roduction of which he could justly boast a
general reception. But, though he did not lose the opportunity which
success gave him of setting a high rate on his abilities, but paid
due deference to the suffrages of mankind when they were given in his
favour, he did not suffer his esteem of himself to depend upon others,
nor found anything sacred in the voice of the people when they were
inclined to censure him; he then readily showed the folly of expecting
that the public should judge right, observed how slowly poetical merit
had often forced its way into the world; he contented himself with the
applause of men of judgment, and was somewhat disposed to exclude all
those from the character of men of judgment who did not applaud him.
But he was at other times more favourable to mankind than to think them
blind to the beauties of his works, and imputed the slowness of their
sale to other causes; either they were published at a time when the town
was empty, or when the attention of the public was engrossed by some
struggle in the Parliament or some other object of general concern; or
they were, by the neglect of the publisher, not diligently dispersed,
or, by his avarice, not advertised with sufficient frequency. Address,
or industry, or liberality was always wanting, and the blame was laid
rather on any person than the author.

By arts like these, arts which every man practises in some degree, and
to which too much of the little tranquillity of life is to be ascribed,
Savage was always able to live at peace with himself. Had he, indeed,
only made use of these expedients to alleviate the loss or want of
fortune or reputation, or any other advantages which it is not in
a man's power to bestow upon himself, they might have been justly
mentioned as instances of a philosophical mind, and very properly
proposed to the imitation of multitudes who, for want of diverting their
imaginations with the same dexterity, languish under afflictions which
might be easily removed.

It were doubtless to be wished that truth and reason were universally
prevalent; that everything were esteemed according to its real value;
and that men would secure themselves from being disappointed, in their
endeavours after happiness, by placing it only in virtue, which is
always to be obtained; but, if adventitious and foreign pleasures must
be pursued, it would be perhaps of some benefit, since that pursuit must
frequently be fruitless, if the practice of Sav