Soon a correspondence began, in which Pope adopts a less jaunty air than that of his letters to Cromwell, but which is conducted on both sides in the laboured complimentary style which was not unnatural in the days when Congreve's comedy was taken to represent the conversation of fashionable life.
Presently, however, the letters began to turn upon an obviously dangerous topic.

Pope was only seventeen when it occurred to his friend to turn him to account as a literary assistant.

The lad had already shown considerable powers of versification, and was soon employing them in the revision of some of the numerous compositions which amused Wycherley's leisure.

It would have required, one might have thought, less than Wycherley's experience to foresee the natural end of such an alliance.

Pope, in fact, set to work with great vigour in his favourite occupation of correcting.