Page:An Essay on the Life and Genius of Samuel Johnson.djvu/157

 by Dryden, Johnson's imitation approaches nearest to the spirit of the original. The subject is taken from the of, and has an intermixture of the sentiments of  concerning the object of prayers offered up to the Deity. The general proposition is, that good and evil are so little understood by mankind, that their wishes when granted are always destructive. This is exemplified in a variety of instances, such as riches, state-preferment, eloquence, military glory, long life, and the advantages of form and beauty. Juvenal's conclusion is worthy of a Christian poet, and such a pen as Johnson's. "Let us," he says, "leave it to the Gods to judge what is fittest for us. Man is dearer to his Creator than to himself. If we must pray for special favour, let it be for a sound mind in a sound body. Let us pray for fortitude, that we may think the labours of Hercules and all his sufferings, preferable to a life of luxury, and the soft repose of . This is a blessing within the reach of every man; this we can give ourselves. It is virtue, and virtue only, that can make us happy." In the