Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 4.djvu/328

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YOUNG.

by the respective authors[1]. This I shall be careful to do with regard to Young. "I think," says he, "the following pieces in four volumes to be the most excuseable of all that I have written; and I wish less apology was needful for these. As there is no recalling what is got abroad, the pieces here republished I have revised and corrected, and rendered them as pardonable as it was in my power to do."

Shall the gates of repentance be shut only against literary sinners?

When Addison published "Cato" in 1713, Young had the honour of prefixing to it a recommendatory copy of verses. This is one of the pieces which the author of the "Night Thoughts" did not republish.

On the appearance of his "Poem on the Last Day," Addison did not return Young's compliment; but "The Englishman" of October 29, 1713, which was probably written by Addison, speaks handsomely of this poem. The "Last day" was published soon after the peace. The vice-chancellor's imprimatur, for

  1. Dr. Johnson, in many cases, thought and directed differently, particularly in Young's Works. J. N.
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