But，beforethe\"VicarofWakefield\"appearedinprint，camethegreatcrisisofGoldsmith’sliterarylife。InChristmasweek，1764，hepublishedapoem，entitledthe\"Traveller。\"Itwasthefirstworktowhichhehadputhisname;anditatonceraisedhimtotherankofalegitimateEnglishclassic。Theopinionofthemostskilfulcriticswas，thatnothingfinerhadappearedinversesincethefourthbookofthe\"Dunciad。\"Inonerespectthe\"Traveller\"differsfromallGoldsmith’sotherwritings。Ingeneralhisdesignswerebad，andhisexecutiongood。Inthe\"Traveller，\"theexecution，thoughdeservingofmuchpraise，isfarinferiortothedesign。Nophilosophicalpoem，ancientormodern，hasaplansonoble，andatthesametimesosimple。AnEnglishwanderer，seatedonacragamongtheAlps，nearthepointwherethreegreatcountriesmeet，looksdownontheboundlessprospect，reviewshislongpilgrimage，recallsthevarietiesofscenery，ofclimate，ofgovernment，ofreligion，ofnationalcharacter，whichhehasobserved，andcomestotheconclusionjustorunjust，thatourhappinessdependslittleonpoliticalinstitutions，andmuchonthetemperandregulationofourownminds。
Whilethefourtheditionofthe\"Traveller\"wasonthecountersofthebooksellers，the\"VicarofWakefield\"appeared，andrapidlyobtainedapopularitywhichhaslasteddowntoourowntime，andwhichislikelytolastaslongasourlanguage。Thefableisindeedoneoftheworstthateverwasconstructed。Itwants，notmerelythatprobabilitywhichoughttobefoundinataleofcommonEnglishlife，butthatconsistencywhichoughttobefoundeveninthewildestfictionaboutwitches，giants，andfairies。Buttheearlierchaptershaveallthesweetnessofpastoralpoetry，togetherwithallthevivacityofcomedy。Mosesandhisspectacles，thevicarandhismonogamy，thesharperandhiscosmogony，thesquireprovingfromAristotlethatrelativesarerelated，OliviapreparingherselfforthearduoustaskofconvertingarakishloverbystudyingthecontroversybetweenRobinsonCrusoeandFriday，thegreatladieswiththeirscandalaboutSirTomkyn’samoursandDrBurdock’sverses，andMrBurchellwithhis\"Fudge，\"havecausedasmuchharmlessmirthashaseverbeencausedbymatterpackedintososmallanumberofpages。Thelatterpartofthetaleisunworthyofthebeginning。
Asweapproachthecatastrophe，theabsurditiesliethickerandthicker;andthegleamsofpleasantrybecomerarerandrarer。
ThesuccesswhichhadattendedGoldsmithasanovelistemboldenedhimtotryhisfortuneasadramatist。Hewrotethe\"GoodnaturedMan，\"apiecewhichhadaworsefatethanitdeserved。GarrickrefusedtoproduceitatDruryLane。ItwasactedatCoventGardenin1768，butwascoldlyreceived。Theauthor，however，clearedbyhisbenefitnights，andbythesaleofthecopyright，nolessthan500pounds，fivetimesasmuchashehadmadebythe\"Traveller\"andthe\"VicarofWakefield\"together。Theplotofthe\"GoodnaturedMan\"is，likealmostallGoldsmith’splots，veryillconstructed。Butsomepassagesareexquisitelyludicrous;
muchmoreludicrous，indeed，thansuitedthetasteofthetownatthattime。Acanting，mawkishplay，entitled\"FalseDelicacy，\"
hadjusthadanimmenserun。Sentimentalitywasallthemode。
Duringsomeyears，moretearswereshedatcomediesthanattragedies;andapleasantrywhichmovedtheaudiencetoanythingmorethanagravesmilewasreprobatedaslow。Itisnotstrange，therefore，thattheverybestsceneinthe\"GoodnaturedMan，\"thatinwhichMissRichlandfindsherloverattendedbythebailiffandthebailiff’sfollowerinfullcourtdresses，shouldhavebeenmercilesslyhissed，andshouldhavebeenomittedafterthefirstnight。
In1770appearedthe\"DesertedVillage。\"Inmeredictionandversificationthiscelebratedpoemisfullyequal，perhapssuperior，tothe\"Traveller;\"anditisgenerallypreferredtothe\"Traveller\"bythatlargeclassofreaderswhothink，withBayesinthe\"Rehearsal，\"thattheonlyuseofaplanistobringinfinethings。Morediscerningjudges，however，whiletheyadmirethebeautyofthedetails，areshockedbyoneunpardonablefaultwhichpervadesthewhole。Thefaultwemeanisnotthattheoryaboutwealthandluxurywhichhassooftenbeencensuredbypoliticaleconomists。Thetheoryisindeedfalse:butthepoem，consideredmerelyasapoem，isnotnecessarilytheworseonthataccount。ThefinestpoemintheLatinlanguage，indeedthefinestdidacticpoeminanylanguage，waswrittenindefenceofthesilliestandmeanestofallsystemsofnaturalandmoralphilosophy。Apoetmayeasilybepardonedforreasoningill;buthecannotbepardonedfordescribingill，forobservingtheworldinwhichhelivessocarelesslythathisportraitsbearnoresemblancetotheoriginals，forexhibitingascopiesfromreallifemonstrouscombinationsofthingswhichneverwereandnevercouldbefoundtogether。WhatwouldbethoughtofapainterwhoshouldmixAugustandJanuaryinonelandscape，whoshouldintroduceafrozenriverintoaharvestscene？Woulditbeasufficientdefenceofsuchapicturetosaythateverypartwasexquisitelycoloured，thatthegreenhedges，theapple—treesloadedwithfruit，thewaggonsreelingundertheyellowsheaves，andthesun—burnedreaperswipingtheirforeheads，wereveryfine，andthattheiceandtheboysslidingwerealsoveryfine？
Tosuchapicturethe\"DesertedVillage\"bearsagreatresemblance。Itismadeupofincongruousparts。ThevillageinitshappydaysisatrueEnglishvillage。ThevillageinitsdecayisanIrishvillage。ThefelicityandthemiserywhichGoldsmithhasbroughtclosetogetherbelongtotwodifferentcountries;andtotwodifferentstagesintheprogressofsociety。Hehadassuredlyneverseeninhisnativeislandsucharuralparadise，suchaseatofplenty，content，andtranquillity，ashis\"Auburn。\"HehadassuredlyneverseeninEnglandalltheinhabitantsofsuchaparadiseturnedoutoftheirhomesinonedayandforcedtoemigrateinabodytoAmerica。ThehamlethehadprobablyseeninKent;theejectmenthehadprobablyseeninMunster:but，byjoiningthetwo，hehasproducedsomethingwhichneverwasandneverwillbeseeninanypartoftheworld。
In1773GoldsmithtriedhischanceatCoventGardenwithasecondplay，\"SheStoopstoConquer。\"Themanagerwasnotwithoutgreatdifficultyinducedtobringthispieceout。Thesentimentalcomedystillreigned;andGoldsmith’scomedieswerenotsentimental。The\"GoodnaturedMan\"hadbeentoofunnytosucceed;yetthemirthofthe\"GoodnaturedMan\"wassoberwhencomparedwiththerichdrolleryof\"SheStoopstoConquer，\"whichis，intruth，anincomparablefarceinfiveacts。Onthisoccasion，however，geniustriumphed。Pit，boxes，andgalleries，wereinaconstantroaroflaughter。IfanybigotedadmirerofKellyandCumberlandventuredtohissorgroan，hewasspeedilysilencedbyageneralcryof\"turnhimout，\"or\"throwhimover。\"
Twogenerationshavesinceconfirmedtheverdictwhichwaspronouncedonthatnight。
WhileGoldsmithwaswritingthe\"DesertedVillage，\"and\"SheStoopstoConquer，\"hewasemployedonworksofaverydifferentkind，worksfromwhichhederivedlittlereputationbutmuchprofit。Hecompiledfortheuseofschoolsa\"HistoryofRome，\"
bywhichhemade300pounds，a\"HistoryofEngland，\"bywhichhemade600pounds，a\"HistoryofGreece，\"forwhichhereceived250
pounds，a\"NaturalHistory，\"forwhichthebooksellerscovenantedtopayhim800guineas。Theseworksheproducedwithoutanyelaborateresearch，bymerelyselecting，abridging，andtranslatingintohisownclear，pure，andflowinglanguagewhathefoundinbookswell—knowntotheworld，buttoobulkyortoodryforboysandgirls。Hecommittedsomestrangeblunders;forheknewnothingwithaccuracy。Thusinhis\"HistoryofEngland，\"
hetellsusthatNasebyisinYorkshire;nordidhecorrectthismistakewhenthebookwasreprinted。Hewasverynearlyhoaxedintoputtingintothe\"HistoryofGreece\"anaccountofthebattlebetweenAlexandertheGreatandMontezuma。Inhis\"AnimatedNature\"herelates，withfaithandwithperfectgravity，allthemostabsurdlieswhichhecouldfindinbooksoftravelsaboutgiganticPatagonians，monkeysthatpreachsermons，nightingalesthatrepeatlongconversations。\"Ifhecantellahorsefromacow，\"saidJohnson，\"thatistheextentofhisknowledgeofzoology。\"HowlittleGoldsmithwasqualifiedtowriteaboutthephysicalsciencesissufficientlyprovedbytwoanecdotes。Heononeoccasiondeniedthatthesunislongerinthenorthernthaninthesouthernsigns。ItwasvaintocitetheauthorityofMaupertuis。\"Maupertuis！\"hecried，\"IunderstandthosemattersbetterthanMaupertuis。\"Onanotheroccasionhe，indefianceoftheevidenceofhisownsenses，maintainedobstinately，andevenangrily，thathechewedhisdinnerbymovinghisupperjaw。
Yet，ignorantasGoldsmithwas，fewwritershavedonemoretomakethefirststepsinthelaboriousroadtoknowledgeeasyandpleasant。Hiscompilationsarewidelydistinguishedfromthecompilationsofordinarybook—makers。Hewasagreat，perhapsanunequalled，masteroftheartsofselectionandcondensation。IntheserespectshishistoriesofRomeandofEngland，andstillmorehisownabridgementsofthesehistories，welldeservetobestudied。Ingeneralnothingislessattractivethananepitome:
buttheepitomesofGoldsmith，evenwhenmostconcise，arealwaysamusing;andtoreadthemisconsideredbyintelligentchildren，notasatask，butasapleasure。
Goldsmithmightnowbeconsideredasaprosperousman。Hehadthemeansoflivingincomfort，andeveninwhattoonewhohadsooftensleptinbarnsandonbulksmusthavebeenluxury。Hisfamewasgreatandwasconstantlyrising。Helivedinwhatwasintellectuallyfarthebestsocietyofthekingdom，inasocietyinwhichnotalentoraccomplishmentwaswanting，andinwhichtheartofconversationwascultivatedwithsplendidsuccess。
ThereprobablywereneverfourtalkersmoreadmirableinfourdifferentwaysthanJohnson，Burke，Beauclerk，andGarrick;andGoldsmithwasontermsofintimacywithallthefour。Heaspiredtoshareintheircolloquialrenown;butneverwasambitionmoreunfortunate。Itmayseemstrangethatamanwhowrotewithsomuchperspicuity，vivacity，andgrace，shouldhavebeen，wheneverhetookapartinconversation，anempty，noisy，blunderingrattle。Butonthispointtheevidenceisoverwhelming。SoextraordinarywasthecontrastbetweenGoldsmith’spublishedworksandthesillythingswhichhesaid，thatHoraceWalpoledescribedhimasaninspiredidiot。\"Noll，\"saidGarrick，\"wrotelikeanangel，andtalkedlikepoorPoll。\"Chamierdeclaredthatitwasahardexerciseoffaithtobelievethatsofoolishachatterercouldhavereallywrittenthe\"Traveller。\"EvenBoswellcouldsay，withcontemptuouscompassion，thathelikedverywelltohearhonestGoldsmithrunon。\"Yes，sir，\"saidJohnson，\"butheshouldnotliketohearhimself。\"Mindsdifferasriversdiffer。Therearetransparentandsparklingriversfromwhichitisdelightfultodrinkastheyflow;tosuchriversthemindsofsuchmenasBurkeandJohnsonmaybecompared。Butthereareriversofwhichthewaterwhenfirstdrawnisturbidandnoisome，butbecomespellucidascrystal，anddelicioustothetaste，ifitbesufferedtostandtillithasdepositedasediment;andsuchariverisatypeofthemindofGoldsmith。
Hisfirstthoughtsoneverysubjectwereconfusedeventoabsurdity;buttheyrequiredonlyalittletimetoworkthemselvesclear。Whenhewrotetheyhadthattime;andthereforehisreaderspronouncedhimamanofgenius:butwhenhetalkedhetalkednonsense，andmadehimselfthelaughing—stockofhishearers。Hewaspainfullysensibleofhisinferiorityinconversation;hefelteveryfailurekeenly;yethehadnotsufficientjudgmentandself—commandtoholdhistongue。Hisanimalspiritsandvanitywerealwaysimpellinghimtotrytodotheonethingwhichhecouldnotdo。Aftereveryattempthefeltthathehadexposedhimself，andwrithedwithshameandvexation;
yetthenextmomenthebeganagain。
Hisassociatesseemtohaveregardedhimwithkindness，which，inspiteoftheiradmirationofhiswritings，wasnotunmixedwithcontempt。Intruth，therewasinhischaractermuchtolove，butverylittletorespect。Hisheartwassofteventoweakness:hewassogenerousthathequiteforgottobejust:heforgaveinjuriessoreadilythathemightbesaidtoinvitethem;andwassoliberaltobeggarsthathehadnothingleftforhistailorandhisbutcher。Hewasvain，sensual，frivolous，profuse，improvident。Oneviceofadarkershadewasimputedtohim，envy。Butthereisnottheleastreasontobelievethatthisbadpassion，thoughitsometimesmadehimwinceandutterfretfulexclamations，everimpelledhimtoinjurebywickedartsthereputationofanyofhisrivals。Thetruthprobablyis，thathewasnotmoreenvious，butmerelylessprudent，thanhisneighbours。Hisheartwasonhislips。Allthosesmalljealousies，whicharebuttoocommonamongmenofletters，butwhichamanofletterswhoisalsoamanoftheworlddoeshisbesttoconceal，Goldsmithavowedwiththesimplicityofachild。
Whenhewasenvious，insteadofaffectingindifference，insteadofdamningwithfaintpraise，insteadofdoinginjuriesslilyandinthedark，hetoldeverybodythathewasenvious。\"Donot，pray，donottalkofJohnsoninsuchterms，\"hesaidtoBoswell;
\"youharrowupmyverysoul。\"GeorgeSteevensandCumberlandweremenfartoocunningtosaysuchathing。Theywouldhaveechoedthepraisesofthemanwhomtheyenvied，andthenhavesenttothenewspapersanonymouslibelsuponhim。BothwhatwasgoodandwhatwasbadinGoldsmith’scharacterwastohisassociatesaperfectsecuritythathewouldnevercommitsuchvillany。Hewasneitherillnaturedenough，norlongheadedenough，tobeguiltyofanymaliciousactwhichrequiredcontrivanceanddisguise。
Goldsmithhassometimesbeenrepresentedasamanofgenius，cruellytreatedbytheworld，anddoomedtostrugglewithdifficultieswhichatlastbrokehisheart。Butnorepresentationcanbemoreremotefromthetruth。Hedid，indeed，gothroughmuchsharpmiserybeforehehaddoneanythingconsiderableinliterature。But，afterhisnamehadappearedonthetitle—pageofthe\"Traveller，\"hehadnonebuthimselftoblameforhisdistresses。Hisaverageincome，duringthelastsevenyearsofhislife，certainlyexceeded400poundsayear;
and400poundsayearranked，amongtheincomesofthatday，atleastashighas800poundsayearwouldrankatpresent。A
singlemanlivingintheTemplewith400poundsayearmightthenbecalledopulent。Notoneintenoftheyounggentlemenofgoodfamilieswhowerestudyingthelawtherehadsomuch。ButallthewealthwhichLordClivehadbroughtfromBengal，andSirLawrenceDundasfromGermany，joinedtogether，wouldnothavesufficedforGoldsmith。Hespenttwiceasmuchashehad。Heworefineclothes，gavedinnersofseveralcourses，paidcourttovenalbeauties。Hehadalso，itshouldberemembered，tothehonourofhisheart，thoughnotofhishead，aguinea，orfiveorten，accordingtothestateofhispurse，readyforanytaleofdistress，trueorfalse。Butitwasnotindressorfeasting，inpromiscuousamoursorpromiscuouscharities，thathischiefexpenselay。Hehadbeenfromboyhoodagambler，andatoncethemostsanguineandthemostunskilfulofgamblers。Foratimeheputoffthedayofinevitableruinbytemporaryexpedients。Heobtainedadvancesfrombooksellers，bypromisingtoexecuteworkswhichheneverbegan。Butatlengththissourceofsupplyfailed。Heowedmorethan2000pounds;andhesawnohopeofextricationfromhisembarrassments。Hisspiritsandhealthgaveway。Hewasattackedbyanervousfever，whichhethoughthimselfcompetenttotreat。Itwouldhavebeenhappyforhimifhismedicalskillhadbeenappreciatedasjustlybyhimselfasbyothers。NotwithstandingthedegreewhichhepretendedtohavereceivedatPadua，hecouldprocurenopatients。\"Idonotpractise，\"heoncesaid;\"Imakeitaruletoprescribeonlyformyfriends。\"\"Pray，dearDoctor，\"saidBeauclerk，\"alteryourrule;andprescribeonlyforyourenemies。\"Goldsmithnow，inspiteofthisexcellentadvice，prescribedforhimself。Theremedyaggravatedthemalady。Thesickmanwasinducedtocallinrealphysicians;andtheyatonetimeimaginedthattheyhadcuredthedisease。Stillhisweaknessandrestlessnesscontinued。Hecouldgetnosleep。Hecouldtakenofood。\"Youareworse，\"saidoneofhismedicalattendants，\"thanyoushouldbefromthedegreeoffeverwhichyouhave。Isyourmindatease？\"\"No，itisnot，\"werethelastrecordedwordsofOliverGoldsmith。HediedonthethirdofApril1774，inhisforty—
sixthyear。HewaslaidinthechurchyardoftheTemple;butthespotwasnotmarkedbyanyinscription，andisnowforgotten。
ThecoffinwasfollowedbyBurkeandReynolds。Boththesegreatmenweresinceremourners。Burke，whenheheardofGoldsmith’sdeath，hadburstintoafloodoftears。Reynoldshadbeensomuchmovedbythenewsthathehadflungasidehisbrushandpalettefortheday。
AshorttimeafterGoldsmith’sdeath，alittlepoemappeared，whichwill，aslongasourlanguagelasts，associatethenamesofhistwoillustriousfriendswithhisown。Ithasalreadybeenmentionedthathesometimesfeltkeenlythesarcasmwhichhiswildblunderingtalkbroughtuponhim。Hewas，notlongbeforehislastillness，provokedintoretaliating。Hewiselybetookhimselftohispen;andatthatweaponheprovedhimselfamatchforallhisassailantstogether。Withinasmallcompasshedrewwithasingularlyeasyandvigorouspencilthecharactersofnineortenofhisintimateassociates。Thoughthislittleworkdidnotreceivehislasttouches，itmustalwaysberegardedasamasterpiece。Itisimpossible，however，nottowishthatfourorfivelikenesseswhichhavenointerestforposteritywerewantingtothatnoblegallery;andthattheirplacesweresuppliedbysketchesofJohnsonandGibbon，ashappyandvividasthesketchesofBurkeandGarrick。
SomeofGoldsmith’sfriendsandadmirershonouredhimwithacenotaphinWestminsterAbbey。Nollekenswasthesculptor;andJohnsonwrotetheinscription。ItismuchtobelamentedthatJohnsondidnotleavetoposterityamoredurableandamorevaluablememorialofhisfriend。AlifeofGoldsmithwouldhavebeenaninestimableadditiontotheLivesofthePoets。NomanappreciatedGoldsmith’swritingsmorejustlythanJohnson;nomanwasbetteracquaintedwithGoldsmith’scharacterandhabits;andnomanwasmorecompetenttodelineatewithtruthandspiritthepeculiaritiesofamindinwhichgreatpowerswerefoundincompanywithgreatweaknesses。ButthelistsofpoetstowhoseworksJohnsonwasrequestedbythebooksellerstofurnishprefacesendedwithLyttleton，whodiedin1773。Thelineseemstohavebeendrawnexpresslyforthepurposeofexcludingthepersonwhoseportraitwouldhavemostfitlyclosedtheseries。
Goldsmith，however，hasbeenfortunateinhisbiographers。
WithinafewyearshislifehasbeenwrittenbyMrPrior，byMrWashingtonIrving，andbyMrForster。ThediligenceofMrPriordeservesgreatpraise;thestyleofMrWashingtonIrvingisalwayspleasing;butthehighestplacemust，injustice，beassignedtotheeminentlyinterestingworkofMrForster……
SAMUELJOHNSON。
（December1856。）
SamuelJohnson，oneofthemosteminentEnglishwritersoftheeighteenthcentury，wasthesonofMichaelJohnson，whowas，atthebeginningofthatcentury，amagistrateofLichfield，andabooksellerofgreatnoteinthemidlandcounties。Michael’sabilitiesandattainmentsseemtohavebeenconsiderable。Hewassowellacquaintedwiththecontentsofthevolumeswhichheexposedtosale，thatthecountryrectorsofStaffordshireandWorcestershirethoughthimanoracleonpointsoflearning。
Betweenhimandtheclergy，indeed，therewasastrongreligiousandpoliticalsympathy。Hewasazealouschurchman，and，thoughhehadqualifiedhimselfformunicipalofficebytakingtheoathstothesovereignsinpossession，wastothelastaJacobiteinheart。Athishouse，ahousewhichisstillpointedouttoeverytravellerwhovisitsLichfield，Samuelwasbornonthe18thofSeptember1709。Inthechild，thephysical，intellectual，andmoralpeculiaritieswhichafterwardsdistinguishedthemanwereplainlydiscernible;greatmuscularstrengthaccompaniedbymuchawkwardnessandmanyinfirmities;greatquicknessofparts，withamorbidpropensitytoslothandprocrastination;akindandgenerousheart，withagloomyandirritabletemper。Hehadinheritedfromhisancestorsascrofuloustaint，whichitwasbeyondthepowerofmedicinetoremove。Hisparentswereweakenoughtobelievethattheroyaltouchwasaspecificforthismalady。InhisthirdyearhewastakenuptoLondon，inspectedbythecourtsurgeon，prayedoverbythecourtchaplains，andstrokedandpresentedwithapieceofgoldbyQueenAnne。Oneofhisearliestrecollectionswasthatofastatelyladyinadiamondstomacherandalongblackhood。Herhandwasappliedinvain。Theboy’sfeatures，whichwereoriginallynobleandnotirregular，weredistortedbyhismalady。Hischeeksweredeeplyscarred。Helostforatimethesightofoneeye;andhesawbutveryimperfectlywiththeother。Buttheforceofhismindovercameeveryimpediment。Indolentashewas，heacquiredknowledgewithsucheaseandrapiditythatateveryschooltowhichhewassenthewassoonthebestscholar。Fromsixteentoeighteenheresidedathome，andwaslefttohisowndevices。Helearnedmuchatthistime，thoughhisstudieswerewithoutguidanceandwithoutplan。Heransackedhisfather’sshelves，dippedintoamultitudeofbooks，readwhatwasinteresting，andpassedoverwhatwasdull。Anordinaryladwouldhaveacquiredlittleornousefulknowledgeinsuchaway:butmuchthatwasdulltoordinaryladswasinterestingtoSamuel。HereadlittleGreek:forhisproficiencyinthatlanguagewasnotsuchthathecouldtakemuchpleasureinthemastersofAtticpoetryandeloquence。ButhehadleftschoolagoodLatinist;andhesoonacquired，inthelargeandmiscellaneouslibraryofwhichhenowhadthecommand，anextensiveknowledgeofLatinliterature。
ThatAugustandelicacyoftastewhichistheboastofthegreatpublicschoolsofEnglandheneverpossessed。ButhewasearlyfamiliarwithsomeclassicalwriterswhowerequiteunknowntothebestscholarsinthesixthformatEton。Hewaspeculiarlyattractedbytheworksofthegreatrestorersoflearning。Once，whilesearchingforsomeapples，hefoundahugefoliovolumeofPetrarch’sworks。Thenameexcitedhiscuriosity;andheeagerlydevouredhundredsofpages。Indeed，thedictionandversificationofhisownLatincompositionsshowthathehadpaidatleastasmuchattentiontomoderncopiesfromtheantiqueastotheoriginalmodels。
Whilehewasthusirregularlyeducatinghimself，hisfamilywassinkingintohopelesspoverty。OldMichaelJohnsonwasmuchbetterqualifiedtoporeuponbooks，andtotalkaboutthem，thantotradeinthem。Hisbusinessdeclined;hisdebtsincreased;itwaswithdifficultythatthedailyexpensesofhishouseholdweredefrayed。Itwasoutofhispowertosupporthissonateitheruniversity;butawealthyneighbourofferedassistance;and，inrelianceonpromiseswhichprovedtobeofverylittlevalue，SamuelwasenteredatPembrokeCollege，Oxford。Whentheyoungscholarpresentedhimselftotherulersofthatsociety，theywereamazednotmorebyhisungainlyfigureandeccentricmannersthanbythequantityofextensiveandcuriousinformationwhichhehadpickedupduringmanymonthsofdesultorybutnotunprofitablestudy。OnthefirstdayofhisresidencehesurprisedhisteachersbyquotingMacrobius;andoneofthemostlearnedamongthemdeclaredthathehadneverknownafreshmanofequalattainments。
AtOxford，Johnsonresidedduringaboutthreeyears。Hewaspoor，eventoraggedness;andhisappearanceexcitedamirthandapitywhichwereequallyintolerabletohishaughtyspirit。HewasdrivenfromthequadrangleofChristChurchbythesneeringlookswhichthemembersofthataristocraticalsocietycastattheholesinhisshoes。Somecharitablepersonplacedanewpairathisdoor;buthespurnedthemawayinafury。Distressmadehim，notservile，butrecklessandungovernable。Noopulentgentlemancommoner，pantingforone—and—twenty，couldhavetreatedtheacademicalauthoritieswithmoregrossdisrespect。
TheneedyscholarwasgenerallytobeseenunderthegateofPembroke，agatenowadornedwithhiseffigy，haranguingacircleoflads，overwhom，inspiteofhistatteredgownanddirtylinen，hiswitandaudacitygavehimanundisputedascendency。
Ineverymutinyagainstthedisciplineofthecollegehewastheringleader。Muchwaspardoned，however，toayouthsohighlydistinguishedbyabilitiesandacquirements。HehadearlymadehimselfknownbyturningPope’sMessiahintoLatinverse。Thestyleandrhythm，indeed，werenotexactlyVirgilian;butthetranslationfoundmanyadmirers，andwasreadwithpleasurebyPopehimself。
ThetimedrewnearatwhichJohnsonwould，intheordinarycourseofthings，havebecomeaBachelorofArts:buthewasattheendofhisresources。Thosepromisesofsupportonwhichhehadreliedhadnotbeenkept。Hisfamilycoulddonothingforhim。
HisdebtstoOxfordtradesmenweresmallindeed，yetlargerthanhecouldpay。Intheautumnof1731，hewasunderthenecessityofquittingtheuniversitywithoutadegree。Inthefollowingwinterhisfatherdied。Theoldmanleftbutapittance;andofthatpittancealmostthewholewasappropriatedtothesupportofhiswidow。ThepropertytowhichSamuelsucceededamountedtonomorethantwentypounds。
Hislife，duringthethirtyyearswhichfollowed，wasonehardstrugglewithpoverty。Themiseryofthatstruggleneedednoaggravation，butwasaggravatedbythesufferingsofanunsoundbodyandanunsoundmind。Beforetheyoungmanlefttheuniversity，hishereditarymaladyhadbrokenforthinasingularlycruelform。Hehadbecomeanincurablehypochondriac。
Hesaidlongafterthathehadbeenmadallhislife，oratleastnotperfectlysane;and，intruth，eccentricitieslessstrangethanhishaveoftenbeenthoughtgroundssufficientforabsolvingfelons，andforsettingasidewills。Hisgrimaces，hisgestures，hismutterings，sometimesdivertedandsometimesterrifiedpeoplewhodidnotknowhim。Atadinnertablehewould，inafitofabsence，stoopdownandtwitchoffalady’sshoe。Hewouldamazeadrawing—roombysuddenlyejaculatingaclauseoftheLord’sPrayer。Hewouldconceiveanunintelligibleaversiontoaparticularalley，andperformagreatcircuitratherthanseethehatefulplace。Hewouldsethisheartontouchingeverypostinthestreetsthroughwhichhewalked。Ifbyanychancehemissedapost，hewouldgobackahundredyardsandrepairtheomission。
Undertheinfluenceofhisdisease，hissensesbecamemorbidlytorpid，andhisimaginationmorbidlyactive。Atonetimehewouldstandporingonthetownclockwithoutbeingabletotellthehour。Atanother，hewoulddistinctlyhearhismother，whowasmanymilesoff，callinghimbyhisname。Butthiswasnottheworst。Adeepmelancholytookpossessionofhim，andgaveadarktingetoallhisviewsofhumannatureandofhumandestiny。
Suchwretchednessasheenduredhasdrivenmanymentoshootthemselvesordrownthemselves。Buthewasundernotemptationtocommitsuicide。Hewassickoflife;buthewasafraidofdeath;andheshudderedateverysightorsoundwhichremindedhimoftheinevitablehour。Inreligionhefoundbutlittlecomfortduringhislongandfrequentfitsofdejection;forhisreligionpartookofhisowncharacter。Thelightfromheavenshoneonhimindeed，butnotinadirectline，orwithitsownpuresplendour。Therayshadtostrugglethroughadisturbingmedium;theyreachedhimrefracted，dulledanddiscolouredbythethickgloomwhichhadsettledonhissoul;and，thoughtheymightbesufficientlycleartoguidehim，weretoodimtocheerhim。
Withsuchinfirmitiesofbodyandmind，thiscelebratedmanwasleft，attwo—and—twenty，tofighthiswaythroughtheworld。Heremainedduringaboutfiveyearsinthemidlandcounties。AtLichfield，hisbirthplaceandhisearlyhome，hehadinheritedsomefriendsandacquiredothers。HewaskindlynoticedbyHenryHervey，agayofficerofnoblefamily，whohappenedtobequarteredthere。GilbertWalmesley，registraroftheecclesiasticalcourtofthediocese，amanofdistinguishedparts，learning，andknowledgeoftheworld，didhimselfhonourbypatronisingtheyoungadventurer，whoserepulsiveperson，unpolishedmanners，andsqualidgarbmovedmanyofthepettyaristocracyoftheneighbourhoodtolaughterortodisgust。AtLichfield，however，Johnsoncouldfindnowayofearningalivelihood。HebecameusherofagrammarschoolinLeicestershire;heresidedasahumblecompanioninthehouseofacountrygentleman;butalifeofdependencewasinsupportabletohishaughtyspirit。HerepairedtoBirmingham，andthereearnedafewguineasbyliterarydrudgery。Inthattownheprintedatranslation，littlenoticedatthetime，andlongforgotten，ofaLatinbookaboutAbyssinia。HethenputforthproposalsforpublishingbysubscriptionthepoemsofPolitian，withnotescontainingahistoryofmodernLatinverse:butsubscriptionsdidnotcomein;andthevolumeneverappeared。
Whileleadingthisvagrantandmiserablelife，Johnsonfellinlove。TheobjectofhispassionwasMrsElizabethPorter，awidowwhohadchildrenasoldashimself。Toordinaryspectators，theladyappearedtobeashort，fat，coarsewoman，paintedhalfaninchthick，dressedingaudycolours，andfondofexhibitingprovincialairsandgraceswhichwerenotexactlythoseoftheQueensberrysandLepels。ToJohnson，however，whosepassionswerestrong，whoseeyesightwastooweaktodistinguishcerusefromnaturalbloom，andwhohadseldomorneverbeeninthesameroomwithawomanofrealfashion，hisTitty，ashecalledher，wasthemostbeautiful，graceful，andaccomplishedofhersex。Thathisadmirationwasunfeignedcannotbedoubted;
forshewasaspoorashimself。Sheaccepted，withareadinesswhichdidherlittlehonour，theaddressesofasuitorwhomighthavebeenherson。Themarriage，however，inspiteofoccasionalwranglings，provedhappierthanmighthavebeenexpected。Thelovercontinuedtobeundertheillusionsofthewedding—daytilltheladydiedinhersixty—fourthyear。Onhermonumentheplacedaninscriptionextollingthecharmsofherpersonandofhermanners;andwhen，longafterherdecease，hehadoccasiontomentionher，heexclaimed，withatendernesshalfludicrous，halfpathetic，\"Prettycreature！\"
Hismarriagemadeitnecessaryforhimtoexerthimselfmorestrenuouslythanhehadhithertodone。Hetookahouseintheneighbourhoodofhisnativetown，andadvertisedforpupils。Buteighteenmonthspassedaway;andonlythreepupilscametohisacademy。Indeed，hisappearancewassostrange，andhistempersoviolent，thathisschoolroommusthaveresembledanogre’sden。NorwasthetawdrypaintedgrandmotherwhomhecalledhisTittywellqualifiedtomakeprovisionforthecomfortofyounggentlemen。DavidGarrick，whowasoneofthepupils，used，manyyearslater，tothrowthebestcompanyofLondonintoconvulsionsoflaughterbymimickingtheendearmentsofthisextraordinarypair。
AtlengthJohnson，inthetwenty—eighthyearofhisage，determinedtoseekhisfortuneinthecapitalasaliteraryadventurer。Hesetoutwithafewguineas，threeactsofthetragedyofIreneinmanuscript，andtwoorthreelettersofintroductionfromhisfriendWalmesley。
Never，sinceliteraturebecameacallinginEngland，haditbeenalessgainfulcallingthanatthetimewhenJohnsontookuphisresidenceinLondon。Intheprecedinggenerationawriterofeminentmeritwassuretobemunificentlyrewardedbythegovernment。Theleastthathecouldexpectwasapensionorasinecureplace;and，ifheshowedanyaptitudeforpolitics，hemighthopetobeamemberofparliament，alordofthetreasury，anambassador，asecretaryofstate。Itwouldbeeasy，ontheotherhand，tonameseveralwritersofthenineteenthcenturyofwhomtheleastsuccessfulhasreceivedfortythousandpoundsfromthebooksellers。ButJohnsonenteredonhisvocationinthemostdrearypartofthedrearyintervalwhichseparatedtwoagesofprosperity。Literaturehadceasedtoflourishunderthepatronageofthegreat，andhadnotbeguntoflourishunderthepatronageofthepublic。Onemanofletters，indeed，Pope，hadacquiredbyhispenwhatwasthenconsideredasahandsomefortune，andlivedonafootingofequalitywithnoblesandministersofstate。Butthiswasasolitaryexception。Evenanauthorwhosereputationwasestablished，andwhoseworkswerepopular，suchanauthorasThomson，whoseSeasonswereineverylibrary，suchanauthorasFielding，whosePasquinhadhadagreaterrunthananydramasinceTheBeggar’sOpera，wassometimesgladtoobtain，bypawninghisbestcoat，themeansofdiningontripeatacookshopunderground，wherehecouldwipehishands，afterhisgreasymeal，onthebackofaNewfoundlanddog。Itiseasy，therefore，toimaginewhathumiliationsandprivationsmusthaveawaitedthenovicewhohadstilltoearnaname。OneofthepublisherstowhomJohnsonappliedforemploymentmeasuredwithascornfuleyethatathleticthoughuncouthframe，andexclaimed，\"Youhadbettergetaporter’sknot，andcarrytrunks。\"Norwastheadvicebad;foraporterwaslikelytobeasplentifullyfed，andascomfortablylodged，asapoet。
SometimeappearstohaveelapsedbeforeJohnsonwasabletoformanyliteraryconnectionfromwhichhecouldexpectmorethanbreadforthedaywhichwaspassingoverhim。HeneverforgotthegenerositywithwhichHervey，whowasnowresidinginLondon，relievedhiswantsduringthistimeoftrial。\"HarryHervey，\"
saidtheoldphilosophermanyyearslater，\"wasaviciousman;
buthewasverykindtome。IfyoucalladogHerveyIshalllovehim。\"AtHervey’stableJohnsonsometimesenjoyedfeastswhichweremademoreagreeablebycontrast。Butingeneralhedined，andthoughtthathedinedwell，onsixpennyworthofmeat，andapennyworthofbread，atanalehousenearDruryLane。
Theeffectoftheprivationsandsufferingswhichheenduredatthistimewasdiscernibletothelastinhistemperandhisdeportment。Hismannershadneverbeencourtly。Theynowbecamealmostsavage。Beingfrequentlyunderthenecessityofwearingshabbycoatsanddirtyshirts，hebecameaconfirmedsloven。
Beingoftenveryhungrywhenhesatdowntohismeals，hecontractedahabitofeatingwithravenousgreediness。Eventotheendofhislife，andevenatthetablesofthegreat，thesightoffoodaffectedhimasitaffectswildbeastsandbirdsofprey。Histasteincookery，formedinsubterraneanordinariesandalamodebeefshops，wasfarfromdelicate。Wheneverhewassofortunateastohavenearhimaharethathadbeenkepttoolong，orameatpiemadewithrancidbutter，hegorgedhimselfwithsuchviolencethathisveinsswelled，andthemoisturebrokeoutonhisforehead。Theaffrontswhichhispovertyemboldenedstupidandlow—mindedmentooffertohimwouldhavebrokenameanspiritintosycophancy，butmadehimrudeeventoferocity。
Unhappilytheinsolencewhich，whileitwasdefensive，waspardonable，andinsomesenserespectable，accompaniedhimintosocietieswherehewastreatedwithcourtesyandkindness。Hewasrepeatedlyprovokedintostrikingthosewhohadtakenlibertieswithhim。Allthesufferers，however，werewiseenoughtoabstainfromtalkingabouttheirbeatings，exceptOsborne，themostrapaciousandbrutalofbooksellers，whoproclaimedeverywherethathehadbeenknockeddownbythehugefellowwhomhehadhiredtopufftheHarleianLibrary。
AboutayearafterJohnsonhadbeguntoresideinLondon，hewasfortunateenoughtoobtainregularemploymentfromCave，anenterprisingandintelligentbookseller，whowasproprietorandeditorofthe\"Gentleman’sMagazine。\"Thatjournal，justenteringontheninthyearofitslongexistence，wastheonlyperiodicalworkinthekingdomwhichthenhadwhatwouldnowbecalledalargecirculation。Itwas，indeed，thechiefsourceofparliamentaryintelligence。Itwasnotthensafe，evenduringarecess，topublishanaccountoftheproceedingsofeitherHousewithoutsomedisguise。Cave，however，venturedtoentertainhisreaderswithwhathecalled\"ReportsoftheDebatesoftheSenateofLilliput。\"FrancewasBlefuscu;LondonwasMildendo:poundsweresprugs:theDukeofNewcastlewastheNardacsecretaryofState:LordHardwickewastheHurgoHickrad:andWilliamPulteneywasWingulPulnub。Towritethespeecheswas，duringseveralyears，thebusinessofJohnson。Hewasgenerallyfurnishedwithnotes，meagreindeed，andinaccurate，ofwhathadbeensaid;butsometimeshehadtofindargumentsandeloquencebothfortheministryandfortheopposition。HewashimselfaTory，notfromrationalconviction——forhisseriousopinionwasthatoneformofgovernmentwasjustasgoodorasbadasanother——butfrommerepassion，suchasinflamedtheCapuletsagainsttheMontagues，ortheBluesoftheRomancircusagainsttheGreens。InhisinfancyhehadheardsomuchtalkaboutthevillaniesoftheWhigs，andthedangersoftheChurch，thathehadbecomeafuriouspartisanwhenhecouldscarcelyspeak。
BeforehewasthreehehadinsistedonbeingtakentohearSacheverellpreachatLichfieldCathedral，andhadlistenedtothesermonwithasmuchrespect，andprobablywithasmuchintelligence，asanyStaffordshiresquireinthecongregation。
Theworkwhichhadbeenbeguninthenurseryhadbeencompletedbytheuniversity。Oxford，whenJohnsonresidedthere，wasthemostJacobiticalplaceinEngland;andPembrokewasoneofthemostJacobitalcollegesinOxford。TheprejudiceswhichhebroughtuptoLondonwerescarcelylessabsurdthanthoseofhisownTomTempest。CharlesII。andJamesII。weretwoofthebestkingsthateverreigned。Laud，apoorcreaturewhoneverdid，said，orwroteanythingindicatingmorethantheordinarycapacityofanoldwoman，wasaprodigyofpartsandlearningoverwhosetombArtandGeniusstillcontinuedtoweep。Hampdendeservednomorehonourablenamethanthatof\"thezealotofrebellion。\"Eventheshipmoney，condemnednotlessdecidedlybyFalklandandClarendonthanbythebitterestRoundheads，Johnsonwouldnotpronouncetohavebeenanunconstitutionalimpost。
Underagovernment，themildestthathadeverbeenknownintheworld——underagovernment，whichallowedtothepeopleanunprecedentedlibertyofspeechandaction——hefanciedthathewasaslave;heassailedtheministrywithobloquywhichrefuteditself，andregrettedthelostfreedomandhappinessofthosegoldendaysinwhichawriterwhohadtakenbutone—tenthpartofthelicenseallowedtohimwouldhavebeenpilloried，mangledwiththeshears，whippedatthecart’stail，andflungintoanoisomedungeontodie。Hehateddissentersandstockjobbers，theexciseandthearmy，septennialparliaments，andcontinentalconnections。HelonghadanaversiontotheScotch，anaversionofwhichhecouldnotrememberthecommencement，butwhich，heowned，hadprobablyoriginatedinhisabhorrenceoftheconductofthenationduringtheGreatRebellion。Itiseasytoguessinwhatmannerdebatesongreatpartyquestionswerelikelytobereportedbyamanwhosejudgmentwassomuchdisorderedbypartyspirit。AshowoffairnesswasindeednecessarytotheprosperityoftheMagazine。ButJohnsonlongafterwardsownedthat，thoughhehadsavedappearances，hehadtakencarethattheWhigdogsshouldnothavethebestofit;and，infact，everypassagewhichhaslived，everypassagewhichbearsthemarksofhishigherfaculties，isputintothemouthofsomememberoftheopposition。
AfewweeksafterJohnsonhadenteredontheseobscurelabours，hepublishedaworkwhichatonceplacedhimhighamongthewritersofhisage。ItisprobablethatwhathehadsufferedduringhisfirstyearinLondonhadoftenremindedhimofsomepartsofthatnoblepoeminwhichJuvenalhaddescribedthemiseryanddegradationofaneedymanofletters，lodgedamongthepigeons’nestsinthetotteringgarretswhichoverhungthestreetsofRome。Pope’sadmirableimitationsofHorace’sSatiresandEpistleshadrecentlyappeared，wereineveryhand，andwerebymanyreadersthoughtsuperiortotheoriginals。WhatPopehaddoneforHorace，JohnsonaspiredtodoforJuvenal。Theenterprisewasboldandyetjudicious。ForbetweenJohnsonandJuvenaltherewasmuchincommon，muchmorecertainlythanbetweenPopeandHorace。
Johnson’sLondonappearedwithouthisnameinMay1738。Hereceivedonlytenguineasforthisstatelyandvigorouspoem;butthesalewasrapid，andthesuccesscomplete。Asecondeditionwasrequiredwithinaweek。ThosesmallcriticswhoarealwaysdesiroustolowerestablishedreputationsranaboutproclaimingthattheanonymoussatiristwassuperiortoPopeinPope’sownpeculiardepartmentofliterature。Itoughttoberemembered，tothehonourofPope，thathejoinedheartilyintheapplausewithwhichtheappearanceofarivalgeniuswaswelcomed。HemadeinquiriesabouttheauthorofLondon。Suchaman，hesaid，couldnotlongbeconcealed。Thenamewassoondiscovered;andPopewithgreatkindness，exertedhimselftoobtainanacademicaldegreeandthemastershipofagrammarschoolforthepooryoungpoet。Theattemptfailed;andJohnsonremainedabookseller’shack。
Itdoesnotappearthatthesetwomen，themosteminentwriterofthegenerationwhichwasgoingout，andthemosteminentwriterofthegenerationwhichwascomingin，eversaweachother。Theylivedinverydifferentcircles，onesurroundedbydukesandearls，theotherbystarvingpamphleteersandindexmakers。
AmongJohnson’sassociatesatthistimemaybementionedBoyse，who，whenhisshirtswerepledged，scrawledLatinversessittingupinbedwithhisarmsthroughtwoholesinhisblanket;whocomposedveryrespectablesacredpoetrywhenhewassober;andwhowasatlastrunoverbyahackneycoachwhenhewasdrunk:
Hoole，surnamedthemetaphysicaltailor，who，insteadofattendingtohismeasures，usedtotracegeometricaldiagramsontheboardwherehesatecross—legged;andthepenitentimpostor，GeorgePsalmanazar，who，afterporingallday，inahumblelodging，onthefoliosofJewishrabbisandChristianfathers，indulgedhimselfatnightwithliteraryandtheologicalconversationatanalehouseinthecity。ButthemostremarkableofthepersonswithwhomatthistimeJohnsonconsortedwasRichardSavage，anearl’sson，ashoemaker’sapprentice，whohadseenlifeinallitsforms，whohadfeastedamongblueribandsinSaintJames’sSquare，andhadlainwithfifty—pounds’weightofirononhislegsinthecondemnedwardofNewgate。Thismanhad，aftermanyvicissitudesoffortune，sunkatlastintoabjectandhopelesspoverty。Hispenhadfailedhim。Hispatronshadbeentakenawaybydeath，orestrangedbytheriotousprofusionwithwhichhesquanderedtheirbounty，andtheungratefulinsolencewithwhichherejectedtheiradvice。Henowlivedbybegging。
Hedinedonvenisonandchampagnewheneverhehadbeensofortunateastoborrowaguinea。Ifhisquestinghadbeenunsuccessful，heappeasedtherageofhungerwithsomescrapsofbrokenmeat，andlaydowntorestunderthePiazzaofCoventGardeninwarmweather，and，incoldweather，asnearashecouldgettothefurnaceofaglasshouse。Yet，inhismisery，hewasstillanagreeablecompanion。Hehadaninexhaustiblestoreofanecdotesaboutthatgayandbrilliantworldfromwhichhewasnowanoutcast。Hehadobservedthegreatmenofbothpartiesinhoursofcarelessrelaxation，hadseentheleadersofoppositionwithoutthemaskofpatriotism，andhadheardtheprimeministerroarwithlaughterandtellstoriesnotoverdecent。DuringsomemonthsSavagelivedintheclosestfamiliaritywithJohnson;andthenthefriendsparted，notwithouttears。JohnsonremainedinLondontodrudgeforCave。SavagewenttotheWestofEngland，livedthereashehadlivedeverywhere，andin1743，died，pennilessandheart—broken，inBristolgaol。
Soonafterhisdeath，whilethepubliccuriositywasstronglyexcitedabouthisextraordinarycharacter，andhisnotlessextraordinaryadventures，alifeofhimappearedwidelydifferentfromthecatchpennylivesofeminentmenwhichwerethenastaplearticleofmanufactureinGrubStreet。Thestylewasindeeddeficientineaseandvariety;andthewriterwasevidentlytoopartialtotheLatinelementofourlanguage。Butthelittlework，withallitsfaults，wasamasterpiece。Nofinerspecimenofliterarybiographyexistedinanylanguage，livingordead;
andadiscerningcriticmighthaveconfidentlypredictedthattheauthorwasdestinedtobethefounderofanewschoolofEnglisheloquence。
ThelifeofSavagewasanonymous;butitwaswellknowninliterarycirclesthatJohnsonwasthewriter。Duringthethreeyearswhichfollowed，heproducednoimportantwork，buthewasnot，andindeedcouldnotbe，idle。Thefameofhisabilitiesandlearningcontinuedtogrow。Warburtonpronouncedhimamanofpartsandgenius;andthepraiseofWarburtonwasthennolightthing。SuchwasJohnson’sreputationthat，in1747，severaleminentbooksellerscombinedtoemployhiminthearduousworkofpreparingaDictionaryoftheEnglishlanguage，intwofoliovolumes。Thesumwhichtheyagreedtopayhimwasonlyfifteenhundredguineas;andoutofthissumhehadtopayseveralpoormenofletterswhoassistedhiminthehumblerpartsofhistask。
TheprospectusoftheDictionaryheaddressedtotheEarlofChesterfield。Chesterfieldhadlongbeencelebratedforthepolitenessofhismanners，thebrilliancyofhiswit，andthedelicacyofhistaste。HewasacknowledgedtobethefinestspeakerintheHouseofLords。HehadrecentlygovernedIreland，atamomentousconjuncture，witheminentfirmness，wisdom，andhumanity;andhehadsincebecomeSecretaryofState。HereceivedJohnson’shomagewiththemostwinningaffability，andrequiteditwithafewguineas，bestoweddoubtlessinaverygracefulmanner，butwasbynomeansdesiroustoseeallhiscarpetsblackenedwiththeLondonmud，andhissoupsandwinesthrowntorightandleftoverthegownsoffineladiesandthewaistcoatsoffinegentlemen，byanabsent，awkwardscholar，whogavestrangestartsandutteredstrangegrowls，whodressedlikeascarecrow，andatelikeacormorant。DuringsometimeJohnsoncontinuedtocallonhispatron，butafterbeingrepeatedlytoldbytheporterthathislordshipwasnotathome，tookthehint，andceasedtopresenthimselfattheinhospitabledoor。
JohnsonhadflatteredhimselfthatheshouldhavecompletedhisDictionarybytheendof1750;butitwasnottill1755thatheatlengthgavehishugevolumestotheworld。Duringthesevenyearswhichhepassedinthedrudgeryofpenningdefinitionsandmakingquotationsfortranscription，hesoughtforrelaxationinliterarylabourofamoreagreeablekind。In1749hepublishedtheVanityofHumanWishes，anexcellentimitationoftheTenthSatireofJuvenal。Itisintruthnoteasytosaywhetherthepalmbelongstotheancientortothemodernpoet。ThecoupletsinwhichthefallofWolseyisdescribed，thoughloftyandsonorous，arefeeblewhencomparedwiththewonderfullineswhichbringbeforeusallRomeintumultonthedayofthefallofSejanus，thelaurelsonthedoorposts，thewhitebullstalkingtowardstheCapitol，thestatuesrollingdownfromtheirpedestals，theflatterersofthedisgracedministerrunningtoseehimdraggedwithahookthroughthestreets，andtohaveakickathiscarcasebeforeitishurledintotheTiber。ItmustbeownedtoothatintheconcludingpassagetheChristianmoralisthasnotmadethemostofhisadvantages，andhasfallendecidedlyshortofthesublimityofhisPaganmodel。Ontheotherhand，Juvenal’sHannibalmustyieldtoJohnson’sCharles;
andJohnson’svigorousandpatheticenumerationofthemiseriesofaliterarylifemustbeallowedtobesuperiortoJuvenal’slamentationoverthefateofDemosthenesandCicero。
ForthecopyrightoftheVanityofHumanWishesJohnsonreceivedonlyfifteenguineas。
Afewdaysafterthepublicationofthispoem，histragedy，begunmanyyearsbefore，wasbroughtonthestage。Hispupil，DavidGarrick，had，in1741，madehisappearanceonahumblestageinGoodman’sFields，hadatoncerisentothefirstplaceamongactors，andwasnow，afterseveralyearsofalmostuninterruptedsuccess，managerofDruryLaneTheatre。Therelationbetweenhimandhisoldpreceptorwasofaverysingularkind。Theyrepelledeachotherstrongly，andyetattractedeachotherstrongly。
Naturehadmadethemofverydifferentclay;andcircumstanceshadfullybroughtoutthenaturalpeculiaritiesofboth。SuddenprosperityhadturnedGarrick’shead。ContinuedadversityhadsouredJohnson’stemper。Johnsonsawwithmoreenvythanbecamesogreatamanthevilla，theplate，thechina，theBrusselscarpet，whichthelittlemimichadgotbyrepeating，withgrimacesandgesticulations，whatwisermenhadwritten;andtheexquisitelysensitivevanityofGarrickwasgalledbythethoughtthat，whilealltherestoftheworldwasapplaudinghim，hecouldobtainfromonemorosecynic，whoseopinionitwasimpossibletodespise，scarcelyanycomplimentnotacidulatedwithscorn。YetthetwoLichfieldmenhadsomanyearlyrecollectionsincommon，andsympathisedwitheachotheronsomanypointsonwhichtheysympathisedwithnobodyelseinthevastpopulationofthecapital，that，thoughthemasterwasoftenprovokedbythemonkey—likeimpertinenceofthepupil，andthepupilbythebearishrudenessofthemaster，theyremainedfriendstilltheywerepartedbydeath。GarricknowbroughtIreneout，withalterationssufficienttodispleasetheauthor，yetnotsufficienttomakethepiecepleasingtotheaudience。