Pope's Last Illness


DURING Pope's last illness, a squabble happened in his chamber, between

his two physicians, Dr. Burton and Dr. Thomson, they mutually charging

each other with hastening the death of the patient by improper

prescriptions. Pope at length silenced them by saying, Gentlemen, I

only learn by your discourse that I am in a dangerous way; therefore,

all I now ask is, that the following epigram may be added after my death

to the next edition of the Dunciad, by way of postscript:--



'Dunces rejoice, forgive all censures past,

The greatest dunce has killed your foe at last.'



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