anecdotes of the late samuel johnson-第20章
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e pains to copy them all over。 Here is the Latin ode：
〃Permeo terras； ubi nuda rupes Saxeas miscet nebulis ruinas； Torva ubi rident steriles coloni Rura labores。
〃Pervagor gentes； hominum ferorum Vita ubi nullo decorata cultu； Squallet informis； tigurique fumis Faeda latescit。
〃Inter erroris salebrosa longi； Inter ignotae strepitus loquelae； Quot modis mecum； quid agat requiro Thralia dulcis？
〃Seu viri curas pia nupta mulcet； Seu fovet mater sobolem benigna； Sive cum libris novitate pascit Sedula mentem：
〃Sit memor nostri； fideique merces； Stet fides constans； meritoque blandum Thraliae discant resonare nomen Littora Skiae。〃
On another occasion I can boast verses from Dr。 Johnson。 As I went into his room the morning of my birthday once； and said to him； 〃Nobody sends me any verses now； because I am five…and…thirty years old； and Stella was fed with them till forty…six； I remember。〃 My being just recovered from illness and confinement will account for the manner in which he burst out； suddenly； for so he did without the least previous hesitation whatsoever； and without having entertained the smallest intention towards it half a minute before：
〃Oft in danger； yet alive； We are come to thirty…five； Long may better years arrive； Better years than thirty…five。 Could philosophers contrive Life to stop at thirty…five； Time his hours should never drive O'er the bounds of thirty…five。 High to soar； and deep to dive； Nature gives at thirty…five。 Ladies； stock and tend your hive； Trifle not at thirty…five： For howe'er we boast and strive； Life declines from thirty…five。 He that ever hopes to thrive Must begin by thirty…five； And all who wisely wish to wive Must look on Thrale at thirty…five。〃
〃And now；〃 said he； as I was writing them down； 〃you may see what it is to come for poetry to a dictionary…maker； you may observe that the rhymes run in alphabetical order exactly。〃 And so they do。
Mr。 Johnson did indeed possess an almost Tuscan power of improvisation。 When he called to my daughter； who was consulting with a friend about a new gown and dressed hat she thought of wearing to an assembly； thus suddenly； while she hoped he was not listening to their conversation
〃Wear the gown and wear the hat； Snatch thy pleasures while they last； Hadst thou nine lives like a cat； Soon those nine lives would be past。〃
It is impossible to deny to such little sallies the power of the Florentines； who do not permit their verses to be ever written down； though they often deserve it； because； as they express it； Cosi se perde…rebbe la poca gloria。
As for translations； we used to make him sometimes run off with one or two in a good humour。 He was praising this song of Metastasio：
〃Deh； se piacermi vuoi； Lascia i sospetti tuoi； Non mi turbar conquesto Molesto dubitar： Chi ciecamente crede； Impegna a serbar fede： Chi sempre inganno aspetta； Alletta ad ingannar。〃
〃Should you like it in English；〃 said he； 〃thus？〃
〃Would you hope to gain my heart； Bid your teasing doubts depart； He who blindly trusts； will find Faith from every generous mind： He who still expects deceit； Only teaches how to cheat。〃
Mr。 Baretti coaxed him likewise one day at Streatham out of a translation of Emirena's speech to the false courtier Aquileius； and it is probably printed before now； as I think two or three people took copies； but perhaps it has slipped their memories。
〃Ah！ tu in corte invecchiasti； e giurerei Che fra i pochi non sei tenace ancora Dell' antica onesta： quando bisogna； Saprai sereno in volto Vezzeggiare un nemico： accio vi cada； Aprirgli innanzi un precipizio； e poi Piangerne la caduta。 Offrirti a tutti E non esser che tuo； di false lodi Vestir le accuse； ed aggravar le colpe Nel farne la difesa； ognor dal trono I buoni allontanar； d'ogni castigo Lasciar Vodio allo seettro； c d'ogni dono Il merito usurpar： tener nascosto Sotto un zelo apparente un empio fine； Ne fabbricar che sulle altrui rouine。〃
〃Grown old in courts； thou art not surely one Who keeps the rigid rules of ancient honour； Well skilled to soothe a foe with looks of kindness； To sink the fatal precipice before him； And then lament his fall with seeming friendship： Open to all； true only to thyself； Thou know'st those arts which blast with envious praise； Which aggravate a fault with feigned excuses； And drive discountenanced virtue from the throne； That leave blame of rigour to the prince； And of his every gift usurp the merit； That hide in seeming zeal a wicked purpose； And only build upon another's ruin。〃
These characters Dr。 Johnson； however； did not delight in reading； or in hearing of： he always maintained that the world was not half so wicked as it was represented； and he might very well continue in that opinion； as he resolutely drove from him every story that could make him change it； and when Mr。 Bickerstaff's flight confirmed the report of his guilt； and my husband said； in answer to Johnson's astonishment； that he had long been a suspected man： 〃By those who look close to the ground； dirt will be seen； sir；〃 was the lofty reply。 〃I hope I see things from a greater distance。〃
His desire to go abroad； particularly to see Italy； was very great； and he had a longing wish； too； to leave some Latin verses at the Grand Chartreux。 He loved； indeed； the very act of travelling； and I cannot tell how far one might have taken him in a carriage before he would have wished for refreshment。 He was therefore in some respects an admirable companion on the road； as he piqued himself upon feeling no inconvenience； and on despising no accommodations。 On the other hand； however； he expected no one else to feel any； and felt exceedingly inflamed with anger if any one complained of the rain； the sun； or the dust。 〃How；〃 said he； 〃do other people bear them？〃 As for general uneasiness； or complaints of lone confinement in a carriage； he considered all lamentations on their account as proofs of an empty head； and a tongue desirous to talk without materials of conversation。 〃A mill that goes without grist；〃 said he； 〃is as good a companion as such creatures。〃
I pitied a friend before him； who had a whining wife that found everything painful to her； and nothing pleasing。 〃He does not know that she whimpers；〃 says Johnson； 〃when a door has creaked for a fortnight together； you may observethe master will scarcely give sixpence to get it oiled。〃
Of another lady； more insipid than offensive； I once heard him say； 〃She has some softness indeed； but so has a pillow。〃 And when one observed； in reply； that her husband's fidelity and attachment were exemplary； notwithstanding this low account at which her perfections were rated〃Why； sir；〃 cries the Doctor； 〃being married to those sleepy…souled women is just like playing at cards for nothing： no passion is excited； and the time is filled up。 I do not； however； envy a fellow one of those honeysuckle wives for my part； as they are but CREEPERS at best； and commonly destroy the tree they so tenderly cling about。〃
For a lady of quality； since dead； who received us at her husband's seat in Wales with less attention than he had long been accustomed to； he had a rougher denunciation。 〃That woman；〃 cries Johnson； 〃is like sour small…beer； the beverage of her table； and produce of the wretched country she lives in： like that； she could never have been a good thing； and even that bad thing is spoiled。〃 This was in the same vein of asperity； and I believe with something like the same provocation； that he observed of a Scotch lady； 〃that she resembled a dead nettle； were she alive；〃 said he； 〃she would sting。〃
Mr。 Johnson's hatred of the Scotch is so well known； and so many of his bons mots expressive of that hatred have been already
