第31章

DuringallthetimeinwhichDr。JohnsonwasemployedinrelatingtothecircleatSirJoshuaReynolds’stheparticularsofwhatpassedbetweentheKingandhim，Dr。Goldsmithremainedunmoveduponasophaatsomedistance，affectingnottojoinintheleastintheeagercuriosityofthecompany。Heassignedasareasonforhisgloomandseeminginattention，thatheapprehendedJohnsonhadrelinquishedhispurposeoffurnishinghimwithaProloguetohisplay，withthehopesofwhichhehadbeenflattered；butitwasstronglysuspectedthathewasfrettingwithchagrinandenvyatthesingularhonourDr。Johnsonhadlatelyenjoyed。Atlength，thefranknessandsimplicityofhisnaturalcharacterprevailed。Hesprungfromthesopha，advancedtoJohnson，andinakindofflutter，fromimagininghimselfinthesituationwhichhehadjustbeenhearingdescribed，exclaimed，’Well，youacquittedyourselfinthisconversationbetterthanIshouldhavedone；forIshouldhavebowedandstammeredthroughthewholeofit。’

Hisdiaryaffordsnolightastohisemploymentatthistime。HepassedthreemonthsatLichfield；andIcannotomitanaffectingandsolemnscenethere，asrelatedbyhimself：——

’Sunday，Oct。18，1767。Yesterday，Oct。17，ataboutteninthemorning，Itookmyleaveforeverofmydearoldfriend，CatharineChambers，whocametolivewithmymotherabout1724，andhasbeenbutlittlepartedfromussince。Sheburiedmyfather，mybrother，andmymother。Sheisnowfifty-eightyearsold。

’Idesiredalltowithdraw，thentoldherthatweweretopartforever；thatasChristians，weshouldpartwithprayer；andthatI

would，ifshewaswilling，sayashortprayerbesideher。Sheexpressedgreatdesiretohearme；andheldupherpoorhands，asshelayinbed，withgreatfervour，whileIprayed，kneelingbyher，nearlyinthefollowingwords：

’AlmightyandmostmercifulFather，whoselovingkindnessisoverallthyworks，behold，visit，andrelievethisthyservant，whoisgrievedwithsickness。Grantthatthesenseofherweaknessmayaddstrengthtoherfaith，andseriousnesstoherrepentance。AndgrantthatbythehelpofthyHolySpirit，afterthepainsandlaboursofthisshortlife，wemayallobtaineverlastinghappiness，throughJESUSCHRISTourLord；forwhosesakehearourprayers。Amen。OurFather，&c。

’Ithenkissedher。Shetoldme，thattopartwasthegreatestpainthatshehadeverfelt，andthatshehopedweshouldmeetagaininabetterplace。Iexpressed，withswelledeyes，andgreatemotionoftenderness，thesamehopes。Wekissed，andparted。I

humblyhopetomeetagain，andtopartnomore。’

1768：AETAT。59]——Itappearsfromhisnotesofthestateofhismind，thathesufferedgreatperturbationanddistractionin1768。

Nothingofhiswritingwasgiventothepublickthisyear，excepttheProloguetohisfriendGoldsmith’scomedyofTheGood-naturedMan。ThefirstlinesofthisProloguearestronglycharacteristicalofthedismalgloomofhismind；whichinhiscase，asinthecaseofallwhoaredistressedwiththesamemaladyofimagination，transferstoothersitsownfeelings。Whocouldsupposeitwastointroduceacomedy，whenMr。Bensleysolemnlybegan，’Press’dwiththeloadoflife，thewearymindSurveysthegeneraltoilofhumankind。’

ButthisdarkgroundmightmakeGoldsmith’shumourshinethemore。

Inthespringofthisyear，havingpublishedmyAccountofCorsica，withtheJournalofaTourtothatIsland，IreturnedtoLondon，verydesiroustoseeDr。Johnson，andhearh

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