twenty*; and afterwards collected in a volume of mifcellaneous Poems, published by J. Hufbands, M. A. in the year 1731. This tranflation gained him reputation in the college, and received the approbation of the original author. The VERSES on a LADY prefenting Sprig of myrtle to a Gentleman, were written at Birmingham foon after he left the college, at the request of a friend who afpired to the character of a poet with his mistress. Whether he was fuccefsful or not, anecdote is filent: but if the lady required good poetry as the condition of her affection (provided the believed her lover to be the author) the probability is, that he gained his prize. For a correct copy of this Tranflation, the Editor is indebted to Mr. STEEVENS. "LONDON," "LONDON," imitated from the third Satire of Juvenal, was published in 1738, and was the first poetical production of Dr. Johnson after he came to town. This imitation had a great fale, and was fo far applauded by Mr. Pope, that not being able to discover the author, he said "It cannot be long before my curiofity will be gratified, the writer of this poem will foon be deterrè." The lighter Poems, addreffed "To STELLA, &c." were published at different times in the Gentleman's Magazine, in which our author was concerned for many years. The Prologue to the opening DruryLane Theatre in 1747, though looked A 4 upon upon as one of the most critical accounts of the drama from the time of Shakespeare, was compofed throughout before he put a fingle couplet on paper. The correction it afterwards underwent being no more than the change of a fingle word, at the remonftrance of Mr. Garrick. "And then, faid the Doctor, I did not think his criticism juft; but it was neceffary he fhould be fatisfied with what he was to utter." The Poem entitled "THE VANITY OF HUMAN WISHES," being an imitation of the tenth Satire of Juvenal, published in 1749, was compofed nearly in the fame manner, and has always been esteemed a fine parody on the force and fpirit of the original. Dr. Dr. Johnson brought his Tragedy of IRENE with him to London in the year 1737, but, from what cause is not known, was not performed till 1749, and then with fome difficulty gained its ninth night. The general opinion on this Tragedy is, that though defective in plot and incidents, it poffeffes a degree of imagery and fentiment that must always render it an agreeable entertainment in the clofet. The Prologue was written by the author. The Epilogue is faid to be the production of the late Sir William Younge. His other Prologues were written occafionally, on the fpur of friendship, and are by no means deficient in poetical merit. His Latin Epitaphs were produced from the fame caufe, and are not only allowed to to be claffically correct, but, according to his own definition of an epitaph, "well Such is the short history of these Poems, FLEET-STREET, G. K. |