misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第24章
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head of the treasury was now Lord Bute； who was a Tory； and could have
no objection to Johnson's Toryism。 Bute wished to be thought a patron of
men of letters； and Johnson was one of the most eminent and one of the
most needy men of letters in Europe。 A pension of three hundred a year
was graciously offered； and with very little hesitation accepted。
This event produced a change in Johnson's whole way of life。 For the
first time since his boyhood he no longer felt the daily goad urging him to
the daily toil。 He was at liberty； after thirty years of anxiety and drudgery；
to indulge his constitutional indolence； to lie in bed till two in the
afternoon； and to sit up talking till four in the morning； without fearing
either the printer's devil or the sheriff's officer。
One laborious task indeed he had bound himself to perform。 He had
received large subscriptions for his promised edition of Shakspeare； he
had lived on those subscriptions during some years： and he could not
without disgrace omit to perform his part of the contract。 His friends
repeatedly exhorted him to make an effort； and he repeatedly resolved to
do so。 But； notwithstanding their exhortations and his resolutions； month
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
followed month； year followed year； and nothing was done。 He prayed
fervently against his idleness； he determined； as often as he received the
sacrament； that he would no longer doze away and trifle away his time；
but the spell under which he lay resisted prayer and sacrament。 His private
notes at this time are made up of self…reproaches。 〃My indolence；〃 he
wrote on Easter Eve in 1764； 〃has sunk into grosser sluggishness。 A kind
of strange oblivion has overspread me； so that I know not what has
become of the last year。〃 Easter 1765 came； and found him still in the
same state。 〃My time；〃 he wrote； 〃has been unprofitably spent； and seems
as a dream that has left nothing behind。 My memory grows confused； and
I know not how the days pass over me。〃 Happily for his honour； the charm
which held him captive was at length broken by no gentle or friendly hand。
He had been weak enough to pay serious attention to a story about a ghost
which haunted a house in Cock Lane； and had actually gone himself with
some of his friends； at one in the morning； to St John's Church；
Clerkenwell； in the hope of receiving a communication from the perturbed
spirit。 But the spirit； though adjured with all solemnity； remained
obstinately silent； and it soon appeared that a naughty girl of eleven had
been amusing herself by making fools of so many philosophers。 Churchill；
who； confidant in his powers； drunk with popularity； and burning with
party spirit； was looking for some man of established fame and Tory
politics to insult； celebrated the Cock Lane Ghost in three cantos；
nicknamed Johnson Pomposo； asked where the book was which had been
so long promised and so liberally paid for； and directly accused the great
moralist of cheating。 This terrible word proved effectual； and in October
1765 appeared； after a delay of nine years； the new edition of Shakspeare。
This publication saved Johnson's character for honesty； but added
nothing to the fame of his abilities and learning。 The preface； though it
contains some good passages； is not in his best manner。 The most valuable
notes are those in which he had an opportunity of showing how attentively
he had during many years observed human life and human nature。 The
best specimen is the note on the character of Polonius。 Nothing so good is
to be found even in Wilhelm Meister's admirable examination of Hamlet。
But here praise must end。 It would be difficult to name a more slovenly； a
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
more worthless edition of any great classic。 The reader may turn over play
after play without finding one happy conjectural emendation； or one
ingenious and satisfactory explanation of a passage which had baffled
preceding commentators。 Johnson had； in his prospectus； told the world
that he was peculiarly fitted for the task which he had undertaken； because
he had； as a lexicographer； been under the necessity of taking a wider view
of the English language than any of his predecessors。 That his knowledge
of our literature was extensive is indisputable。 But； unfortunately； he had
altogether neglected that very part of our literature with which it is
especially desirable that an editor of Shakspeare should be conversant。 It is
dangerous to assert a negative。 Yet little will be risked by the assertion；
that in the two folio volumes of the English Dictionary there is not a single
passage quoted from any dramatist of the Elizabethan age； except
Shakspeare and Ben。 Even from Ben the quotations are few。 Johnson
might easily； in a few months； have made himself well acquainted with
every old play that was extant。 But it never seems to have occurred to him
that this was a necessary preparation for the work which he had
undertaken。 He would doubtless have admitted that it would be the height
of absurdity in a man who was not familiar with the works of Aeschylus
and Euripides to publish an edition of Sophocles。 Yet he ventured to
publish an edition of Shakspeare； without having ever in his life； as far as
can be discovered； read a single scene of Massinger； Ford； Decker；
Webster； Marlow； Beaumont； or Fletcher。 His detractors were noisy and
scurrilous。 Those who most loved and honoured him had little to say in
praise of the manner in which he had discharged the duty of a
commentator。 He had； however； acquitted himself of a debt which had
long lain on his conscience； and he sank back into the repose from which
the sting of satire had roused him。 He long continued to live upon the fame
which he had already won。 He was honoured by the University of Oxford
with a Doctor's degree； by the Royal Academy with a professorship； and
by the King with an interview； in which his Majesty most graciously
expressed a hope that so excellent a writer would not cease to write。 In the
interval； however； between 1765 and 1775 Johnson published only two or
three political tracks； the longest of which he could have produced in
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
forty…eight hours； if he had worked as he worked on the life of Savage and
on Rasselas。
But； though his pen was now idle； his tongue was active。 The influence
exercised by his conversation； directly upon those with whom he lived；
and indirectly on the whole literary world； was altogether without a
parallel。 His colloquial talents were indeed of the highest order。 He had
strong sense； quick discernment； wit； humour； immense knowledge of
literature and of life； and an infinit
