best judges, as high an effort of ethick poetry as any language can shew. The instances of variety of disappointment are chosen so judiciously, and painted so strongly, that, the moment they are read, they bring conviction to every thinking mind. That of the scholar must have depressed the too sanguine expectations of many an ambitious student. That of the warrior, Charles of Sweden, is, I think, as highly finished a picture as can possibly be conceived. Were all the other excellencies of this poem annihilated, it must ever have our grateful reverence from its noble conclusion; in which we are consoled with the assurance that happiness may be attained, if we" apply our hearts" to piety: "Where then shall hope and fear their objects find? Shall dull suspense corrupt the stagnant mind? Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate? No cries attempt the mercy of the skies? Which Heav'n may hear, nor deem Religion vain. But leave to Heaven the measure and the choice. Secure, whate'er He gives, He gives the best: 1 In this poem one of the instances mentioned of unfortunate learned men is Lydiat: "Hear Lydiat's life, and Galileo's end." The History of Lydiat being little known, the following account of him may be acceptable to many of my readers. It appeared as a note in the Supplement to the Gentleman's Magazine for 1748, in which some passages extracted from Johnson's poem were inserted, and it should have been added in the subsequent editions.—“A very learned divine and mathematician, fellow of New College, Oxon, and Rector of Okerton, near Banbury. He wrote, among many others, la Latin treatise De natura cali, &c.' in which he attacked the sentiments of Scaliger and Aristotle, not bearing to hear it urged, that some things are true in philosophy, and false in divinity. He made above 600 Sermons on the harmony of the Evangelists. Being unsuccessful in publishing his works, he lay in the prison of Bocardo at Oxford, and in the King's Bench, till Bishop Usher, Dr. Laud, Sir William Boswell, and Dr. Pink, released him by paying his debts. He petitioned King Charles I. to be sent into Ethiopia, &c. to procure MSS. Having spoken in favour of Monarchy and bishops, he was plundered by the parliament forces, and twice carried away prisoner from his rectory; and afterwards had not a shirt to shift him in three months, without he borrowed it, and died very poor in 1646." Pour forth thy fervours for a healthful mind, For love, which scarce collective man can fill; And makes the happiness she does not find." 1 Garrick being now vested with theatrical power by being manager of Drury-lane theatre, he kindly and generously made use of it to bring out Johnson's tragedy, which had been long kept back for want of encouragement. But in this benevolent purpose he met with no small difficulty from the temper of Johnson, which could not brook that a drama which he had formed with much study, and had been obliged to keep more than the nine years of Horace, should be revised and altered at the pleasure of an actor. Yet Garrick knew well, that without some alterations it would not be fit for the stage. A violent dispute having ensued between them, Garrick applied to the Reverend 1 [In this poem, a line in which the danger attending on female beauty is mentioned, has very generally, I believe, been misunderstood: "Yet Vane could tell what ills from beauty spring, And Sedley curs'd the form that pleas'd a king." The lady mentioned in the first of these verses, was not the celebrated Lady Vane, whose memoirs were given to the publick by Dr. Smollett, but Anne Vane, who was mistress to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and died in 1736, not long before Johnson settled in London. Some account of this lady was published, under the title of The Secret History of Vanella, 8vo. 1732. See also Vanella in the Straw, 4to., 1732. In Mr. Boswell's TOUR TO THE HEBRIDES (Aug. 17), we find some observations respecting the lines in question: "In Dr. Johnson's VANITY OF HUMAN WISHES there is the following passage: "The teeming mother anxious for her race, Begs for each birth the fortune of a face: "Lord Hailes told him, [Johnson] he was mistaken in the instances he had given of unfortunate fair ones, for neither Vane nor Sedley had a title to that description."-His lordship therefore thought, that the lines should rather have run thus: Yet Shore could tell And Valiere curs'd "Our friend (he added in a subsequent note, addressed to Mr. Boswell on this subject) chose Vane, who was far from being well-look'd, and Sedley, who was so ugly that Charles II. said his brother had her by way of penance."-M.] best judges, as high an effort of ethick poetry as any language can shew. The instances of variety of disappointment are chosen so judiciously, and painted so strongly, that, the moment they are read, they bring conviction to every thinking mind. That of the scholar must have depressed the too sanguine expectations of many an ambitious student. That of the warrior, Charles of Sweden, is, I think, as highly finished a picture as can possibly be conceived. Were all the other excellencies of this poem annihilated, it must ever have our grateful reverence from its noble conclusion; in which we are consoled with the assurance that happiness may be attained, if we" apply our hearts" to piety: "Where then shall hope and fear their objects find? Shall dull suspense corrupt the stagnant mind? Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate? Shall no dislike alarm, no wishes rise, No cries attempt the mercy of the skies? Which Heav'n may hear, nor deem Religion vain. But leave to Heaven the measure and the choice. 1 In this poem one of the instances mentioned of unfortunate learned men is Lydiat: "Hear Lydiat's life, and Galileo's end." The History of Lydiat being little known, the following account of him may be acceptable to many of my readers. It appeared as a note in the Supplement to the Gentleman's Magazine for 1748, in which some passages extracted from Johnson's poem were inserted, and it should have been added in the subsequent editions.-"A very learned divine and mathematician, fellow of New College, Oxon, and Rector of Okerton, near Banbury. He wrote, among many others, la Latin treatise De natura cæli, &c.' in which he attacked the sentiments of Scaliger and Aristotle, not bearing to hear it urged, that some things are true in philosophy, and false in divinity. He made above 600 Sermons on the harmony of the Evangelists. Being unsuccessful in publishing his works, he lay in the prison of Bocardo at Oxford, and in the King's Bench, till Bishop Usher, Dr. Laud, Sir William Boswell, and Dr. Pink, released him by paying his debts. He petitioned King Charles I. to be sent into Ethiopia, &c. to procure MSS. Having spoken in favour of Monarchy and bishops, he was plundered by the parliament forces, and twice carried away prisoner from his rectory; and afterwards had not a shirt to shift him in three months, without he borrowed it, and died very poor in 1646." Pour forth thy fervours for a healthful mind, For love, which scarce collective man can fill; And makes the happiness she does not find." 1 Garrick being now vested with theatrical power by being manager of Drury-lane theatre, he kindly and generously made use of it to bring out Johnson's tragedy, which had been long kept back for want of encouragement. But in this benevolent purpose he met with no small difficulty from the temper of Johnson, which could not brook that a drama which he had formed with much study, and had been obliged to keep more than the, nine years of Horace, should be revised and altered at the pleasure of an actor. Yet Garrick knew well, that without some alterations it would not be fit for the stage. A violent dispute having ensued between them, Garrick applied to the Reverend 1 [In this poem, a line in which the danger attending on female beauty is mentioned, has very generally, I believe, been misunderstood: "Yet Vane could tell what ills from beauty spring, And Sedley curs'd the form that pleas'd a king.' The lady mentioned in the first of these verses, was not the celebrated Lady Vane, whose memoirs were given to the publick by Dr. Smollett, but Anne Vane, who was mistress to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and died in 1736, not long before Johnson settled in London. Some account of this lady was published, under the title of The Secret History of Vanella, 8vo. 1732. See also Vanella in the Straw, 4to., 1732. In Mr. Boswell's TOUR TO THE HEBRIDES (Aug. 17), we find some observations respecting the lines in question: "In Dr. Johnson's VANITY OF HUMAN WISHES there is the following passage: "The teeming mother anxious for her race, Begs for each birth the fortune of a face: "Lord Hailes told him, [Johnson] he was mistaken in the instances he had given of unfortunate fair ones, for neither Vane nor Sedley had a title to that description."-His lordship therefore thought, that the lines should rather have run thus: Yet Shore could tell And Valiere curs'd "Our friend (he added in a subsequent note, addressed to Mr. Boswell on this subject) chose Vane, who was far from being well-look'd, and Sedley, who was so ugly that Charles II. said his brother had her by way of penance."-M.] Dr. Taylor to interpose. Johnson was at first very obstinate. "Sir, (said he) the fellow wants me to make Mahomet run mad, that he may have an opportunity of tossing his hands and kicking his heels." He was, however, at last, with difficulty, prevailed on to comply with Garrick's wishes, so as to allow of some changes; but still there were not enough. Dr. Adams was present the first night of the representation of 1 Mahomet was in fact played by Mr. Barry, and Demetrius by Mr. Garrick but probably at this time the parts were not yet cast. |