misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第15章
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received only ten guineas for this stately and vigorous poem； but the sale
was rapid； and the success complete。 A second edition was required within
a week。 Those small critics who are always desirous to lower established
reputations ran about proclaiming that the anonymous satirist was superior
to Pope in Pope's own peculiar department of literature。 It ought to be
remembered； to the honour of Pope； that he joined heartily in the applause
with which the appearance of a rival genius was welcomed。 He made
inquiries about the author of London。 Such a man； he said； could not long
be concealed。 The name was soon discovered； and Pope with great
kindness； exerted himself to obtain an academical degree and the
mastership of a grammar school for the poor young poet。 The attempt
failed； and Johnson remained a bookseller's hack。
It does not appear that these two men； the most eminent writer of the
generation which was going out； and the most eminent writer of the
generation which was coming in； ever saw each other。 They lived in very
different circles； one surrounded by dukes and earls； the other by starving
pamphleteers and index makers。 Among Johnson's associates at this time
may be mentioned Boyse； who； when his shirts were pledged； scrawled
Latin verses sitting up in bed with his arms through two holes in his
blanket； who composed very respectable sacred poetry when he was sober；
and who was at last run over by a hackney coach when he was drunk：
Hoole； surnamed the metaphysical tailor； who； instead of attending to his
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measures； used to trace geometrical diagrams on the board where he sate
cross…legged； and the penitent impostor； George Psalmanazar； who； after
poring all day； in a humble lodging； on the folios of Jewish rabbis and
Christian fathers； indulged himself at night with literary and theological
conversation at an alehouse in the city。 But the most remarkable of the
persons with whom at this time Johnson consorted was Richard Savage； an
earl's son； a shoemaker's apprentice； who had seen life in all its forms；
who had feasted among blue ribands in Saint James's Square； and had lain
with fifty…pounds' weight of iron on his legs in the condemned ward of
Newgate。 This man had； after many vicissitudes of fortune； sunk at last
into abject and hopeless poverty。 His pen had failed him。 His patrons had
been taken away by death； or estranged by the riotous profusion with
which he squandered their bounty； and the ungrateful insolence with
which he rejected their advice。 He now lived by begging。 He dined on
venison and champagne whenever he had been so fortunate as to borrow a
guinea。 If his questing had been unsuccessful； he appeased the rage of
hunger with some scraps of broken meat； and lay down to rest under the
Piazza of Covent Garden in warm weather； and； in cold weather； as near as
he could get to the furnace of a glass house。 Yet； in his misery； he was still
an agreeable companion。 He had an inexhaustible store of anecdotes about
that gay and brilliant world from which he was now an outcast。 He had
observed the great men of both parties in hours of careless relaxation； had
seen the leaders of opposition without the mask of patriotism； and had
heard the prime minister roar with laughter and tell stories not over decent。
During some months Savage lived in the closest familiarity with Johnson；
and then the friends parted； not without tears。 Johnson remained in
London to drudge for Cave。 Savage went to the West of England； lived
there as he had lived everywhere； and in 1743； died； penniless and heart…
broken； in Bristol gaol。
Soon after his death； while the public curiosity was strongly excited
about his extraordinary character； and his not less extraordinary
adventures； a life of him appeared widely different from the catchpenny
lives of eminent men which were then a staple article of manufacture in
Grub Street。 The style was indeed deficient in ease and variety； and the
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writer was evidently too partial to the Latin element of our language。 But
the little work； with all its faults； was a masterpiece。 No finer specimen of
literary biography existed in any language； living or dead； and a discerning
critic might have confidently predicted that the author was destined to be
the founder of a new school of English eloquence。
The life of Savage was anonymous； but it was well known in literary
circles that Johnson was the writer。 During the three years which followed；
he produced no important work； but he was not； and indeed could not be；
idle。 The fame of his abilities and learning continued to grow。 Warburton
pronounced him a man of parts and genius； and the praise of Warburton
was then no light thing。 Such was Johnson's reputation that； in 1747；
several eminent booksellers combined to employ him in the arduous work
of preparing a Dictionary of the English language； in two folio volumes。
The sum which they agreed to pay him was only fifteen hundred guineas；
and out of this sum he had to pay several poor men of letters who assisted
him in the humbler parts of his task。
The prospectus of the Dictionary he addressed to the Earl of
Chesterfield。 Chesterfield had long been celebrated for the politeness of
his manners； the brilliancy of his wit； and the delicacy of his taste。 He was
acknowledged to be the finest speaker in the House of Lords。 He had
recently governed Ireland； at a momentous conjuncture； with eminent
firmness； wisdom； and humanity； and he had since become Secretary of
State。 He received Johnson's homage with the most winning affability； and
requited it with a few guineas； bestowed doubtless in a very graceful
manner； but was by no means desirous to see all his carpets blackened
with the London mud； and his soups and wines thrown to right and left
over the gowns of fine ladies and the waistcoats of fine gentlemen； by an
absent； awkward scholar； who gave strange starts and uttered strange
growls； who dressed like a scarecrow； and ate like a cormorant。 During
some time Johnson continued to call on his patron； but after being
repeatedly told by the porter that his lordship was not at home； took the
hint； and ceased to present himself at the inhospitable door。
Johnson had flattered himself that he should have completed his
Dictionary by the end of 1750； but it was not till 1755 that he at length
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gave his huge volumes to the world。 During the seven years which he
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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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 m
