DEFENCE OF DR. JOHNSON'S CHARACTER OF MILTON; FROM A DIALOGUE IN THE ELYSIAN SHADES, ATTRIBUTED TO THE REV. MR. BUTT, THE KING'S CHAPLAIN, WHO HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS AN ATTENDANT AT THE DOCTOR'S FUNERAL.
MILTON in his manly days Possess'd (as well he might) a manly soul. But JOHNSON, in our days emasculate, Bulg'd from the fenny flatness of his times, And tour'd a meteor of such majesty As MILTON'S self shone in his active age. If my great friend at MILTON'S moral worth Smote strong, and nearly shatter'd to the ground His merits as a man, he left him still Thron'd on sublimity's sublimest heights, And seem'd to me the only man whose mind Found thoughts, found words, suiting the theme august, Able to bring great MILTON'S stretch of soul, His noblest work, his holiest poesy, Full in our view, in seraph-glories dress'd. This portrait JOHNSON was endow'd to draw; And, when with SHAKESPEARE I the work survey'd, We saw the great Archangel into view. Rising, but not with ruin'd majesty, And at the mighty Painter's working, bow'd, Astonish'd at his aweful truth of hand, His vast capacity of mental sight. Slaves to the whistle of a glorious name Marvel, that JOHNSON dar'd from MILTON'S brow Rend a few ringlets — but the judging few Know that he leaves his great original Divinely aweful, one that well may spare The spoils that candid Wisdom calls her own.
