1725. ing the old Spanish romance of FELIXMARTE OF HIRCANIA, in folio, which he Etat. 16. read quite through. Yet I have heard him attribute to these extravagant fictions, that unfettled turn of mind which prevented his ever fixing in any profeffion." After having refided for fome time at the houfe of his uncle, Cornelius Ford, Johnson was, at the age of fifteen, removed to the school of Stourbridge, in Worcestershire, of which Mr. Wentworth was then master. This step was taken by the advice of his coufin, the Reverend Mr. Ford, a man in whom both talents and good difpofitions were difgraced by licentiousness, but who was a very able judge of what was right. At this school he did not receive so much benefit as was expected. It has been said, that fo he acted in the capacity of an affiftant to Mr. Wentworth, in teaching the younger boys. "Mr. Wentworth (he told me) was a very able man, but an idle man, and to me very fevere; but I cannot blame him much. I was then a big boy; he faw I did not reverence him; and that he should get no honour by me. I had brought enough with me, to carry me through; and all I fhould get at his fchool would be afcribed to my own labour, or to my former master. Yet he taught me a great deal.” He thus difcriminated, to Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore, his progress at his two grammar-schools. "At one, I learnt much in the fchool, but little from the master; in the other, I learnt much from the mafter, but little in the school." The Bishop also informs me, that "Dr. Johnson's father, before he was received at Stourbridge, applied to have him admitted as a scholar and affistant to the Reverend Samuel Lea, M. A. head master of Newport school, in Shropshire, (a very diligent good teacher, at that time in high reputation, under whom Mr. Hollis is faid, in the Memoirs of his Life, to have been alfo educated). This application to Mr. Lea was not fuccefsful; but Johnson had afterwards the gratification to hear that the old gentleman, who lived to a very advanced age, mentioned it as one of the most memorable events of his life, that "he was very near having that great man for his scholar." He remained at Stourbridge little more than a year, and then returned home, where he may be faid to have loitered, for two years, in a state very unworthy his uncommon abilities. He had already given feveral proofs of his poetical genius, both in his fchool-exercises and in other occafional ♦ He is faid to be the original of the parfon in Hogarth's Modern Midnight Conversation. "As was likewife the Bishop of Dromore many years afterwards. 3 compofitions. compofitions. Of thefe I have obtained a confiderable collection, by the favour of Mr. Wentworth, fon of one of his mafters, and of Mr. Hector, his schoolfellow and friend, from which I select the following specimens : Tranflation of VIRGIL. Paftoral I. MELIBÆ US. NOW, Tityrus, you, fupine and carelefs laid, TITYRUS. Those bleffings, friend, a deity bestow'd, MELIBUS My admiration-only I expreft, (No fpark of envy harbours in my breast) To you alone this happy ftate remains. Here I, though faint myself, must drive my goats, Ꭰ } } Tranflation Tranflation of HORACE, Book I. Ode xxii. THE man, my friend, whose conscious heart Nor taints with death the envenom'd dart, Though Scythia's icy cliffs he treads, For while by Chloe's image charm❜d, No favage more portentous ftain'd Dire nurse of raging lions, bore. Place me where no foft fummer gale With horrid gloom the frowning fkies: Place me beneath the burning line, A clime deny'd to human race; I'll fing of Chloe's charms divine, Her heav'nly voice, and beauteous face. Tranflation of HORACE, Book II. Ode ix. CLOUDS do not always veil the skies, Nor fhowers immerse the verdant plain; Nor do the billows always rife, Or ftorms afflict the ruffled main. Nor Nor, Valgius, on th' Armenian fhores Do the chain'd waters always freeze; Or bends with violent force the trees. But you are ever drown'd in tears, So much lament his flaughter'd fon. Leave off, at length, these woman's fighs, Repeat that prince's victories, To whom all nations tribute bring. Niphates rolls an humbler wave, At length the undaunted Scythian yields, Content to live the Romans' flave, And scarce forfakes his native fields. Tranflation of part of the Dialogue between HECTOR and ANDROMACHE; from the fixth Book of HOMER'S ILIAD. SHE ceas'd; then godlike Hector answer'd kind,-- (His various plumage fporting in the wind) But fhall I, then, forfake the unfinish'd war? How would the Trojans brand great Hector's name! Acquir'd by wounds, and battles bravely fought! That Priam's house, and Priam's felf fhall bleed; The day will come, in which proud Troy shall yield, Yet Hecuba's, nor Priam's hoary age, Whose blood fhall quench fome Grecian's thirfty rage, As the fad thought of your impending fate : you sweat, May I lie flain, and spurn the bloody fand! To a YOUNG LADY on her BIRTH-DAY. THIS tributary verfe receive, my fair, Warm with an ardent lover's fondest pray'r. May this returning day for ever find Thy form more lovely, more adorn'd thy mind; May powerful nature join with grateful art, Mr. Hector informs me, that this was made almoft impromptu, in his prefence. Teach |