358 A Biographical Sketch of Dr. Johnson
��literary points difficult to get himself into a willingness to work. He was idle, or unwell, or loth to act upon compulsion. But at last he tried to awake his faculties, and, like the lethargic porter of the castle of Indolence, ' to rouse himself as much, as rouse himself he can V He confessed that the publication of his Shakspeare answered to him in every respect. He had a very large subscription 2 .
Dr. Campbell, then alive in Queen-square 3 , who had a volume in his hand, pronounced that the preface and notes were worth the whole subscription money. You would think the text not approved or adjusted by the past or present editions, and re quiring to be settled by the future. It is hoped that the next editors will have read all the books that Shakspeare read : a pro mise our Johnson gave, but was not able to perform 4 .
The reader is apprized, that this memoir is only a sketch of life, manner, and writings
��jecture, though it be sometimes un avoidable, I have not wantonly nor licentiously indulged. It has been my settled principle that the reading of the ancient books is probably true. ... I have endeavoured to per form my task with no slight solici tude. Not a single passage in the whole work has appeared to me cor rupt, which I have not attempted to restore; or obscure, which I have not endeavoured to illustrate.' John son's Shakespeare, Preface, pp. 61, 69-
' It would be difficult to name a more slovenly, a more worthless edition of any great classic.' Mac- aulay's Misc. Works, ed. 1871, p. 385. 'Johnson's vigorous and com prehensive understanding threw more light on his author than all his pre decessors had done.' Malone's Shake speare, ed. 1821, i. 245. * Johnson's preface and notes are distinguished by clearness of thought and diction, and by masterly common sense.' Cam bridge Shakespeare, i. Preface, p. 36.
��'Then taking his black staff
he call'd his man, And rous'd himself as much
as rouse himself he can.' Canto i. 24.
2 On April 16, 1757, he wrote : 'The subscription, though it does not quite equal perhaps my utmost hope, for when was hope not dis appointed ? yet goes on tolerably.' Letters, i. 73. See also ib. i. 124, n. 2, and ante, ii. 320.
3 ' Queen's Square is an area of a peculiar kind, it being left open on one side for the sake of the beautiful landscape formed by the hills of Highgate and Hampstead, together with the adjacent fields. A delicacy worthy [of imitation].' Dodsley's London, 1761, v. 240. See also ante, ii. 51 n.
4 In his Proposals Johnson said : ' The editor will endeavour to read the books which the author read, to trace his knowledge to its source, and compare his copies with their originals.' Works, v. 100.
'In
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