whom Pope submitted his early work for comment
and who put Pope on the road to ‘correctness’.EPISTLE TO MISS BLOUNT WITH THE WORKS OF VOITUREThe epistle was first printed in 1712 addressed simply ‘to a
young lady’. Pope altered the title in 1735 in a compliment to
Martha Blount, a long-standing friend. Vincent de Voiture
(1598–1648) was a French poet and writer of elegant letters,
some of which had been translated into English by Dry den
and Dennis in 1696 and reprinted in 1700. The opening lines
of the poem describe the qualities admired in Voiture, which
Pope aims to emulate in his own verse letter.
1 Loves and Graces the personifications suggest the
classical Graces and the cupids of baroque art.
Compare line 19.
22 serious comedy obeying the rules and reforming our
vices, as in the case of the comedies of Ben Jonson,
for example.
49 Pamela It seems unlikely that any particular
individual is being referred to here.
53 front boxes In the theatre men sat in the side boxes,
women in the front boxes facing the stage and in full
view of the men.
the Ring the fashionable driving circuit in Hyde
Park.
58 Hymen Roman god of marriage.
61 Good humour Compare Clarissa’s speech in The
Rape of the Lock, V, 30 and the final line of the
‘Epistle to a Lady’.
69 Voiture’s early care Mademoiselle Paulet who is
featured in his letters.
70 Monthausier The Duchess de Montausier also
features in the letters.
73 Elysian coast Elysium, the classical paradise whither
go the souls of the blest in Hades, the underworld.
76 Rambouillet the maiden name of the duchess alluded
to above.