TH 24 LATIN SUMMER SCHOOL

15th-19th JANUARY 2018

New Law Building, University of Sydney

LEVEL 4.Y The Latin Poems of Samuel Johnson Instructor: Kathleen Riley

THERE IS IN LATIN ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD

The Latin Poems of Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson by Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1756-57

SYDNEY LATIN SUMMER SCHOOL 2018 LEVEL 4Y (ADVANCED)

Tutor: Kathleen Riley 1 TEXTS

1. Mea nec Falernae etc. 2. Adjecere Bonae etc. 3. Messia: Translation of Pope’s Messiah 4. Ad Urbanum 5. In Theatro 6. Γνῶθι σεαυτόν (Post Lexicon Anglicanum Auctum et Emendatum) 7. On Recovering the Use of his Eyes 8. Skia 9. Ad Thomam Laurence, Medicum Doctissimum 10. Translation of Euripides, Medea 190-203 11. Prayer on Losing the Power of Speech 12. In Rivum a Mola Stoana Lichfeldiae Diffluentem 13. Prayer (Summe Deus)

A caricature of Johnson by James Gillray mocking Johnson for his literary criticism; he is shown doing penance for Apollo and the Muses with Mount Parnassus in the background. 2 SAMUEL JOHNSON 1709-1784

Samuel Johnson was born in 1709 in Lichfield, Staffordshire. The son of a bookseller, he rose to become one of the greatest literary figures of the eighteenth century, most famously compiling A Dictionary of the English Language. Poverty and illness followed Johnson for much of his life. He contracted scrofula (also known as the King’s Evil) as a baby, which resulted in poor hearing and eyesight and left him noticeably scarred. Johnson attended the local grammar school in Lichfield and went on to Pembroke College, Oxford. However, he was to leave after just 13 months as his parents could no longer afford the fees. In 1735, he married a widow, Elizabeth Porter, and set up a school at Edial; it failed within months. With this behind him, Johnson took one of the few remaining pupils – the soon-to-be star of the London stage, David Garrick – and walked to the capital to seek fame and fortune. Johnson worked as a hack writer for many years, writing and editing articles for Edward Cave’s Gentleman’s Magazine. He received some critical success with his early poem London (1738) and his biography of the wayward poet, Richard Savage (1744) but Johnson’s big opportunity came in 1746 with the commission to write the Dictionary. Johnson lived in 17 different places in London, but moved to Gough Square in order to work on the Dictionary, which was finally published in 1755. From then on Johnson’s fame was assured and he was known as ‘Dictionary Johnson’, although he still suffered some financial difficulty. Johnson’s written work was immense and varied. He completed a critical edition of the works of William Shakespeare and created biographies and critical appraisals of 52 English poets of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries for his Lives of the Poets. He also wrote literary criticism and was a prolific essayist, for two years being the almost sole contributor to The Rambler, as well as writing for The Idler and The Adventurer. Johnson gained a pension from George III in 1762, allowing him a more comfortable lifestyle. He could now spend more time travelling and talking: Johnson was well known for his robust character and challenging and often hilarious conversation. He was a sociable man, being a member of several Clubs and his circle of friends included the painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, the literary hostess Hester Thrale and the writer Oliver Goldsmith. Johnson’s life inspired many biographies, the most famous of which, by his great friend, the Scottish lawyer James Boswell, was published in 1791.

From https://www.drjohnsonshouse.org

3 JOHNSON AS LATINIST

I am not ignorant that critical objections have been made to this and other specimens of Johnson’s Latin poetry. I acknowledge myself not competent to decide on a question of such extreme nicety. But I am satisfied with the just and discriminate eulogy pronounced upon it by my friend Mr Courtenay.

‘And with like ease his vivid lines assume The garb and dignity of ancient Rome.— Let college verse-men trite conceits express, Trick’d out in splendid shreds of Virgil’s dress; From playful Ovid cull the tinsel phrase, And vapid notions hitch in pilfer’d lays; Then with mosaic art the piece combine, And boast the glitter of each dulcet line: Johnson adventured boldly to transfuse His vigorous sense into the Latin Muse; Aspired to shine by unreflected light, And with a Roman’s ardour think and write. He felt the tuneful Nine his breast inspire, And, like a master, waked the soothing lyre: Horatian strains a grateful heart proclaim, While Sky’s wild rocks resound his Thralia’s name.— Hesperia’s plant, in some less skilful hands, To bloom awhile, factitious heat demands: Though glowing Maro a faint warmth supplies, The sickly blossom in the hot-house dies: By Johnson’s genial culture, art, and toil, Its root strikes deep, and owes the fostering soil; Imbibes our sun through all its swelling veins, And grows a native of Britannia’s plains.’*

* Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral character of Dr. Johnson, by John Courtenay, Esq. M. P.

From Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson

Statue of Samuel Johnson by John Bacon, St Paul’s Cathedral, London 4 1. MEA NEC FALERNAE ETC.

As part of an undergraduate exercise at Oxford, these verses folow a Latin prose composition headed ‘—Mea nec Falernae / temperant vites, neque Formiani / pocula coles.’ (Horace, Odes, I.XX.)

Quid mirum Maro quod digne canit arma virumque, Quid quod putidulum nostra Camoena sonat? Limosum nobis promus dat callidus haustum, Virgilio vires uva Falerna dedit. Carmina vis nostri scribant meliora poetae? 5 Ingenium jubeas purior haustus alat.

Vocabulary putidulus (adj.) stinking, rotten limosus (adj.) muddy promus, i (m.) cellarer, steward haustus, us (m.) draught

2. ADJECERE BONAE ETC.

As above, these undergraduate verses folow a Latin prose composition entitled ‘Adjecere bonae paulo plus artis Athenae’ (Horace, Epodes, II.ii.43).

Quas natura dedit dotes, academia promit, Dat menti propriis musa nitere bonis. Materiam statuae sic praebet marmora, tellus, Saxea Phidiaca spirat imago manu.

Vocabulary dos, otis (f.) gift niteo, ui, ere (adj.) to shine, glitter

5 St Aldate’s Church with Tom Tower and Part of Pembroke College, Oxford, 1800

The entrance to Pembroke College in Pembroke Square. Johnson had rooms on the second floor above the entrance, as an undergraduate in 1728.

6 3. MESSIA: TRANSLATION OF POPE’S MESSIAH

This poem was made as a Christmas exercise in 1728 for Johnson’s Pembroke tutor, Wiliam Jorden. Johnson’s schoolfelow Taylor told Boswel that ‘it was first printed for old Mr Johnson, without the knowledge of his son, who was very angry when he heard of it.’

Tollite concentum, Solymaeae tollite nymphae! Nil mortale loquor, coelum mihi carminis alta Materies; poscunt gravius coelestia plectrum. Muscosi fontes, silvestria tecta, valete, Aonidesque Deae, et mendacis somnia Pindi. 5 Tu mihi, qui flamma movisti pectora sancti Siderea Isaiae, dignos accende furores! Immatura calens rapitur per saecula vates, Sic orsus—Qualis rerum mihi nascitur ordo! Virgo! virgo parit! felix radicibus arbor 10 Jessaeis surgit, mulcentesque aethera flores Coelestes lambunt animae; ramisque columba, Nuncia sacra Dei, plaudentibus insidet alis. Nectareos rores, alimentaque mitia coelum Praebeat, et tacite foecundos irriget imbres! 15 Huc foedat quos lepra, urit quos febris, adeste! Dia salutares spirant medicamina rami. Hic requies fessis; non sacra saevit in umbra Vis boreae gelida, aut rapidi violentia solis. ‘Irrita vanescent priscae vestigia fraudis,’ 20 Justitiaeque manus pretio intemerata bilancem Attollet reducis; bellis praetendet olivas Compositis Pax alma suas, terrasque revisens Sedatas niveo Virtus lucebit amictu. Volvantur celeres anni! Lux purpuret ortum 25 Expectata diu! Naturae claustra refringens Nascere, magne puer! Tibi primas, ecce! corollas Deproperat tellus, fundit tibi munera, quicquid Carpit Arabs, hortis quicquid frondescit eois. Altius, en! Lebanon gaudentia culmina tollit, 30 En! summo exultant nutantes vertice silvae. Mittit aromaticas vallis Saronica nubes, Et juga Carmeli recreant fragrantia coelum. Deserti laeta mollescunt aspera voce, Auditur Deus! ecce Deus! reboantia circum 35 Saxa sonant Deus; ecce Deus! deflectitur aether

Demissumque Deum tellus capit; ardua cedrus, 7 Gloria silvarum, dominum inclinata salutet! Surgite convalles, tumidi subsidite montes! Sternite saxa viam, rapidi discedite fluctus! 40 En! quem turba diu cecinerunt enthea, vates, En! Salvator adest; vultus agnoscite caeci Divinos, surdas sacra vox permulceat aures! Ille cutim spissam visus hebetare vetabit, Reclusisque oculis infundet amabile lumen, 45 Obstrictasque diu linguas in carmina solvet.

Vocabulary mulcentesque (adj.) stinking, rotten bilanx, bilancis (adj.) having two scales reboo, are to resound, re-echo convallis (f.) ravine, narrow enclosed valley permulceo, mulsi, mulsus, ere to stroke; soothe, delight hebeto, avi, atus, are to make blunt, dull, deaden

Alexander Pope by William Hoare, c.1739

8 4. AD URBANUM

Johnson’s first certainly known contribution to the Gentleman’s Magazine, this poem was printed in March, 1738 and signed with his initials. Addressed to the publisher, Edward Cave, in his pseudonym of Sylvanus Urban.

Urbane, nullis fesse laboribus, Urbane, nullis victe calumniis, Cui fronte sertum in erudita Perpetuo viret et virebit;

Quid moliatur gens imitantium, 5 Quid et minetur, sollicitus parum, Vacare solis perge Musis, Juxta animo studiisque felix.

Linguae procacis plumbea spicula, Fidens, superbo frange silentio; 10 Victrix per obstantes catervas Sedulitas animosa tendet.

Intende nervos fortis, inanibus Risurus olim nisibus Aemuli; Intende jam nervos, habebis 15 Participes operae Camoenas.

Non ulla Musis pagina gratior, Quam quae severis ludicra jungere Novit, fatigatamque nugis Utilibus recreare mentem. 20

Texente nymphis serta Lycoride, Rosae ruborem sic viola adjuvat Immista, sic Iris refulget Aethereis variata fucis.

9 Vocabulary sertum, i (n.) wreath, garland molior, itus, iri to set in motion, attempt procax, acis (adj.) bold, insolent caterva, ae (f.) crowd, troop, throng nisus (m.) exertion, effort fucus, i (m.) dye

Edward Cave by Thomas Worlidge, after Francis Kyte etching, published 1754

Dr Johnson at Cave’s the Publisher by Henry Wallis, 1854

10 5. IN THEATRO

Mrs Thrale copied this Sapphic ode into Thraliana in 1777 with this introduction: ‘One night in Feb: 1771. or later in the spring—oratorio season I made Mr Johnson go with me to one we sate in a side box. he soon however lef off listening to the musick but said little, so I thought he was minding it: when we came home however he repeated me the folowing verses which he had been composing at the play house it seems.’ In her Anecdotes she named the theatre as Covent Garden, and in the unpublished Piozziana caled the performance ‘an English opera of Doctor Arne.’ In the transcript of the ode which she gave to Boswel, the poem is dated 8 March 1771, and the performance on that date at Covent Garden was Handel’s Messiah. Professor Donald Greene has pointed out in a private letter that the phrases ‘pompae theatrales,’ ‘pictae formae,’ ‘lusa otiosa,’ and ‘luxus theatri’ do not fit the Messiah but are appropriate to Arne’s Love in a Vilage, which was performed at Covent Garden on 8 and 16 February and 16 March, ‘with a dance incidental to the opera’ and ‘Mother Shipton with new scenes, machinery, dresses, and decorations.’ Arne, then, is the probable subject.

Tertii verso quater orbe lustri, Quid theatrales tibi, Crispe, pompae? Quam decet canos male literatos Sera voluptas.

Tene mulceri fidibus canoris? 5 Tene cantorum modulis stupere? Tene per pictas oculo elegante Currere formas?

Inter aequales, sine felle liber, Codices, veri studiosus, inter 10 Rectius vives, sua quisque carpat Gaudia gratus.

Lusibus gaudet puer otiosis, Luxus oblectat juvenem theatri, At seni fluxo sapienter uti 15 Tempore restat.

11 Vocabulary pompa, ae (f.) display, extravaganza mulceo, si, sus, ere to caress, move, delight carpo, psi, ptus, ere to enjoy, make use of fel, fellis (n.) bile; bitterness lusus, us (m.) play, game

A drawing of Covent Garden Theatre made shortly before the theatre burned down in 1808

12 6. ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΕΑUΤΟΝ (POST LEXICON ANGLICANUM AUCTUM ET EMENDATUM)

Afer finishing his revision of the Dictionary for the fourth edition, Johnson wrote this very personal poem, which shows his fatigue with such work, and his doubts as to his future literary career.

Lexicon ad finem longo luctamine tandem Scaliger ut duxit, tenuis pertaesus opellae, Vile indignatus studium, nugasque molestas, Ingemit exosus, scribendaque lexica mandat Damnatis, poenam pro poenis omnibus unam. 5 Ille quidem recte, sublimis, doctus, et acer, Quem decuit majora sequi, majoribus aptum, Qui veterum modo facta ducum, modo carmina vatum, Gesserat et quicquid virtus, sapientia quicquid Dixerat, imperiique vices, coelique meatus, 10 Ingentemque animo seclorum volverat orbem. Fallimur exemplis; temere sibi turba scholarum Ima tuas credit permitti, Scaliger, iras. Quisque suum norit modulum; tibi, prime virorum, Ut studiis sperem, aut ausim par esse querelis, 15 Non mihi sorte datum; lenti seu sanguinis obsint Frigora, seu nimium longo jacuisse veterno, Sive mihi mentem dederit Natura minorem. Te sterili functum cura, vocumque salebris Tuto eluctatum spatiis sapientia dia 20 Excipit aethereis, ars omnis plaudit amica, Linguarumque omni terra discordia concors Multiplici reducem circumsonat ore magistrum. Me, pensi immunis cum jam mihi reddor, inertis Desidiae sors dura manet, graviorque labore 25 Tristis et atra quies, et tardae taedia vitae. Nascuntur curis curae, vexatque dolorum Importuna cohors, vacuae mala somnia mentis. Nunc clamosa juvant nocturnae guadia mensae, Nunc loca sola placent; frustra te, somne, recumbens 30 Alme voco, impatiens noctis metuensque diei. Omnia percurro trepidus, circum omnia lustro, Si qua usquam pateat melioris semita vitae, Nec quid agam invenio, meditatus grandia, cogor

13 Notior ipse mihi fieri, incultumque fateri 35 Pectus, et ingenium vano se robore jactans. Ingenium, nisi materiem doctrina ministret, Cessat inops rerum, ut torpet, si marmoris absit Copia, Phidiaci foecunda potentia coeli. Quicquid agam, quocunque ferar, conatibus obstat 40 Res angusta domi, et macrae penuria mentis. Non rationis opes animus, nunc parta recensens, Conspicit aggestas, et se miratur in illis, Nec sibi de gaza praesens quod postulet usus Summus adesse jubet celsa dominator ab arce; 45 Non operum serie, seriem dum computat aevi, Praeteritis fruitur, laetos aut sumit honores Ipse sui judex, actae bene munera vitae; Sed sua regna videns, loca nocte silentia late Horret, ubi vanae species, umbraeque fugaces, 50 Et rerum volitant rarae per inane figurae. Quid faciam? tenebrisne pigram damnare senectam Restat? an accingar studiis gravioribus audax? Aut, hoc si nimium est, tandem nova lexica poscam?

Vocabulary luctamen, inis (n.) a wrestling, toil, exertion pertaedet, taesum est, ere (impers.) it wearies, disgusts veternus, i (m.) lethargy, sloth desidia, ae (f.) idleness, inactivity macer, cra, crum (adj.) meagre series (f.) row, succession, sequence accingo, nxi, nctus, ere to gird oneself, prepare

14 7. ON RECOVERING THE USE OF HIS EYES

In May 1773 Johnson had a fever which lef his one useful eye seriously inflamed. This poem was composed on the night of 20-1 June 1773.

Vitae qui varias vices Rerum perpetuus temperat arbiter, Laeto cedere lumini Noctis tristitiam qui gelidae jubet, Acri sanguine turgidos 5 Obductosque oculos nubibus humidis Sanari voluit meos, Et me, cuncta beans cui nocuit dies Luci reddidit et mihi. Qua te laude, Deus, qua prece prosequar? 10 Sacri discipulus Libri Te semper studiis utilibus colam. Grates, summe Pater, tuis Recte qui fruitur muneribus, dedit.

Vocabulary vicis (f.) change, vicissitude acer, acris (adj.) hot, fierce; painful beo, avi, atus, are to gladden, bless colo, colui, cultus, ere to reverence, worship

‘Blinking Sam’ by Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1775 15 8. SKIA

Boswel thought that Johnson composed this ode on the Isle of Skye on 5 September 1773. Later Johnson showed it to Boswel, and stil later alowed him to copy it. First printed in the Tour, the poem was reprinted in the Gentleman’s Magazine for February 1786.

Ponti profundis clausa recessibus, Strepens procellis, rupibus obsita, Quam grata defesso virentem Skia sinum nebulosa pandis.

His cura credo sedibus exulat; 5 His blanda certe pax habitat locis: Non ira, non moeror quietis Insidias meditatur horis.

At non cavata rupe latescere, Menti nec aegrae montibus aviis 10 Prodest vagari, nec frementes E scopulo numerare fluctus.

Humana virtus non sibi sufficit, Datur nec aequum cuique animum sibi Parare posse, ut Stoicorum 15 Secta crepet nimis alta fallax.

Exaestuantis pectoris impetum, Rex summe, solus tu regis arbiter, Mentisque, te tollente, surgunt, Te recidunt moderante fluctus. 20

Vocabulary procella, ae (f.) a violent wind, hurricane, storm obsero, sevi, situs, ere – P. perf. covered over, strewn pando, pandi, passus, ere to extend, unfold moeror, moeroris (m.) grief, sorrow latesco, ere to hide oneself, be hidden scopulus, i (m.) a projecting point of rock, cliff, crag exaestuo, avi, atus, are to boil up

16 Loch Coruisk, Isle of Skye by Sidney Richard Percy, 1874

17 9. AD THOMAM LAURENCE, MEDICUM DOCTISSIMUM

This ode was written to Thomas Lawrence, Johnson’s fiend and physician, President of the Royal Colege of Physicians fom 1767 to 1774.

Fateris ergo quod populus solet Crepare vaecors, nil sapientiam Prodesse vitae, literasque In trepidis dare terga rebus.

Tu, queis laborat sors hominum, mala 5 Nec vincis acer, nec pateris pius; Te mille succorum potentem Destituit medicina mentis.

Per caeca noctis taedia turbidae, Pigrae per horas lucis inutiles, 10 Torpesque languescisque curis Sollicitus nimis, heu! paternis.

Tandem dolori plus satis est datum, Exsurge fortis, nunc animis opus, Te docta, Laurenti, vetustas 15 Te medici revocant labores.

Permitte summo res hominum Patri, Permitte fidens, ac muliebribus, Amice, majorem querelis, Redde tuis, tibi redde, mentem. 20

Vocabulary crepo, ui, itus, are to harp on, prattle sucus, i (m.) a medicinal drink, potion piger, gra, grum (adj.) sluggish querela, ae (f.) lamentation

18 10. TRANSLATION OF EURIPIDES, MEDEA 190-203

Johnson made three translations of his favourite passage fom the Medea, l. 190-203. This is the third and the only one in Latin

Non immerito culpanda venit Proavum vaecors insipientia, Qui convivia lautasque dapes Hilarare suis jussere modis Cantum, vitae dulce levamen. 5 At nemo feras iras hominum, Domibus claris exitiales, Voce aut fidibus pellere docuit Queis tamen aptam ferre medelam Utile cunctis hoc opus esset; 10 Namque, ubi mensas onerant epulae, Quorsum dulcis luxuria soni? Sat laetitia, sine subsidiis, Pectora molli mulcet dubiae Copia coenae. 15

Vocabulary vaecors, cordis (adj.) senseless levamen, inis (n.) solace medela, ae (f.) cure, healing mulceo, si, sus, ere to soothe, soften; relieve

Lady Hamilton as Medea by George Romney, c.1786

19 11. PRAYER ON LOSING THE POWER OF SPEECH

Johnson wrote this prayer during the night when a paralytic stroke temporarily lef him unable to speak. On 19 June 1783 he wrote to Mrs Thrale about the attack, saying that he had composed the prayer in Latin verse ‘that I might try the integrity of my faculties … The lines were not very good, but I knew them not to be very good: I made them easily, and concluded myself to be unimpaired in my faculties.’

Summe Pater, quodcunque tuum de corpore Numen Hoc statuat, precibus Christus adesse velit: Ingenio parcas, nec sit mihi culpa rogasse, Qua solum potero parte, placere tibi.

Vocabulary Numen, inis (n.) Divinity culpa, ae (f.) fault; reproach

Dr Johnson Arguing, after Joshua Reynolds, c.1770 20 12. IN RIVUM A MOLA STOANA LICHFELDIAE DIFFLUENTEM

As shown on Snape’s map of Lichfield, 1781, Stowe Mil was worked by Curborough Brook, which flowed between the mil and St Chad’s Church. The mil was demolished in 1856. The place where Johnson was taught to swim by his father was perhaps not far below the mil. Boswel records that Johnson was a strong swimmer.

Errat adhuc vitreus per prata virentia rivus, Quo toties lavi membra tenella puer; Hic delusa rudi frustrabar brachia motu, Dum docuit blanda voce natare pater. Fecerunt rami latebras, tenebrisque diurnis 5 Pendula secretas abdidit arbor aquas. Nunc veteres duris periere securibus umbrae, Longinquisque oculis nuda lavacra patent. Lympha tamen cursus agit indefessa perennis, Tectaque qua fluxit, nunc et aperta fluit. 10 Quid ferat externi velox, quid deterat aetas, Tu quoque securus res age, Nise, tuas.

Vocabulary tenella This diminutive (of tener) is relatively rare tender securis, is (f.) axe lavacrum (n.) bath; bathing spot

View from Stowe Pool west towards St Chad’s Church

21 13. PRAYER

The date of this poem, probably Johnson’s last, is that on which he received the sacrament for the last time, eight days before he died. It is a paraphrase of the Colect for the Communion Service: ‘Almighty God, unto whom al hearts be open, al desires known, and fom whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.’

Summe Deus, cui caeca patent penetralia cordis; Quem nulla anxietas, nulla cupido fugit; Quem nil vafrities peccantum subdola celat; Omnia qui spectans, omnia ubique regis; Mentibus afflatu terrenas ejice sordes 5 Divino, sanctus regnet ut intus amor: Eloquiumque potens linguis torpentibus affer, Ut tibi laus omni semper ab ore sonet: Sanguine quo gentes, quo secula cuncta piavit, Haec nobis Christus promeruisse velit! 10

Vocabulary vafrities. The usual form is vafritia, itself infrequent craftiness, deceit subdolus (adj.) crafty, cunning, sly terrenus (adj.) earthly pio, avi, atus, are to atone for, expiate

Statue of Samuel Johnson in Lichfield Market 22