" two bitter atta$'s by 1ady <ary
Wortley <onta/u and 1ord .ervey (pronoun$ed .arvey).
5. The poe is less an 4epistle6 than a dialo/ue between 4#.6 (#ope) and 4(.6
((rbuthnot! who is not introdu$ed until line 75).
II. THEME
1. The poe is an atta$' on #ope9s detra$tors and a de"ense o" his own $hara$ter
and $areer ((bras 2562).
2. #ope uses every devi$e o" persuasive rhetori$, reasonable ar/uent and
eotional appeals! subtly su//estive ia/ery! and superbly $ontrolled shi"ts in tone and
style (2562).
3. The poe e-presses a span o" eotions, an/er! $ontept! auseent!
sar$as! o$' sel"-pity! indi/nation! hatred! a""e$tion! /ratitude! and tenderness
(2562).
Tarvin 2
7. (lso very e""e$tive is that #ope addresses (rbuthnot! a an 'nown to be
honest and 'ind= this a$5uisition o" virtue throu/h asso$iation is an e""e$tive stro'e
(2562).
5. >n de"ense o" his own $hara$ter! in the "inal se$tion o" the poe! #ope
portrays hisel" as a virtuous an! "ull o" love! nursin/ his a/ed other and as'in/
.eaven9s blessin/ "or his "riend. This shows hi "urthest reoved "ro the popular
$on$eption o" the satirist as a alevolent an.
III. STRUCTURE AND IMAGERY
A. ANIMAL IMAGERY
1. ?ive ain ia/es eer/e! all $onne$ted, anial! "ilth! disease! perse$ution!
and the virtuous an! but the $entral one is the anial ia/ery.
2. The anial ia/e yields the "ilth! the no-ious eleent out o" whi$h disease
arises! disease turns into perse$ution! and perse$ution reveals the virtuous an.
3. The anial ia/e $oprises all re"eren$es to anials! wors! and inse$ts in
the poe.
7. #ope asso$iates the poetasters with 4low @rub Atreet6 (37B! but entioned
earlier! 111= a /rub is the larva o" $ertain inse$ts! espe$ially o" a beetle). These people
write and a$t without thin'in/! in autoati$ response to $ertain stiuli.
5. They are li'e trained haw's! 4<ay Dun$e by Dun$e be whistled o"" y handsC6
(257)! or li'e "ro/s that live on "lies! word $at$hers that live on syllables (166).
6. ?urtherore! li'e spiders (BD)! they live in their own "ilth! so that disease
"lourishes in @rub Atreet.
7. ?ro there in swars and pa$'s! the $reatures des$end on #ope! $arryin/
their in"e$tion with the. Thus #ope Eusti"ies satire "ro a an o" pea$e.
B. (n analysis o" the stru$ture o" the poe will reveal the persistent use o"
anial ia/ery.
B. STRUCTURE
LINES 1-6:
1. The poe opens with #ope spea'in/! not to Dr. (rbuthnot! but to his
/ardener 8ohn! who is ordered to 4shut the door6 (1) o" #ope9s house Twit9na! even 4tie
up the 'no$'er6 (2)! and adit no-one.
Tarvin 3
2. The house sees to be surrounded by ad poets, 4(ll )edla6 is a
re"eren$e to a ental institution and 4#arnassus6 is the ountain o" the $lassi$al poeti$
<uses (7).
3. >n the se$ond line o" the poe! the disease ia/e! 4>9 si$'! >9 dead!6
is! o" $ourse! $oi$ e-a//eration, #ope is siply not at hoe to the poetasters.
7. 1ine 3 uses anial ia/ery by su//estin/ that the would-be poets are
ad do/s.
5. 1ine 7, 1i'ewise the $orrelation o" )edla and #arnassus iplies a
o$'-heroi$ etaphor in the $onne$tion o" luna$y with poetry.
6. The openin/ is e""e$tive be$ause it builds suspense about why #ope9s
house is under sie/e.
LINES 7-14
1. #ope lists e-aples o" how these poetasters besie/e and pester hi,
$libin/ throu/h his shrubbery wall! usin/ an under/round entran$e! or stoppin/ hi
as he traveled in either his $arria/e or his boat.
2. .e protests that he $annot even /o to $hur$h in pea$e without bein/
bothered by the 4an o" rhye6 (13).
3. (ntithesis, .e is under sie/e above /round and under/round! on land
and on water.
LINES 15-26
1. .avin/ listed how they atta$'! #ope ne-t spe$i"ies soe o" the
atta$'ers, ( beer-besotted parson (15)! a poetess! a 4rhyin/ peer6 (16)! a le/al $ler'
(17-1B)! and a adan (1D-2&).
2. 4(ll "ly to Twit9na!6 see'in/ the advi$e and en$oura/eent o" #ope
(21-22).
3. +ot Eust a bother in theselves! they en$oura/e their "aily ebers
to slander #ope9s nae, ( "ather "aults #ope be$ause his son iitates 4y daned
wor's6 (23-27)! and a husband 4$urses6 4#ope6 be$ause his wi"e has 4elopeFdG6 to
Twit9na to /et #ope9s opinion o" her poetry (25-26).
LINES 27-4
Tarvin 7
1. #ope now turns and addresses Dr. (rbuthnot as 4?riend o" y li"e!6 his
physi$ian! who had ta'en $are o" #ope throu/h any illnesses (27-2B).
2. The pla/ue o" #ope9s $on/enital ill health is now added to the 4pla/ue6
(2D) o" poetasters.
3. #ope now e-aines his 4dire dilea!6 whi$h is speedin/ hi to his
death (3&-33), These would-be poets deand that he read their wor's! e-pe$tin/
praise! but #ope is trapped, he $annot 4lie6 (by tellin/ the that their poetry is /ood)!
yet dare not spea' the truth ("or "ear o" hurtin/ the).
7. >n a o$'-heroi$ pi$ture! #ope portrays hisel" as the artyr on the
ra$' (33-3B).
5. .e "inally de$ides to tell the to "ollow .ora$e9s advi$e o" waitin/ nine
years be"ore they attept to publish their wor's (3D-7&).
LINES 41-4!
1. This advi$e is re$eived with aa*eent.
2. %ne petitioner su//ests that i" there is soethin/ wron/ with his
poetry! #ope $ould spend soe tie in $orre$tin/ it (75-76).
3. (nother poet9s odest wishes6 (77) are that #ope will write a prolo/ue
"or his wor' and (in addition) lend hi ten pounds.
LINES 4"-6!
1. #ope then shows how these poetasters ta'e advanta/e o" and intiidate
hi! usin/ one $alled #itholeon (7D).
2. #itholeon as's #ope9s help in se$urin/ a sponsor (4patron6) "or his
poetry! even thou/h he had previously 4libeled6 #ope (5&-51).
3. #ope is $autioned that unless he helps this person #itholeon will atta$'
#ope in the newspaper (53-53)! a not-so-subtle "or o" bla$'ail.
7. #ope ne-t notes that he re$eives unsoli$ited anus$ripts o" plays "ro
4stran/erFsG6 (55). .e says that i" he writes disapprovin/ly o" a play! the person
threatens hi with 4?uries! death! and ra/e6 (57). .owever! i" it praises it! the person
see's soethin/ ore, "or #ope to use his in"luen$e to /et the play sta/ed (5B).
5. The assault $ontinues be$ause even when the play is reEe$ted by theater
produ$ers! the writer su//ests that #ope use his in"luen$e to /et the play published! o"
$ourse a"ter #ope has 4reviseFdG6 it. .e even o""ers to /ive #ope a share o" the pro"its! as
Tarvin 5
#ope is es$ortin/ hi out the door (61-6B).
6. )oth o" these e-aples show that #ope tries to treat with $ourtesy these
ha$' writers who ipose their wor's on hi.
7. Hnli'e Dryden! #ope seldo uses $oi$ "einine rhyes! but does
here in 61-62! where 4print it6 and 41intot6 (the nae o" a publisher) are rhyed.
LINES 6"-!2
1. #ope uses the <idas analo/y! basi$ally $allin/ the poetasters asses.
2. (lso "ootnote 1! p. 2565! states! the re"eren$es to 4inister6 and 45ueen6
probably re"er to Walpole and :ueen ;aroline! thus a'in/ the ass-eared <idas Iin/
@eor/e >>.
3. (t this point (75)! (rbuthnot spea's! /ivin/ #ope the advi$e not to
atta$' personally! parti$ularly 45ueens! inisters! or 'in/s6 (76).
7. .owever! #ope interrupts (rbuthnot in an atta$' upon all the "oolsJ
even re"errin/ to his own previously published Dun$iad (7D)--$allin/ ea$h irritatin/
writer 4an ass6 (B&).
LINES !#-1!
1. #ope as's i" it is 4$ruel6 to tell a "ool that he is a "ool. .e answers no
be$ause they do not believe you (B3-B7).
2. Those "ools! li'e ;odrus (B5)! $an be en/ul"ed in 4peals o" lau/hter6
(B5)! but be 4un$on$erned6 with the lau/hter (B6).
3. #ope avers that it is ipossible to 4shae . . . a s$ribbler6 (BD)! "or he
brushes the $riti$is o"" and is soon 4at his dirty wor' a/ain6 (D2).

7. .ere #ope9s indi/nation supports the dis/ust o" the anial and "ilth
ia/es! where writers are portrayed as spiders (B3-D2).
5. #ope then $ontends that his satiri$ atta$'s upon ha$' poets and writers!
su$h as the #oet 1aureate ;ooley ;ibber and (brose #hilips! have not $han/ed the at
all (D5-1&&)! so 4Who have > hurtK6 (D5).
6. When #ope re"ers to AapphoJ1ady <ary Wortley <onta/uJ(rbuthnot
interrupts and says 4"or /od9s sa'e . . . learn pruden$e6 (1&1-&2).
7. (rbuthnot9s interruption also re"ers to #ope9s e-tree shortness, 4>
F(rbuthnotG a twi$e as tall Fas you! #opeG6 (1&3). This is an instan$e where #ope
Tarvin 6
shows that he $an a'e "un o" hisel".
B. #ope! however! a/ain i/nores the $ounsel and $ontinues his s$orn"ul
atta$'! usin/ the re"eren$es to 4ad $reatures6 and 4>t is the slaver FslobberG 'ills! and
not the bite6 (1&7-&6).
LINES 1"-24
1. #ope ridi$ules even those "ro 4@rub Atreet6 (111) who praise and
de"end hi (1&D-12).
2. #ope 'nows they have an ulterior otive! e-pe$tin/ 4a bribe6 or "or
#ope to 4subs$ribe6 to one o" their literary proEe$ts (113-17).
3. .e ne-t des$ribes the ridi$ulous hoa/e (115) whi$h his suitors pay
hi= they $opare hi to .ora$e (116)! (le-ander the @reat (117)! %vid (11B)! 2ir/il
(122)! and .oer (127). This is probably the ost $oi$ passa/e in the poe.
7. #ope puns on his "irst nae! "or the poetasters $ouple hi with
(le-ander the @reat (117).
LINES 125-#4
1. The sae tension between sel"-depre$iation and sel"-/lori"i$ation is
$arried over into lines 125-26! where #ope $ries that his talent is a $ursed inheritan$e or
Eud/ent o" his /uilty sel".
2. 1ine 125 is ton/ue-in-$hee'! yet the )ibli$al re"eren$e (8ohn D.2) $arries
with it a su//estion o" solenity, 4(nd his dis$iples as'ed hi! sayin/! <aster! who did
sin! this an! or his parents! that he was born blindK6
3. 1ine 126! 4dipt e in in'!6 ay re"er to ($hilles! whose parent dipped
hi in the Aty- to a'e hi invulnerable.
7. The "a$t that #ope has Eust been po'in/ "un at hisel"! espe$ially at his
physi$al short$oin/sL4a short6 (116)! 4one shoulder . . . too hi/h (117)6--enables hi
to a'e a serious and ovin/ re"eren$e to his ill health without seein/ audlin (131-
37), 4This lon/ disease! y li"e6 (132).
5. Thus "ro the previous predoinantly huorous passa/e #ope turns to
pathos! the transition e""e$ted by the serious su//estion o" #ope as a /reat poet.
LINES 1#5-46
1. (rbuthnot as's #ope why he publishes! sin$e he 'nows that he will
e-pose hisel" to ridi$ule (135).
2. #ope9s answer lists the writers who en$oura/ed hi to develop his
Tarvin 7
writin/ talent. (s "ootnote D! pp. 2566-67! states! this list establishes #ope as the
su$$essor o" Dryden and thus pla$es hi "ar above his @rub Atreet perse$utors.
3. (ll o" the writers entioned were asso$iated with Dryden in his later
years and had all en$oura/ed the youn/ #ope.
LINES 147-56
1. #ope aintains that he never initiated any literary atta$'s.
2. .is early poetry was pastoral and des$riptive! not satiri$ (177-5&).
3. 0ven when two early $riti$sJ@ildon and DennisJatta$'ed hi! #ope
says that he 4sat still6 and did not respond! a$$eptin/ that these ha$' writers were either
provo'ed by 4adness6J4)edla6-- or a need "or oneyJ4the <int6 (151-56).
LINES 157-72
1. #ope then tells how he responded to 4soe ore sober $riti$6, .e said
that i" their $oentary on his literary wor' was 4wron/!6 he did not respond but
siply 4siled.6 .owever! i" the $riti$s were 4ri/ht!6 #ope said that he /ra$iously
a$'nowled/e the $orre$tionJ4>" ri/ht! > 'issed the rod6 (157-5B).
2. While positin/ that they la$'ed /ood 4sense6 (16&)! #ope a$'nowled/es
these $riti$s9 e-a$tin/ s$holarshipJtheir ania that 4$oas and points FperiodsG6 be
4set e-a$tly ri/ht6 (161).
3. .e then dans by praisin/ Theobald (pronoun$ed and o"ten spelled
Tibbald) and )entley. ?irst! he puns on their sel"-iportan$e (i/ht) and their
insi/ni"i$an$e (ite) in the word ite, 4(nd Mtwere a sin to rob the o" their ite6
(162).
7. (/ain! in order to ridi$ule! he uses a $oi$ "einine rhyeJribalds
and TibbaldsJin lines 163-67.
5. .e in"lates! only to de"late, 40a$h word-$at$her that lives on syllables! N
0ven su$h sall $riti$s soe re/ard ay $lai 4 (166-67)! by atta$hin/ their naes to
Aha'espeare9s or <ilton9s throu/h editin/ these /reat writers9 wor's (16B).
6. Hsin/ anial ia/ery! #ope then $opares the to 4/rubs! or wors6
(17&).
LINES 17#-"2
1. +e-t! #ope Eusti"ies his atta$'s on soe poets as siply /ivin/ the
4but their due6 (177).
Tarvin B
2. .e says that these poets were barren o" talent! but "illed with an
overblown sel"-estee, 4pride adds to eptiness6 (177).
3. .e "irst entions (brose #hilips! who! #ope $ontends! writes "or
oney! that is! to /et 4hal" a $rown6 (a prostitute9s $ustoary "ee).
7. .e $ensures #hilips9s pretensions o" laborin/ over his poes whi$h
$auses hi to publish little! by sayin/ that the 4barrenness6 o" his ideas is ore li'ely
the $ause o" his 4hard-bound brains6 turnin/ out only 4ei/ht lines a year6 (1B1-B2).
5. ( se$ond poet is atta$'ed "or pla/iari*in/ ost o" his ideas "ro other
writers, 4steals u$h6 (1B7).

6. ( third poet tries to ipress by a'in/ his poes appear to be di""i$ult!
while in truth the poet does not 'now what he is writin/, 4blunders round about a
eanin/6 (1B6). (.ere #ope uses a rare "einine rhye, leanin/ and eanin/.)
7. ( "ourth poet is atta$'ed "or his a""e$ted style o" writin/, 4>t is not
poetry! but prose run ad6 (1BB).
B. #ope says that his own 4odest satire6 was dire$ted at 4all these6 poets!
4nine6 o" who it would ta'e to a'e one un5uali"ied poet laureate, 4(nd owned that
nine su$h poets ade a Tate6 (1D&)! a re"eren$e to +athan Tate! the poet laureate "ro
16D2-1715. (s "ootnote B! p. 256B! states! 4The line re"ers to the old ada/e that it ta'es
nine tailors to a'e one an.6
D. #ope says these insi/ni"i$ant poets "ued and roared at his appraisal o"
the and swore 4not (ddison hisel" was sa"e6 (1D2)! #ope9s not-so-subtle lead-in to his
portrait o" (ddison as (tti$us.
LINES 1"#-214: ATTICUS PASSAGE
1. The (tti$us portrait /raati$ally is one senten$e o" 22 lines.
2. @enerosity! 'indness! $oura/e! wholeheartedness! and huility see
ainly what (tti$us la$'s.
3. The passa/e be/ins by $oentin/ on line 1D7. 4#ea$e to all su$hC6
(1D3) asserts that 4all su$h6 who would dare atta$' (ddison will 'eep their 4pea$e.6 %"
$ourse! #ope then starts a subtle atta$' on (ddisonJwho dies in 171D! si-teen years
be"ore the poeJwho is $alled (tti$us here.
7. #ope be/ins by praisin/ (tti$us "or his 4/enius6 (1D7) and his 4talent6 as
a writer and $onversationalist (1D6).
5. .owever! the praise turns to $riti$is when #ope wonders whether
(tti$us was so e/otisti$al that he would allow no-one to $hallen/e his 4rule6 (1D7).
Tarvin D
6. Hnpleasant words are brou/ht "orward and asso$iated with (tti$us,
4Eealous6 (1DD) and 4hate6 (2&&).
7. These 5ualities $aused (tti$us to Eud/e other writers $ir$uspe$tly,
4Dan with "aint praise6 (2&1).
B. (tti$us was $owardly and snea'y in his approa$h to $riti$is o" others=
he would not 4stri'e6 (2&3)! but would nevertheless 4wound6 (2&3) by 4hintFin/G a "ault!
and hesitatFin/G disli'e6 (2&7).
D. .e la$'ed $oura/e! but retained /uile, 4( tiorous "oe! and a
suspi$ious "riend6 (2&6).
1&. .e was a literary tyrant who loved to hear his adirers applaud hi
(2&D-12).
11. #ope $on$ludes that in perspe$tive su$h a $ontradi$tory an deserves
to be lau/hed at! althou/h the lau/hers would $ry i" they were li'e (ddison, 4Who but
ust lau/h! i" su$h a an here beK N Who would no weep! i" (tti$us were heK6 (217-15).
LINES 215-#
1. #ope says that thou/h (tti$us9s /roup seared his nae (215-1B)! he
never $urried "avor "ro that /roup (21D).
2. .e states that he no ore 4heeded6 what this /roup said o" hi than
did Iin/ @eor/e pay attention to the poe annually written by the poet laureate on the
onar$h9s 4birthday6 (222).
3. #ope says he avoided su$h 4witlin/s6 (223)! usin/ the disease ia/e,
4To spread about the it$h6 (227) probably su//ests /onorrhea.
7. .e $ontinues that he re"used to be$oe a 1ondon lapdo/, 1ines 225-
26 $ontain this anial ia/ery, the "oppish wit both in his a$tions and his poetry sees
as e$hani$al and senseless as the puppy in its proud retrievin/ o" the trainer9s sti$'.
5. #ope says he wanted nothin/ to do with a $ulture where a poet had to
$urry "avor "ro a patron su$h as 4)u"o6 (23&).
LINES 2#1-4!: BU$O PASSAGE
1. .ere #ope atta$'s the tasteless patron o" the arts.
2. )u"o eans 4toad6 in 1atin! but it is siilar to the ?ren$h word
bu""oon! eanin/ 4pu""ed up.6
3. #ope puns on this eanin/ in 4"ull-blown )u"o! pu""ed by every 5uill
Tarvin 1&
Fhired poetG6 (232).
7. Those who $alled on )u"o $ae only pretendin/ to want his Eud/ent
o" their poes= a$tually they sou/ht his help in /ettin/ the a position or to spon/e o""
o" his aple table o" "ood and wine (23B-7&).
5. @reat poets su$h as Dryden avoided )u"o (275-76)! whose 0n/lish
identity is never established.
6. (lthou/h )u"o never helped Dryden while Dryden was alive (in "a$t!
#ope a$$uses! )u"o 4helped to starve6 Dryden)! )u"o 4helped to bury hi!6 that is! he
$ontributed to the lavish "uneral Dryden was /iven (27B).
7. This episode shows that )u"o is $o"ortable around "latterin/ inor
poets or /reat dead poets! but never /reat livin/ poets! sin$e these would show )u"o up
as the literary "raud he is.
LINES 24"-7
1. #ope says that )u"o would be a per"e$t at$h "or )avius! the bad poet
entioned above in line DD, 4<ay every )avius have his )u"o still6 (25&).
2. >n "a$t! #ope says he is pleased that the bad poet $an /ive 4"lattery6 to
the tasteless patron on deand (253)! "or this situation will "ree #ope "ro havin/ to
$on"ront either, 4<ay dun$e by dun$e be whistled o"" y handsC6 (257).
3. #ope then re$alls his "riend! the poet and playwri/ht 8ohn @ay! now
dead three yearsJhe died in 1732.
7. #ope $ondens literary 1ondon whi$h let @ay! a 4ne/le$ted /enius6
(257) 4ne/le$ted die6 (25B).
5. @iven this shae"ul treatent o" @ay! #ope pre"ers to live away "ro
1ondon so$iety! aintainin/ 4a poet9s di/nity6 (263) and a li"e 4above a patron6 (265).
6. .owever! he does say that he has as 4y "riend6 a "orer $hie" politi$al
inister! .enry At. 8ohn! 1ord )olin/bro'e (266).
7. #ope $on$ludes that he was not eant to be a $ourt poet (267)! sin$e he
$an pay his debt! does not wish to sa$ri"i$e his reli/ious belie"s! does not $are to be
always thin'in/ up a poe to sell or to be used to "latter a patron (26B-6D)! and does not
have to 'eep up with the latest literary /ossip (27&)Jall whi$h dis/ra$e"ul a$tivities
presuable a )avius would have to.
Tarvin 11
LINES 271-!2
1. #ope then shi"ts to o$' sel"-pity.
2. 0veryone in literary 1ondon! he states! is $ontinually as'in/ 4what
ne-t6 wor' o" #ope9s 4shall see the li/ht6 (271).
3. #ope sees to disdain this attention! protestin/ piti"ully that 4li"e6 has
4no Eoys "or e6 (273)! people "eel! e-$ept "or his poetry (272).
7. #ope says that when Awi"t visits hi! the /ossips spe$ulate about the
nature o" #ope9s ne-t satire! presuably inspired by his $onversations with Awi"t (275-
76).
5. >" #ope denies he is plannin/ any new poe (277)! the $riti$s $ounter
that his 4/enius never $an lie still6 (27B)! a sel"-a//randi*in/ te$hni5ue #ope uses to
have his eneiesJnot hisel"Jpraise #ope as a /enius.
6. When lesser witsJAir Will or )uboJturn out soethin/! any $lai
ista'enly it is by #ope (27D-B&).
7. The i/noran$e o" su$h spe$ulation and is$al$ulation #ope says he
siles at! espe$ially those who pro"ess to 'now #ope 4by y style6 (2B1-B2).
LINES 2!#-#4
1. #ope then $urses any verses o" his own whi$h
--have turned a worthy person into his 4"oe!6
--have $aused an inno$ent person to 4"ear!6 or
--have $aused a 4vir/in6 to shed a 4tear6 (2B3-B6).
2. .e $ensures anyone
--who uses verse wi$'edly to brin/ 4distress6 to 4harless6 people
(2B7-BB)!
--who 4loves a lie6 and helps to 4slander6 soeone!
--who libels (2BD-D&).
--who atta$'s an author behind his ba$' or pretends to li'e
Tarvin 12
soethin/ he does not (2D1-D7)! and
--who to one9s "a$e $alls a person his "riend! but will not de"end this
"riend a/ainst slander (2D5-D6).
3. #ope $ontinues his atta$' on hypo$risy! $itin/ a person
--who betrays a person9s $on"iden$e by revealin/ what was said in
private (2D7-DB)!
--who deliberately is$onstrues a person9s poes (2DD-3&2)
7. Au$h 4blo$'heads!6 #ope says! he will 4lash6 (3&3-&7)! althou/h 4( lash
li'e ine no honest an shall dread6 (3&3).
LINES #5-##: SPORUS PASSAGE
1. )e"ore (rbuthnot interposes! #ope be/ins by sayin/ that Aporus is su$h
a blo$'head and should 4treble6 (3&5).
2. Aporus! as "ootnote 1. p. 257&! revels! is 8ohn! 1ord .ervey! an
e""einate $ourtier who with 1ady <ary <onta/u had atta$'ed #ope in paphlets.
3. The ori/inal Aporus was a boy who the eperor +ero publi$ly
arried (257&).
7. >n all other pla$es where (rbuthnot interrupted! it was to stop #ope9s
an/er! but here he interposes to a/ree.
5. To (rbuthnot! Aporus is siply a 4thin/ o" sil'6 (3&5)! a 4ere white
$urd o" ass9s il'6 (3&6)! who has no "eelin/ (3&7)! and is so insensitive that he 4brea's
a butter"ly upon a wheel6 (3&B).
6. To #ope! Aporus is a /ilded bu/ that stin's and stin/s (3&D-1&). .e is a
"awnin/! ublin/ spaniel (313-17)! a shallow strea (316)! or a puppet (31B).
7. Then! all beauty and deli$a$y /one! Aporus be$oes an u/ly! "ilth-
spittin/ toad (32&). (s su$h he is a perpetual ena$e as the tepter! powerless hisel"
but always lur'in/ 4at the ear o" 0ve!6 to usurp the powers o" /ood and pervert the
(31D-2&).
B. ("ter introdu$in/ this ia/e! #ope returns to it later where Aporus is
$alled 40ve9s tepter6 (33&). 1i'e Aatan as the serpent! Aporus with his 4$herub9s "a$e!6
but 4a reptile all the rest6 (331)! 4$reepFsG6 and 4li$'s the dust!6 its belly in the dirt (331-
33).
D. Aporus9s abivalent se-uality is also subtly atta$'ed, 4all seesaw
Tarvin 13
between that and this (323)= 4now aster up! now iss6 (327)! Aporus $an a$t 4either
part6 (327)Jthe ale or the "eale.
1&. 4%ne vile antithesis6 (325)! this 4aphibian thin/6 (326) 4FnGow trips a
ladyJand now struts a lord6 (32D).
11. The Aporus passa/e has the /reatest $on$entration o" anial ia/es in
the poe and is the pinna$le o" the anial-"ilth ia/ery.
12. >n its $lia$ti$ pro/ression! it be$oes an a$$uulation o" dis/ust!
with Aporus /oin/ "ro a beneath-$ontept! spe$iously attra$tive! alost none-istent
bein/ at the be/innin/ o" the passa/e to a "ilthy! abhorrent $reatureJa toad whi$h is
spittin/ "roth and veno--at its end.


LINES ##4-5"
1. Hpon rea$hin/ this pit$h o" "eelin/! #ope drops "or /ood his as' o"
irony and shows hisel" as the solen and ri/hteous an.
2. +ow he $an spea' o" hisel" in the third person and in an e-alted ode
(337-37).
3. .is virtuous 5ualities $ontrast with those vi$ious ones o" (tti$us!
)lavius! )u"o! Aporus! and the bad poets.
7. Hnli'e the! #ope says he never wrote "or oney or to "urther his
abition (337-35).
5. .e never "latteredJ4even to 'in/s6 (33B)Jand never used his poetry to
4lie6 (33D).
6. .is poetry a""ired 4truth6 and stressed 4orality6 (371).
7. ?or sti$'in/ to these prin$iples! #ope says he has had to endure the
4"urious "oe!6 4the tiid "riend6 (373)! and 4The danin/ $riti$! hal" approvin/ wit6
(377).
B. (lso! he has su""ered 4treats o" ven/ean$e6 (37B) and "alse reports
($ir$ulated by .ervey and <onta/u) that #ope had been subEe$ted to a whippin/ (37D).
D. >n addition! u$h 4trash! and dullness not his own6 was published
whi$h soe attributed as his own poetry (352).
1&. #ope says any even ridi$uled hi be$ause o" his physi$al de"ority!
as in $ari$atures showin/ hi as a hun$hba$'ed ape (352-53).
Tarvin 17
11. .e says they even ali/ned his dead "ather (355).
12. (/ainst all o" these atta$'ers and atta$'s! #ope says he has aintained
his 4"air virtue6 (35B-5D).
LINES #6-!7
1. This se$tion $ontinues to /radually re"ine away the s$orn that eanates
"ro the Aporus passa/e by stressin/ #ope9s patien$e and poetry.
2. (rbuthnot interposes to as' why #ope atta$'s both the low and the
/reat (36&).
3. #ope answers that he disli'es all 'naves no atter their station!
whether Aporus (who had the :ueen9s ear) or a $oon "or/er (361-63).
7. >t $ould be soeone who! #ope says usin/ antithesis! ay 4/ain his
prin$e9s ear! or lose his own6 (as a "or/er does! whose ears are $ut o"" when he is
$onvi$ted o" "or/ery) (366-67).
5. #ope $on"esses that "ar "ro bein/ ean and spite"ul! he was even
/ullible= be$ause o" his 4so"t6 4nature6 (36B)! he was o"ten de$eived in "riends su$h as
Aappho (1ady <ary <onta/u) ((36D).
6. #ope then lists those who atta$'ed hi! but who he still helped when
they needed hi, Dennis! Tibbald! ;ibber! and even <oore (37&-73)! althou/h the last
was unintentionally helped sin$e <oore /ot his assistan$e by pla/iari*in/ "ro #ope9s
poetry.
7. #ope a/ain as's, 4?ull ten years slandered! did he on$e replyK6 (377).
B. 0ven when 4the two ;urlls o" town and $ourt6Jthe publisher and
.erveyJatta$'ed his "aily! #ope says he "elt he had to reply (3B&).
D. +ow! he shows his "aily pride by praisin/ the virtues o" his "ather and
other! whose 4unspotted naes6 will live in eory and poetry (3B1-B7).
LINES #!!-45
1. >n the wist"ul des$ription o" his "ather9s li"e whi$h "ollows! #ope not
only deonstrates a proper "ilial devotion! but also announ$es his own ideal li"e! the li"e
o" pea$e on a "ew paternal a$res (3D7-D5! 7&&-&3).
2. .e says his "ather was a sel"-ade an who earned his "ortune
honorably (3BB-D&).
Tarvin 15
3. ( ild an! who arried an e5ually /entle wi"e! his "ather never ra/ed!
did har to others! or lied.
7. .is "ather never used any lan/ua/e but 4the lan/ua/e o" the heart6
(3DD)= he was honest! wise! and teperate! dyin/ o" old a/e! not o" disease (3D2-7&3).
5. #ope says that he wished he had been a$$orded su$h a li"e and hopes
that he hisel" will be /ranted su$h a death (7&7).
LINES 46-1"
1. ?inally! the love and yearnin/ o" this passa/e is brou/ht to an even
hi/her pit$h in the prayer-li'e $lose! the $lia- o" the /ood an ia/e and thus o" the
poe itsel".
2. #ope turns and addresses (rbuthnot as 4"riend6 and hopes that
(rbuthnot will have 4doesti$ bliss6 (7&6-&7).
3. #ope hopes that he $an spent his own old a/e prin$ipally doin/ only
one thin/Jta'in/ $are o" his a/ed other (7&B-13).
7. +ote, #ope9s other died in 1733! two years be"ore this poe was
published! but as "ootnote 5 (p. 2573) states! these lines were written in 1731! when #ope
was nursin/ his other throu/h a serious illness.
5. .e $loses by a/ain wishin/ happiness "or the ailin/ (rbuthnot (716-17).
6. The last two lines o" the poe are /iven to (rbuthnot! who pronoun$es
that .eaven will deterine what is to $oe. Ai/ni"i$antly the last word o" the poe is
4.eav9n6 (71B-1D).