The life of Samuel Johnson, , comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons . r,as Whitehead has very happilydone in his verses to Mr. , I do not think Gray afirst-rate poet. He has not a boldimagination, nor much command of words. The obscurity in which hehas involved himself will not persuade us that he is sublime. His Elegy in a Churchyard has a happy selection of images, but I dontlike what are called his great things. His Ode which begins Euin seize t
The life of Samuel Johnson, , comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons . r,as Whitehead has very happilydone in his verses to Mr. , I do not think Gray afirst-rate poet. He has not a boldimagination, nor much command of words. The obscurity in which hehas involved himself will not persuade us that he is sublime. His Elegy in a Churchyard has a happy selection of images, but I dontlike what are called his great things. His Ode which begins Euin seize thee, ruthless King,Confusion on thy banners wait! has been celebrated for its abruptness, and plunging into the subjectall at once. But such arts as these have no merit, unless when they areoriginal. We admire them only once ; and this abruptness has nothingnew in it. We have had it often before. Nay, we have it in the oldsong of Johnny Armstrong :— Is there ever a man in all Scotland, From the highest estate to the lowest degi-ee, &c. And then, Sir, * Yes, there is a man in Westmorland,And Johnny Armstrong they do him call. There, now, you plunge at once into the subject. You have no previous. CULLEY GIBBER. 1 William Whitehead, who succeeded Gibber as Poet Laureate. Age BOSWELLs LIFE OF JOHNSON 233 narration to lead you to it.—The two next lines in that Ode are, Ithink, very good :— * Though fannd by Conquests crimson wing,They mock the air with idle state. ^ Here let it be observed, that although his opinion of Grays poetry•was widely different from mine, and I believe from that of most men oftaste, by whom it is with justice highly admired, there is certainly muchabsurdity in the clamour which has been raised, as if he had beenculpably injurious to the merit of that bard, and had been actuated byenvy. Alas ! ye little short-sighted critics, could Johnson be enviousof the talents of any of his contemporaries 1 That his opinion on thissubject was what in private
Size: 1541px × 1621px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorboswellj, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1859
