Don Surly, to aspire the glorious name
Of a great man, and to be thought the same,
Makes serious use of all great trade he know.
He speaks to men with a Rhinocerotes' nose,
Which he thinks great; and so reads verses too,
And that is done as he saw great men do.
He has timpanies of business in his face,
And can forget men's names with a great grace.
He will both argue and discourse in oaths,
Both which are great; and laugh at ill-made clothes—
That's greater yet—to cry his own up neat.
He doth, at meals, alone his pheasant eat,
Which is main greatness; and at his still board
He drinks to no man; that's, too, like a lord.
He keeps another's wife, which is a spice
Of solemn greatness. And he dares, at dice,
Blaspheme God greatly, or some poor hind beat
That breathes in his dog's way; and this is great.
Nay more, for greatness' sake, he will be one
May hear my epigrams, but like of none,
Surly, use other arts; these only can
Style thee a most great fool, but no great man.
Of a great man, and to be thought the same,
Makes serious use of all great trade he know.
He speaks to men with a Rhinocerotes' nose,
Which he thinks great; and so reads verses too,
And that is done as he saw great men do.
He has timpanies of business in his face,
And can forget men's names with a great grace.
He will both argue and discourse in oaths,
Both which are great; and laugh at ill-made clothes—
That's greater yet—to cry his own up neat.
He doth, at meals, alone his pheasant eat,
Which is main greatness; and at his still board
He drinks to no man; that's, too, like a lord.
He keeps another's wife, which is a spice
Of solemn greatness. And he dares, at dice,
Blaspheme God greatly, or some poor hind beat
That breathes in his dog's way; and this is great.
Nay more, for greatness' sake, he will be one
May hear my epigrams, but like of none,
Surly, use other arts; these only can
Style thee a most great fool, but no great man.
Notes
Contextual notes:
L1 - 'Don Surly' - Don Surly was not a specific person. Johnson was talking rather of surly people in general. The Spanish title 'Don' was added because it was thought, at the time, that Spaniards were pompous and uppity
L3 - 'trade' - tricks
L4 - with a Rhinocerotes' nose' - with and upturned nose
L7 - 'timpanies' - sweelings, tumors; a figure for pride
L13 - 'still board' - his solitary dinner table
L14 - 'spice' - species
L17 - 'hind' - rustic

