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passed in the drudgery of penning definitions and making quotations for
transcription； he sought for relaxation in literary labour of a more
agreeable kind。 In 1749 he published the Vanity of Human Wishes； an
excellent imitation of the Tenth Satire of Juvenal。 It is in truth not easy to
say whether the palm belongs to the ancient or to the modern poet。 The
couplets in which the fall of Wolsey is described； though lofty and
sonorous； are feeble when compared with the wonderful lines which bring
before us all Rome in tumult on the day of the fall of Sejanus； the laurels
on the doorposts； the white bull stalking towards the Capitol； the statues
rolling down from their pedestals； the flatterers of the disgraced minister
running to see him dragged with a hook through the streets； and to have a
kick at his carcase before it is hurled into the Tiber。 It must be owned too
that in the concluding passage the Christian moralist has not made the
most of his advantages； and has fallen decidedly short of the sublimity of
his Pagan model。 On the other hand； Juvenal's Hannibal must yield to
Johnson's Charles； and Johnson's vigorous and pathetic enumeration of the
miseries of a literary life must be allowed to be superior to Juvenal's
lamentation over the fate of Demosthenes and Cicero。
For the copyright of the Vanity of Human Wishes Johnson received
only fifteen guineas。
A few days after the publication of this poem； his tragedy； begun many
years before； was brought on the stage。 His pupil； David Garrick； had； in
1741； made his appearance on a humble stage in Goodman's Fields； had at
once risen to the first place among actors； and was now； after several years
of almost uninterrupted success； manager of Drury Lane Theatre。 The
relation between him and his old preceptor was of a very singular kind。
They repelled each other strongly； and yet attracted each other strongly。
Nature had made them of very different clay； and circumstances had fully
brought out the natural peculiarities of both。 Sudden prosperity had turned
Garrick's head。 Continued adversity had soured Johnson's temper。 Johnson
saw with more envy than became so great a man the villa； the plate； the
china； the Brussels carpet； which the little mimic had got by repeating；
with grimaces and gesticulations； what wiser men had written； and the
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was galled by the thought that；
while all the rest of the world was applauding him； he could obtain from
one morose cynic； whose opinion it was impossible to despise； scarcely
any compliment not acidulated with scorn。 Yet the two Lichfield men had
so many early recollections in common； and sympathised with each other
on so many points on which they sympathised with nobody else in the vast
population of the capital； that； though the master was often provoked by
the monkey…like impertinence of the pupil； and the pupil by the bearish
rudeness of the master； they remained friends till they were parted by
death。 Garrick now brought Irene out； with alterations sufficient to
displease the author； yet not sufficient to make the piece pleasing to the
audience。 The public； however； listened with little emotion； but with much
civility； to five acts of monotonous declamation。 After nine representations
the play was withdrawn。 It is； indeed； altogether unsuited to the stage； and；
even when perused in the closet； will be found hardly worthy of the author。
He had not the slightest notion of what blank verse should be。 A change in
the last syllable of every other line would make the versification of the
Vanity of Human Wishes closely resemble the versification of Irene。 The
poet； however； cleared； by his benefit nights； and by the sale of the
copyright of his tragedy； about three hundred pounds； then a great sum in
his estimation。
About a year after the representation of Irene； he began to publish a
series of short essays on morals； manners； and literature。 This species of
composition had been brought into fashion by the success of the Tatler；
and by the still more brilliant success of the Spectator。 A crowd of small
writers had vainly attempted to rival Addison。 The Lay Monastery； the
Censor； the Freethinker； the Plain Dealer； the Champion； and other works
of the same kind； had had their short day。 None of them had obtained a
permanent place in our literature； and they are now to be found only in the
libraries of the curious。 At length Johnson undertook the adventure in
which so many aspirants had failed。 In the thirty…sixth year after the
appearance of the last number of the Spectator appeared the first number
of the Rambler。 From March 1750 to March 1752 this paper continued to
come out every Tuesday and Saturday。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
From the first the Rambler was enthusiastically admired by a few
eminent men。 Richardson； when only five numbers had appeared；
pronounced it equal； if not superior； to the Spectator。 Young and Hartley
expressed their approbation not less warmly。 Bubb Doddington； among
whose many faults indifference to the claims of genius and learning cannot
be reckoned； solicited the acquaintance of the writer。 In consequence
probably of the good offices of Doddington； who was then the confidential
adviser of Prince Frederic； two of his Royal Highness's gentlemen carried
a gracious message to the printing office； and ordered seven copies for
Leicester House。 But these overtures seem to have been very coldly
received。 Johnson had had enough of the patronage of the great to last him
all his life； and was not disposed to haunt any other door as he had haunted
the door of Chesterfield。
By the public the Rambler was at first very coldly received。 Though
the price of a number was only twopence； the sale did not amount to five
hundred。 The profits were therefore very small。 But as soon as the flying
leaves were collected and reprinted they became popular。 The author lived
to see thirteen thousand copies spread over England alone。 Separate
editions were published for the Scotch and Irish markets。 A large party
pronounced the style perfect； so absolutely perfect that in some essays it
would be impossible for the writer himself to alter a single word for the
better。 Another party； not less numerous； vehemently accused him of
having corrupted the purity of the English tongue。 The best critics
admitted that his diction was too monotonous； too obviously artificial； and
now and then turgid even to absurdity。 But they did justice to the acuteness
of his observations on morals and manners； to the constant precision and
frequent brilliancy of his language； to the weighty and magnificent
eloquence of many serious passages； and to the solemn yet pleasing
humour of some of the lighter papers。 On the question of precedence
between Addison and Johnson； a question which； seventy years ago； was
much disputed； posterity has pronounced a decision from which there is no
appeal。 Sir Roger； his chaplain and his butler； Will Wimble and Will
Honeycomb； the Vision of Mirza； the Journal of the Retired Citizen； the
Everlasting Club； the Dunmow Flitch； the Loves of Hilpah and Shalum；
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the Visit to the Exchange； and the Visit to the Abbey； are known to
everybody。 But many men and women； even of highly cultivated minds；
are unacquainted with Squire Bluster and Mrs Busy； Quisquilius and
Venustulus； the Allegory of Wit and Learning； the Chronicle of the
Revolutions of a Garret； and the sad fate of Aningait and Ajut。
The last Rambler was written in a sad and gloomy hour。 Mrs Johnson
h