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THE

LIFE

OF

ALEXANDER POPE, ESQ.

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ALEXANDER POPE was born, according to Mr. Spence, in Lombard-street, London, on May 22d, 1688, in the house of his father, who was so eminent a linen-draper, and traded so successfully, that he gained a fortune of twenty thousand pounds. His mother was daughter of William Turner, Esq. of York, two of whose sons died in the service of Charles the First, and the other became a general officer in Spain.

The feebleness and delicacy of his constitution naturally engaged the attention of his parents and relations; and he was still more endeared to them by the uncommon mildness and sweetness of temper, which he displayed in his childhood: And perhaps his father might say, as did the father of Boileau, "This child, if he lives, will never speak ill of any person." His voice, too, was so marvellously melodious, that they used to call him the little nightingale. He was taught to read by an aunt that was particularly fond of him, and learnt to write by copying

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