The Works of Samuel Johnson in Nine Volumes | Page 9

but such as are
to be found in authors, who wrote since the accession of Elizabeth,
from which we date the golden age of our language; and of these many
might be omitted, but that the reader may require, with an appearance
of reason, that no difficulty should be left unresolved in books which
he finds himself invited to read, as confessed and established models of
style. These will be likewise pointed out by some note of exclusion, but
not of disgrace.
The words which are found only in particular books, will be known by
the single name of him that has used them; but such will be omitted,
unless either their propriety, elegance or force, or the reputation of their
authors, affords some extraordinary reason for their reception.
Words used in burlesque and familiar compositions, will be likewise
mentioned with their proper authorities; such as dudgeon, from Butler,
and leasing, from Prior; and will be diligently characterised by marks
of distinction. Barbarous, or impure, words and expressions, may be
branded with some note of infamy, as they are carefully to be
eradicated wherever they are found; and they occur too frequently, even
in the best writers: as in Pope,

--in endless error _hurl'd_. 'Tis these that early taint the female soul.
In Addison:
Attend to what a lesser muse indites.
And in Dryden:
A dreadful quiet felt, and worser far Than arms.--
If this part of the work can be well performed, it will be equivalent to
the proposal made by Boileau to the academicians, that they should
review all their polite writers, and correct such impurities as might be
found in them, that their authority might not contribute, at any distant
time, to the depravation of the language.
With regard to questions of purity or propriety, I was once in doubt
whether I should not attribute too much to myself, in attempting to
decide them, and whether my province was to extend beyond the
proposition of the question, and the display of the suffrages on each
side; but I have been since determined, by your Lordship's opinion, to
interpose my own judgment, and shall, therefore, endeavour to support
what appears to me most consonant to grammar and reason. Ausonius
thought that modesty forbad him to plead inability for a task to which
Cæsar had judged him equal:
Cur me posse negem posse quod ille putat?
And I may hope, my Lord, that since you, whose authority in our
language is so generally acknowledged, have commissioned me to
declare my own opinion, I shall be considered as exercising a kind of
vicarious jurisdiction, and that the power which might have been
denied to my own claim, will be readily allowed me as the delegate of
your Lordship.
In citing authorities, on which the credit of every part of this work must
depend, it will be proper to observe some obvious rules; such as of
preferring writers of the first reputation to those of an inferiour rank; of

noting the quotations with accuracy; and of selecting, when it can be
conveniently done, such sentences, as, besides their immediate use,
may give pleasure or instruction, by conveying some elegance of
language, or some precept of prudence or piety.
It has been asked, on some occasions, who shall judge the judges? And
since, with regard to this design, a question may arise by what authority
the authorities are selected, it is necessary to obviate it, by declaring
that many of the writers whose testimonies will be alleged, were
selected by Mr. Pope; of whom I may be justified in affirming, that
were he still alive, solicitous as he was for the success of this work, he
would not be displeased that I have undertaken it.
It will be proper that the quotations be ranged according to the ages of
their authors; and it will afford an agreeable amusement, if to the words
and phrases which are not of our own growth, the name of the writer
who first introduced them can be affixed; and if, to words which are
now antiquated, the authority be subjoined of him who last admitted
them. Thus, for scathe and buxom, now obsolete, Milton may be cited:
--The mountain oak Stands _scath'd_ to heaven.-- --He with broad sails
Winnow'd the buxom air.--
By this method every word will have its history, and the reader will be
informed of the gradual changes of the language, and have before his
eyes the rise of some words, and the fall of others. But observations so
minute and accurate are to be desired, rather than expected; and if use
be carefully supplied, curiosity must sometimes bear its
disappointments.
This, my Lord, is my idea of an English dictionary; a dictionary by
which the pronunciation of our language may be fixed, and its
attainment