Final answer:
Pope uses leaves as a metaphor for superficial or excessive elements that overshadow the more valuable 'fruit,' suggesting that a plethora of leaves means less fruit and can be interpreted as quantity over quality in different life aspects.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Pope, if there are many leaves on a tree, there will be little fruit. In this comparison, Pope likens leaves to superficial or excessive elements that, while plentiful, might not contribute significantly to the true value or output, such as words to ideas or rituals to faith. The more leaves a tree bears, the less fruit it tends to yield, suggesting that a balance is necessary to achieve meaningful outcomes. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for various scenarios in life where quantity does not necessarily equate to quality, with leaves symbolizing the flashy yet unproductive aspects that overshadow the more valuable 'fruit.'