资治通鉴1-56

'MR. JOHNSON, who came home last night, sends his respects to dear Dr.Burney, and all the dear Burneys, little and great[1164].''TO MR. HECTOR, IN BIRMINGHAM.'DEAR SIR,'I did not reach Oxford until Friday morning, and then I sent Francis tosee the balloon fly, but could not go myself. I staid at Oxford tillTuesday, and then came in the common vehicle easily to London. I am as Iwas, and having seen Dr. Brocklesby, am to ply the squills; but,whatever be their efficacy, this world must soon pass away. Let us thinkseriously on our duty. I send my kindest respects to dear Mrs.Careless[1165]: let me have the prayers of both. We have all lived long,and must soon part. GOD have mercy on us, for the sake of our Lord JESUSCHRIST. Amen.'I am, &c.'SAM. JOHNSON.''London, Nov. 17, 1784.'His correspondence with me, after his letter on the subject of mysettling in London, shall now, so far as is proper, be produced inone series:--July 26, he wrote to me from Ashbourne:--'On the 14th I came to Lichfield, and found every body glad enough tosee me. On the 20th, I came hither, and found a house half-built, ofvery uncomfortable appearance; but my own room has not been altered.That a man worn with diseases, in his seventy-second or third year,should condemn part of his remaining life to pass among ruins andrubbish, and that no inconsiderable part, appears to me very strange. Iknow that your kindness makes you impatient to know the state of myhealth, in which I cannot boast of much improvement. I came through thejourney without much inconvenience, but when I attempt self-motion Ifind my legs weak, and my breath very short; this day I have been muchdisordered. I have no company; the Doctor[1166] is busy in his fields,and goes to bed at nine, and his whole system is so different from mine,that we seem formed for different elements[1167]; I have, therefore,all my amusement to seek within myself.'Having written to him, in bad spirits, a letter filled with dejectionand fretfulness, and at the same time expressing anxious apprehensionsconcerning him, on account of a dream which had disturbed me; his answerwas chiefly in terms of reproach, for a supposed charge of 'affectingdiscontent, and indulging the vanity of complaint.' It, however,proceeded,--'Write to me often, and write like a man. I consider your fidelity andtenderness as a great part of the comforts which are yet left me, andsincerely wish we could be nearer to each other.... My dear friend, lifeis very short and very uncertain; let us spend it as well as we can. Myworthy neighbour, Allen, is dead. Love me as well as you can. Pay myrespects to dear Mrs. Boswell. Nothing ailed me at that time; let yoursuperstition at last have an end.'Feeling very soon, that the manner in which he had written might hurtme, he two days afterwards, July 28, wrote to me again, giving me anaccount of his sufferings; after which, he thus proceeds:--'Before this letter, you will have had one which I hope you will nottake amiss; for it contains only truth, and that truth kindlyintended.... _Spartam quam nactus es orna_[1168]; make the most and bestof your lot, and compare yourself not with the few that are above you,but with the multitudes which are below you.... Go steadily forward withlawful business or honest diversions. _Be_ (as Temple says of theDutchmen) _well when you are not ill, and pleased when you are notangry_[1169].... This may seem but an ill return for your tenderness;but I mean it well, for I love you with great ardour and sincerity. Paymy respects to dear Mrs. Boswell, and teach the young ones to love me.'I unfortunately was so much indisposed during a considerable part ofthe year, that it was not, or at least I thought it was not in my powerto write to my illustrious friend as formerly, or without expressingsuch complaints as offended him. Having conjured him not to do me theinjustice of charging me with affectation, I was with much regret longsilent. His last letter to me then came, and affected me verytenderly:--'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.'DEAR SIR,'I have this summer sometimes amended, and sometimes relapsed, but, uponthe whole, have lost ground, very much. My legs are extremely weak, andmy breath very short, and the water is now encreasing upon me. In thisuncomfortable state your letters used to relieve; what is the reasonthat I have them no longer? Are you sick, or are you sullen? Whatever bethe reason, if it be less than necessity, drive it away; and of theshort life that we have, make the best use for yourself and for yourfriends.... I am sometimes afraid that your omission to write has somereal cause, and shall be glad to know that you are not sick, and thatnothing ill has befallen dear Mrs. Boswell, or any of your family.'I am, Sir, your, &c.'SAM. JOHNSON.''Lichfield, Nov. 5, 1784.'Yet it was not a little painful to me to find, that in a paragraph ofthis letter, which I have omitted, he still persevered in arraigning meas before, which was strange in him who had so much experience of what Isuffered. I, however, wrote to him two as kind letters as I could; thelast of which came too late to be read by him, for his illness encreasedmore rapidly upon him than I had apprehended; but I had the consolationof being informed that he spoke of me on his death-bed, with affection,and I look forward with humble hope of renewing our friendship in abetter world.I now relieve the readers of this Work from any farther personal noticeof its authour, who if he should be thought to have obtruded himself toomuch upon their attention, requests them to consider the peculiar planof his biographical undertaking.Soon after Johnson's return to the metropolis, both the asthma anddropsy became more violent and distressful. He had for some time kept ajournal in Latin of the state of his illness, and the remedies which heused, under the title of _Aegri Ephemeris_, which he began on the 6th ofJuly, but continued it no longer than the 8th of November; finding, Isuppose, that it was a mournful and unavailing register. It is in mypossession; and is written with great care and accuracy.Still his love of literature[1170] did not fail. A very few days beforehis death he transmitted to his friend Mr. John Nichols, a list of theauthours of the _Universal History_, mentioning their several shares inthat work. It has, according to his direction, been deposited in theBritish Museum, and is printed in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ forDecember, 1784.During his sleepless nights he amused himself by translating into Latinverse, from the Greek, many of the epigrams in the Anthologica[1171].These translations, with some other poems by him in Latin, he gave tohis friend Mr. Langton, who, having added a few notes, sold them to thebooksellers for a small sum, to be given to some of Johnson's relations,which was accordingly done; and they are printed in the collection ofhis works.A very erroneous notion has circulated as to Johnson's deficiency in theknowledge of the Greek language, partly owing to the modesty with which,from knowing how much there was to be learnt, he used to mention his owncomparative acquisitions. When Mr. Cumberland[1172] talked to him of theGreek fragments which are so well illustrated in The Observer[1173],and of the Greek dramatists in general, he candidly acknowledged hisinsufficiency in that particular branch of Greek literature. Yet it maybe said, that though not a great, he was a good Greek scholar. Dr.Charles Burney[1174], the younger, who is universally acknowledged bythe best judges to be one of the few men of this age who are veryeminent for their skill in that noble language, has assured me, thatJohnson could give a Greek word for almost every English one; and thatalthough not sufficiently conversant in the niceties of the language, heupon some occasions discovered, even in these, a considerable degree ofcritical acumen. Mr. Dalzel, Professor of Greek at Edinburgh, whoseskill in it is unquestionable, mentioned to me, in very liberal terms,the impression which was made upon him by Johnson, in a conversationwhich they had in London concerning that language. As Johnson,therefore, was undoubtedly one of the first Latin scholars in moderntimes, let us not deny to his fame some additional splendour fromGreek[1175].I shall now fulfil my promise[1176] of exhibiting specimens of varioussorts of imitation of Johnson's style.In the _Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy_, 1787, there is an'Essay on the Style of Dr. Samuel Johnson,' by the Reverend RobertBurrowes, whose respect for the great object of his criticism[1177] isthus evinced in the concluding paragraph:--'I have singled him out from the whole body of English writers, becausehis universally-acknowledged beauties would be most apt to induceimitation; and I have treated rather on his faults than his perfections,because an essay might comprize all the observations I could make uponhis faults, while volumes would not be sufficient for a treatise on hisperfections.'Mr. BURROWES has analysed the composition of Johnson, and pointed outits peculiarities with much acuteness; and I would recommend a carefulperusal of his Essay to those, who being captivated by the union ofperspicuity and splendour which the writings of Johnson contain, withouthaving a sufficient portion of his vigour of mind, may be in danger ofbecoming bad copyists of his manner. I, however, cannot but observe, andI observe it to his credit, that this learned gentleman has himselfcaught no mean degree of the expansion and harmony, which, independentof all other circumstances, characterise the sentences of Johnson. Thus,in the Preface to the volume in which his Essay appears, we find,--'If it be said that in societies of this sort, too much attention isfrequently bestowed on subjects barren and speculative, it may beanswered, that no one science is so little connected with the rest, asnot to afford many principles whose use may extend considerably beyondthe science to which they primarily belong; and that no proposition isso purely theoretical as to be totally incapable of being applied topractical purposes. There is no apparent connection between duration andthe cycloidal arch, the properties of which duly attended to, havefurnished us with our best regulated methods of measuring time: and hewho has made himself master of the nature and affections of thelogarithmick curve, is not aware that he has advanced considerablytowards ascertaining the proportionable density of the air at itsvarious distances from the surface of the earth.'The ludicrous imitators of Johnson's style are innumerable. Theirgeneral method is to accumulate hard words, without considering, that,although he was fond of introducing them occasionally, there is not asingle sentence in all his writings where they are crowded together, asin the first verse of the following imaginary Ode by him to Mrs.Thrale[1178], which appeared in the newspapers:--'_Cervisial coctor's viduate_ dame,_Opin'st_ thou this gigantick frame,_Procumbing_ at thy shrine:Shall, _catenated_ by thy charms,A captive in thy _ambient_ arms,_Perennially_ be thine?'This, and a thousand other such attempts, are totally unlike theoriginal, which the writers imagined they were turning into ridicule.There is not similarity enough for burlesque, or even for caricature.Mr. COLMAN, in his _Prose on several occasions_, has _A Letter fromLEXIPHANES[1179]; containing Proposals for a Glossary or Vocabulary ofthe Vulgar Tongue: intended as a Supplement to a larger DICTIONARY_. Itis evidently meant as a sportive sally of ridicule on Johnson, whosestyle is thus imitated, without being grossly overcharged:--'It is easy to foresee, that the idle and illiterate will complain thatI have increased their labours by endeavouring to diminish them; andthat I have explained what is more easy by what is more difficult--_ignotum per ignotius_. I expect, on the other hand, the liberalacknowledgements of the learned. He who is buried in scholastickretirement, secluded from the assemblies of the gay, and remote from thecircles of the polite, will at once comprehend the definitions, and begrateful for such a seasonable and necessary elucidation of hismother-tongue.'Annexed to this letter is a short specimen of the work, thrown togetherin a vague and desultory manner, not even adhering to alphabeticalconcatenation[1180].The serious imitators of Johnson's style, whether intentionally or bythe imperceptible effect of its strength and animation, are, as I havehad already occasion to observe, so many, that I might introducequotations from a numerous body of writers in our language, since heappeared in the literary world. I shall point out only the following:--WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D.D.[1181]'In other parts of the globe, man, in his rudest state, appears as lordof the creation, giving law to various tribes of animals which he hastamed and reduced to subjection. The Tartar follows his prey on thehorse which he has reared, or tends his numerous herds, which furnishhim both with food and clothing; the Arab has rendered the camel docile,and avails himself of its persevering strength; the Laplander has formedthe rein-deer to be subservient to his will; and even the people ofKamschatka have trained their dogs to labour. This command over theinferiour creatures is one of the noblest prerogatives of man, and amongthe greatest efforts of his wisdom and power. Without this, his dominionis incomplete. He is a monarch who has no subjects; a master withoutservants; and must perform every operation by the strength of his ownarm[1182].'EDWARD GIBBON, Esq.[1183]'Of all our passions and appetites, the love of power is of the mostimperious and unsociable nature, since the pride of one man requires thesubmission of the multitude. In the tumult of civil discord the laws ofsociety lose their force, and their place is seldom supplied by those ofhumanity. The ardour of contention, the pride of victory, the despair ofsuccess, the memory of past injuries, and the fear of future dangers,all contribute to inflame the mind, and to silence the voice ofpity[1184].'MISS BURNEY[1185].'My family, mistaking ambition for honour, and rank for dignity, havelong planned a splendid connection for me, to which, though myinvariable repugnance has stopped any advances, their wishes and theirviews immovably adhere. I am but too certain they will now listen to noother. I dread, therefore, to make a trial where I despair of success; Iknow not how to risk a prayer with those who may silence me by acommand[1186].'REVEREND MR. NARES[1187].'In an enlightened and improving age, much perhaps is not to beapprehended from the inroads of mere caprice; at such a period it willgenerally be perceived, that needless irregularity is the worst of alldeformities, and that nothing is so truly elegant in language as thesimplicity of unviolated analogy. Rules will, therefore, be observed, sofar as they are known and acknowledged: but, at the same time, thedesire of improvement having been once excited will not remain inactive;and its efforts, unless assisted by knowledge, as much as they areprompted by zeal, will not unfrequently be found pernicious; so that thevery persons whose intention it is to perfect the instrument of reason,will deprave and disorder it unknowingly. At such a time, then, itbecomes peculiarly necessary that the analogy of language should befully examined and understood; that its rules should be carefully laiddown; and that it should be clearly known how much it contains, whichbeing already right should be defended from change and violation: howmuch it has that demands amendment; and how much that, for fear ofgreater inconveniencies, must, perhaps, be left unaltered, thoughirregular.'A distinguished authour in _The Mirror_[1188], a periodical paper,published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, inNo. 16,--'The effects of the return of spring have been frequently remarked aswell in relation to the human mind as to the animal and vegetable world.The reviving power of this season has been traced from the fields to theherds that inhabit them, and from the lower classes of beings up to man.Gladness and joy are described as prevailing through universal Nature,animating the low of the cattle, the carol of the birds, and the pipe ofthe shepherd.'The Reverend Dr. KNOX[1189], master of Tunbridge school, appears to havethe _imitari avco_[1190] of Johnson's style perpetually in his mind;and to his assiduous, though not servile, study of it, we may partlyascribe the extensive popularity of his writings[1191].In his _Essays, Moral and Literary_, No. 3, we find the followingpassage:--'The polish of external grace may indeed be deferred till the approachof manhood. When solidity is obtained by pursuing the modes prescribedby our fore-fathers, then may the file be used. The firm substance willbear attrition, and the lustre then acquired will be durable.'There is, however, one in No. 11, which is blown up into such tumidity,as to be truly ludicrous. The writer means to tell us, that Members ofParliament, who have run in debt by extravagance, will sell their votesto avoid an arrest[1192], which he thus expresses:--'They who build houses and collect costly pictures and furniture withthe money of an honest artisan or mechanick, will be very glad ofemancipation from the hands of a bailiff, by a sale of their senatorialsuffrage.'But I think the most perfect imitation of Johnson is a professed one,entitled _A Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Church-Yard_, said tobe written by Mr. Young, Professor of Greek, at Glasgow, and of whichlet him have the credit, unless a better title can be shewn. It has notonly the peculiarities of Johnson's style, but that very species ofliterary discussion and illustration for which he was eminent. Havingalready quoted so much from others, I shall refer the curious to thisperformance, with an assurance of much entertainment[1193].Yet whatever merit there may be in any imitations of Johnson's style,every good judge must see that they are obviously different from theoriginal; for all of them are either deficient in its force, oroverloaded with its peculiarities; and the powerful sentiment to whichit is suited is not to be found[1194].Johnson's affection for his departed relations seemed to grow warmer ashe approached nearer to the time when he might hope to see them again.It probably appeared to him that he should upbraid himself with unkindinattention, were he to leave the world without having paid a tribute ofrespect to their memory.'To MR. GREEN[1195], APOTHECARY, AT LICHFIELD.'DEAR SIR,'I have enclosed the Epitaph[1196] for my Father, Mother, and Brother,to be all engraved on the large size, and laid in the middle aisle inSt. Michael's church, which I request the clergyman and churchwardensto permit.'The first care must be to find the exact place of interment, that thestone may protect the bodies[1197]. Then let the stone be deep, massy,and hard; and do not let the difference of ten pounds, or more, defeatour purpose.'I have enclosed ten pounds, and Mrs. Porter will pay you ten more,which I gave her for the same purpose. What more is wanted shall besent; and I beg that all possible haste may be made, for I wish to haveit done while I am yet alive. Let me know, dear Sir, that youreceive this.'I am, Sir,'Your most humble servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''Dec. 2, 1784.''To MRS. LUCY PORTER, IN LICHFIELD.'DEAR MADAM,'I am very ill, and desire your prayers. I have sent Mr. Green theEpitaph, and a power to call on you for ten pounds.'I laid this summer a stone over Tetty, in the chapel of Bromley, inKent[1198]. The inscription is in Latin, of which this is the English.[Here a translation.]