约翰逊4-6-2

In his Grace of Leeds's good company.She shall have all that's fine and fair,And the best of silk and sattin shall wear;And ride in a coach to take the air,And have a house in St. James's-square[50]."To hear a man, of the weight and dignity of Johnson, repeating suchhumble attempts at poetry, had a very amusing effect. He, however,seriously observed of the last stanza repeated by him, that it nearlycomprized all the advantages that wealth can give.''An eminent foreigner, when he was shewn the British Museum, was verytroublesome with many absurd inquiries. "Now there, Sir, (said he,) isthe difference between an Englishman and a Frenchman. A Frenchman mustbe always talking, whether he knows any thing of the matter or not; anEnglishman is content to say nothing, when he has nothing to say."''His unjust contempt for foreigners was, indeed, extreme. One evening,at old Slaughter's coffee-house[51], when a number of them were talkingloud about little matters, he said, "Does not this confirm oldMeynell's[52] observation--_For any thing I see, foreigners arefools_[53]."''He said, that once, when he had a violent tooth-ach, a Frenchmanaccosted him thus:--_Ah, Monsieur vous etudiez trop_[54].''Having spent an evening at Mr. Langton's with the Reverend Dr. Parr, hewas much pleased with the conversation of that learned gentleman; andafter he was gone, said to Mr. Langton, "Sir, I am obliged to you forhaving asked me this evening. Parr is a fair man. I do not know when Ihave had an occasion of such free controversy. It is remarkable how muchof a man's life may pass without meeting with any instance of this kindof open discussion[55]."''We may fairly institute a criticism between Shakspeare andCorneille[56], as they both had, though in a different degree, thelights of a latter age. It is not so just between the Greek dramatickwriters and Shakspeare. It may be replied to what is said by one of theremarkers on Shakspeare, that though Darius's shade[57] had_prescience_, it does not necessarily follow that he had all _past_particulars revealed to him.''Spanish plays, being wildly and improbably farcical, would pleasechildren here, as children are entertained with stories full ofprodigies; their experience not being sufficient to cause them to be soreadily startled at deviations from the natural course of life[58]. Themachinery of the Pagans is uninteresting to us[59]: when a Goddessappears in Homer or Virgil, we grow weary; still more so in the Greciantragedies, as in that kind of composition a nearer approach to Nature isintended. Yet there are good reasons for reading romances; as--thefertility of invention, the beauty of style and expression, thecuriosity of seeing with what kind of performances the age and countryin which they were written was delighted: for it is to be apprehended,that at the time when very wild improbable tales were well received, thepeople were in a barbarous state, and so on the footing of children, ashas been explained.''It is evident enough that no one who writes now can use the Pagandeities and mythology; the only machinery, therefore, seems that ofministering spirits, the ghosts of the departed, witches[60], andfairies, though these latter, as the vulgar superstition concerning them(which, while in its force, infected at least the imagination of thosethat had more advantage in education, though their reason set them freefrom it,) is every day wearing out, seem likely to be of little furtherassistance in the machinery of poetry. As I recollect, Hammondintroduces a hag or witch into one of his love elegies, where the effectis unmeaning and disgusting[61].''The man who uses his talent of ridicule in creating or grosslyexaggerating the instances he gives, who imputes absurdities that didnot happen, or when a man was a little ridiculous describes him ashaving been very much so, abuses his talents greatly. The great use ofdelineating absurdities is, that we may know how far human folly can go;the account, therefore, ought of absolute necessity to be faithful. Acertain character (naming the person) as to the general cast of it, iswell described by Garrick, but a great deal of the phraseology he usesin it, is quite his own, particularly in the proverbial comparisons,"obstinate as a pig," &c., but I don't know whether it might not be trueof Lord ------[62], that from a too great eagerness of praise andpopularity, and a politeness carried to a ridiculous excess, he waslikely, after asserting a thing in general, to give it up again inparts. For instance, if he had said Reynolds was the first of painters,he was capable enough of giving up, as objections might happen to beseverally made, first his outline,--then the grace in form,--then thecolouring,--and lastly, to have owned that he was such a mannerist, thatthe disposition of his pictures was all alike.''For hospitality, as formerly practised, there is no longer the samereason; heretofore the poorer people were more numerous, and from wantof commerce, their means of getting a livelihood more difficult;therefore the supporting them was an act of great benevolence; now thatthe poor can find maintenance for themselves, and their labour iswanted, a general undiscerning hospitality tends to ill, by withdrawingthem from their work to idleness and drunkenness. Then, formerly rentswere received in kind, so that there was a great abundance of provisionsin possession of the owners of the lands, which, since the plenty ofmoney afforded by commerce, is no longer the case.''Hospitality to strangers and foreigners in our country is now almost atan end, since, from the increase of them that come to us, there havebeen a sufficient number of people that have found an interest inproviding inns and proper accommodations, which is in general a moreexpedient method for the entertainment of travellers. Where thetravellers and strangers are few, more of that hospitality subsists, asit has not been worth while to provide places of accommodation. InIreland there is still hospitality to strangers, in some degree; inHungary and Poland probably more.''Colman, in a note on his translation of _Terence_, talking ofShakspeare's learning, asks, "What says Farmer to this? What saysJohnson[63]?" Upon this he observed, "Sir, let Farmer answer forhimself: _I_ never engaged in this controversy. I always said,Shakspeare had Latin enough to grammaticise his English[64]."''A clergyman, whom he characterised as one who loved to say littleoddities, was affecting one day, at a Bishop's table, a sort of slynessand freedom not in character, and repeated, as if part of _The Old MansWish_, a song by Dr. Walter Pope, a verse bordering on licentiousness.Johnson rebuked him in the finest manner, by first shewing him that hedid not know the passage he was aiming at, and thus humbling him: "Sir,that is not the song: it is thus." And he gave it right. Then lookingstedfastly on him, "Sir, there is a part of that song which I shouldwish to exemplify in my own life:--"May I govern my passions with absolute sway[65]!"''Being asked if Barnes knew a good deal of Greek, he answered, "I doubt,Sir, he was _unoculus inter caecos[66]_."''He used frequently to observe, that men might be very eminent in aprofession, without our perceiving any particular power of mind in themin conversation. "It seems strange (said he) that a man should see sofar to the right, who sees so short a way to the left. Burke is the onlyman whose common conversation corresponds with the general fame whichhe has in the world. Take up whatever topick you please, he is ready tomeet you[67]."''A gentleman, by no means deficient in literature, having discoveredless acquaintance with one of the Classicks than Johnson expected, whenthe gentleman left the room, he observed, "You see, now, how little anybody reads." Mr. Langton happening to mention his having read a gooddeal in Clenardus's _Greek Grammar_, "Why, Sir, (said he,) who is therein this town who knows any thing of Clenardus but you and I?" And uponMr. Langton's mentioning that he had taken the pains to learn by heartthe Epistle of St. Basil, which is given in that Grammar as a praxis,"Sir, (said he,) I never made such an effort to attain Greek[68]."''Of Dodsley's _Publick Virtue, a Poem_, he said, "It was fine _blank_(meaning to express his usual contempt for blank verse[69]); however,this miserable poem did not sell, and my poor friend Doddy said, PublickVirtue was not a subject to interest the age."''Mr. Langton, when a very young man, read Dodsley's _Cleone aTragedy_[70], to him, not aware of his extreme impatience to be read to.As it went on he turned his face to the back of his chair, and puthimself into various attitudes, which marked his uneasiness. At the endof an act, however, he said, "Come let's have some more, let's go intothe slaughter-house again, Lanky. But I am afraid there is more bloodthan brains." Yet he afterwards said, "When I heard you read it, Ithought higher of its power of language: when I read it myself, I wasmore sensible of its pathetick effect;" and then he paid it a complimentwhich many will think very extravagant. "Sir, (said he,) if Otway hadwritten this play, no other of his pieces would have been remembered."Dodsley himself, upon this being repeated to him, said, "It was toomuch:" it must be remembered, that Johnson always appeared not to besufficiently sensible of the merit of Otway[71].''Snatches of reading (said he) will not make a Bentley or a Clarke. Theyare, however, in a certain degree advantageous. I would put a child intoa library (where no unfit books are) and let him read at his choice. Achild should not be discouraged from reading any thing that he takes aliking to, from a notion that it is above his reach. If that be thecase, the child will soon find it out and desist; if not, he of coursegains the instruction; which is so much the more likely to come, fromthe inclination with which he takes up the study[72].''Though he used to censure carelessness with great vehemence, he owned,that he once, to avoid the trouble of locking up five guineas, hid them,he forgot where, so that he could not find them.''A gentleman who introduced his brother to Dr. Johnson was earnest torecommend him to the Doctor's notice, which he did by saying, "When wehave sat together some time, you'll find my brother grow veryentertaining."--"Sir, (said Johnson,) I can wait."''When the rumour was strong that we should have a war, because theFrench would assist the Americans, he rebuked a friend with someasperity for supposing it, saying, "No, Sir, national faith is not yetsunk so low."''In the latter part of his life, in order to satisfy himself whether hismental faculties were impaired, he resolved that he would try to learn anew language, and fixed upon the Low Dutch, for that purpose, and thishe continued till he had read about one half of _Thomas a Kempis_; andfinding that there appeared no abatement of his power of acquisition, hethen desisted, as thinking the experiment had been duly tried[73]. Mr.Burke justly observed, that this was not the most vigorous trial, LowDutch being a language so near to our own; had it been one of thelanguages entirely different, he might have been very soon satisfied.''Mr. Langton and he having gone to see a Freemason's funeral procession,when they were at Rochester[74], and some solemn musick being played onFrench horns, he said, "This is the first time that I have ever beenaffected by musical sounds;" adding, "that the impression made upon himwas of a melancholy kind." Mr. Langton saying, that this effect was afine one,--JOHNSON. "Yes, if it softens the mind, so as to prepare itfor the reception of salutary feelings, it may be good: but inasmuch asit is melancholy _per se_, it is bad[75]."''Goldsmith had long a visionary project, that some time or other whenhis circumstances should be easier, he would go to Aleppo, in order toacquire a knowledge as far as might be of any arts peculiar to the East,and introduce them into Britain. When this was talked of in Dr.Johnson's company, he said, "Of all men Goldsmith is the most unfit togo out upon such an inquiry; for he is utterly ignorant of such arts aswe already possess, and consequently could not know what would beaccessions to our present stock of mechanical knowledge. Sir, he wouldbring home a grinding barrow, which you see in every street in London,and think that he had furnished a wonderful improvement[76]."''Greek, Sir, (said he,) is like lace; every man gets as much of it as hecan[77].''When Lord Charles Hay[78], after his return from America, was preparinghis defence to be offered to the Court-Martial which he had demanded,having heard Mr. Langton as high in expressions of admiration ofJohnson, as he usually was, he requested that Dr. Johnson might beintroduced to him; and Mr. Langton having mentioned it to Johnson, hevery kindly and readily agreed; and being presented by Mr. Langton tohis Lordship, while under arrest, he saw him several times; upon one ofwhich occasions Lord Charles read to him what he had prepared, whichJohnson signified his approbation of, saying, "It is a very goodsoldierly defence." Johnson said, that he had advised his Lordship, thatas it was in vain to contend with those who were in possession of power,if they would offer him the rank of Lieutenant-General, and agovernment, it would be better judged to desist from urging hiscomplaints. It is well known that his Lordship died before the sentencewas made known.''Johnson one day gave high praise to Dr. Bentley's verses[79] inDodsley's _Collection_, which he recited with his usual energy. Dr. AdamSmith, who was present, observed in his decisive professorial manner,"Very well--Very well." Johnson however added, "Yes, they _are_ verywell, Sir; but you may observe in what manner they are well. They arethe forcible verses of a man of a strong mind, but not accustomed towrite verse[80]; for there is some uncouthness in the expression[81]."''Drinking tea one day at Garrick's with Mr. Langton, he was questionedif he was not somewhat of a heretick as to Shakspeare; said Garrick, "Idoubt he is a little of an infidel[82]."--"Sir, (said Johnson) I willstand by the lines I have written on Shakspeare in my Prologue at theopening of your Theatre[83]." Mr. Langton suggested, that in the line"And panting Time toil'd after him in vain,"Johnson might have had in his eye the passage in _The Tempest_, whereProspero says of Miranda,"-------She will outstrip all praise,And make it halt behind her[84]."Johnson said nothing. Garrick then ventured to observe, "I do not thinkthat the happiest line in the praise of Shakspeare." Johnson exclaimed(smiling,) "Prosaical rogues! next time I write, I'll make both time andspace pant[85]."''It is well known that there was formerly a rude custom for those whowere sailing upon the Thames, to accost each other as they passed, inthe most abusive language they could invent, generally, however, with asmuch satirical humour as they were capable of producing. Addison gives aspecimen of this ribaldry, in Number 383 of _The Spectator_, when SirRoger de Coverly and he are going to Spring-garden[86]. Johnson was onceeminently successful in this species of contest; a fellow havingattacked him with some coarse raillery, Johnson answered him thus, "Sir,your wife, _under pretence of keeping a bawdy-house_, is a receiver ofstolen goods[87]." One evening when he and Mr. Burke and Mr. Langtonwere in company together, and the admirable scolding of Timon of Athenswas mentioned, this instance of Johnson's was quoted, and thought tohave at least equal excellence.''As Johnson always allowed the extraordinary talents of Mr. Burke, soMr. Burke was fully sensible of the wonderful powers of Johnson. Mr.Langton recollects having passed an evening with both of them, when Mr.Burke repeatedly entered upon topicks which it was evident he would haveillustrated with extensive knowledge and richness of expression; butJohnson always seized upon the conversation, in which, however, heacquitted himself in a most masterly manner. As Mr. Burke and Mr.Langton were walking home, Mr. Burke observed that Johnson had been verygreat that night; Mr. Langton joined in this, but added, he could havewished to hear more from another person; (plainly intimating that hemeant Mr. Burke.) "O, no (said Mr. Burke) it is enough for me to haverung the bell to him[88]."''Beauclerk having observed to him of one of their friends, that he wasaukward at counting money, "Why, Sir, said Johnson, I am likewiseaukward at counting money. But then, Sir, the reason is plain; I havehad very little money to count."''He had an abhorrence of affectation[89]. Talking of old Mr. Langton, ofwhom he said, "Sir, you will seldom see such a gentleman, such are hisstores of literature, such his knowledge in divinity, and such hisexemplary life;" he added, "and Sir, he has no grimace, nogesticulation, no bursts of admiration on trivial occasions; he neverembraces you with an overacted cordiality[90]."''Being in company with a gentleman who thought fit to maintain Dr.Berkeley's ingenious philosophy, that nothing exists but as perceived bysome mind[91]; when the gentleman was going away, Johnson said to him,"Pray, Sir, don't leave us; for we may perhaps forget to think of you,and then you will cease to exist[92]."''Goldsmith, upon being visited by Johnson one day in the Temple, said tohim with a little jealousy of the appearance of his accommodation, "Ishall soon be in better chambers than these." Johnson at the same timechecked him and paid him a handsome compliment, implying that a man ofhis talents should be above attention to such distinctions,--'Nay, Sir,never mind that. _Nil te quaesiveris extra_[93].''At the time when his pension was granted to him, he said, with a nobleliterary ambition, "Had this happened twenty years years ago, I shouldhave gone to Constantinople to learn Arabick, as Pococke did[94]."''As an instance of the niceness of his taste, though he praised West'stranslation of Pindar, he pointed out the following passage as faulty,by expressing a circumstance so minute as to detract from the generaldignity which should prevail:"Down then from thy glittering nail,Take, O Muse, thy Dorian _lyre_[95].'"'When Mr. Vesey[96] was proposed as a member of the LITERARY CLUB, Mr.Burke began by saying that he was a man of gentle manners. "Sir, saidJohnson, you need say no more. When you have said a man of gentlemanners; you have said enough."''The late Mr. Fitzherbert[97] told Mr. Langton that Johnson said to him,"Sir, a man has no more right to _say_ an uncivil thing, than to _act_one; no more right to say a rude thing to another than to knockhim down."''My dear friend Dr. Bathurst[98], (said he with a warmth of approbation)declared he was glad that his father, who was a West-Indian planter, hadleft his affairs in total ruin, because having no estate, he was notunder the temptation of having slaves.''Richardson had little conversation[99], except about his own works, ofwhich Sir Joshua Reynolds said he was always willing to talk, and gladto have them introduced. Johnson when he carried Mr. Langton to see him,professed that he could bring him out into conversation, and used thisallusive expression, "Sir, I can make him _rear._" But he failed; for inthat interview Richardson said little else than that there lay in theroom a translation of his _Clarissa_ into German[100].''Once when somebody produced a newspaper in which there was a letter ofstupid abuse of Sir Joshua Reynolds, of which Johnson himself came infor a share,--"Pray," said he, "let us have it read aloud from beginningto end;" which being done, he with a ludicrous earnestness, and notdirecting his look to any particular person, called out, "Are we aliveafter all this satire!"''He had a strong prejudice against the political character ofSeeker[101], one instance of which appeared at Oxford, where heexpressed great dissatisfaction at his varying the old establishedtoast, "Church and King." "The Archbishop of Canterbury, said he (withan affected smooth smiling grimace) drinks,' Constitution in Church andState.'" Being asked what difference there was between the two toasts,he said, "Why, Sir, you may be sure he meant something." Yet when thelife of that prelate, prefixed to his sermons by Dr. Porteus and Dr.Stinton his chaplains, first came out, he read it with the utmostavidity, and said, "It is a life well written, and that well deserves tobe recorded."''Of a certain noble Lord, he said, "Respect him, you could not; for hehad no mind of his own. Love him you could not; for that which you coulddo with him, every one else could[102]."''Of Dr. Goldsmith he said, "No man was more foolish when he had not apen in his hand, or more wise when he had[103]."''He told in his lively manner the following literary anecdote: "Greenand Guthrie[104], an Irishman and a Scotchman, undertook a translationof Duhalde's _History of China_. Green said of Guthrie, that he knew noEnglish, and Guthrie of Green, that he knew no French; and these twoundertook to translate Duhalde's _History of China_. In this translationthere was found 'the twenty-sixth day of the new moon.' Now as the wholeage of the moon is but twenty-eight days, the moon instead of being new,was nearly as old as it could be. Their blunder arose from theirmistaking the word _neuvieme_ ninth, for _nouvelle_ or _neuve_, new."''Talking of Dr. Blagden's copiousness and precision of communication,Dr. Johnson said, "Blagden, Sir, is a delightful fellow[105]."''On occasion of Dr. Johnson's publishing his pamphlet of _The FalseAlarm_[106], there came out a very angry answer (by many supposed to beby Mr. Wilkes). Dr. Johnson determined on not answering it; but, inconversation with Mr. Langton, mentioned a particular or two, which ifhe _had_ replied to it, he might perhaps have inserted. In theanswerer's pamphlet, it had been said with solemnity, "Do you consider,Sir, that a House of Commons is to the people as a Creature is to its