anecdotes of the late samuel johnson-第12章
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the Word must have felt themselves animated by his manner of reading the Holy Scriptures； and to pray by his sick…bed required strength of body as well as of mind； so vehement were his manners； and his tones of voice so pathetic。 I have many times made it my request to Heaven that I might be spared the sight of his death； and I was spared it。
Mr。 Johnson； though in general a gross feeder； kept fast in Lent； particularly the Holy Week； with a rigour very dangerous to his general health； but though he had left off wine （for religious motives； as I always believed； though he did not own it）； yet he did not hold the commutation of offences by voluntary penance； or encourage others to practise severity upon themselves。 He even once said 〃that he thought it an error to endeavour at pleasing God by taking the rod of reproof out of His hands。〃 And when we talked of convents； and the hardships suffered in them： 〃Remember always；〃 said he； 〃that a convent is an idle place； and where there is nothing to be DONE something must be ENDURED： mustard has a bad taste per se； you may observe； but very insipid food cannot be eaten without it。〃
His respect； however； for places of religious retirement was carried to the greatest degree of earthly veneration； the Benedictine convent at Paris paid him all possible honours in return； and the Prior and he parted with tears of tenderness。 Two of that college being sent to England on the mission some years after； spent much of their time with him at Bolt Court； I know； and he was ever earnest to retain their friendship； but though beloved by all his Roman Catholic acquaintance； particularly Dr。 Nugent； for whose esteem he had a singular value； yet was Mr。 Johnson a most unshaken Church of England man； and I think； or at least I once DID think； that a letter written by him to Mr。 Barnard； the King's Librarian； when he was in Italy collecting books； contained some very particular advice to his friend to be on his guard against the seductions of the Church of Rome。
The settled aversion Dr。 Johnson felt towards an infidel he expressed to all ranks； and at all times； without the smallest reserve； for though on common occasions he paid great deference to birth or title； yet his regard for truth and virtue never gave way to meaner considerations。 We talked of a dead wit one evening； and somebody praised him。 〃Let us never praise talents so ill employed； sir； we foul our mouths by commending such infidels；〃 said he。 〃Allow him the lumieres at least；〃 entreated one of the company。 〃I do allow him； sir；〃 replied Johnson； 〃just enough to light him to hell。〃 Of a Jamaica gentleman； then lately dead： 〃He will not； whither he is now gone；〃 said Johnson； 〃find much difference； I believe； either in the climate or the company。〃 The Abbe Reynal probably remembers that； being at the house of a common friend in London； the master of it approached Johnson with that gentleman so much celebrated in his hand； and this speech in his mouth： 〃Will you permit me； sir； to present to you the Abbe Reynal？〃 〃NO； SIR；〃 replied the Doctor very loud； and suddenly turned away from them both。
Though Mr。 Johnson had but little reverence either for talents or fortune when he found them unsupported by virtue； yet it was sufficient to tell him a man was very pious； or very charitable； and he would at least BEGIN with him on good terms； however the conversation might end。 He would sometimes； too； good…naturedly enter into a long chat for the instruction or entertainment of people he despised。 I perfectly recollect his condescending to delight my daughter's dancing…master with a long argument about HIS art； which the man protested； at the close of the discourse； the Doctor knew more of than himself； who remained astonished； enlightened； and amused by the talk of a person little likely to make a good disquisition upon dancing。 I have sometimes； indeed； been rather pleased than vexed when Mr。 Johnson has given a rough answer to a man who perhaps deserved one only half as rough； because I knew he would repent of his hasty reproof； and make us all amends by some conversation at once instructive and entertaining； as in the following cases。 A young fellow asked him abruptly one day； 〃Pray； sir； what and where is Palmyra？ I heard somebody talk last night of the ruins of Palmyra。〃 〃'Tis a hill in Ireland；〃 replies Johnson； 〃with palms growing on the top； and a bog at the bottom； and so they call it PALM…MIRA。〃 Seeing； however； that the lad thought him serious； and thanked him for the information； he undeceived him very gently indeed： told him the history； geography； and chronology of Tadmor in the wilderness； with every incident that literature could furnish； I think； or eloquence express； from the building of Solomon's palace to the voyage of Dawkins and Wood。
On another occasion； when he was musing over the fire in our drawing…room at Streatham； a young gentleman called to him suddenly； and I suppose he thought disrespectfully； in these words： 〃Mr。 Johnson； would you advise me to marry？〃 〃I would advise no man to marry； sir；〃 returns for answer in a very angry tone Dr。 Johnson； 〃who is not likely to propagate understanding；〃 and so left the room。 Our companion looked confounded； and I believe had scarce recovered the consciousness of his own existence； when Johnson came back； and drawing his chair among us； with altered looks and a softened voice； joined in the general chat； insensibly led the conversation to the subject of marriage； where he laid himself out in a dissertation so useful； so elegant； so founded on the true knowledge of human life； and so adorned with beauty of sentiment； that no one ever recollected the offence； except to rejoice in its consequences。 He repented just as certainly； however； if he had been led to praise any person or thing by accident more than he thought it deserved； and was on such occasions comically earnest to destroy the praise or pleasure he had unintentionally given。
Sir Joshua Reynolds mentioned some picture as excellent。 〃It has often grieved me； sir；〃 said Mr。 Johnson； 〃to see so much mind as the science of painting requires laid out upon such perishable materials。 Why do not you oftener make use of copper？ I could wish your superiority in the art you profess to be preserved in stuff more durable than canvas。〃 Sir Joshua urged the difficulty of procuring a plate large enough for historical subjects； and was going to raise further observations。 〃What foppish obstacles are these！〃 exclaims on a sudden Dr。 Johnson。 〃Here is Thrale has a thousand tun of copper； you may paint it all round if you will； I suppose； it will serve him to brew in afterwards。 Will it not； sir？〃 （to my husband； who sat by）。 Indeed； Dr。 Johnson's utter scorn of painting was such that I have heard him say that he should sit very quietly in a room hung round with the works of the greatest masters； and never feel the slightest disposition to turn them if their backs were outermost； unless it might be for the sake of telling Sir Joshua that he HAD turned them。 Such speeches may appear offensive to many； but those who knew he was too blind to discern the perfections of an art which applies itself immediately to our eyesight must acknowledge he was not in the wrong。
He delighted no more in music than in painting； he was almost as deaf as he was blind； travelling with Dr。 Johnson was for these reasons tiresome enough。 Mr。 Thrale loved prospects； and was mortified that his friend could not enjoy the sight of those different dispositions of wood and water； hill and valley； that travelling through England and France affords a man。 But when he wished to point them out to his companion： 〃Never heed such nonsense；〃 would be the reply； 〃a blade of grass is always a blade of grass； whether in one country or another。 Let us； if we DO talk； talk about something； men and women are my subjects of inquiry； let us see how these differ from those we have left behind。〃
When we were at Rouen together； he took a great fancy to the Abbe Roffette； with whom he conversed about the destruction of the order of Jesuits； and condemned it loudly as a blow to the general power of the Church； and likely to be followed with
