The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [930]
646. ignota indictaque: Unknown and unsung.
647. Difficile quidem… (Poet. Prcel. v. ii. p. 164.): ‘It is hard to speak properly about common things: that is to say, we readily submit to the power of common material, known and obvious to all, when altered and embellished so as to seem fresh and the original handiwork of the writer; and this observation is doubtless of great weight. But, all things considered, and allowing for the difficulty and beauty of judgement as opposed to native wit, nevertheless it seems more glorious to form a new fable from deep within yourself, than to display once again an old one, no matter how remodelled’ – Joseph Trapp, Praelectiones Poeticae, 3rd edn, 2 vols. (1736), II, 164.
648. Difficile est… Vet. Schol.: ‘It is hard to speak properly about common things, that is, to narrate common material in well-chosen language, or to impart dignity to humble topics. It is difficult to treat of common things in appropriate language. Old Scholiast.’
649. Proprie… d’Homere: ‘Proprie communia dicere; that is to say, it is not easy to impart particular and moreover probable characteristics to figures one has imagined for oneself. To the extent that one has been able to shape these figures to one’s liking, the less forgivable are the faults one commits in the process. It is for this reason that Horace advises that one should always take known subjects, such as for example those which can be drawn from the poems of Homer.’
650. Apres avoir… au premier occupant: ‘Having pointed out the two qualities one must bestow on characters one has invented, he advises tragic poets to avail themselves sparingly of the freedom they have to invent, because it is very difficult to succeed with invented characters. It is difficult, says Horace, to treat common subjects (that is to say, invented subjects, which have no basis in either history or fable) properly (that is to say appropriately); and he calls these subjects “common” because they are available to everybody, and because everybody has the right to embellish them, and because they are, as one says, open to all.’
651. in meditatione fugte: ‘Meditating flight.’
652. Diabolus Regis: ‘The King’s Devil.’
653. The proper study… Man: Pope, An Essay on Man, ii.2.
654. On each glance… the flash: John Hume, Douglas: A Tragedy (1757), p. 33.
655. rerum civilium sive naturalium: The lines from the rejected version of Goldsmith’s epitaph which Johnson is trying to remember are ‘Rerum, sive naturalium, sive civilium, | elegans, at gravis scriptor’ – ‘an elegant yet weighty writer, whether the subject be natural or civil’.
656. Olivarii Goldsmith… mdcclxxiv : ‘Oliver Goldsmith, Poet, Naturalist, Historian; who touched almost every kind of writing, and touched none that he did not adorn. A powerful but kindly master of the emotions, whether he would move to tears or to laughter. Of genius lofty, lively, versatile; in style great, graceful, and charming. This monument to his memory has been raised by the love of his companions, the fidelity of his friends, the veneration of his readers. He was born at Pallas in County Longford, 29 November 1731, educated at Dublin, and died in London, 4 April 1774.’
657. somebody: Possibly Sir Joshua Reynolds.
658. a faithful transcript: Omitted in this edition.
659. from whom… perfect gift: Cf. James 1:17.
660. Suasorium: Pleading.
661. e cathedra: Literally ‘from the chair’, i.e. in the manner of one speaking from the seat of office or professorial chair, with authority (OED).
662. While Tories… a Tory: Pope, Imitations of Horace, Satire II.i.68 (1733).
663. Betsy: Elizabeth Ball (c.1755–1816), whom Francis Barber had married on 28 January 1773.
664. Temple of Janus: In ancient Rome, a small bronze shrine in the Forum, with doors on its eastern and western sides which stood open in time of