第20章

It is remarkable,that in this biographical disquisition there appears a very strong symptom of Johnson's prejudice against players;a prejudice which may be attributed to the following causes:first,the imperfection of his organs,which were so defective that he was not susceptible of the fine impressions which theatrical excellence produces upon the generality of mankind;secondly,the cold rejection of his tragedy;and,lastly,the brilliant success of Garrick,who had been his pupil,who had come to London at the same time with him,not in a much more prosperous state than himself,and whose talents he undoubtedly rated low,compared with his own.His being outstripped by his pupil in the race of immediate fame,as well as of fortune,probably made him feel some indignation,as thinking that whatever might be Garrick's merits in his art,the reward was too great when compared with what the most successful efforts of literary labour could attain.At all periods of his life Johnson used to talk contemptuously of players;but in this work he speaks of them with peculiar acrimony;for which,perhaps,there was formerly too much reason from the licentious and dissolute manners of those engaged in that profession.It is but justice to add,that in our own time such a change has taken place,that there is no longer room for such an unfavourable distinction.

His schoolfellow and friend,Dr.Taylor,told me a pleasant anecdote of Johnson's triumphing over his pupil David Garrick.

When that great actor had played some little time at Goodman's fields,Johnson and Taylor went to see him perform,and afterwards passed the evening at a tavern with him and old Giffard.Johnson,who was ever depreciating stage-players,after censuring some mistakes in emphasis which Garrick had committed in the course of that night's acting,said,'The players,Sir,have got a kind of rant,with which they run on,without any regard either to accent or emphasis.'Both Garrick and Giffard were offended at this sarcasm,and endeavoured to refute it;upon which Johnson rejoined,'Well now,I'll give you something to speak,with which you are little acquainted,and then we shall see how just my observation is.That shall be the criterion.Let me hear you repeat the ninth Commandment,"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."'Both tried at it,said Dr.Taylor,and both mistook the emphasis,which should be upon not and false witness.Johnson put them right,and enjoyed his victory with great glee.

Johnson's partiality for Savage made him entertain no doubt of his story,however extraordinary and improbable.It never occurred to him to question his being the son of the Countess of Macclesfield,of whose unrelenting barbarity he so loudly complained,and the particulars of which are related in so strong and affecting a manner in Johnson's life of him.Johnson was certainly well warranted in publishing his narrative,however offensive it might be to the lady and her relations,because her alledged unnatural and cruel conduct to her son,and shameful avowal of guilt,were stated in a Life of Savage now lying before me,which came out so early as 1727,and no attempt had been made to confute it,or to punish the authour or printer as a libeller:but for the honour of human nature,we should be glad to find the shocking tale not true;and,from a respectable gentleman connected with the lady's family,I have received such information and remarks,as joined to my own inquiries,will,I think,render it at least somewhat doubtful,especially when we consider that it must have originated from the person himself who went by the name of Richard Savage.

1746:AETAT.37.]--It is somewhat curious,that his literary career appears to have been almost totally suspended in the years 1745and 1746,those years which were marked by a civil war in Great-Britain,when a rash attempt was made to restore the House of Stuart to the throne.That he had a tenderness for that unfortunate House,is well known;and some may fancifully imagine,that a sympathetick anxiety impeded the exertion of his intellectual powers:but I am inclined to think,that he was,during this time,sketching the outlines of his great philological work.

1747:AETAT.38.]--This year his old pupil and friend,David Garrick,having become joint patentee and manager of Drury-lane theatre,Johnson honoured his opening of it with a Prologue,which for just and manly dramatick criticism,on the whole range of the English stage,as well as for poetical excellence,is unrivalled.

Like the celebrated Epilogue to the Distressed Mother,it was,during the season,often called for by the audience.

But the year 1747is distinguished as the epoch,when Johnson's arduous and important work,his DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE,was announced to the world,by the publication of its Plan or Prospectus.

How long this immense undertaking had been the object of his contemplation,I do not know.I once asked him by what means he had attained to that astonishing knowledge of our language,by which he was enabled to realise a design of such extent,and accumulated difficulty.He told me,that 'it was not the effect of particular study;but that it had grown up in his mind insensibly.'