anecdotes of the late samuel johnson-第7章
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〃Lovely courier of the sky； Whence and whither dost thou fly？ Scatt'ring； as thy pinions play； Liquid fragrance all the way。 Is it business？ is it love？ Tell me； tell me； gentle Dove。 'Soft Anacreon's vows I bear； Vows to Myrtale the fair； Graced with all that charms the heart； Blushing nature； smiling art。 Venus； courted by an ode； On the bard her Dove bestowed。 Vested with a master's right Now Anacreon rules my flight； His the letters that you see； Weighty charge consigned to me； Think not yet my service hard； Joyless task without reward； Smiling at my master's gates； Freedom my return awaits。 But the liberal grant in vain Tempts me to be wild again。 Can a prudent Dove decline Blissful bondage such as mine？ Over hills and fields to roam； Fortune's guest without a home； Under leaves to hide one's head； Slightly sheltered； coarsely fed； Now my better lot bestows Sweet repast； and soft repose； Now the generous bowl I sip As it leaves Anacreon's lip； Void of care； and free from dread； From his fingers snatch his bread； Then with luscious plenty gay； Round his chamber dance and play； Or from wine； as courage springs； O'er his face extend my wings； And when feast and frolic tire； Drop asleep upon his lyre。 This is all； be quick and go； More than all thou canst not know； Let me now my pinions ply； I have chattered like a pie。'〃
When I had finished； 〃But you must remember to add；〃 says Mr。 Johnson； 〃that though these verses were planned； and even begun； when I was sixteen years old； I never could find time to make an end of them before I was sixty…eight。〃
This facility of writing； and this dilatoriness ever to write； Mr。 Johnson always retained； from the days that he lay abed and dictated his first publication to Mr。 Hector； who acted as his amanuensis； to the moment he made me copy out those variations in Pope's 〃Homer〃 which are printed in the 〃Poets' Lives。〃 〃And now；〃 said he； when I had finished it for him； 〃I fear not Mr。 Nicholson of a pin。〃 The fine 'Rambler；' on the subject of Procrastination； was hastily composed； as I have heard； in Sir Joshua Reynolds's parlour； while the boy waited to carry it to press； and numberless are the instances of his writing under immediate pressure of importunity or distress。 He told me that the character of Sober in the 'Idler' was by himself intended as his own portrait； and that he had his own outset into life in his eye when he wrote the Eastern story of 〃Gelaleddin。〃 Of the allegorical papers in the 'Rambler；' Labour and Rest was his favourite； but Scrotinus； the man who returns late in life to receive honours in his native country； and meets with mortification instead of respect； was by him considered as a masterpiece in the science of life and manners。 The character of Prospero in the fourth volume Garrick took to be his； and I have heard the author say that he never forgave the offence。 Sophron was likewise a picture drawn from reality； and by Gelidus； the philosopher； he meant to represent Mr。 Coulson； a mathematician； who formerly lived at Rochester。 The man immortalised for purring like a cat was； as he told me； one Busby； a proctor in the Commons。 He who barked so ingeniously； and then called the drawer to drive away the dog； was father to Dr。 Salter； of the Charterhouse。 He who sang a song； and by correspondent motions of his arm chalked out a giant on the wall； was one Richardson； an attorney。 The letter signed 〃Sunday〃 was written by Miss Talbot； and he fancied the billets in the first volume of the 'Rambler' were sent him by Miss Mulso； now Mrs。 Chapone。 The papers contributed by Mrs。 Carter had much of his esteem； though he always blamed me for preferring the letter signed 〃Chariessa〃 to the allegory； where religion and superstition are indeed most masterly delineated。
When Dr。 Johnson read his own satire； in which the life of a scholar is painted； with the various obstructions thrown in his way to fortune and to fame； he burst into a passion of tears one day。 The family and Mr。 Scott only were present； who； in a jocose way； clapped him on the back； and said； 〃What's all this； my dear sir？ Why； you and I and HERCULES； you know； were all troubled with MELANCHOLY。〃 As there are many gentlemen of the same name； I should say； perhaps； that it was a Mr。 Scott who married Miss Robinson； and that I think I have heard Mr。 Thrale call him George Lowis； or George Augustus； I have forgot which。 He was a very large man； however； and made out the triumvirate with Johnson and Hercules comically enough。 The Doctor was so delighted at his odd sally that he suddenly embraced him； and the subject was immediately changed。 I never saw Mr。 Scott but that once in my life。
Dr。 Johnson was liberal enough in granting literary assistance to others； I think； and innumerable are the prefaces； sermons； lectures； and dedications which he used to make for people who begged of him。 Mr。 Murphy related in his and my hearing one day； and he did not deny it； that when Murphy joked him the week before for having been so diligent of late between Dodd's sermon and Kelly's prologue； Dr。 Johnson replied； 〃Why； sir； when they come to me with a dead staymaker and a dying parson； what can a man do？〃 He SAID； however； that 〃he hated to give away literary performances； or even to sell them too cheaply。 The next generation shall not accuse me；〃 added he； 〃of beating down the price of literature。 One hates； besides； ever to give that which one has been accustomed to sell。 Would not you； sir；〃 turning to Mr。 Thrale； 〃rather give away money than porter？〃
Mr。 Johnson had never； by his own account； been a close student； and used to advise young people never to be without a book in their pocket； to be read at bye…times when they had nothing else to do。 〃It has been by that means；〃 said he to a boy at our house one day； 〃that all my knowledge has been gained； except what I have picked up by running about the world with my wits ready to observe； and my tongue ready to talk。 A man is seldom in a humour to unlock his bookcase； set his desk in order； and betake himself to serious study； but a retentive memory will do something； and a fellow shall have strange credit given him； if he can but recollect striking passages from different books； keep the authors separate in his head； and bring his stock of knowledge artfully into play。 How else；〃 added he； 〃do the gamesters manage when they play for more money than they are worth？〃 His Dictionary； however； could not； one would think； have been written by running up and down； but he really did not consider it as a great performance； and used to say 〃that he might have done it easily in two years had not his health received several shocks during the time。〃
When Mr。 Thrale； in consequence of this declaration； teased him in the year 1768 to give a new edition of it； because； said he； there are four or five gross faults： 〃Alas！ sir；〃 replied Johnson； 〃there are four or five hundred faults instead of four or five； but you do not consider that it would take me up three whole months' labour； and when the time was expired the work would not be done。〃 When the booksellers set him about it； however； some years after； he went cheerfully to the business； said he was well paid； and that they deserved to have it done carefully。 His reply to the person who complimented him on its coming out first； mentioning the ill success of the French in a similar attempt； is well known； and； I trust； has been often recorded。 〃Why； what would you expect； dear sir；〃 said he； 〃from fellows that eat frogs？〃 I have； however； often thought Dr。 Johnson more free than prudent in professing so loudly his little skill in the Greek language； for though he considered it as a proof of a narrow mind to be too careful of literary reputation； yet no man could be more enraged than he if an enemy； taking advantage of this confession； twitted him with his ignorance； and I remember when the King of Denmark was in England one of his noblemen
