Thepublic，however，listenedwithlittleemotion，butwithmuchcivility，tofiveactsofmonotonousdeclamation。Afterninerepresentationstheplaywaswithdrawn。Itis，indeed，altogetherunsuitedtothestage，and，evenwhenperusedinthecloset，willbefoundhardlyworthyoftheauthor。Hehadnottheslightestnotionofwhatblankverseshouldbe。AchangeinthelastsyllableofeveryotherlinewouldmaketheversificationoftheVanityofHumanWishescloselyresembletheversificationofIrene。Thepoet，however，cleared，byhisbenefitnights，andbythesaleofthecopyrightofhistragedy，aboutthreehundredpounds，thenagreatsuminhisestimation。
AboutayearaftertherepresentationofIrene，hebegantopublishaseriesofshortessaysonmorals，manners，andliterature。ThisspeciesofcompositionhadbeenbroughtintofashionbythesuccessoftheTatler，andbythestillmorebrilliantsuccessoftheSpectator。AcrowdofsmallwritershadvainlyattemptedtorivalAddison。TheLayMonastery，theCensor，theFreethinker，thePlainDealer，theChampion，andotherworksofthesamekind，hadhadtheirshortday。Noneofthemhadobtainedapermanentplaceinourliterature;andtheyarenowtobefoundonlyinthelibrariesofthecurious。AtlengthJohnsonundertooktheadventureinwhichsomanyaspirantshadfailed。Inthethirty—sixthyearaftertheappearanceofthelastnumberoftheSpectatorappearedthefirstnumberoftheRambler。FromMarch1750toMarch1752thispapercontinuedtocomeouteveryTuesdayandSaturday。
FromthefirsttheRamblerwasenthusiasticallyadmiredbyafeweminentmen。Richardson，whenonlyfivenumbershadappeared，pronounceditequal，ifnotsuperior，totheSpectator。YoungandHartleyexpressedtheirapprobationnotlesswarmly。BubbDoddington，amongwhosemanyfaultsindifferencetotheclaimsofgeniusandlearningcannotbereckoned，solicitedtheacquaintanceofthewriter。InconsequenceprobablyofthegoodofficesofDoddington，whowasthentheconfidentialadviserofPrinceFrederic，twoofhisRoyalHighness’sgentlemencarriedagraciousmessagetotheprintingoffice，andorderedsevencopiesforLeicesterHouse。Buttheseoverturesseemtohavebeenverycoldlyreceived。Johnsonhadhadenoughofthepatronageofthegreattolasthimallhislife，andwasnotdisposedtohauntanyotherdoorashehadhauntedthedoorofChesterfield。
BythepublictheRamblerwasatfirstverycoldlyreceived。
Thoughthepriceofanumberwasonlytwopence，thesaledidnotamounttofivehundred。Theprofitswerethereforeverysmall。
Butassoonastheflyingleaveswerecollectedandreprintedtheybecamepopular。TheauthorlivedtoseethirteenthousandcopiesspreadoverEnglandalone。SeparateeditionswerepublishedfortheScotchandIrishmarkets。Alargepartypronouncedthestyleperfect，soabsolutelyperfectthatinsomeessaysitwouldbeimpossibleforthewriterhimselftoalterasinglewordforthebetter。Anotherparty，notlessnumerous，vehementlyaccusedhimofhavingcorruptedthepurityoftheEnglishtongue。Thebestcriticsadmittedthathisdictionwastoomonotonous，tooobviouslyartificial，andnowandthenturgideventoabsurdity。Buttheydidjusticetotheacutenessofhisobservationsonmoralsandmanners，totheconstantprecisionandfrequentbrilliancyofhislanguage，totheweightyandmagnificenteloquenceofmanyseriouspassages，andtothesolemnyetpleasinghumourofsomeofthelighterpapers。OnthequestionofprecedencebetweenAddisonandJohnson，aquestionwhich，seventyyearsago，wasmuchdisputed，posterityhaspronouncedadecisionfromwhichthereisnoappeal。SirRoger，hischaplainandhisbutler，WillWimbleandWillHoneycomb，theVisionofMirza，theJournaloftheRetiredCitizen，theEverlastingClub，theDunmowFlitch，theLovesofHilpahandShalum，theVisittotheExchange，andtheVisittotheAbbey，areknowntoeverybody。Butmanymenandwomen，evenofhighlycultivatedminds，areunacquaintedwithSquireBlusterandMrsBusy，QuisquiliusandVenustulus，theAllegoryofWitandLearning，theChronicleoftheRevolutionsofaGarret，andthesadfateofAningaitandAjut。
ThelastRamblerwaswritteninasadandgloomyhour。MrsJohnsonhadbeengivenoverbythephysicians。Threedayslatershedied。Sheleftherhusbandalmostbroken—hearted。Manypeoplehadbeensurprisedtoseeamanofhisgeniusandlearningstoopingtoeverydrudgery，anddenyinghimselfalmosteverycomfort，forthepurposeofsupplyingasilly，affectedoldwomanwithsuperfluities，whichsheacceptedwithbutlittlegratitude。
Butallhisaffectionhadbeenconcentratedonher。Hehadneitherbrothernorsister，neithersonnordaughter。TohimshewasbeautifulastheGunnings，andwittyasLadyMary。HeropinionofhiswritingswasmoreimportanttohimthanthevoiceofthepitofDruryLaneTheatreorthejudgmentoftheMonthlyReview。ThechiefsupportwhichhadsustainedhimthroughthemostarduouslabourofhislifewasthehopethatshewouldenjoythefameandtheprofitwhichheanticipatedfromhisDictionary。
Shewasgone;andinthatvastlabyrinthofstreets，peopledbyeighthundredthousandhumanbeings，hewasalone。Yetitwasnecessaryforhimtosethimself，asheexpressedit，doggedlytowork。Afterthreemorelaboriousyears，theDictionarywasatlengthcomplete。
Ithadbeengenerallysupposedthatthisgreatworkwouldbededicatedtotheeloquentandaccomplishednoblemantowhomtheprospectushadbeenaddressed。Hewellknewthevalueofsuchacompliment;andtherefore，whenthedayofpublicationdrewnear，heexertedhimselftosoothe，byashowofzealousandatthesametimeofdelicateandjudiciouskindness，thepridewhichhehadsocruellywounded。SincetheRamblershadceasedtoappear，thetownhadbeenentertainedbyajournalcalledtheWorld，towhichmanymenofhighrankandfashioncontributed。IntwosuccessivenumbersoftheWorldtheDictionarywas，tousethemodernphrase，puffedwithwonderfulskill。ThewritingsofJohnsonwerewarmlypraised。ItwasproposedthatheshouldbeinvestedwiththeauthorityofaDictator，nay，ofaPope，overourlanguage，andthathisdecisionsaboutthemeaningandthespellingofwordsshouldbereceivedasfinal。Histwofolios，itwassaid，wouldofcoursebeboughtbyeverybodywhocouldaffordtobuythem。ItwassoonknownthatthesepaperswerewrittenbyChesterfield。ButthejustresentmentofJohnsonwasnottobesoappeased。Inaletterwrittenwithsingularenergyanddignityofthoughtandlanguage，herepelledthetardyadvancesofhispatron。TheDictionarycameforthwithoutadedication。Intheprefacetheauthortrulydeclaredthatheowednothingtothegreat，anddescribedthedifficultieswithwhichhehadbeenlefttostrugglesoforciblyandpatheticallythattheablestandmostmalevolentofalltheenemiesofhisfame，HorneTooke，nevercouldreadthatpassagewithouttears。
Thepublic，onthisoccasion，didJohnsonfulljustice，andsomethingmorethanjustice。Thebestlexicographermaywellbecontentifhisproductionsarereceivedbytheworldwithcoldesteem。ButJohnson’sDictionarywashailedwithanenthusiasmsuchasnosimilarworkhaseverexcited。Itwasindeedthefirstdictionarywhichcouldbereadwithpleasure。Thedefinitionsshowsomuchacutenessofthoughtandcommandoflanguage，andthepassagesquotedfrompoets，divines，andphilosophersaresoskilfullyselected，thataleisurehourmayalwaysbeveryagreeablyspentinturningoverthepages。Thefaultsofthebookresolvethemselves，forthemostpart，intoonegreatfault。Johnsonwasawretchedetymologist。HeknewlittleornothingofanyTeutoniclanguageexceptEnglish，whichindeed，ashewroteit，wasscarcelyaTeutoniclanguage;andthushewasabsolutelyatthemercyofJuniusandSkinner。
TheDictionary，thoughitraisedJohnson’sfame，addednothingtohispecuniarymeans。Thefifteenhundredguineaswhichthebooksellershadagreedtopayhimhadbeenadvancedandspentbeforethelastsheetsissuedfromthepress。Itispainfultorelatethat，twiceinthecourseoftheyearwhichfollowedthepublicationofthisgreatwork，hewasarrestedandcarriedtospunging—houses，andthathewastwiceindebtedforhislibertytohisexcellentfriendRichardson。ItwasstillnecessaryforthemanwhohadbeenformallysalutedbythehighestauthorityasDictatoroftheEnglishlanguagetosupplyhiswantsbyconstanttoil。HeabridgedhisDictionary。HeproposedtobringoutaneditionofShakspearebysubscription;andmanysubscriberssentintheirnamesandlaiddowntheirmoney;buthesoonfoundthetasksolittletohistastethatheturnedtomoreattractiveemployments。Hecontributedmanypaperstoanewmonthlyjournal，whichwascalledtheLiteraryMagazine。Fewofthesepapershavemuchinterest;butamongthemwastheverybestthingthatheeverwrote，amasterpiecebothofreasoningandofsatiricalpleasantry，thereviewofJenyn’sInquiryintotheNatureandOriginofEvil。
Inthespringof1758Johnsonputforththefirstofaseriesofessays，entitledtheIdler。Duringtwoyearstheseessayscontinuedtoappearweekly。Theywereeagerlyread，widelycirculated，andindeed，impudentlypirated，whiletheywerestillintheoriginalform，andhadalargesalewhencollectedintovolumes。TheIdlermaybedescribedasasecondpartoftheRambler，somewhatlivelierandsomewhatweakerthanthefirstpart。
WhileJohnsonwasbusiedwithhisIdlers，hismother，whohadaccomplishedherninetiethyear，diedatLichfield。Itwaslongsincehehadseenher;buthehadnotfailedtocontributelargely，outofhissmallmeans，tohercomfort。Inordertodefraythechargesofherfuneral，andtopaysomedebtswhichshehadleft，hewrotealittlebookinasingleweek，andsentoffthesheetstothepresswithoutreadingthemover。Ahundredpoundswerepaidhimforthecopyright;andthepurchasershadgreatcausetobepleasedwiththeirbargain;forthebookwasRasselas。
ThesuccessofRasselaswasgreat，thoughsuchladiesasMissLydiaLanguishmusthavebeengrievouslydisappointedwhentheyfoundthatthenewvolumefromthecirculatinglibrarywaslittlemorethanadissertationontheauthor’sfavouritetheme，theVanityofHumanWishes;thatthePrinceofAbyssiniawaswithoutamistress，andtheprincesswithoutalover;andthatthestorysettheheroandtheheroinedownexactlywhereithadtakenthemup。Thestylewasthesubjectofmucheagercontroversy。TheMonthlyReviewandtheCriticalReviewtookdifferentsides。
Manyreaderspronouncedthewriterapompouspedant，whowouldneveruseawordoftwosyllableswhereitwaspossibletouseawordofsix，andwhocouldnotmakeawaitingwomanrelateheradventureswithoutbalancingeverynounwithanothernoun，andeveryepithetwithanotherepithet。Anotherparty，notlesszealous，citedwithdelightnumerouspassagesinwhichweightymeaningwasexpressedwithaccuracyandillustratedwithsplendour。Andboththecensureandthepraiseweremerited。
AbouttheplanofRasselaslittlewassaidbythecritics;andyetthefaultsoftheplanmightseemtoinviteseverecriticism。
JohnsonhasfrequentlyblamedShakspeareforneglectingtheproprietiesoftimeandplace，andforascribingtooneageornationthemannersandopinionsofanother。YetShakspearehasnotsinnedinthiswaymoregrievouslythanJohnson。RasselasandImlac，NekayahandPekuah，areevidentlymeanttobeAbyssiniansoftheeighteenthcentury:fortheEuropewhichImlacdescribesistheEuropeoftheeighteenthcentury;andtheinmatesoftheHappyValleytalkfamiliarlyofthatlawofgravitationwhichNewtondiscovered，andwhichwasnotfullyreceivedevenatCambridgetilltheeighteenthcentury。WhatarealcompanyofAbyssinianswouldhavebeenmaybelearnedfromBruce’sTravels。ButJohnson，notcontentwithturningfilthysavages，ignorantoftheirletters，andgorgedwithrawsteakscutfromlivingcows，intophilosophersaseloquentandenlightenedashimselforhisfriendBurke，andintoladiesashighlyaccomplishedasMrsLennoxorMrsSheridan，transferredthewholedomesticsystemofEnglandtoEgypt。Intoalandofharems，alandofpolygamy，alandwherewomenaremarriedwithouteverbeingseen，heintroducedtheflirtationsandjealousiesofourball—rooms。Inalandwherethereisboundlesslibertyofdivorce，wedlockisdescribedastheindissolublecompact。"Ayouthandmaidenmeetingbychance，orbroughttogetherbyartifice，exchangeglances，reciprocatecivilities，gohome，anddreamofeachother。Such，"saysRasselas，"isthecommonprocessofmarriage。"Suchitmayhavebeen，andmaystillbe，inLondon，butassuredlynotatCairo。AwriterwhowasguiltyofsuchimproprietieshadlittlerighttoblamethepoetwhomadeHectorquoteAristotle，andrepresentedJulioRomanoasflourishinginthedaysoftheoracleofDelphi。
Bysuchexertionsashavebeendescribed，Johnsonsupportedhimselftilltheyear1762。Inthatyearagreatchangeinhiscircumstancestookplace。Hehadfromachildbeenanenemyofthereigningdynasty。HisJacobiteprejudiceshadbeenexhibitedwithlittledisguisebothinhisworksandinhisconversation。
EveninhismassyandelaborateDictionary，hehad，withastrangewantoftasteandjudgment，insertedbitterandcontumeliousreflectionsontheWhigparty。Theexcise，whichwasafavouriteresourceofWhigfinanciers，hehaddesignatedasahatefultax。Hehadrailedagainstthecommissionersofexciseinlanguagesocoarsethattheyhadseriouslythoughtofprosecutinghim。HehadwithdifficultybeenpreventedfromholdinguptheLordPrivySealbynameasanexampleofthemeaningoftheword"renegade。"Apensionhehaddefinedaspaygiventoastatehirelingtobetrayhiscountry;apensionerasaslaveofstatehiredbyastipendtoobeyamaster。Itseemedunlikelythattheauthorofthesedefinitionswouldhimselfbepensioned。Butthatwasatimeofwonders。GeorgetheThirdhadascendedthethrone;andhad，inthecourseofafewmonths，disgustedmanyoftheoldfriendsandconciliatedmanyoftheoldenemiesofhishouse。Thecitywasbecomingmutinous。Oxfordwasbecomingloyal。CavendishesandBentincksweremurmuring。
SomersetsandWyndhamswerehasteningtokisshands。TheheadofthetreasurywasnowLordBute，whowasaTory，andcouldhavenoobjectiontoJohnson’sToryism。Butewishedtobethoughtapatronofmenofletters;andJohnsonwasoneofthemosteminentandoneofthemostneedymenoflettersinEurope。Apensionofthreehundredayearwasgraciouslyoffered，andwithverylittlehesitationaccepted。
ThiseventproducedachangeinJohnson’swholewayoflife。Forthefirsttimesincehisboyhoodhenolongerfeltthedailygoadurginghimtothedailytoil。Hewasatliberty，afterthirtyyearsofanxietyanddrudgery，toindulgehisconstitutionalindolence，tolieinbedtilltwointheafternoon，andtosituptalkingtillfourinthemorning，withoutfearingeithertheprinter’sdevilorthesheriff’sofficer。
Onelaborioustaskindeedhehadboundhimselftoperform。HehadreceivedlargesubscriptionsforhispromisededitionofShakspeare;hehadlivedonthosesubscriptionsduringsomeyears:andhecouldnotwithoutdisgraceomittoperformhispartofthecontract。Hisfriendsrepeatedlyexhortedhimtomakeaneffort;andherepeatedlyresolvedtodoso。But，notwithstandingtheirexhortationsandhisresolutions，monthfollowedmonth，yearfollowedyear，andnothingwasdone。Heprayedferventlyagainsthisidleness;hedetermined，asoftenashereceivedthesacrament，thathewouldnolongerdozeawayandtrifleawayhistime;butthespellunderwhichhelayresistedprayerandsacrament。Hisprivatenotesatthistimearemadeupofself—reproaches。"Myindolence，"hewroteonEasterEvein1764，"hassunkintogrossersluggishness。Akindofstrangeoblivionhasoverspreadme，sothatIknownotwhathasbecomeofthelastyear。"Easter1765came，andfoundhimstillinthesamestate。"Mytime，"hewrote，"hasbeenunprofitablyspent，andseemsasadreamthathasleftnothingbehind。Mymemorygrowsconfused，andIknownothowthedayspassoverme。"
Happilyforhishonour，thecharmwhichheldhimcaptivewasatlengthbrokenbynogentleorfriendlyhand。HehadbeenweakenoughtopayseriousattentiontoastoryaboutaghostwhichhauntedahouseinCockLane，andhadactuallygonehimselfwithsomeofhisfriends，atoneinthemorning，toStJohn’sChurch，Clerkenwell，inthehopeofreceivingacommunicationfromtheperturbedspirit。Butthespirit，thoughadjuredwithallsolemnity，remainedobstinatelysilent;anditsoonappearedthatanaughtygirlofelevenhadbeenamusingherselfbymakingfoolsofsomanyphilosophers。Churchill，who，confidanti...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：