THE

LIVES

OF THE MOST EMINENT

ENGLISH POETS:

WITH

CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS

ON THEIR

WORKS.

BY SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.

A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED AND revised.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

& LONDON:

PRINTED FOR G. WALKER, J. AKERMAN, E. EDWARDS; G. AND J.

ROBINSON, LIVERPOOL; E. THOMSON, MANCHESTER ; J. NOBLE,

HULL; J. WILSON, BERWICK; W. WHYTE AND co. EdinbuRGH;
AND R. GRIFFIN AND CO. GLASGOW.

1821.

10453.16)

1875, March 22.
Walker Bequest.
(Vol. I. - III.)

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

9119

03-18

19

London printed by Thomas Davison, Lombard-street, Whitefriars.

:

1

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE Booksellers having determined to publish a body of English Poetry, I was persuaded to promise them a preface to the works of each author; an undertaking, as it was then presented to my mind, not very extensive or difficult.

My purpose was only to have allotted to every poet an advertisement, like those which we find in the French Miscellanies, containing a few dates and a general character; but I have been led beyond my intention, I hope by the honest desire of giving useful pleasure.

In this minute kind of history the succession of facts is not easily discovered; and I am not without suspicion that some of Dryden's works are placed in wrong years. I have followed Langbaine, as the best authority for plays: and if I shall hereafter