TO The Right Honble the Lord WALPOLE.
Reading edition
My Good Lord,
I Return Thanks to Heaven, which is in you, I mean your Taste, that would not continue, except it was cherish’d with Vertue, that Parent of Eternal Love; ’tis all Palate hungers after, intellectual Food, Generosity, Harmony; the lofty Lines of a sublime Pen: and these beautiful Perfections in you, have been the Chief Support of my Play. At this Time there are as many fine Poets in England as ever there were; but they will not write, because they say there is nothing encourag’d but Noise and Nonsense. But I believe those Bards are mistaken; for so long as the Lord Duke of viMontagu, Yourself, and Mr. Charles Stanhope live, fine Poetry will not want Encouragement: tho’ I have nothing to boast of in my Play, but the Character of Soarethereal, yet you great Men, that shine among the Angels, did condescend to support me; and no one is more thankful than
Your LORDSHIP’S
very humble Servant,
SAM. JOHNSON.
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