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The last Rambler was written in a sad and gloomy hour。 Mrs Johnson
had been given over by the physicians。 Three days later she died。 She left
her husband almost broken…hearted。 Many people had been surprised to
see a man of his genius and learning stooping to every drudgery； and
denying himself almost every comfort； for the purpose of supplying a silly；
affected old woman with superfluities； which she accepted with but little
gratitude。 But all his affection had been concentrated on her。 He had
neither brother nor sister； neither son nor daughter。 To him she was
beautiful as the Gunnings； and witty as Lady Mary。 Her opinion of his
writings was more important to him than the voice of the pit of Drury
Lane Theatre or the judgment of the Monthly Review。 The chief support
which had sustained him through the most arduous labour of his life was
the hope that she would enjoy the fame and the profit which he anticipated
from his Dictionary。 She was gone； and in that vast labyrinth of streets；
peopled by eight hundred thousand human beings； he was alone。 Yet it was
necessary for him to set himself； as he expressed it； doggedly to work。
After three more laborious years； the Dictionary was at length complete。
It had been generally supposed that this great work would be dedicated
to the eloquent and accomplished nobleman to whom the prospectus had
been addressed。 He well knew the value of such a compliment； and
therefore； when the day of publication drew near； he exerted himself to
soothe； by a show of zealous and at the same time of delicate and
judicious kindness； the pride which he had so cruelly wounded。 Since the
Ramblers had ceased to appear； the town had been entertained by a journal
called the World； to which many men of high rank and fashion contributed。
In two successive numbers of the World the Dictionary was； to use the
modern phrase； puffed with wonderful skill。 The writings of Johnson were
warmly praised。 It was proposed that he should be invested with the
authority of a Dictator； nay； of a Pope； over our language； and that his
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decisions about the meaning and the spelling of words should be received
as final。 His two folios； it was said； would of course be bought by
everybody who could afford to buy them。 It was soon known that these
papers were written by Chesterfield。 But the just resentment of Johnson
was not to be so appeased。 In a letter written with singular energy and
dignity of thought and language； he repelled the tardy advances of his
patron。 The Dictionary came forth without a dedication。 In the preface the
author truly declared that he owed nothing to the great； and described the
difficulties with which he had been left to struggle so forcibly and
pathetically that the ablest and most malevolent of all the enemies of his
fame； Horne Tooke； never could read that passage without tears。
The public； on this occasion； did Johnson full justice； and something
more than justice。 The best lexicographer may well be content if his
productions are received by the world with cold esteem。 But Johnson's
Dictionary was hailed with an enthusiasm such as no similar work has
ever excited。 It was indeed the first dictionary which could be read with
pleasure。 The definitions show so much acuteness of thought and
command of language； and the passages quoted from poets； divines； and
philosophers are so skilfully selected； that a leisure hour may always be
very agreeably spent in turning over the pages。 The faults of the book
resolve themselves； for the most part； into one great fault。 Johnson was a
wretched etymologist。 He knew little or nothing of any Teutonic language
except English； which indeed； as he wrote it； was scarcely a Teutonic
language； and thus he was absolutely at the mercy of Junius and Skinner。
The Dictionary； though it raised Johnson's fame； added nothing to his
pecuniary means。 The fifteen hundred guineas which the booksellers had
agreed to pay him had been advanced and spent before the last sheets
issued from the press。 It is painful to relate that； twice in the course of the
year which followed the publication of this great work； he was arrested
and carried to spunging…houses； and that he was twice indebted for his
liberty to his excellent friend Richardson。 It was still necessary for the
man who had been formally saluted by the highest authority as Dictator of
the English language to supply his wants by constant toil。 He abridged his
Dictionary。 He proposed to bring out an edition of Shakspeare by
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subscription； and many subscribers sent in their names and laid down their
money； but he soon found the task so little to his taste that he turned to
more attractive employments。 He contributed many papers to a new
monthly journal； which was called the Literary Magazine。 Few of these
papers have much interest； but among them was the very best thing that he
ever wrote； a masterpiece both of reasoning and of satirical pleasantry； the
review of Jenyn's Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil。
In the spring of 1758 Johnson put forth the first of a series of essays；
entitled the Idler。 During two years these essays continued to appear
weekly。 They were eagerly read； widely circulated； and indeed；
impudently pirated； while they were still in the original form； and had a
large sale when collected into volumes。 The Idler may be described as a
second part of the Rambler； somewhat livelier and somewhat weaker than
the first part。
While Johnson was busied with his Idlers； his mother； who had
accomplished her ninetieth year； died at Lichfield。 It was long since he had
seen her； but he had not failed to contribute largely； out of his small means；
to her comfort。 In order to defray the charges of her funeral； and to pay
some debts which she had left； he wrote a little book in a single week； and
sent off the sheets to the press without reading them over。 A hundred
pounds were paid him for the copyright； and the purchasers had great
cause to be pleased with their bargain； for the book was Rasselas。
The success of Rasselas was great； though such ladies as Miss Lydia
Languish must have been grievously disappointed when they found that
the new volume from the circulating library was little more than a
dissertation on the author's favourite theme； the Vanity of Human Wishes；
that the Prince of Abyssinia was without a mistress； and the princess
without a lover； and that the story set the hero and the heroine down
exactly where it had taken them up。 The style was the subject of much
eager controversy。 The Monthly Review and the Critical Review took
different sides。 Many readers pronounced the writer a pompous pedant；
who would never use a word of two syllables where it was possible to use
a word of six； and who could not make a waiting woman relate her
adventures without balancing every noun with another noun； and every
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epithet with another epithet。 Another party； not less zealous； cited with
delight numerous passages in which weighty meaning was expressed with
accuracy and illustrated with splendour。 And both the censure and the
praise were merited。
About the plan of Rasselas little was said by the critics； and yet the
faults of the plan might seem to invite se