Page:The Life of Mr. Richard Savage - Johnson (1727).djvu/15

 Being thus abandoned on all Sides to the Frowns of Fortune and a capricious World, without any other Friend but his own Genius to support him, he threw himself upon the barren and unthriving Province of Poetry, a Science how ornamental a Flower soever it may be among the Qualifications of Men of Ease and Fortune, when display'd only for the Amusement of a leisure Hour, yet too frequently held in Contempt, when made the whole Business of a Man's Life, and set to Sale for Bread; and more especially from the Taste of the present Age, in which the Figure and Condition of the Author takes up a greater Share of the Reader's Enquiry, than his Parts or the Matter he writes upon. Had the unfortunate Gentleman I am speaking of, been invested with either of his Father's Titles or Estates, I question not but we should have almost lost the Nobleman in the Honours paid to the Poet: But few modern Authors I fear, who launch into the World, unaided by such Advantages, will, like Virgil, when living, have the same Respect paid to them that was due to an Emperor, or like Homer, have Temples rais'd to their Memories when dead.

The first Poem Mr. Savage published, was whilst he was very young, concerning the Bangorian Controversy; although there were some pretty Lines in it, yet as his Judg-