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Dedication to The Greek Theatre of Father Brumoy

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By Johnson, Samuel

Samuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

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Dedication to The Greek Theatre of Father Brumoy (1759)

[Editorial Introduction]

Charlotte Lennox received much needed help in her ambitious attempt to translate the three-volume work of the French Jesuit Pierre Brumoy (1668–1742), Les Théatre des Grecs (1730). The advertisement in the first of Lennox’s three volumes acknowledges Lord Orrery’s contribution of the preface and says that other contributors will be “mentioned in the proper place.” The advertisement in volume III asserts, “In this volume the discourse on the Greek comedy [pp. 121–61], and the General Conclusion [pp. 428–40] are translated by the celebrated author of the Rambler. The comedy of the Birds, and that of Peace, by a young gentleman. The comedy of the Frogs, by the learned and ingenious Dr. Gregory Sharpe, Esq;1 The discourse upon the Cyclops, by John Bourryau. The Cyclops, by Dr. Grainger, author of the translation of Tibullus.”2 There is no advertisement in volume II, but it is clear that there were other, unnamed contributors.3

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Dated 4 June 1759, the dedication was first formally attributed to Johnson by Hazen, though he notes that R. B. Adam assumed it was Johnson’s when he published the catalogue of his Johnsonian library in 1929.4

To His Royal Highness

George, Prince of Wales1

Sir,

On the day which fills every inhabitant of Britain with expectations of continued and uniform prosperity, may it be permitted me to acknowledge, with the greatest respect, my obligations to your Royal Highness, for suffering me to introduce this translation to the public under the protection of your illustrious name.

The arts of the drama, for which I have presumed to solicit your Royal Highness’s patronage, have been always honoured with the protection of princes, as the arts which add grace to precept, and teach virtue by multiplying delights.

Of the employments which engage the labours and studies of mankind, some are incited by the power of necessity, and some dictated by the love of pleasure: to works of necessity, we are driven by nature; in pursuit of pleasure, we are influenced by example. Nations may receive plenty from the cultivation of the soil, but they must owe their politeness to the refinements of the court; and the encouragement which your Royal Highness has given to the endeavours of genius, has already kindled new ardors of emulation, and brightened the prospects of the learned and the studious, who consider the birth of your Royal Highness as the birth of science,2 and promise to themselves and to posterity, that from this day

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shall be reckoned a more illustrious period of letters and of patronage.

I am, with the profoundest respect, Sir, Your Royal Highness’s Most obedient, and Most humble servant, Charlotte Lennox.

June 4.

1759.

Editorial Notes

1 Gregory Sharpe (1713–71), classical scholar and later a director of the Society of Antiquaries; SJ heard him preach at the Temple in London (Life, II.130).

2 SJ praised James Grainger (c. 1721–66) as “an agreeable man” and thought his translation of Tibullus, to which Thomas Percy contributed, “very well done.” He did not, however, appreciate The Sugar-Cane, Grainger’s most famous and ambitious poem (Life, II.454–55). John Burryau was a young associate of Grainger’s (Life, II.534).

3 For a full account of the project, see James Gray, “Dr. Johnson, Charlotte Lennox, and the Englishing of Father Brumoy,” Modern Philology, 83 (1985), 142–50. See also Bibliography, II.1006–7; Hazen, pp. 91–94; Schürer, Charlotte Lennox, p. xxxvii and n. 22; and Small, Charlotte Ramsay Lennox, pp. 216–21.

4 Hazen, p. 92, alluding to R. B. Adam, The R. B. Adam Library Relating to Dr. Samuel Johnson and His Era, 4 vols. (1929–30), II.14.

1 George William Frederick was born 4 June 1738, New Style (24 May, Old Style); he became King George III on 25 October 1760 and granted SJ his pension less than two years later.

2 Science: “Art attained by precepts, or built on principles” (Dictionary, sense 3).

Transcription

Document Details

Document TitleDedication to The Greek Theatre of Father Brumoy

AuthorJohnson, Samuel

Creation Date1759

Publ. DateN/A

Alt. TitleN/A

Contrib. AuthorLennox, Charlotte

ClassificationSubject: James Grainger; Subject: Pierre Brumoy; Subject: Translation; Subject: George III; Genre: Dedication

PrinterN/A

PublisherAndrew Millar, Vaillant, Baldwin, Crowder, Johnston, Dodsley, Wilson, Durham

Publ. PlaceLondon

VolumeSamuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

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