It does not seem that the acquaintance thus opened with the Addisonians ripened very rapidly, or led to any considerable results.

Pope, indeed, is said to have written some _Spectators_.

He certainly sent to Steele his _Messiah_, a sacred eclogue in imitation of Virgil's _Pollio_.

It appeared on May 14th, 1712, and is one of Pope's dexterous pieces of workmanship, in which phrases from Isaiah are so strung together as to form a good imitation of the famous poem, which was once supposed to entitle Virgil to some place among the inspired heralds of Christianity.
Pope sent another letter or two to Steele, which look very much like intended contributions to the _Spectator_, and a short letter about Hadrian's verses to his soul, which appeared in November, 1712.

When, in 1713, the _Guardian_ succeeded the _Spectator_, Pope was one of Steele's contributors, and a paper by him upon dedications appeared as the fourth number.