POEMS

OF

DR. JOHNSON.

Yet still my calmer thoughis his choice comLONDON;

mend,

I praise the hermit, but regret the friend,
A POEM:

Resolv'd at length from vice and London far
IX IMITATION OF THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAI. To breathe in distant fields a purer air,

And fix'd on Cambria’s solitary shore,
WRITIEN IN 1738.

Give to St. David one true Briton more.
Quis ineptæ

3 For who would leave, unbrib'd, Hibernia's Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus ut teneat se? Juv.

land,

Or change the rocks of Scotland for the Strand ? Tho'grief and fondness in my breast rebel.

There none are swept by sudden fate away, When injur'd Thales 2 bids the town farewell,

But all, whom hunger spares, with age decay:

Here malice, rapine, accident, conspire,
Juv. Sat. III.

And now a rabble rages, now a fire ; 1. Quamvis digressu veteris confusus amici;

Their ambush here relentless ruthans lay,

And here the fell attorney prowls for prey ; Laudo, tamen, vacuis quod sedem figere Cumis

Here falling houses thunder on your head, Destinet, atque unum civem donare Sibyllæ.

And here a feinale atheist talks you dead. 2 Sir John Hawkins says, that by Thales we

4 While Thales waits the wherry that conare here to understand Savage. Mr. Boswell as

tains serts that this is entirely groundless, and adds,“ I of dissipated wealth the small remains, have been assured that Dr. Jobnson said, he was

On Thames's banks, in silent thought we stood not so much as acquainted with Savage when he

Where Greenwich smiles upon the silver fluod ; wrote his London." This, added to the circum

Struck with the seat that gave Eliza 5 birth, stance of the date (for Savage did not set out for We kneel, and kiss the consecrated earth; Wales till July 1739) might be decisive, if, un

In pleasing dreams the blissful age renew, fortunately for Mr. Boswell, he had not a few

And call Britannia's glories back to view; pages after, given us some highly complimenta- Behold her cross triumphant on the main, ry lines which “ he was assured were written by The guard of commerce, and the dread of Suria, Dr. Johnson," Ad Ricardum Savage, in April | Ere masquerades debauch'd, excise oppressid, 1738, about a month before London was publish-Or English honour grew a standing jest. ed. This surely implies previous acquaintance" with Savage, for Dr. Johnson would not have 3-Ego vel Prochytam præpono Suburræ, praised a stranger in such terms, and gives a Nam quid tam miserum, tam solum vidi:nus, ut very strong probability to sir John Hawkins's conjecture. That Savage did not set out for Deterius credas horrere incendia, lapsus Wales until the following year, is a matter of Tectorum assiduos, & mille pericula seva little consequence, as the intention of such a

Urbis, & Augusto recitantes mense poetas? journey would justify the lines alluding to it. 4 Sed, dum tota domus rhedá componicur unë, See Boswell's Life of Johnson, vol. i. p. 100, and Subst tit ad veteres arcus.p. 139. 8vo. edit. 1804. C.

* Queen Elizabeth, born at Greenvich,

pon

A transient calm the happy scenes bestow, To pluck a titled poet's borrow'd wing; And for a moment lull the sense of woe.

A statesman's logic unconvinc'd can hear, At length awaking, with contemptuous frown, And dare to slumber o'er the Gazetteer's; Indignant Thales eyes the neighb’ring town. Despise a fool in half his pension dressid, 6 Since worth, he cries, in these degenerate And strive in vain to laugh at Clodio's jest. days

13 Others with so ter smiles, and subtle art, Wants ev'n the cheap reward of empty praise; Can sap the principles, or taint the heart; In those curs'd walls, devote to vice and gain, With more address a lover's note convey, Since unrewarded science toils in vain;

Or bribe a virgin's innocence away : Since hope but sooths to double my distress, Well may they rise, while I, whose rustic tongue Andevery moment leaves my little less; Ne'er knew to puzzle right, or varnish wrong, While yet my steady steps no 7 staff sustains, Spurn'd as a beggar, dreaded as a spy, And life still vig'rous revels in my veins ; Live onregarded, unlamented die. Grant me, kind Heaven, to find some happier 14 For what but social guilt the friend ene place,

dears? Where honesty and sense are no disgrace; Who shares Orgilio's crimes, his fortune shares. Some pleasing bank where verdant osiers play, is But thou, should tempting villany present Some peaceful vale with Nature's paintings gay; All Marlb'rough hoarded, or all Villiers spent, Where once the harass'd Briton found repose, Turn from the glittering bribe thy scornful eye, And safe in poverty defy'd his foes;

Nor sell for gold, what gold could never buy, Some secret cell, ye pow'rs, indulgent give, The peaceful slumber, self-approving day,

Let live here, for has learn'd to live. Unsullied fame, and conscience ever gay.
Here let those reign, whom pensions can ihcite 26 Tbe cheated nation's happy far'rites, see!
To vote a patriot black, a courtier white; Mark whom the great caress, who frown on me!
Explain their country's dear-bought rights away, London! the needy villain's gen'ral home,
And plead for ' pirates in the face of day; The common-sewer of Paris and of Rome;
With slavish tenets taint our poison'd youth With eager thirst, by folly or by fate,
And lend a lie the confidence of truth.

Sucks in the dregs of each corrupted state. 10 Let such raise palaces, and manors buy, Porgive my transports on a theme like this, Collect a tax, or farm a lottery;

17 I cannot bear a French metropolis. With warbling eunuchs fill our 1 silenc'd stage, 18 Illustrious Edward! from the realms of And lull to servitude a thoughtless age.

day, Heroes, proceed! what bounds your pride The land of heroes and of saints survey ; shall hold?

[gold? | Nor hope the British lineaments to trace, What check restrain your thirst of pow'r and The rustic grandeur, or the surly grace; Behold rebellious virtue quite o'erthrown, But, lost in thoughtless ease and empty show Behold our fame, our wealih, our lives your Behold the warrior dwindled to a beau;

Sense, freedom, piety, refin'd away, To such, the plunder of a land is girin, Of France the mimic, and of Spain the prey. When public crimes infame the wrath of Heaven: All that at hume no more can beg or steal, Iz But what, my friend, what hope remains for Or like a gibbet better than a wheel:

Hiss'd from the stage, or hooted from the court, Who start at theft, and blush at perjury? Their air, their dress, their polities, import; Who scarce forbear, tho' Britain'scourt he sing, 19Obsequious, artful, coluble, and gay,

On Britain's fond credulity they prey. 6 Hic tunc Umbritius: quando artibus, inquit, honestis

12 The paper which at that time contained Nullus in urbe locus, nulla emolumenta laborum, apologies for the court. Res hodie minor est, bere quam fuit, ac eadem 13 Ferre ad nuptam quæ mittît adultet,

Quæ mandat norint alii; mé nemo ministro Deieret exiguis aliquid: proponimus illué Fur erit, atque ideo nulli comes exeo. Ire, fatigatas ubi Dædalus exuit alas;

14 Quis nunc diligitur nisi consejus ? Dum nova canities.

Carus erit Veri, qui Verrem tempore, quo vult, et pedibus ine

Accusare potest.Porto meis, nullo dextram subeunte bacillo.

Tanti tibi non sit opaci 8 Cedamus patriá : vivant Arturius istic Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur Et Catullus: maneant qui nigra in candida ver

aurum, tant.

Ut somno careas. 9 The invasions of the Spaniards were defend- 16 Quæ nunc divitibus gens acceptissima nostris, ed in the houses of parliament.

Et

quos præcipue fugiam, properabo fateri. io Queis facile est ædem conducere, flumina,

Non possum ferre, Quirites, portus,

Græcam urbem. Siccandam eluviem, portandum ad busta cada- 18 Rusticus ille tuus sumit trechedipna, Quiver.

rine, Muncra nunc edunt.

Et ceromatico fert niceteria collo, "The licensing act was then lately made. 19 Ingenium velox, audacia perdita, sermo lo Quid Romæ faciam? mentiri nescio: li. Promptus.

brum, Si malus est, nequeo laudare & poscere.

own.

me,

eras

7

15

17

No gainful trade their industry can 'scape, 27 By numbers here from shame or censure They sing, they dance, clean shoes, or cure a

free, clap:

All crimes are safe but hated poverty. All sciences a fasting Monsieur knows,

This, only tbis, the rigid law pursues, And, bid him go to Hell, to Hell he goes. This, only this, prorokes the snarling Muse.

21 Ah! what avails it, that, from slav'ry far, The sober trader at a tatter'd cloak I drew the breath of life in English air ;

Wakes from his dream, and labours for a joke ; Was early taught a Briton's right to prize, With brisker air the silken courtiers gaze, And lisp the tale of Henry's victories;

And turn the varied taunt a thousand ways. If the gnil'd conqueror receives the chain, 29 Of all the griefs that barass the distress’d, And flattery prevails when arms are vaip? Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest ;

22 Studious to please, and ready to submit; Fate never wounds more deep the gen'rous The supple Gaul was born a parasite:

heart, Still to bis int'rest true, where'er he goes, Than when a blockhead's insult points the dart. Wit, brav'ry, worth, his lavish tongue bestows; 29 Has Heaven reserv'd, in pity to the poor, In ev'ry face a thousand graces shine,

No pathless waste, or undiscovered shore? From ev'ry tongue flows harmony divine. No secret island in the boundless main ? 23 These arts in vain our rugged natives try, No peaceful desert yet unclaim'd 30 by Spain? Strain out with fault'ring diffidence a lie, Quick let us rise, the happy seats explore, And get a kick for awkward Battery.

And bear oppression's insolence no more. Besides, with justice, this discerning age This mournful truth is every where confess'd, Admires their wond'rous talents for the stage: 31 Slow rises worth by poverty depressid:

24 Well may they venture on the mimic's art, But here more slow, where all are slaves to gold, Who play from morn to night a borrow'd part; Where looks are merchandise, and smiles aresold: Practis'd their master's notions to embrace, Where won by bribes, by flatteries implor'd, Repeat his maxims, and resect bis face; The groom retails the favours of bis lord. With ev'ry wild absurdity comply,

But hark! th' afl'riguted crowd's tumultuous And view each object with another's eye;

cries To shake with laughter ere the jest they hear, Roll through the streets, and thunder to the skies: To pour at will the counterfeited tear ;

Rais'd from some pleasing dream of wealth aud And, as their patron hints the cold or heat,

pow'r, To shake in dog-days, in December sweat. Some pompous palace or some blissful bower,

25 How, when competitors like these coutend, Aghast you start, and scarce with aching sight Can surly virtue hope to fix a friend;

Sustain th' approaching fre's tremendous light; Slaves that with serious impudence beguile, Swift from pursuing horrours take your way, And lie without a blush, without a smile : And leave your little alt to fames a prey ; Exalt each trifle, ev'ry vice adore,

32 Then thro' the world a wretched ragrant roam, Your taste in snuff, your judgment in a whore; For where can starving merit find a home? Can Balbo's eloquence applaud, and swear In vain your mournful narrative disclose, He gropes his breeches with a monarch's air. While all neglect, and most insult your woes.

For arts like these preferr'd, admir'd, caress'd, 33 Should Heaven's. just bolts Orgilio's wealth They first invade your table, then your breast;

confound, 26 Explore your secrets with insidious art, And spread his flaming palace on the ground, Watch the weak hour, and ransack all the heart; Swift o'er the land the dismal rumour flies, Then soon your ill-plac'd confidence repay, And public mournings pacify the skies; Commence your lords, and govern or betray.

Materiam præbet causasque jo20 Augur, schenobates, medicus, magus: om. nia novit,

Omnibus hicidem ? si fæda & scissa lacerna, &c. Græculus esuriens, in cælum, jusseris, ibit. 28 Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se, 21 Usque adeo nihil est, quod nostra infantia quam quod ridiculos homines facit. coelum

Agroine facto, Hausit Aventini ?

Debuerant olim tenues misrasse Quirites. 22 Quid? quod adulandi gens prudentissima, 30 The Spaniards at this time were said to laudat

make claim to some of our American provinces. Sermonein indocti faciem deformis amici?

31 Haud facile emergunt, quorum virtutibus 24 Hæc eadem licet & nobis laudare : sed illis

obstat Creditur.

Res angusta domi, sed Romæ durior illis 24 Natio comoda est. Rides? majore ca- Conatus. chinno

Omnia Roma Concutitur, &c.

Cum pretio. 25 Non sumus ergo pares: melior, qui sem- Cogimur, & cultis augere peculia servis.

Ultimus autem Noete dieque potest alienum sumere vultum, Ærumna cumulus, quod pudum & frustra roA facie jactare manus: laudare paratus,

gantem Si bene ructavit, si rectum minxit amicus. Nemo cibo, nemo hospitio, tectoque juvabit. 26 Scire volunt secreta domus, atque inde 33 Si magna Asturici cecidit domus, horrida timeri,

mater, Pullati proceres.

27

corum

29

32

per & omni

The laureat tribe in venal verse relate,

Invades the sacred hour of silent rest,
How virtue wars with persecuting fate; [band And leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast.
31 With well-feign'd gratitude the pension'd 41 Scarce can our fields, such crowds at Ty.
Refund the plunder of the beggar'd land.

burn die,
See! while he builds, the gaudy vassals come, With hemp the gallows and the fleet supply.
And crowd with sudden wealth the rising dome; Propose your schemes, ve senatorian band,
The price of boroughs and of souls restore; Whose ways and means 42 support the sinking
And raise his treasures higher than before:

land,
Now bless'd with all the baubles of the great, Lest ropes be wanting in the tempting spring,
The polish'd marble and the shining plate, To rig another convoy for the king 43.
35 Orgilio sees the golden pile aspire,

44 A single jail, in ALFRED's golden reigo, And hopes from angry Heav'n another fire. Could half the nation's criminals contain ; 36 Could'st thou resign the park and play Fair Justice, then, without constraint adar'd, content,

Held high the steady scale, but sheath'd the For the fair banks of Severn or of Trent;

sword; There might'st thou find some elegant retreat, No spies were paid, no special juries known, Some hireling senator's deserted seat;

Blest age ! but ah! how diff'rent from our own!

!
And stretch thy prospects o'er the smiling land, 45 Much could I add, ---but see the boat al
For less than rent the dungeons of the Strand; The tide retiring calls me from the lapsi : [hand,
There prune thy walks, support thy drooping 46 Farewell! - When youti!, and health, and fuie
flowers,

tune spent,
Direct thy rivulets, and twine thy bowers; Thou fiy'st for refuge to the wilds of Kent;
And, while thy grounds a cheap repast afford, And, tir'd like me with foilies and with crimes,
Despise the dainties of a venal lord:

In angry numbers warns't succeeding times;
There ev'ry bush with Nature's music rings, Then shall thy friend, nor thou refuse bis aid,
There ev'ry breeze bears health mpon its wings; Still foe to vice, forsake bis Cambrian shade,
On all thy hours security shall smile,

In virtue's cause once more exert bis rage,
And bless thine evening walk and morning toil. Thy satire point, and animate thy page.
37 Prepare for death if hcre at night you roam,
And sign your will before you sup from bonne.
36 Some fiery fop, with new commission vain, THE VANITY OF HUMAN WISHES,
Who sleeps on brambles till he kills bis man;
Some frolic drunkard, reeling froin a feast, IN IMITATION OF THE TENTH SATIRE OF JUVENALE
Provokes a broil, and slabs you for a jest.
39 Yet ev'n these heroes, mischievously gay ;

LET' observation with extensive view,
Lords of the street and terrours of the way;

Survey mankind from China to Peru;
Flush'd as they are with folly, youth, and wine,

Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife,
Their prudent insults to the poor confine;

And watch the busy scenes of crowded life; Afar they mark the flambeau's bright approach,

Then say how hope and fear, desire and bate, Anilshun the shining train, and golden coach.

O'erspread with snares the clouded maze of fate, 40 in rain, these dangers past, your doors you

Where wav'ring man, betray'd by vent'rous pride All hope the balmy blessings of repose ; [ciose, To chase the dreary paths without a guide, Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair,

As treach'rous phantoms in the mist delude, The midnight murd'rer bursts the faithless bar;

Sbuns fancied ills, or chases airy goodl;

How rarely reason guides the stubborn choier, -- Jam accurrit, qui marmora donet,

Rules the bold hand, or prompts the suppliant
Conferat impensas : hic, &c.
Hic modium argenti.-

How nations sink by darling schemes oppressid,
Meliora, ac plura reponit

When vengeance listens to the fool's request. Persicus orborum lautissimus.--

Fate wings with ev'ry wish th' afflictive dart, 36 Si potes avelli Circensibus, optima Sore,

Each gift of nature and each grace of art;
Ant Fabrateriæ domus, aut Fusinone paratur, *'Maximus in vinclis ferri modus; at timeas, ne
Quanti nunc tenebras unum conducis in annum. Vomer deficiat, ne marræ & sarcula desint,
Hortulus hic.

42 A cant word in the house of commons fur
Vive bidentis amans et culti villicus horti, methods of raising money.
Unde epulum possis centum dare Pythagoræis. 43 The nation was discontented at the visits
Possis ignavis haberi,

made by the king to Hanover.
Et subiti casus improvidus, ad cænam si

44 Felices proavorum atavos, felicia dicas Intestatus eas.

Secula, quæ quondam sub regibus atque tribanis
Ebrius, ac petulans, qui nullum forte cedidit, Viderunt uno contentam carcere Romam.
Dat pænas, noctem patitur lugentis amicum 45 His alias poteram, & pluries subnectere
Peleidæ.

Sed jumenta vocant.

[causas: -Sed, quamvis improbus annis,

-Ergo vale nostri memor: & quoties te Atque mero ferrens, cavet hunc, quem coccina Roma tuo refici properantem reddet Aquino, Vivari jubet, & comitum longissimus ordo, (læna Me quoque ad Elvinam Cererem, vestramque Multum præterea flammarum, atque ænea

Dianam lampas.

(spoliet te Convelle à Cumis; satirarum egn, ni pudet illa, 40 Nec tamen hoc tantum metuas: nam qui Adjutor gelidos veniam calligatus in 3yrus Niin deerit; clausis domibus, &c.

• Ver. 1-11.

voice ;

35

31

38

39.

46

With fatal heat impctuous courage glows, For growing names the weekly soribbler lies, With fatal sweetness elocution flows,

To growing wealth the dedicator flies; Impeachment stops the speaker's pow'rful breath, From ev'ry room descends the painted face, And restless fire precipitates on death.

That hung the bright palladium of the place; 2 But, scarce observ'd, the kuowing and the And, smok'd in kitchens, or in auctions sold, Fall in the gen'ral massacre of gold; [bold To better features yields the frame of gold; Wide wasting pest! that rages unconfin’d, For now no more we trace in ev'ry line And crowds with crimes the records of mankind; | Heroic worth, benevolence divine: For gold his sword the híreling ruffian diaws, The form distorted justifies the fall, For gold the bireling judge distorts the laws; And detestation rids th’indignant wall. Wealth heap'd on wealth, nor truth nor safety But will not Britain hear the last appeal, The dangers gather as the treasures rise. [buys, Sign her foes' doo!n, or guard her fav’rites' zeal ?

Let hist'ry tell where rival kings command, Thro' Freedom's sons no more remonstrance And dubious titie shakes the madded land,

rings, When statutes glean the refuse of the sword, Degrading nobles and controling kings; How much more safe the vassal than the lord ; Our supple tribes repress their patriot throats, Low sculks the hind beneath the rage of power, And ask no questions but the price of votes; And leaves the wealthy traitor in the Tower, With weekly libels and septennial ale, Untouch'd his cottage, and his slumbers sound, Their wish is full to riot and to rail. Tho' confiscation's vultures hover round.

In full-town dignity, see Wolsey stand, The needy traveller serene and gay,

Law in bis voice, and fortune in his hand : Walks the wild heath and sings his toil away. To him the church, the realm, their pow'rs Does envy seize thee? crush th’upbraiding joy,

copsign, Increase his riches, and his peace destroy, Through him the rays of regal bounty shine, Now fears in dire vicissitude invade,

Turn’d by his nod the stream of honour flows, The rustling brake alarms, and quir'ring shade, His sinile alone security bestows: Nor liglit nor darkness bring his pain relief, Still to new heights his resiless wishes tow'r, One shows the plunder, and one hides the thief. Claim leads to claim, and pow'r advances pow'r;

Yet 3 still one gea'ral cry the skies assails, Till conquest unresisted ceas'd to please, And gain and grandeur load the tainted gales; And rights submitted lest bim none to seize: Few kuow the toiling state sman's fear or care, At length his sov'reign frowns-the train of state Th’insidious rival and the gaping heir.

Mark the keen glance, and watch the sign to hate. Once 4 more, Democritus arise on Earth, :

Where-e'er he turns, he meets a stranger's eye, With cheerful wisdom and instructive mirth, His suppliants scorn him, and his followers fly; See motley life in modern trappings dress'd, Now drops at once the pride of awful state, And feed with varied fools th' eternal jest : The golden canopy, the glittring plate, Thou who could'st laugh, where want enchain'd | The regal palace, the luxurious buard, caprice,

The liy'ried army, and the menial lord. 'Toil crush' conceit, and man was of a piece ; With age, with cares, with maladies oppressid, Where wealth unlov'd without a mourner dy'd; He seeks the refuge of monastic rest. And scarce a sycophant was fed by pride; Grief aids disease, remember'd folly stings, Where ne'er was known the form of inock debate, And his last sighs reproach the faith of kings. Or seen a new-made mayor's unwieldy state ; Speak thou whose thoughts at humble peace Where change of fav'rites made no change of laws,

repine,

[thine ? And senates heard before they judg'd a cause; Shall Wolsey's wealth with Wolsey's end be How would'st thou shake at Briton's modish tribe, Or liv'st thou now, with safer pride content, Hart the quick taunt, and edge the piercing gibe? The wisest justice on the banks of Trent? Attentive truth and nature to descry,

For, why did Wolsey, near the steeps of fate, And pierce each scene with philosophic eye, On weak foundations raise th' enormous weight? To thee were solemn toys, or empty sbow, Why but to sink beneath misfortune's blow, The robes of pleasure, and the veils of woe: With louder ruin to the gulphis below ? All aid the farce, and all thy mirth maintain, What gave great Villiersioth'assassin's knife, Whose joys are causeless, or whose griefs are vain. And fix'd disease on Harley's closing life?

Such was the scorn that fill'd the sage's mind, What murder'd Wentworth, and what exil'd Renew'd at ev'ry glance on buman kind ;

Hyde, How just that scorn ere yet thr voice declare, By kings protecteil, and to kings ally'd ? Search evıy state, and canvass ev'ry pray'i'. What but their wish indulg'd in courts to shine, s Unoumber'd suppliants crowd Preferinent's And pow'r too great to keep, or to resign? gate,

7 When first the college rolls receive his name, Athirst for wealth, and burning to be great, The young enthusiast quits his ease for famne; Delusive Fortune hears th'incessant call,

Resistless burns the fever of renown, They mount, they sbine, evaporate and fall. Caught from the strong contagion of the gown: One;'ry stage the foes of peace attend,

O'er Bodley's dome his future lalon's sp:ead, Hate dogs their flight, and insult mocks their en:). And Bacon's mansion 8 treinbles o'er his head. Love ends with bope, the sinking statesman's door Are these thy views? Proceed, illustrious youth, Pours in the morning worshipper no more; And Virtue guard thee to the throne of Truth ! 2. Ver. 12—22. 3 Ver. 23--27. ' Ver. 29--55. 6 Ver. 108–113. 7 V'er. 114-132. Ver. 56—107.

3 There is a tradition, that the study of friar