Beschreibung:

JOHNSON, Samuel (1709-1784). Autograph Latin epigram, dated '[17]84. Jan 28', two lines written on one page, 76 x 192 mm , autograph reference, 'Br[odaeus] 241' in upper margin, marked with a cross in lower right corner (slightly browned, small ink smudges touching date, torn at lower edge from a larger leaf, tipped on to guard). Provenance . Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Lord Houghton, and by descent (Christies' sale, 29 June 1995, lot 349); private collection. 'Nauta, quis hoc jaceat ne percontare sepulcro, Eveniat tantum mitior unda tibi' [Sailor! Do not enquire who lies within this tomb -- Only may a kinder wave be your lot] Johnson's Latin translation of an anonymous epigram from the Greek Anthology. The page reference is to Brodaeus's edition (Basle 1549) and the cross is perhaps part of some system of checking. Dr Johnson wrote of these translations to Mrs Thrale on 19 April 1784, 'When I lay sleepless, I used to drive the night along by turning Greek epigrams into Latin'. Boswell records that Johnson gave the translations to his friend Bennet Langton who sold them to booksellers for the proceeds to be given to Johnson's relations. The present epigram was included in the 1787 edition of the Works , and D. Nichol Smith and E.L. McAdam include over 90 epigrams in their edition of The Poems of Samuel Johnson (1974, pages 242-259). Only four of the originals (not including the present one) were known to them to have survived. The sale of J.W. Croker's library, on 6 May 1858, included a lot comprising 'Eight copies of small Latin verses' by Johnson.