The Rambler/Volume 3

by Samuel Johnson

THE

 

RAMBLER.

 

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

 

VOL. III.

 

 

Nullius additus jurare in verba magistri,
Quo me cunque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes.
Hor. 

 

THE FOURTEENTH EDITION.

 

LONDON:

Printed by A. Strahan, Printers-Street,

For J. Johnson, G. G. and J. Robinson, W. Otridge and Son, J. and C. Rivington, R. Faulder, W. Lowndes, J. Walker, G. Wilkie, P. M'Queen, B. Collins, J. Nunn, Darton and Harvey, Vernor and Hood, Longman and Rees, Cadell jun. and Davies, Lackington, Allen and Co., Murray and Highley, Carpenter and Co., S. Bagster, and J. Mawman.

1801.

CONTENTS

OF THE

THIRD VOLUME.

Numb.		Page
106	The vanity of an author's expectations. Reasons why good authors are sometimes neglected.	1
107	Properantia's hopes of a year of confusion. The misery of prostitutes.	7
108	Life sufficient to all purposes if well employed.	13
109	The education of a fop.	18
110	Repentance stated and explained. Retirement and abstinence useful to repentance.	25
111	Youth made unfortunate by its haste and eagerness.	31
112	Too much nicety not to be indulged. The character of Eriphile.	36
113	The history of Hymenæus's courtship.	42
114	The necessity of proportioning punishments to crimes.	48
115	The sequel of Hymenæus's courtship.	55
116	The young trader's attempt at politeness.	61
117	The advantages of living in a garret.	68
118	The narrowness of fame.	75
119	Tranquilla's account of her lovers, opposed to Hymenæus.	81
120	The history of Almamoulin the son of Nouradin.	88
121	The dangers of imitation. The impropriety of imitating Spenser.	94
122	A criticism on the English historians.	101
123	The young trader turned gentleman.	106
124	The lady's misery in a summer retirement.	112
125	The difficulty of defining comedy. Tragick and comick sentiments confounded.	117
126	The universality of cowardice. The impropriety of extorting praise. The impertinence of an astronomer.	123
127	Diligence too soon relaxed. Necessity of perseverance.	130
128	Anxiety universal. The unhappiness of a wit and a fine lady.	135
129	The folly of cowardice and inactivity.	140
130	The history of a beauty.	146
131	Desire of gain the general passion.	152
132	The difficulty of educating a young nobleman.	157
133	The miseries of a beauty defaced.	163
134	Idleness an anxious and miserable state.	169
135	The folly of annual retreats into the country.	174
136	The meanness and mischief of indiscriminate dedication.	180
137	The necessity of literary courage.	186
138	Original characters to be found in the country. The character of Mrs. Busy.	191
139	A critical examination of Samson Agonistes.	197
140	The criticism continued.	204
141	The danger of attempting wit in conversation. The character of Papilius.	211
142	An account of squire Bluster.	217
143	The criterions of plagiarism.	224
144	The difficulty of raising reputation. The various species of detractors.	231
145	Petty writers not to be despised.	236
146	An account of an author travelling in quest of his own character. The uncertainty of fame.	241
147	The courtier's esteem of assurance.	247
148	The cruelty of parental tyranny.	252
149	Benefits not always entitled to gratitude.	258
150	Adversity useful to the acquisition of knowledge.	264
151	The climactericks of the mind.	269
152	Criticism on epistolary writings.	275
153	The treatment incurred by loss of fortune.	280
154	The inefficacy of genius without learning.	287
155	The usefulness of advice. The danger of habits. The necessity of reviewing life.	293
156	The laws of writing not always indisputable. Reflections on tragi-comedy.	299
157	The scholar's complaint of his own bashfulness.	304
158	Rules of writing drawn from examples. Those examples often mistaken.	310
159	The nature and remedies of bashfulness.	315