THE

LIVE S

OF THE MOST EMINENT

ENGLISH POETS;

WITH

CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS

ON THEIR

W O R K S.

By SAMUEL JOHNSON.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOLUME I.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR C. BATHURST, J. BUCKLAND, W. STRAHAN, J. RIVING-
TON AND SONS, T. DAVIES, T. PAYNE, L. DAVIS, W. OWEN, E. WHITE,
S. CROWDER, T. CASLON, T. LONGMAN, B. LAW, C. DILLY,
J. DODSLEY, J. WILKIE, J. ROBSON, J. JOHNSON, T. LOWNDES,
C. ROBINSON, T. CADELL, J. NICHOLS, E. NEWBERY,
T. EVANS, P.ELMSLY, J. RIDLEY, R. BALDWIN, G. NICOL,
LEIGH AND SOTHEBY, J. BEW, N. CONANT, W. NICOLL,
J. MURRAY, 5. HAYES, W. FOX, AND J. BOWEN,

M DCC LXXXI.

ADVERTISEMENT.

TH

HE Bookfellers having determined to publish a Body of Englifh Poetry, I was perfuaded to promise them a Preface to the Works of each Author; an undertaking, as it was then presented to my mind, not very extenfive or difficult.

My purpose was only to have allotted to every Poet an Advertisement, like those which we find in the French Mif cellanies, containing a few dates and a general character; but I have been led beyond my intention, I hope, by the honest defire of giving useful pleasure.

In this minute kind of History, the fucceffion of facts is not easily discovered; and I am not without fufpicion that some of Dryden's works are placed