Hooke, a zealous Catholic friend, asked him whether he would not send for a priest.

"I do not suppose that it is essential," said Pope, "but it will look right, and I heartily thank you for putting me in mind of it." A priest was brought, and Pope received the last sacraments with great fervour and resignation.

Next day, on May 30th, 1744, he died so peacefully that his friends could not determine the exact moment of death.
It was a soft and touching end; and yet we must once more look at the other side.

Warburton and Bolingbroke both appear to have been at the side of the dying man, and before very long they were to be quarrelling over his grave.

Pope's will showed at once that his quarrels were hardly to end with his death.