But it is time to return to Pope. The epistle of Heloise to Abelard was published during Lady Mary's absence, and sent to her: and it is clear from a passage in one of his letters, that he wished her to consider the last lines,--from And sure, if fate some future bard shall join, down to He best can paint them, who can feel them most, as applicable to himself and to his feelings towards her. And yet, whatever might have been his devotion to Lady Mary before she went abroad, it was increased tenfold after her memorable travels. At present, when ladies of fashion make excursions of pleasure to the pyramids of Egypt and the ruins of Babylon, a journey to Constantinople is little more than a trip to Rome or Vienna; but in the last age it was a prodigious and marvellous undertaking; and Lady Mary, on her return, was gazed upon as an object of wonder and curiosity, and sought as the most entertaining person in the world: her sprightliness and her beauty, her oriental stories and her Turkish costume, were the rage of the day. With Pope, she was on the most friendly terms:--by his interference and negociation, a house was procured for her and Mr. Wortley, at Twickenham, so that their intercourse was almost constant. When he finished his translation of the Iliad, in 1720, Gay wrote him a complimentary poem, in which he enumerates the host of friends who welcomed the poet home from Greece; and among them, Lady Mary stands conspicuous. What lady's that to whom he gently bends? Who knows not her! Ah, those are Wortley's eyes; How art thou honoured, numbered with her friends,-- For she distinguishes the good and wise! To this period we may also refer the composition of the Stanzas to Lady Mary, which begin, "In beauty and wit."[133] The measure is trivial and disagreeable, but the compliments are very sprightly and pointed. She sat to Kneller for him in her Turkish dress; and we have the following note from him on the subject, which shows how much he felt the condescension.