“Pregnancy of imagination” - “Cowley”
Johnson expounds, “The Life of Cowley, notwithstanding the penury of English biography, has been written by Dr. Sprat, an author whose pregnancy of imagination and elegance of language have deservedly set him high in the ranks of literature; but his zeal of friendship, or ambition of eloquence, has produced a funeral oration rather than a history: he has given the character, not the life, of Cowley; for he writes with so little detail, that scarcely anything is distinctly known, but all is shown confused and enlarged through the mist of panegyric.” The allegorical pregnancy underscores Cowley’s creativity which becomes manifest in his biography regarding Cowley. The creativity is not relevant in composing history of Cowley though for is predominantly based on imaginations.
“Vomited out of the university” - “Milton”
Johnson writes, “He published the same year two more pamphlets, upon the same question. To one of his antagonists, who affirm that he was “vomited out of the university,” he answers in general terms: “The fellows of the college wherein I spent some years, at my parting, after I had taken two degrees, as the manner is, signified many times how much better it would content them that I should stay.” The allegorical vomiting alludes to the rejection by the university which would render Milton incredible. Milton affirms that he was not vomited considering his dual degrees. The antagonists are emblematic of individuals who opposed Milton’s ideologies.
“Idolaters of Praise” - “Waller”
Johnson elucidates, “Waller was not one of those idolaters of praise who cultivate their minds at the expense of their fortunes. Rich as he was by inheritance, he took care early to grow richer, by marrying Mrs. Banks, a great heiress in the city.” Waller does not worship praise. Instead of focusing on appealing praise in his life, he aims at increasing his affluence through marriage. He is not bothered that the marriage may not earn him praise as his objective is to be affluent.
Honey - “Milton”
Johnson elucidates, “Milton, having now tasted the honey of public employment, would not return to hunger and philosophy, but, continuing to exercise his office under a manifest usurpation, betrayed to his power that liberty which he had defended. Nothing can be more just than that rebellion should end in slavery.” The honey denotes the merits of being in ‘public employment.’ He enjoys immense power unlike the power in philosophy. The honey leads him to conducting unlawful acts some of which he would not have sanctioned if he were a philosopher. Power intoxicates Milton to the degree that his subverts his ideologies.
Blossoms - “Waller”
Johnson observes, “We still read the Dove of Anacreon, and Sparrow of Catullus: and a writer naturally pleases himself with a performance, which owes nothing to the subject. But compositions merely pretty have the fate of other pretty things, and are quitted in time for something useful; they are flowers fragrant and fair, but of short duration; or they are blossoms to be valued only as they foretell fruits.” Pretty compositions do not have longevity. The readers’ utility in the pretty compositions diminishes rapidly. Consequently, the readers move on to compositions that are pertinent. The brief enthusiasm with pretty compositions is comparable to blossoms whose magnificence does not last for long.
