POEMS OF DR. JOHNSON. LONDON; A POEM: IN IMITATION OF THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAL. WRITTEN IN 1738. -Quis ineptæ Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus ut teneat se? Juv. 'THO' grief and fondness in my breast rebel, When injur'd Thales 2 bids the town farewell, Juv, Sat. III. 1 Quamvis digressu veteris confusus amici; Laudo, tamen, vacuis quod sedem figere Cumis Destinet, atque unum civem donare Sibyllæ. 2 Sir John Hawkins says, that by Thales we are here to understand Savage. Mr. Boswell asserts that this is entirely groundless, and adds," I have been assured that Dr. Johnson said, he was not so much as acquainted with Savage when he wrote his London." This, added to the circumstance of the date (for Savage did not set out for Wales till July 1739) might be decisive, if, unfortunately for Mr. Boswell, he had not a few pages after, given us some highly complimentary lines which " he was assured were written by Dr. Johnson," Ad Ricardum Savage, in April 1738, about a month before London was published. This surely implies previous acquaintance* with Savage, for Dr. Johnson would not have praised a stranger in such terms, and gives a very strong probability to sir John Hawkins's conjecture. That Savage did not set out for Wales until the following year, is a matter of little consequence, as the intention of such a journey would justify the lines alluding to it. See Boswell's Life of Johnson, vol. i. p. 100, and p. 139. 8vo. edit. 1804. C. Yet still my calmer thoughts his choice com- I praise the hermit, but regret the friend, 3 For who would leave, unbrib'd, Hibernia's Or change the rocks of Scotland for the Strand? While Thales waits the wherry that con- Of dissipated wealth the small remains, 3-Ego vel Prochytam præpono Suburræ, non Deterius credas horrere incendia, lapsus • Queen Elizabeth, born at Greenwich. A transient calm the happy scenes bestow, And for a moment lull the sense of woe. At length awaking, with contemptuous frown, Indignant Thales eyes the neighb'ring town. 6 Since worth, he cries, in these degenerate Wants ev'n the cheap reward of empty praise; Where honesty and sense are no disgrace; 10 Let such raise palaces, and manors buy, Collect a tax, or farm a lottery; With warbling eunuchs fill our "silenc'd stage, And lull to servitude a thoughtless age. Heroes, proceed! what bounds your pride shall hold ? (gold? What check restrain your thirst of pow'r and Behold rebellious virtue quite o'erthrown, Behold our fame, our wealth, our lives your To pluck a titled poet's borrow'd wing; 13 Others with softer smiles, and subtle art, Well may they rise, while I, whose rustic tongue 14 For what but social guilt the friend en dears? Who shares Orgilio's crimes, his fortune shares. 15 But thou, should tempting villany present All Marlb'rough hoarded, or all Villiers spent, Turn from the glittering bribe thy scornful eye, Nor sell for gold, what gold could never buy, The peaceful slumber, self-approving day, Unsullied fame, and conscience ever gay. The cheated nation's happy fav'rites, see! Mark whom the great caress, who frown on me! London! the needy villain's gen'ral home, The common-sewer of Paris and of Rome; With eager thirst, by folly or by fate, Sucks in the dregs of each corrupted state. Forgive my transports on a theme like this, 17 I cannot bear a French metropolis. 18 Illustrious Edward! from the realms of day, The land of heroes and of saints survey; No gainful trade their industry can 'scape, All sciences a fasting Monsieur knows, 21 Ah! what avails it, that, from slav'ry far, 22 Studious to please, and ready to submit; The supple Gaul was born a parasite: Still to bis int'rest true, where'er he goes, Wit, brav'ry, worth, his lavish tongue bestows; In ev'ry face a thousand graces shine, From ev'ry tongue flows harmony divine. 23 These arts in vain our rugged natives try, Strain out with fault'ring diffidence a lie, And get a kick for awkward flattery. Besides, with justice, this discerning age Admires their wond'rous talents for the stage: 24 Well may they venture on the mimic's art, Who play from morn to night a borrow'd part; Practis'd their master's notions to embrace, Repeat his maxims, and reflect his face; With ev'ry wild absurdity comply, And view each object with another's eye; To shake with laughter ere the jest they hear, To pour at will the counterfeited tear; And, as their patron hints the cold or heat, To shake in dog-days, in December sweat. 25 How, when competitors like these contend, Your taste in snuff, your judgment in a whore; For arts like these preferr'd, admir'd, caress'd, 20 Augur, schoenobates, medicus, magus: omnia novit, Græculus esurieus, in cœlum, jusseris, ibit. 21 Usque adeo nihil est, quod nostra infantia cœlum Hausit Aventini ? 22 Quid? quod adulandi gens prudentissima, laudat Sermonein indocti faciem deformis amici? 24 Hæc eadem licet & nobis laudare: sed illis Creditur. 24 Natio comoda est. Rides? majore cachinno Concutitur, &c. 25 Non sumus ergo pares: melior, qui semper & omni Nocte dieque potest alienum sumere vultum, 26. Scire volunt secreta domus, atque inde timeri. 27 By numbers here from shame or censure free, All crimes are safe but hated poverty. Than when a blockhead's insult points the dart. But hark! th' affrighted crowd's tumultuous cries Roll through the streets, and thunder to the skies: Rais'd from some pleasing dream of wealth aud pow'r, Some pompous palace or some blissful bower, Aghast you start, and scarce with aching sight Sustain th' approaching fire's tremendous light; Swift from pursuing horrours take your way, And leave your little all to flames a prey; 32 Then thro' the world a wretched vagrant roam, For where can starving merit find a home? In vain your mournful narrative disclose, While all neglect, and most insult your woes. 33 Should Heaven's just bolts Orgilio's wealth confound, And spread his flaming palace on the ground, Swift o'er the land the dismal rumour flies, And public mournings pacify the skies; [band The laureat tribe in venal verse relate, 36 Could'st thou resign the park and play content, For the fair banks of Severn or of Trent; Direct thy rivulets, and twine thy bowers; There ev'ry bush with Nature's music rings, And bless thine evening walk and morning toil. 34 -- Jam accurrit, qui marmora donet, Conferat impensas: hic, &c. Hic modium argenti. 35 Meliora, ac plura reponit Persicus orborum lautissimus.- 36 Si potes avelli Circensibus, optima Sora, Aut Fabrateriæ domus, aut Fusinone paratur, Quanti nunc tenebras unum conducis in annum. Hortulus hic. Vive bidentis amans et culti villicus horti, Unde epulum possis centum dare Pythagoræis, 37Possis ignavis haberi, Et subiti casus improvidus, ad cœnam si 38 Ebrius, ac petulans, qui nullum forte cedidit, Dat pœnas, noctem patitur lugentis amicum Peleida. 39 -Sed, quamvis improbus annis, Atque mero fervens, cavet hunc, quem coccina Vitari jubet, & comitum longissimus ordo, [læna Multum præterea flammarum, atque ænea lampas. [spoliet te 40 Nec tamen hoc tantum metuas: nam qui Non deerit; clausis domibus, &c. Invades the sacred hour of silent rest, And leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast. 41 Scarce can our fields, such crowds at Ty burn die, With hemp the gallows and the fleet supply. Propose your schemes, ye senatorian band, Whose ways and means 2 support the sinking land, Lest ropes be wanting in the tempting spring, To rig another convoy for the king 43. 44 A single jail, in ALFRED's golden reign, Could half the nation's criminals contain; Fair Justice, then, without constraint ador'd, Held high the steady scale, but sheath'd the sword; No spies were paid, no special juries known, Blest age! but ah! how diff'rent from our own! 45 Much could I add,-but see the boat at The tide retiring calls me from the land: [hand, 46 Farewell!-When youth, and health, and fortune spent, Thou fly'st for refuge to the wilds of Kent; THE VANITY OF HUMAN WISHES, IN IMITATION OF THE TENTH SATIRE OF JUVENAL. LET' observation with extensive view, voice; How nations sink by darling schemes oppress'd, When vengeance listens to the fool's request. Fate wings with ev'ry wish th' afflictive dart, Each gift of nature and each grace of art; 'Maximus in vinclis ferri modus; ut timeas, ne Vomer deficiat, ne marræ & sarcula desint, 42 A cant word in the house of commons for methods of raising money. 43 The nation was discontented at the visits made by the king to Hanover. 44 Felices proavorum atavos, felicia dicas Secula, quæ quondam sub regibus atque tribunis Viderunt uno contentam carcere Romam. 45 His alias poteram, & pluries subnectere Sed jumenta vocant.[causas: 46 -Ergo vale nostri memor: & quoties te Roma tuo refici properantem reddet Aquino, Me quoque ad Elvinam Cererem, vestramque Dianam With fatal heat impetuous courage glows, With fatal sweetness elocution flows, Impeachment stops the speaker's pow'rful breath, And restless fire precipitates on death. [bold 2 But, scarce observ'd, the knowing and the Fall in the gen'ral massacre of gold; Wide wasting pest! that rages unconfin'd, And crowds with crimes the records of mankind; For gold his sword the hireling ruffian diaws, For gold the hireling judge distorts the laws; Wealth heap'd on wealth, nor truth nor safety The dangers gather as the treasures rise. [buys, Let hist'ry tell where rival kings command, And dubious title shakes the madded land, When statutes glean the refuse of the sword, How much more safe the vassal than the lord; Low sculks the hind beneath the rage of power, And leaves the wealthy traitor in the Tower, Untouch'd his cottage, and his slumbers sound, Tho' confiscation's vultures hover round. The needy traveller serene and gay, Walks the wild heath and sings his toil away. Does envy seize thee? crush th' upbraiding joy, Increase his riches, and his peace destroy, Now fears in dire vicissitude invade, The rustling brake alarms, and quiv'ring shade, Nor light nor darkness bring his pain relief, One shows the plunder, and one hides the thief. Yet 3 still one gen'ral cry the skies assails, And gain and grandeur load the tainted gales; Few know the toiling statesman's fear or care, Th' insidious rival and the gaping heir. Once more, Democritus arise on Earth, With cheerful wisdom and instructive mirth, See motley life in modern trappings dress'd, And feed with varied fools th' eternal jest: Thou who could'st laugh, where want enchain'd caprice, A Toil crush'd conceit, and man was of a piece; Such was the scorn that fill'd the sage's mind, Renew'd at ev'ry glance un human kind; How just that scorn ere yet thy voice declare, Search ev'ry state, and canvass ev'ry pray'r. 5 Unnumber'd suppliants crowd Preferment's gate, Athirst for wealth, and burning to be great, 2 Ver. 12-22. 3 Ver. 25-27. 4 Ver. 28-55. Ver. 56-107. For growing names the weekly scribbler lies, But will not Britain hear the last appeal, rings, Degrading nobles and controling kings; In full-flown dignity, see Wolsey stand, Through him the rays of regal bounty shine, Still to new heights his restless wishes tow'r, repine, [thine? Shall Wolsey's wealth with Wolsey's end be Or liv'st thou now, with safer pride content, The wisest justice on the banks of Trent? For, why did Wolsey, near the steeps of fate, On weak foundations raise th' enormous weight? Why but to sink beneath misfortune's blow, With louder ruin to the gulphs below? 6 What gave great Villiers to th'assassin's knife, And fix'd disease on Harley's closing life? What murder'd Wentworth, and what exil'd Hyde, By kings protected, and to kings ally'd? What but their wish indulg'd in courts to shine, And pow'r too great to keep, or to resign? 7 When first the college rolls receive his uame, The young enthusiast quits his ease for fame; Resistless burns the fever of renown, Caught from the strong contagion of the gown: O'er Bodley's dome his future labours spread, And Bacon's mansion trembles o'er his head. Are these thy views? Proceed, illustrious youth, And Virtue guard thee to the throne of Truth! 6 Ver. 108-113. 7 Ver. 114-132. There is a tradition, that the study of friar |