In an undated letter sent Cave before 6 April 1738, Johnson said: “I have compos'd a Greek Epigram to Eliza, and think she ought to be celebrated in as many different languages as Lewis le Grand.... I would leave my Epigram but have not day-light to transcribe it.” The epigram appeared, unsigned, in the Gentleman's Magazine in April, p. 210. It is in reply to Elizabeth Carter's English riddle in the February issue, p. 99. Although Miss Carter was only twenty, her poems had been appearing in the magazine since 1734. It has not been previously noted that she replied to Johnson in the next issue, p. 272. As these are the first known verses to be addressed to Johnson, they are reproduced here:

Boswell marked both versions of Johnson's epigram as acknowledged by him (Life, I.140). They were reprinted in Works, 1787, XI.397, and in Poems, p. 103.