THE

LIVE S

OF THE MOST EMINENT

ENGLISH POETS;

WITH

CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS

ON THEIR

WORK S.

By SAMUEL JOHNSON.

A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED.

THE THIRD VOLUME.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR C. BATHURST, J. BUCKLAND, W. STRAHAN, J. RIVING.
TON AND SONS, T.DAVIES, T.PAYNE, L. DAVIS, W.OWEN, B. WHITZ,
S. CROWDER, T CASLON, T. LONGMAN, B. LAW, C. DILLY,
J. DODSLEY, J WILKIE. J ROBSON, J. JOHNSON, T. LOWNDES,
G. ROBINSON, T. CADELL, J. NICHOLS, E. NEWBERY,
T. EVANS, P. ELMSLY, R. BALDWIN, G. NICOL, LEIGH
AND SOTHEBY, J. BEW N. CONANT, W. NICOLL,
J. MURKAY, S, HAYES, W. FOX, AND J. BOWEN.
MDCCLXXXIII,

Koninklijke Bibliotheck to's Klage.

PRIO R.

MA

ATTHEW PRIOR is one of those that have burst out from an obscure original to great eminence. He was born July 21, 1664, according to fome, at Winburne in Dorsetfhire, of I know not what parents; others fay that he was the fon of a Joiner of London: he was perhaps willing enough to leave his birth unsettled *, in hope, like Don Quixote, that the hiftorian of his

The difficulty of fettling Prior's birth-place is great. In the register of his College he is called, at his admiffion by the Prefident, Matthew Prior of Winburn in Middlefex; by himself next day, Matthew Prior of Dorfetfire, in which county, not in Middlefex, Winborn, or Wimborne, as it ftands in the Villare, is found. When he flood candidate for his fellowship, five years afterwards, he was registered again by himself as of Middlefex. The laft record ought to be preferred, because it was made upon oath. It is obfervable, that, as a native of Winborne, he is stiled Filius Georgii Prior, generoft; not confiftently with the common account of the meannefs of his birth.

VOL. III.