Question

Why does Thales want to bid farewell to London? ​

Answer 1

London is a poem by Samuel Johnson, produced shortly after he moved to London. Written in 1738, it was his first major published work.[1] The poem in 263 lines imitates Juvenal's Third Satire, expressed by the character of Thales as he decides to leave London for Wales. Johnson imitated Juvenal because of his fondness for the Roman poet and he was following a popular 18th-century trend of Augustan poets headed by Alexander Pope that favoured imitations of classical poets, especially for young poets in their first ventures into published verse.

Answer 2

Thales bids farewell to London because it is filled with vice, corruption, and crime. London is home to

• villains
• poverty

• injustice.

Thales leaves to seek virtue, peace, and safety.

Samuel Johnson wrote a poem titled London not long after relocating to the city. His first significant published work, it was written in 1738.  The poem's 263 lines mimic Juvenal's Third Satire, which is imitated by the way Thales decides to depart London for Wales in the poem. Johnson copied Juvenal because he admired the Roman poet, and he was also adhering to the popular Augustan poets' style of the 18th century, led by Alexander Pope, who favoured copying classical writers, particularly for new poets making their first forays into published verse.