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AGE 68.]

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN.

97

46

it is not long, I shall here insert, as a proof that his poetical talents were in no degree impaired.

"THIS night presents a play, which publick rage,
Or right or wrong, once hooted from the stage:
From zeal or malice now no more we dread,
For English vengeance wars not with the dead.
A generous foe regards with pitying eye

The man whom Fate has laid where all must lie.
To wit, reviving from its authour's dust,
Be kind, ye judges, or at least be just :
Let no renewed hostilities invade
Th' oblivious grave's inviolable shade.
Let one great payment every claim appease,
And him who cannot hurt, allow to please;
To please by scenes unconscious of offence,
By harmless merriment, or useful sense.
Where aught of bright or fair the piece displays,
Approve it only ;-'tis too late to praise.
If want of skill or want of care appear,
Forbear to hiss ;-the poet cannot hear.

By all, like him, must praise and blame be found,
At last, a fleeting gleam, or empty sound:
Yet then shall calm reflection bless the night,
When liberal pity dignified delight;

When pleasure fir'd her torch at virtue's flame,
And mirth was bounty with an humbler name."

A circumstance which could not fail to be very pleasing to Johnson, occurred this year. The Tragedy of "Sir Thomas Overbury," written by his early companion in London, Richard Savage, was brought up with alterations, at Drury-lane theatre.1 The Prologue to it was written by Mr. Richard Brinsley Sheridan; in which, after describing very pathetically the wretchedness of

"Ill-fated Savage, at whose birth was giv'n

No parent but the Muse, no friend but Heav'n : "

he introduced an elegant compliment to Johnson on his Dictionary, that wonderful performance which cannot be too often or too highly praised; of which Mr. Harris, in his "Philological

1 [Our author has here fallen into a slight mistake. The prologue to this revived tragedy being written by Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Boswell very naturally supposed that it was performed at Drury Lane Theatre. But in fact, as Mr. Kemble observes to me, it was acted at the theatre in Covent Garden [Feb. 1, 1777.]--MALONE.]

VOL. III.

H

Inquiries," justly and liberally observes, "Such is its merit, that our language does not possess a more copious, learned, and valuable work." The concluding lines of this Prologue were these:

"So pleads the tale1 that gives to future times
The son's misfortunes and the parent's crimes;
There shall his fame (if own'à to-night) survive,

Fix'd by THE HAND THAT BIDS OUR LANGUAGE LIVE.”

Mr. Sheridan here at once did honour to his taste and to his liberality of sentiment, by shewing that he was not prejudiced from the unlucky difference which had taken place between his worthy father and Dr. Johnson. I have already mentioned, that Johnson was very desirous of reconciliation with old Mr. Sheridan. It will, therefore, not seem at all surprising that he was zealous in acknowledging the brilliant merit of his son. While it had as yet been displayed only in the drama, Johnson proposed him as a member of THE LITERARY CLUB, observing, that he who has written the two best comedies of his age, is surely a considerable man." And he had, accordingly, the honour to be elected; for an honour it undoubtedly must be allowed to be, when it is considered of whom that society consists, and that a single black ball excludes a candidate.

2

"MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"July 9, 1777.

"FOR the health of my wife and children, I have taken the little country-house at which you visited my uncle, Dr. Boswell, who, having lost his wife, is gone to live with his son. We took possession of our villa about a week ago; we have a garden of

1 "Life of Richard Savage," by Dr. Johnson.

2 ["Whatever Sheridan has done has been, par excellence, always the best of its kind. He has written the best comedy (School for Scandal), the best drama (The Duenna, in my mind, far before the Beggar's Opera), the best farce (The Critic), and the best Address (Monologue on Garrick); and, to crown all, delivered the very best oration (the famous Begum speech) ever conceived or heard in this country."-Byron. The School for Scandal, however, was not one of the two plays alluded to by Johnson, for it had not yet appeared. He meant The Rivals and the Trip to Scarborough, or, per haps, The Duenna, though this is not properly a comedy. But it must be observed that Sheridan's admission to the Club took place about five or six weeks after the panegyrical prologue.-CROKER.]

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Inquiries," justly and liberally observes, "Such is its merit, that our language does not possess a more copious, learned, and valuable work." The concluding lines of this Prologue were these:

"So pleads the tale1 that gives to future times
The son's misfortunes and the parent's crimes;
There shall his fame (if own'd to-night) survive,

Fix'd by THE HAND THAT BIDS OUR LANGUAGE LIVE.”

Mr. Sheridan here at once did honour to his taste and to his liberality of sentiment, by shewing that he was not prejudiced from the unlucky difference which had taken place between his worthy father and Dr. Johnson. I have already mentioned, that Johnson was very desirous of reconciliation with old Mr. Sheridan. It will, therefore, not seem at all surprising that he was zealous in acknowledging the brilliant merit of his son. While it had as yet been displayed only in the drama, Johnson proposed him as a member of THE LITERARY CLUB, observing, that "he who has written the two best comedies of his age, is surely a considerable man." And he had, accordingly, the honour to be elected; for an honour it undoubtedly must be allowed to be, when it is considered of whom that society consists, and that a single black ball excludes a candidate.

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"MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"July 9, 1777.

"FOR the health of my wife and children, I have taken the little country-house at which you visited my uncle, Dr. Boswell, who, having lost his wife, is gone to live with his son. We took possession of our villa about a week ago; we have a garden of

1 "Life of Richard Savage," by Dr. Johnson.

2

["Whatever Sheridan has done has been, par excellence, always the best of its kind. He has written the best comedy (School for Scandal), the best drama (The Duenna, in my mind, far before the Beggar's Opera), the best farce (The Critic), and the best Address (Monologue on Garrick); and, to crown all, delivered the very best oration (the famous Begum speech) ever conceived or heard in this country."-Byron. The School for Scandal, however, was not one of the two plays alluded to by Johnson, for it had not yet appeared. He meant The Rivals and the Trip to Scarborough, or, per haps, The Duenna, though this is not properly a comedy. But it must be observed that Sheridan's admission to the Club took place about five or six weeks after the panegyrical prologue.-CROKER.]

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