Summary

‘London’ by Samuel Johnson is about the hypocrisies and follies of the people living in London and is
described by the narrator’s friend Thales.

In the poem ‘London,’ the narrator’s friend, Thales, describes why he does not want to live in London
and wants to leave the city. He states that he is leaving this place because he can not stand to live with
hypocrites.

Thales also satirizes the government in power at that time. He satirizes them by saying that they are
bribing some common people to follow their rules so that others can also follow the same. He also
praises King Henry V and Queen Elizabeth and describes the development they made during their reign
in the city of London. There are a lot of things Thales wants to say to his friend, but, at this moment, a
boat arrives. He boards on the boat wishing his friend happiness and success.

Themes

Johnson’s poem taps on the themes of corruption, hypocrisy, and rustic life. According to Thales, there is
a lot of corruption in London. The ruffians are roaming on the streets and can rob anyone at any time.
There are a lot of hypocrites in the city. Rustic life is much better than the urban life of London as it is
much purer. Thales would rather go to the countryside rather than staying in the city.

This poem also highlights contemporary politics. Johnson describes how politicians take wrongful
advantage of people’s beliefs. They cheat the public and only favor those who follow their orders. The
fake rulers never did proper justice, and they bribed pensioners to follow their rules. Some leaders even
applied waste tax policies only to rob people. According to the speaker, they should return all the
resources they have robbed from people.

Analysis, Line-by-Line

Epigraph

———Quis ineptæ

Tam patiens Urbis, tam ferreus ut teneat se?

The Epigraph has been taken from Juvenal’s satire. It can be translated as “Who can endure this
monstrous city, who is so iron-willed can bear it.” The first two lines set the tone and mood of the work.
These lines depict the city life as futile. Those who live there cannot remain content after seeing the
condition all around. Somehow these lines give a hint regarding what Samuel Johnson was going to
write in his poem ‘London’. They also show what is going on in the narrator’s mind regarding Thales and
his friend.

The following analysis of Johnson’s poem is based on the revised 1748 version of the text published in
“A Collection of Poems by Several Hands” by R. Dodsley.
Lines 1–4

Tho’ grief and fondness in my breast rebel,

When injur’d Thales bids the town farewell,

Yet still my calmer thoughts his choice commend,

I praise the hermit, but regret the friend,

In the first four lines of Johnson’s ‘London,’ there is grief in the speaker’s heart because London has
been deteriorated by the ruling government. At the same time, there is also a fondness for Thales in his
heart.

In the first line of this poem, Johnson attacks the government led by Sir Robert Walpole. At the same
time, he is showing his affection towards Thales. He says that when his friend is sad inside and asks him
for farewell, he is in a dilemma concerning whether he should be happy or sad.

When he thinks about it with a calm mind, he comes to the point that he should praise his friend for his
foresightedness for leaving the land of corruption behind, but at the same time, he must regret that his
friend is leaving him alone.

In the second line, Thales represents the poet Robert Savage, one of Johnson’s friends. He left London
due to adverse circumstances and settled in Wales. However, Johnson insists that the resemblance
between Thales and Savage is coincidental. In Juvenal’s satire, Umbricius departs Rome to settle in
Cumae. Besides, Johnson enhances the authority of the speaker by giving him the name of the great
Greek mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher from Miletus, Thales.

Lines 5–8

Who now resolves, from vice and London far,

To breathe in distant fields a purer air,

And, fix’d on Cambria’s solitary shore,

Give to St. David one true Briton more.

His friend is leaving and going to a place which is very far from London and is free from corruption,
where the air is pure, like the countryside. It seems that the speaker’s friend is going to Cambria which is
the ancient name for Wales. He is leaving for Cambria, where he can pay homage to St. David, like a true
English descendant of him. He can lead a peaceful life there.

This section of Johnson’s ‘London’ imitates lines 5-9 of Juvenal’s Third Satire. In the eighth line, Johnson
alludes to St. David. He is the patron saint of Wales. In Juvenal, the narrator’s friend sets out for Cumae.
It is situated near Naples in Southern Italy, the home of the Cumaean prophetess.
Lines 9–18

For who would leave, unbrib’d, Hibernia’s land,

Or change the rocks of Scotland for the Strand?

There none are swept by sudden fate away,

But all whom hunger spares, with age decay:

Here malice, rapine, accident, conspire,

And now a rabble rages, now a fire;

Their ambush here relentless ruffians lay,

And here the fell attorney prowls for prey;

Here falling houses thunder on your head,

And here a female atheist talks you dead.

The speaker says that everyone would like to leave London unless they are bribed to stay at the place,
else they would prefer to live in Scotland. Hibernia is a reference to Ireland. The “Strand” is a busy street
in London, close to Johnson’s house.

Johnson’s speaker says that one will not die untimely in London until one suffers starvation. There is a
strong possibility of this since there are a lot of malice, hypocrisy, and conspiracies. He says that in the
city there are a lot of ruffians who can come and seize others’ property or they can lose their property to
the sudden outbreak of fire.

In the city, “relentless ruffians” ambush all the time for a lonely passerby. The worst case is that the “fell
attorney” (cruel lawyers) waits like a wild creature to latch onto his prey, a metaphorical reference to his
clients. Not only that the houses are so congested that it seems they can fall now or then. The people
there have no faith in God and they can mislead a person at any time. Who can live in such a place?
That’s the question that troubles the speaker most.

Lines 19–26

While Thales waits the wherry that contains

Of dissipated wealth the small remains,

On Thames’s banks, in silent thought we stood,

Where Greenwich smiles upon the silver flood:

Struck with the seat that gave Eliza birth,

We kneel, and kiss the consecrated earth;

In pleasing dreams the blissful age renew,

And call Britannia’s glories back to view;

The speaker and Thales both wait at the bank of the river for the “wherry” (a rowing boat) that will take
Thales to a sea-going vessel, while Thales is holding a little sum of money that will help him to make his
living there.

The speaker states that by standing near the bank of the Thames river silently, they can watch a glimpse
of the Greenwich state (maybe in the reflection of water), where Queen Elizabeth was born. They will
seize this opportunity to kneel and pay homage to her because she was an ideal ruler. He says that it
was a beautiful time when Queen Elizabeth I was reigning the country. She was glorious in her reign and
thinking of it still makes them proud. The Queen’s name reminds the speaker of the defeat of the
Spanish Armada in 1588.

Lines 27–34

Behold her cross triumphant on the main,

The guard of commerce, and the dread of Spain,

Ere masquerades debauch’d, excise oppress’d,

Or English honour grew a standing jest.

A transient calm the happy scenes bestow,

And for a moment lull the sense of woe.

At length awaking, with contemptuous frown,

Indignant Thales eyes the neighb’ring town.

By “her cross”, the speaker refers to the large red cross of the White Ensign, hoisted by the Royal Navy.
In the following line, he points at the rivalry between the Spanish and English navy regarding the
supremacy over trade and commerce. It was believed that England was afraid of facing the Spanish
force. However, in 1739, Walpole declared war against them.

The speaker says that the people in present are playing some stupid masquerades. Their thinking is
degraded by such incitements to immorality. Johnson attacks Walpole saying that the government is too
selfish and has increased the rate of taxes.

He says that now the people of England have forgotten the victory led by Queen Elizabeth. They are full
of the senses of woe and hypocrisy. Thereafter, Thales looks forward to the country he is going to. He
reminds himself of London and the days he spent there.

Lines 35–40
Since worth, he cries, in these degen’rate days,

Wants ev’n the cheap reward of empty praise;

In those curs’d walls, devote to vice and gain,

Since unrewarded science toils in vain;

Since hope but sooths to double my distress,

And ev’ry moment leaves my little less;

From this section (line 35), Thales speaks and remembers all the days he has lived in this city London. He
says that nobody wants to get any “cheap reward of empty praise”. None wants to return to those
cursed walls behind which people shamelessly commit vices and only think of personal gain.

Those who devote themselves to science, art, and knowledge, are wasting their toil in vain. There is
none to recognize their efforts and hard work. The speaker is hopeful that one day everything is going to
be fine. But, his hope doubles his distress. Every moment he spends in this city lessens his hope.

Lines 41–46

While yet my steddy steps no staff sustains,

And life still vig’rous revels in my veins;

Grant me, kind heaven, to find some happier place,

Where honesty and sense are no disgrace;

Some pleasing bank where verdant osiers play,

Some peaceful vale with mature’s paintings gay;

The speaker does not how long he remains steady. Though he thinks so, he can sense the warmth of life
is still there reveling in his veins. He prays to the almighty to grant him his wish to find a happier place.
The speaker wants to go to a place where honesty reigns and commonsense is no disgrace.

In the following lines, Johnson depicts a beautiful picture of serene rustic life. The depiction of a rural
and purer landscape creates a contrast with the harsh city life. According to the speaker, he would like
to visit a pleasing bank where green willows (“verdant osiers”) play. Some peaceful valley might be there
where nature’s gay paintings soothe his eyes.

When he thinks of London, it distresses him. He just wants to leave this place with no heavyweight on
his back. And all the time he has spent here is with force, making it all in vain. Thales asks his friend to
wish him success and wishes him to live in a place that is as kind as heaven, where there is all honesty
and there should be no disgrace.
Lines 47–50

Where once the harass’d Briton found repose,

And safe in poverty defy’d his foes;

Some secret cell, ye pow’rs, indulgent give.

Let —— live here, for —— has learn’d to live.

Thales says that he would go to the place where once the Britons took refuge. When the Germanic
tribes, especially Saxons invaded their land, they retreated to Wales. He says that he can be safe in
poverty but he will live in peace there. The speaker prays to God to provide him with some secret cell to
live in. Thus he can easily avoid the despotic ruler’s sway.

Johnson hasn’t used any name in line 50. According to Fred Springer-Miller, the name hinted here is
George II or Robert Walpole, who are depriving people of their rights and filling their pockets with
people’s money. This line is a close paraphrase of Boileau: “Que George vive ici, puisque George y sait
vivre”. Apart from that, the blanks can be filled with any name who learned to live in London,
symbolizing national vice and shame.

Lines 51–58

Here let those reign, whom pensions can incite

To vote a patriot black, a courtier white;

Explain their country’s dear-bought rights away,

And plead for pirates in the face of day;

With slavish tenets taint our poison’d youth,

And lend a lye the confidence of truth.

Let such raise palaces, and manors buy,

Collect a tax, or farm a lottery,

Thales says to let those people live who get a pension from the government for not opposing it. They are
such people who can make a patriot a scapegoat and a courtier feel proud despite him being fake and
vivacious. Thales satirizes the government and says that the courtier is proud because he is bribed by
the government and does not oppose the fake policies of the government, and what type of
government it is: a government that bribes its people and is leading them to the wrong path.

Then, Thales tells his friend and readers, about the followers of the government. He describes them as
the people who can take people’s rights away. The government is no longer the people’s government
because it is pleading to pirates who will make the country hollow one day. These people can lie so well
that it can look like the truth. They will make all of the other people slaves if they do not oppose them.
Thales, in his anger, says that let those people live in this place and make their palaces, made from the
tax and lottery collected by wrong methods. These taxes can be called the plunder because it is almost
looted from the commoners.

Lines 59–68

With warbling eunuchs fill a licens’d stage,

And lull to servitude a thoughtless age.

Heroes, proceed! what bounds your pride shall hold?

What check restrain your thirst of pow’r and gold?

Behold rebellious virtue quite o’erthrown,

Behold our fame, our wealth, our lives your own.

To such, a groaning nation’s spoils are giv’n,

When publick crimes inflame the wrath of heav’n:

But what, my friend, what hope remains for me,

Who start at theft, and blush at perjury?

In 1737, most theaters were given to the opera singers, and a licensing servitude act was passed in favor
of this and most of the theaters were closed. So, Thales is saying that the people in power can do
anything because none can stop them from doing what they think is right. No one can restrain them in
any manner.

He says that all their plundered money from colonies has been taken by these rulers. Now, they can live
in great wealth and fame because no one is going to rebel against them. Because of these things, one
day the public crimes will fill the pot of goodness in heaven with their sins and cross their limit. Then, he
says to his friend that there is no hope for him to live because there are such people who do a lot of
thieveries and, after being caught, tell lies in court.

Lines 69–78

Who scarce forbear, tho’ Britain’s Court he sing,

To pluck a titled poet’s borrow’d wing;

A statesman’s logick unconvinc’d can hear,

And dare to slumber o’er the Gazetteer;

Despise a fool in half his pension dress’d,

And strive in vain to laugh at H—y’s jest.

Others with softer smiles, and subtler art,

Can sap the principles, or taint the heart;

With more address a lover’s note convey,

Or bribe a virgin’s innocence away.

He says that he can not tolerate these things, so there’s not a single hope for him to live in such a
suffocating place. Neither can he be convinced by a diplomat, nor can he be convinced by a poet. He
cannot be overwhelmed by any of them.

The speaker is not one of those people who can be bribed. Nor does he have the power to go against
The Daily Gazetteer. It was the paper that contained the apologies for the court. He can not be like those
orators (such as John “Orator” Henley) who preach in their own house to be praised by the hypocrites in
government. Thales can not cut his principles. He says to his friend that there are such types of people in
this city, who can bribe a lover or a virgin to take their innocence away.

Lines 79–84

Well may they rise, while I, whose rustick tongue

Ne’er knew to puzzle right, or varnish wrong,

Spurn’d as a begger, dreaded as a spy,

Live unregarded, unlamented die.

For what but social guilt the friend endears?

Who shares Orgilio’s crimes, his fortune shares.

In this section of ‘London,’ Thales tells his friend that those leaders can rise by their sweet tongue. In
contrast, he has a rustic and innocent self. He does not know how to deceive someone or do something
wrong. He can not accept to be a beggar, nor be a spy. Neither can he live a life with no regard, nor can
he die without being lamented. He says that these people do not have an ounce of social guilt. They are
not endeared by social guilt but are such racketeers that do not let their future get affected by it. In the
last line of this section, the speaker alludes to Orgilio, an imaginary character successful in racketeering.

Lines 85–98

But thou, should tempting villainy present

All Marlb’rough hoarded, or all Villiers spent;

Turn from the glitt’ring bribe thy scornful eye,

Nor sell for gold, what gold could never buy,

The peaceful slumber, self-approving day,

Unsullied fame, and conscience ever gay.

The cheated nation’s happy fav’rites, see!

Mark whom the great caress, who frown on me!

London! the needy villain’s gen’ral home,

The common shore of Paris and of Rome;

With eager thirst, by folly or by fate,

Sucks in the dregs of each corrupted state.

Forgive my transports on a theme like this,

I cannot bear a French metropolis.

Thales says that the people who have been bribed by the government seem inclined towards
Marlborough. John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, is referred to here. He had a reputation for
avarice. Likewise, George Villiers, second Duke of Buckingham, squandered a vast fortune.

In the following lines, the speaker tells his friend to turn his eyes from the “glitt’ring bribe”. Some things
are much greater than the value of gold such as “peaceful slumber”, “self-approving day”, “unsullied
fame”, and ever-gay conscience.

Those who have now become the favorite of the nation spend their days there peacefully. They are the
real villain and enemies of London, and they have made it their comfortable home. These people are
much worse and smelly than the “common shore” (the common sewer where the corrupt cities dispose
of their refuse) of continental Europe.

Their eager thirst will never stop, and they will quench their lust either by fate or by folly. They shall lead
the country towards corruption. Thales cannot tolerate such rules and doesn’t want to live in a place
that is similar to a “French metropolis”.

Lines 99–110

Illustrious Edward! from the realms of day,

The land of heroes and of saints survey;

Nor hope the British lineaments to trace,

The rustick grandeur, or the surly grace;

But lost in thoughtless ease, and empty show,

Behold the warriour dwindled to a beau;

Sense, freedom, piety, refin’d away,

Of France the mimick, and of Spain the prey.

All that at home no more can beg or steal,

Or like a gibbet better than a wheel;

Hiss’d from the stage, or hooted from the court,

Their air, their dress, their politicks import;

According to Thales, London used to be the land of the heroes where once King Edward III, who was also
a successful commander, reigned and initiated the Hundred Years War against France. London used to
be the land of heroes and saints. It had its grandeur once upon a time and used to be graceful, which
was also praised by other people.

But now the people of London have become thoughtless and Edward’s victory has dwindled. It is far
from its sense of freedom and piety. Now, England imitates France which has won. They mimic the
people who are living there. They are not better than a wheel. Thales says that their people have been
degraded from their past glory. People from other countries think that the English people are no longer
that strong, hence, no need to servile them.

Lines 111–126

Obsequious, artful, voluble and gay,

On Britain’s fond credulity they prey.

No gainful trade their industry can ’scape,

They sing, they dance, clean shoes, or cure a clap;

All sciences a fasting Monsieur knows,

And bid him go to hell, to hell he goes.

Ah! what avails it, that, from slav’ry far,

I drew the breath of life in English air;

Was early taught a Briton’s right to prize,

And lisp the tale of Henry’s victories;

If the gull’d conqueror receives the chain,

And flattery subdues when arms are vain?

Studious to please, and ready to submit,

The supple Gaul was born a parasite:

Still to his int’rest true, where’er he goes,

Wit, brav’ry, worth, his lavish tongue bestows;

The people of England are no longer artful, valuable, fluent, and flexible. The bad rulers have made their
country weaker in comparison to the foreign powers. Because of them, London’s industry is not able to
trade more, as it used to do before. Everyone knows that they have tied the science industry. Forgetting
their real duties for their nation, they are now singing, dancing, cleaning shoes, or curing a clap. That’s
why “sciences” are compared to a “fasting monsieur”. The speaker ironically remarks that the rulers bid
the sciences “go to hell, to hell he goes”. And if the people keep tolerating, then they are not very far
from slavery.

He says that he saw how the Britons fought with Saxons, and he did take a breath in the air when King
Henry V defeated the French. King Henry V was the conqueror of the conquerors and was very down to
earth. He used to forgive people easily. But, when he was outraged, no one could stop him. He had wit
and was worthy of his bravery. According to the speaker, Henry was honey-lipped and strong. At the
time of his rule people lived happily.

Lines 127–135

In ev’ry face a thousand graces shine,

From ev’ry tongue flows harmony divine.

These arts in vain our rugged natives try,

Strain out with fault’ring diffidence a lye,

And gain a kick for aukward flattery.

Besides, with justice, this discerning age

Admires their wond’rous talents for the stage:

Well may they venture on the mimick’s art,

Who play from morn to night a borrow’d part;

In this section, Johnson criticizes contemporary art forms. In the first two lines, he talks about how a
thousand graces shined in every face during king Henry’s reign. At that time, a divine harmony existed in
the country. The same was reflected in everyone’s tongue, a reference to their spoken words.

From the following lines, the speaker starts satirizing his country’s artists. According to him, English
artists try to imitate the foreign trend in vain. They receive awkward flattery from the commoners as
well as the rulers. Along with that, the speaker says the “discerning age” admires their talents for the
stage. But, they venture on imitating others’ art and perform the borrowed part. It means they lack
originality and creativity. Still, they are praised by the rulers.

Lines 136–145
Practis’d their master’s notions to embrace,

Repeat his maxims, and reflect his face;

With ev’ry wild absurdity comply,

And view each object with another’s eye;

To shake with laughter ere the jest they hear,

To pour at will the counterfeited tear;

And as their patron hints the cold or heat,

To shake in dog-days, in December sweat.

How, when competitors like these contend,

Can surly virtue hope to fix a friend?

In this section of ‘London,’ Thales remarks about how the writers of his time imitated their master’s
ideas. They repeated the old maxims and ironically in their works the speaker can find the old faces. The
artists try to comply with the classical form in wild absurdity. They do not even look at things with their
own eyes. Their lack of originality is severely criticized here.

Moving on to the following lines, the speaker highlights that the people who followed those in power
not only lacked original thoughts but their emotions were also controlled by someone else. Moreover,
they lacked common sense. That’s why they did not even know when to laugh or when to cry. They are
so timid that they start to tremble in dog days and keep sweating in December if the master tells them
to feel that way. For all the reasons given above, the speaker finally asks how he can dwell in such a
place. Nothing can fix them at all.

Lines 146–157

Slaves that with serious impudence beguile,

And lye without a blush, without a smile;

Exalt each trifle, ev’ry vice adore,

Your taste in snuff, your judgment in a whore;

Can Balbo’s eloquence applaud, and swear

He gropes his breeches with a monarch’s air.

For arts like these preferr’d, admir’d, caress’d,

They first invade your table, then your breast;

Explore your secrets with insidious art,

Watch the weak hour, and ransack all the heart;

Then soon your ill-plac’d confidence repay,

Commence your lords, and govern or betray.

Thales says that in London some deceptive slaves live. They can lie in front of the rulers without feeling
guilty. Those spineless men can make one believe their lies at the very first glance. In the city, they
celebrate these vices. And the judgment of the new King can lead them to death. His judgment can’t be
appreciated like a stammerer’s or stutterer’s speech.

He is groping and breaching his people and promoting obscene arts. The people who are bribed by the
rulers are fake. First, they invade one’s mind and get their feelings or secrets and then stab them right in
the chest. They influence a person in a manner that makes a person follow these bad rulers. They also
rob one of his confidence to go outside.

Lines 158–165

By numbers here from shame or censure free,

All crimes are safe, but hated poverty.

This, only this, the rigid law pursues,

This, only this, provokes the snarling muse;

The sober trader at a tatter’d cloak,

Wakes from his dream, and labours for a joke;

With brisker air the silken courtiers gaze,

And turn the varied taunt a thousand ways.

Several crimes are committed daily in this place but no one is as shameful as poverty. The only shame is
being poor. The law does not pay any attention to this. It only cares for those who don’t object to them
and worship them like a muse. Now those people who work hard have become a joke. They don’t even
have money to buy some clothes. When the fake courtiers see them they make fun of them and look
down upon them. They taunt them every day in thousands of ways.

Lines 166–173

Of all the griefs that harrass the distress’d,

Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest;

Fate never wounds more deep the gen’rous heart,

Than when a blockhead’s insult points the dart.

Has heaven reserv’d, in pity to the poor,

No pathless waste, or undiscover’d shore;

No secret island in the boundless main?

No peaceful desart yet unclaim’d by Spain?

Thales says that of all the harassment to the innocent people, the tickling, scornful, or taunting jest’s
words make them feel bitter and worse. It makes them feel distressed. Their heart is wounded by these
scornful comments that it’s really difficult to heal. And these hypocrites and blockheads insult them by
saying: they are so poor that it is seldom that there is a place reserved for them in heaven. The
hypocrites say that they are pitiful and God is also not going to waste a seat in heaven for them. They
can live on no secret island and are not able to claim their part as Spain laid claim to some of the British
colonies in 1738.

Lines 174–179

Quick let us rise, the happy seats explore,

And bear oppression’s insolence no more.

This mournful truth is ev’ry where confess’d,

SLOW RISES WORTH, BY POVERTY DEPRESS’D:

But here more slow, where all are slaves to gold,

Where looks are merchandise, and smiles are sold,

Thales urges the public and says that they should rise against this rude oppression, and they should not
bear it anymore. But, then accepting the truth he says that they can’t be able to rise rapidly because
they are depressed by poverty. He says that, in London, the process is slower. Everyone is enslaved by
gold or wealth. It seems as if materialism has bought their souls into a good bargain. Here, people’s
behavior is controlled by money, and the pensioners have sold people’s rest for their good. Their smiles
are fake and their looks are like merchandise. In this way, Johnson criticizes the people of his time.

Lines 180–183

Where won by bribes, by flatteries implor’d,

The groom retails the favours of his lord.

But hark! th’ affrighted crowd’s tumultuous cries

Roll thro’ the streets, and thunder to the skies;

In these lines of ‘London,’ Thales says that pensioners have been bribed by the present rulers and, thus,
they have become flatterers. They only do things to please their rulers but not to serve the country.
Thales says that the flatterers should listen to the public and their problems. He says that if they go
through every street they will find the problems faced by the common people. Johnson uses hyperbolic
language in this section to emphasize the distress of the commoners, ignored by the rulers.

Lines 184–191

Rais’d from some pleasing dream of wealth and pow’r,

Some pompous palace, or some blissful bow’r,

Aghast you start, and scarce with aking sight,

Sustain th’ approaching fire’s tremendous light;

Swift from pursuing horrors take your way,

And leave your little all to flames a prey;

Then thro’ the world a wretched vagrant roam,

For where can starving merit find a home?

By pointing at the rulers, Thales says that they have been raised from this site and have gained wealth
and beautiful palaces. After gaining more wealth, they look down upon the public. He urges the rulers to
look at the bad and tremendous situation of the people and the things they are going through. The
flatterers’ sight will start aching if they look into the circumstances of common people. Now he advises
the rulers that they should take the public’s horrors away and leave them a sense of security. They
should give food to the one who is starving instead of leading him to death.

Lines 192–197

In vain your mournful narrative disclose,

While all neglect, and most insult your woes.

Should heaven’s just bolts Orgilio’s wealth confound,

And spread his flaming palace on the ground,

Swift o’er the land the dismal rumour flies,

And publick mournings pacify the skies;

Johnson’s speaker says to his friend that the flatterers are not going to listen to this advice and are not
going to apply it to themselves. Most of this is going to be in vain. They’ll neglect it and are going to
insult this speech. On a clear day, people who come to know of these racketeer pensioners’ wealth
become surprised after knowing this. They only discussed this among themselves, due to which it
became a rumor and spread like a flame.

It will work like salt works on the wound, on the public’s heart, and they’ll only mourn without doing
anything. These racketeers should not only keep their wealth and luxury for themselves, but also they
should spread it like the light of heaven. But “heaven’s just bolts” will burn all they have piled by
deceiving others.

Lines 198–209

How virtue wars with persecuting fate;

With well-feign’d gratitude the pension’d band

Refund the plunder of the begger’d land.

See! while he builds, the gaudy vassals come,

And crowd with sudden wealth the rising dome;

The price of boroughs and of souls restore,

And raise his treasures higher than before.

Now bless’d with all the baubles of the great,

The polish’d marble, and the shining plate,

Orgilio sees the golden pile aspire,

And hopes from angry heav’n another fire.

Thales tells his friend the people who are looking honorable and proud in front of people are not like
that. They are seizing people of their fate. What they are doing is contemptible. They should pay their
gratitude towards the public by refunding the property they have seized.

While building his palace, the ruler should also build houses for people. But, instead of doing this, they
only make money for themselves by selling and buying the boroughs: they have made their treasures
higher than before. Their palaces are built of polished marble. The symbolic Orgilio does not seem
pleased, though his “golden pile aspire(s)”. Those hedonistic people want to make more money. They
are still not satisfied.

Lines 210–223

Could’st thou resign the park and play content,

For the fair banks of Severn or of Trent;

There might’st thou find some elegant retreat,

Some hireling senator’s deserted seat;

And stretch thy prospects o’er the smiling land,

For less than rent the dungeons of the Strand;

There prune thy walks, support thy drooping flow’rs,

Direct thy rivulets, and twine thy bow’rs;

And, while thy beds a cheap repast afford,

Despise the dainties of a venal lord:

There ev’ry bush with nature’s musick rings,

There ev’ry breeze bears health upon its wings;

On all thy hours security shall smile,

And bless thine evening walk and morning toil.

They have their autonomy over theaters and the country. Nothing affects them. They want to rule all the
parts, even the rivers. The pensioners only want to make their superiors happy. They don’t want to do
anything for London city.

Thales says that he will go to the countryside where he doesn’t have to care about these people. He will
live his life happily. There will be his own rules under which he will feel a sense of security. The speaker
says he will do whatever he wants to do there. There will be no crisis. That will be a place where he can
live happily walking every morning and evening, listening to nature’s endless music.

Lines 224–237

Prepare for death, if here at night you roam,

And sign your will before you sup from home.

Some fiery fop, with new commission vain,

Who sleeps on brambles till he kills his man;

Some frolick drunkard, reeling from a feast,

Provokes a broil, and stabs you for a jest.

Yet ev’n these heroes, mischievously gay,

Lords of the street, and terrors of the way;

Flush’d as they are with folly, youth and wine,

Their prudent insults to the poor confine;

Afar they mark the flambeau’s bright approach,

And shun the shining train, and golden coach.

In vain, these dangers past, your doors you close,

And hope the balmy blessings of repose:

The speaker wants to stay away from the follies of people. According to him, in London, some people
taunt him and the people who present themselves to be heroes are the real stabbers, they seem to be
the lords of the streets. They terrorize the people and kill others for the sake of money. These people
seem like they are coming with light. But, the speaker advises his friend not to trust their beguilement.
They are not going to give him any blessings, so as soon as he sees them he must close his door and go
inside.

Lines 238–247

Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair,

The midnight murd’rer bursts the faithless bar;

Invades the sacred hour of silent rest,

And plants, unseen, a dagger in your breast.

Scarce can our fields, such crowds at Tyburn die,

With hemp the gallows and the fleet supply.

Propose your schemes, ye Senatorian band,

Whose Ways and Means support the sinking land;

Lest ropes be wanting in the tempting spring,

To rig another convoy for the k—g.

The rulers are cruel, and they have no sense of guilt. They are like midnight murderers. Those men can
kill one anytime and even at one’s funeral. They will behave as if nothing happened. These people do
not provide help to people. They can do anything to raise votes and do nothing else. What they are
doing is sinking the country back. They do nothing but visit their mistresses.

In this section, Johnson refers to Tyburn. It was a place of execution situated on the outskirts of London.
“Ways-and-means” bills were used to raise money for the government. Besides, in the line “To rig
another convoy for the k—g”, Joynson satirizes George II’s visits to his mistress, Amalie von Wallmoden,
in Hanover.

Lines 248–256
A single jail, in Alfred’s golden reign,

Could half the nation’s criminals contain;

Fair justice then, without constraint ador’d,

Held high the steady scale, but drop’d the sword;

No spies were paid, no special juries known,

Blest age! but ah! how diff’rent from our own!

Much could I add,—but see the boat at hand,

The tide retiring, calls me from the land:

Farewel!—When youth, and health, and fortune spent,

There was a time when King Alfred the Great ruled this place. In his reign, the crime rate was very low. A
single jail could hold half of the criminals. He used to do fair justice. In his time there were no hypocrites,
and he didn’t pay anyone to make them obey him. The special juries were not there in Alfred’s time.
Wealthier citizens were part of the special jury. The government used them to get their work done in
court.

Thales wants to say a lot of things but, just then, his boat arrived. He tells his friend that time has passed
and now he must leave. The speaker could have added a lot to his speech but the boat arrived. He asks
for a farewell from his friend and wishes his friend youth, wealth, and fortune.

Lines 257–263

Thou fly’st for refuge to the wilds of Kent;

And tir’d like me with follies and with crimes,

In angry numbers warn’st succeeding times;

Then shall thy friend, nor thou refuse his aid,

Still foe to vice forsake his Cambrian shade;

In virtue’s cause once more exert his rage,

Thy satire point, and animate thy page.

In the last section of Johnson’s ‘London,’ Thales tells his friend he is going to rustic Kent now and find
refuge there. The “wilds of Kent” can be a reference to a large wooded area covering part of Surrey and
Sussex. He is tired of the follies and crimes of this city. The speaker will not be able to succeed here.

That’s why he wants to leave this place and take refuge in Cambria for his own sake. In the last line,
Thales says that this is a satire and animates everything he wants to say. On this note, the poem ends.
Historical Context

There was a trend for the imitation of classic poets in the mid and late 18th century. It was started by
Alexander Pope. This trend, also known as Neoclassicism, gained a lot of popularity in the Augustan age
among the youths. Samuel Johnson also followed the trend and imitated Juvenal’s Third Satire out of his
fondness for Juvenal. He wrote ‘London’ right after some time of his arrival in London. He moved there
with his wife. Since the trend of imitation was at its peak, Johnson decided to walk into the path shown
in Alexander Pope’s poems. Johnson especially took inspiration from Juvenal’s satire.

About Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson was born in 1709. He is often referred to as Dr. Johnson and was a very famous poet,
playwright, and essayist. He was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, and wrote a lot of essays, sermons,
pamphlets, and poems. Johnson was one of the major writers of the mid and late 18th century. ‘London‘
is one of his famous poems. He died in 1784. Read more Samuel Johnson poems.

FAQs

When was ‘London’ written?

The poem ‘London’ was written in 1738. It was published in May 1738 anonymously.

What kind of poem is ‘London’ by Samuel Johnson?

Johnson’s ‘London’ is a satire on the ruling government and contemporary culture of the city dwellers.
The government was not doing its work properly. Instead of serving the people, it was serving itself.
Johnson wrote this piece in imitation of Juvenal’s Third Satire.

What is the main theme of ‘London’?

Corruption and hypocrisy in London is the central theme of the poem. The politicians take advantage of
the people and plunder all their money. It is because of corruption the people are facing a lot of
problems.

What is the name of the speaker’s friend in ‘London’? Why does he decide to leave London?

The narrator’s friend Thales is the speaker of the poem. He can not bear the corruption and the vices of
people, so he decides to leave London.

What is Thales’s advice to the rulers and common people?

Thales urges the common people not to bear the corruption and follow the selfish rulers. He advises the
rulers that they should serve their people and their own country instead of making pro-government
policies.
What kind of people live in the city of London?

There are a lot of robbers in the city of London. Ruffians, who dwell in the city, can kill an innocent at
any time. There are also some people whom the corruption and these ruffians can’t affect. They are the
favorites of the rulers and blindly follow their policies without even questioning them.

Why do the rulers bribe pensioners?

The rulers bribe the pensioners so that they can follow their rules. Their obedience will make common
people follow the rulers.

Similar Poetry

Readers who enjoyed Samuel Johnson’s ‘London’ should also consider other Samuel Johnson poems or
read about the poems from the following list.

‘The Vanity Of Wealth’ by Samuel Johnson – This poem is a very interesting poem by Samuel Johnson
which was published in 1749. It talks about all the kinds of dreams, wishes, ambitions, and finally how
they come to nothing.

‘One and Twenty’ by Samuel Johnson – This piece is another of his well-known poems. It is a satire on
the sense of freedom that develops in youths after the age of 21.

‘London’ by William Blake – It’s one of the best-known William Blake poems. Other poets also wrote
about the corruption of London and Blake’s ‘London’ is one such poem. Explore more William Blake
poems.

‘The Waste Land’ by T.S. Eliot – It’s one of the greatest poems of T.S. Eliot. This poem is about the
corruption, hypocrisy, and ruining of the culture of London. Read more T.S. Eliot poems.