THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON - All 6 Volumes in One Edition. James Boswell

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      The style of Johnson was, undoubtedly, much formed upon that of the great writers in the last century, Hooker, Bacon, Sanderson, Hakewell, and others; those ‘GIANTS[651],’ as they were well characterised by A GREAT PERSONAGE[652], whose authority, were I to name him, would stamp a reverence on the opinion.

      [Page 220: The motto to the Dictionary. A.D. 1750.]

      We may, with the utmost propriety, apply to his learned style that passage of Horace, a part of which he has taken as the motto to his Dictionary[653]:

      ‘Cum tabulis animum censoris sumet honesti;

       Audebit quaecumque parùm splendoris habebunt

       Et sine pondere erunt, et honore indigna ferentur,

       Verba movere loco, quamvis invita recedant,

       Et versentur adhuc intra penetralia Vesta.

       Obscurata diu populo bonus eruet, atque

       Proferet in lucem speciosa vocabula rerum,

       Quae priscis memorala Calonibus alque Cethegis,

       Nunc situs informis premit et deserta velustas:

       Adsciscet nova, quae genitor produxerit usus:

       Vehemens, et liquidus, puroque simillimus amni,

       Fundet opes Latiumque beabit divile linguá.[654]’

      [Page 221: Johnson not a coiner of words. Ætat 41.]

      To so great a master of thinking, to one of such vast and various knowledge as Johnson, might have been allowed a liberal indulgence of that licence which Horace claims in another place:

      ‘Si forté necesse est

       Indiciis monstrare recentibus abdita rerum,

       Fingere cinctutis non exaudita Cethegis

       Continget, dabiturque licentia sumpta pudenter:

       Et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem si

       Græco fonte cadant, parce detorta. Quid autem

       Cæcilio Plautoque dabit Romanus, ademptum

       Virgilio Varioque? Ego cur, acquirere pauca

       Si possum, invideor; cum lingua Catonis et Enni

       Sermonem patrium ditaverit, et nova rerum

       Nomina protulerit? Licuit semperque licebit

       Signatum præsente notá producere nomen[655].’

      Yet Johnson assured me, that he had not taken upon him to add more than four or five words to the English language, of his own formation[656]; and he was very much offended at the general licence, by no means ‘modestly taken’ in his time, not only to coin new words, but to use many words in senses quite different from their established meaning, and those frequently very fantastical[657].

      [Page 222: Johnson’s influence on style. A.D. 1750.]

      Sir Thomas Brown[658], whose life Johnson wrote, was remarkably fond of Anglo-Latian diction; and to his example we are to ascribe Johnson’s sometimes indulging himself in this kind of phraseology’. Johnson’s comprehension of mind was the mould for his language. Had his conceptions been narrower, his expression would have been easier. His sentences have a dignified march; and, it is certain, that his example has given a general elevation to the language of his country, for many of our best writers have approached very near to him; and, from the influence which he has had upon our composition, scarcely any thing is written now that is not better expressed than was usual before he appeared to lead the national taste.

      [Page 223: Courtenay’s lines on Johnson’s school. Ætat 41.]

      This circumstance, the truth of which must strike every critical reader, has been so happily enforced by Mr. Courtenay, in his Moral and Literary Character of Dr. Johnson, that I cannot prevail on myself to withhold it, notwithstanding his, perhaps, too great partiality for one of his friends:

      ‘By nature’s gifts ordain’d mankind to rule,

       He, like a Titian, form’d his brilliant school;

       And taught congenial spirits to excel,

       While from his lips impressive wisdom fell.

       Our boasted GOLDSMITH felt the sovereign sway:

       From him deriv’d the sweet, yet nervous lay.

       To Fame’s proud cliff he bade our Raphael rise;

       Hence REYNOLDS’ pen with REYNOLDS’ pencil vies.

       With Johnson’s flame melodious BURNEY glows,

       While the grand strain in smoother cadence flows.

       And you, MALONE, to critick learning dear.

       Correct and elegant, refin’d though clear,

       By studying him, acquir’d that classick taste,

       Which high in Shakspeare’s fane thy statue plac’d.

       Near Johnson STEEVENS stands, on scenick ground,

       Acute, laborious, fertile, and profound.

       Ingenious HAWKESWORTH to this school we owe.

       And scarce the pupil from the tutor know.

       Here early parts accomplish’d JONES sublimes,

       And science blends with Asia’s lofty rhymes:

       Harmonious JONES! who in his splendid strains

       Sings Camdeo’s sports, on Agra’s flowery plains:

       In Hindu fictions while we fondly trace

       Love and the Muses, deck’d with Attick grace.

       Amid these names can BOSWELL be forgot,

       Scarce by North Britons now esteem’d a Scot[659]?

       Who to the sage devoted from his youth,

       Imbib’d from him the sacred love of truth;

       The keen research, the exercise of mind,

       And that best art, the art to know mankind.—

       Nor was his energy confin’d alone

       To friends around his philosophick throne;

       Its influence wide improv’d our letter’d isle. And lucid vigour marked the general style: As Nile’s proud waves, swoln from their oozy bed. First o’er the neighbouring meads majestick spread; Till gathering force, they more and more expand. And with new virtue fertilise the land.’

      Johnson’s language, however, must be allowed to be too СКАЧАТЬ