1667-1745
[Sidenote: Scott’s _Life of Swift_. *]
“Swift was in person tall, strong, and well made, of a dark complexion,
but with blue eyes, black and bushy eyebrows, nose somewhat aquiline,
and features which remarkably expressed the stern, haughty, and
dauntless turn of his mind. He was never known to laugh, and his smiles
are happily characterised by the well-known lines of Shakespeare.
Indeed the whole description of Cassius might be applied to Swift:
‘He reads much;
He is a great observer and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men; ...
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort,
As if he mock’d himself and scorn’d his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.’
... In youth he was reckoned handsome; Pope observed that though his
face had an expression of dulness, his eyes were very particular. They
were as azure, he said, as the heavens, and had an unusual expression
of acuteness. In old age the Dean’s countenance conveyed an expression
which, though severe, was noble and impressive.”
[Sidenote: Johnson’s _Life of Swift_. *]
“The person of Swift had not many recommendations. He had a kind
of muddy complexion which, though he washed himself with oriental
scrupulosity, did not look clear. He had a countenance sour and severe,
which he seldom softened by an appearance of gaiety. He stubbornly
resisted any tendency to laughter.”
[Sidenote: Thomas Roscoe’s _Life of Dean Swift_. *]
“Swift was of middle stature, inclining to tall, robust, and manly,
with strongly-marked and regular features. He had a high forehead,
a handsome nose, and large piercing blue eyes, which retained their
lustre to the last. He had an extremely agreeable and expressive
countenance, which, in the words of the unfortunate Vanessa, sometimes
shone with a divine compassion,--at others, the most engaging vivacity,
indignation, fearful passion, and striking awe. His mouth was pleasing,
he had a fine regular set of teeth, a round double chin with a small
dimple; his complexion a light olive or pale brown. His voice was
sharp, strong, high-toned; but he was a bad reader, especially of
verses, and disliked music. His mien was erect, his head firm, and his
whole deportment commanding. There was a sternness and severity in his
aspect which wit and gaiety did not entirely remove. When pleased he
would smile, but never laughed aloud.... In his person he was neat and
clean even to superstition, and appeared regularly dressed in his gown
every morning, to receive the visits of his most familiar friends.”