John Dyer
(1700?-1758)

From Johnson,Lives, iii. 344-5.

IN 1757 Dyer published The Fleece, his greatest poetical work, of which I will not suppress a ludicrous story. Dodsley the bookseller was one day mentioning it to a critical visitor, with more expectation of success than the other could easily admit. In the conversation the author's age was asked, and being represented as advanced in life, `He will', said the critic, `be buried in woollen.'

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