129 Johnson publishes CHAPTER VI 1738-1741. 66 London, a Poem."- -Letters to Cave relating thereto.— Endeavours, without Success to obtain the Degree of Master of Arts. Recommended by Pope to Earl Gower. — The Earl's Letter on his Behalf. Begins a Translation of Father Paul Sarpi's History. Publishes A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage" and "Marmor Norfolciense." — Pope's Note to Richardson concerning him. · Characteristic Anecdotes. 66 - Writes the Debates in Parliament, under the Disguise of "the Senate of Lilliput." THUS was Johnson employed during some of the best years of his life, as a mere literary labourer "for gain, not glory," solely to obtain an honest support. He, however, indulged himself in occasional little sallies, which the French so happily express by the term jeux d'esprit, and which will be noticed in their order, in the progress of this work. But what first displayed his transcendent powers, and "gave the world assurance of the man," was his "London, a Poem, in Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal;" which came out in May this year, and burst forth with a splendour, the rays of which will for ever encircle his name. Boileau had imitated the same satire with great success, applying it to Paris; but an attentive comparison will satisfy every reader, that he is much excelled by the English Juvenal. (1) Oldham had also imitated it, and applied it to London; all which performances concur to prove, that great cities, in every age, and in every country, will furnish similar topics of satire. Whether Johnson had previously read Oldham's imitation (2), I do not know; but it is not a little remarkable, that there is scarcely any coincidence found between the two performances, though upon the very same subject. The only instances are, in describing London as the sink of foreign worthlessness: "the common shore, Where France does all her filth and ordure pour." OLDHAM. "The common shore of Paris and of Rome." JOHNSON. (1) It is hardly fair to compare the poems in this hostile way: Boileau's was a mere badinage, complaining of, or laughing at, the personal dangers and inconveniences of Paris. Johnson's object was to satirise the moral depravity of a great city. CROKER. (2) [John Oldham, whose Satires against the Jesuits gained him the appellation of " the English Juvenal," was born in 1653, and died in 1683, in his thirtieth year. At one period of his life he was a perfect votary of the bottle. In a letter (now in the Bodleian Library) written by him to one of his companions, after he had retired from London, he says, "Thou knowest, Jack, there was never a more unconcerned coxcomb than myself once; but experience and thinking have made me quit that humour. I think virtue and sobriety (how much soever the men of wit may turn 'em into ridicule) the only measures to be happy, and believe the feast of a good conscience the best treat that can make a true epicure. I find I retain all the briskness, acriness, and gaiety I had, but purged from the dross and lees of debauchery; and am as merry as ever, though not so mad."] And, "No calling or profession comes amiss, A needy monsieur can be what he please." All sciences a fasting monsieur knows." OLDHAM. JOHNSON. The particulars which Oldham has collected, both as exhibiting the horrors of London, and of the times, contrasted with better days, are different from those of Johnson, and in general well chosen, and well expressed. (1) There are in Oldham's imitation, many prosaic verses and bad rhymes, and his poem sets out with a strange inadvertent blunder: tr Though much concern'd to leave my old dear friend, I must, however, his design commend Of fixing in the country." It is plain he was not going to leave his friend; his friend was going to leave him. A young lady at once corrected this with good critical sagacity, to Though much concern'd to lose my old dear friend." There is one passage in the original better trans. fused by Oldham than by Johnson: "Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se, Quàm quod ridiculos homines facit." (1) I own it pleased me to find amongst them one trait of the manners of the age in London, in the last century, to shield from the sneer of English ridicule, what was, some time ago, too common a practice in my native city of Edinburgh! "If what I've said can't from the town affright, Consider other dangers of the night; When brickbats are from upper stories thrown, which is an exquisite remark on the galling meanness and contempt annexed to poverty. imitation is, Johnson's “Of all the griefs that harass the distrest, Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest." Oldham's, though less elegant, is more just,"Nothing in poverty so ill is borne, As its exposing men to grinning scorn." (1) Where or in what manner this poem was composed, I am sorry that I neglected to ascertain with precision from Johnson's own authority. He has marked upon his corrected copy of the first edition of it, "Written in 1738;" and, as it was published in the month of May in that year, it is evident that much time was not employed in preparing it for the press. The history of its publication I am enabled to give in a very satisfactory manner; and judging from myself, and many of my friends, I trust that it will not be uninteresting to my readers. We may be certain, though it is not expressly named in the following letters to Mr. Cave, in 1738, that they all relate to it: LETTER 4. TO MR. CAVE, "Castle Street, Wednesday Morning. [March, 1738.] SIR, When I took the liberty of writing to you a few days ago, I did not expect a repetition of this same (1) ["O Poverty, thy thousand ills combined Sink not so deep into the generous mind pleasure so soon; for a pleasure I shall always think it, to converse in any manner with an ingenious and candid man: but having the enclosed poem in my hands to dispose of for the benefit of the author, (of whose abilities I shall say nothing, since I send you his performance,) I believe I could not procure more advantageous terms from any person than from you, who have so much distinguished yourself by your generous encouragement of poetry; and whose judgment of that art nothing but your commendation of my trifle (') can give me any occasion to call in question. I do not doubt but you will look over this poem with another eye, and reward it in a different manner from a mercenary bookseller, who counts the lines he is to purchase, and considers nothing but the bulk. I cannot help taking notice, that, besides what the author may hope for on account of his abilities, he has likewise another claim to your regard, as he lies at present under very disadvantageous circumstances of fortune. I beg, therefore, that you will favour me with a letter to-morrow, that I may know what you can afford to allow him, that he may either part with it to you, or find out (which I do not expect) some other way more to his satisfaction. "I have only to add, that as I am sensible I have transcribed it very coarsely, which, after having altered it, I was obliged to do, I will, if you please to transmit the sheets from the press, correct it for you; and take the trouble of altering any stroke of satire which you may dislike. 66 By exerting on this occasion your usual generosity, you will not only encourage learning, and relieve distress, but (though it be in comparison of the other motives of very small account) oblige, in a very sensible manner, Sir, your very humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." (1) His Ode "Ad Urbanum" was, no doubt, the trifle referred to.- Croker. |