第42章

GeneralPaoli，talkingofGoldsmith’snewplay，said，’Ilafaituncomplimenttresgracieuxaunecertainegrandedame；’meaningaDuchessofthefirstrank。

IexpressedadoubtwhetherGoldsmithintendedit，inorderthatI

mighthearthetruthfromhimself。It，perhaps，wasnotquitefairtoendeavourtobringhimtoaconfession，ashemightnotwishtoavowpositivelyhistakingpartagainsttheCourt。Hesmiledandhesitated。TheGeneralatoncerelievedhim，bythisbeautifulimage：’MonsieurGoldsmithestcommelamer，quijettedesperlesetbeaucoupd’autresbelleschoses，sanss’enappercevoir。’

GOLDSMITH。’Tresbienditettreselegamment。’

Apersonwasmentioned，whoitwassaidcouldtakedowninshorthandthespeechesinparliamentwithperfectexactness。JOHNSON。

’Sir，itisimpossible。Irememberone，Angel，whocametometowriteforhimaPrefaceorDedicationtoabookuponshorthand，andheprofessedtowriteasfastasamancouldspeak。Inordertotryhim，Itookdownabook，andreadwhilehewrote；andI

favouredhim，forIreadmoredeliberatelythanusual。Ihadproceededbutaverylittleway，whenhebeggedIwoulddesist，forhecouldnotfollowme。’HearingnowforthefirsttimeofthisPrefaceorDedication，Isaid，’Whatanexpense，Sir，doyouputustoinbuyingbooks，towhichyouhavewrittenPrefacesorDedications。’JOHNSON。’Why，IhavededicatedtotheRoyalfamilyallround；thatistosay，tothelastgenerationoftheRoyalfamily。’GOLDSMITH。’Andperhaps，Sir，notonesentenceofwitinawholeDedication。’JOHNSON。’Perhapsnot，Sir。’BOSWELL。

’Whatthenisthereasonforapplyingtoaparticularpersontodothatwhichanyonemaydoaswell？’JOHNSON。’Why，Sir，onemanhasgreaterreadinessatdoingitthananother。’

IspokeofMr。Harris，ofSalisbury，asbeingaverylearnedman，andinparticularaneminentGrecian。JOHNSON。’Iamnotsureofthat。Hisfriendsgivehimoutassuch，butIknownotwhoofhisfriendsareabletojudgeofit。’GOLDSMITH。’Heiswhatismuchbetter：heisaworthyhumaneman。’JOHNSON。’Nay，Sir，thatisnottothepurposeofourargument：thatwillasmuchprovethathecanplayuponthefiddleaswellasGiardini，asthatheisaneminentGrecian。’GOLDSMITH。’Thegreatestmusicalperformershavebutsmallemoluments。Giardini，Iamtold，doesnotgetabovesevenhundredayear。’JOHNSON。’Thatisindeedbutlittleforamantoget，whodoesbestthatwhichsomanyendeavourtodo。

Thereisnothing，Ithink，inwhichthepowerofartisshownsomuchasinplayingonthefiddle。Inallotherthingswecandosomethingatfirst。Anymanwillforgeabarofiron，ifyougivehimahammer；notsowellasasmith，buttolerably。Amanwillsawapieceofwood，andmakeabox，thoughaclumsyone；butgivehimafiddleandafiddle-stick，andhecandonothing。’

OnMonday，April19，hecalledonmewithMrs。Williams，inMr。

Strahan’scoach，andcarriedmeouttodinewithMr。Elphinston，athisacademyatKensington。Aprinterhavingacquiredafortunesufficienttokeephiscoach，wasagoodtopickforthecreditofliterature。Mrs。Williamssaid，thatanotherprinter，Mr。

Hamilton，hadnotwaitedsolongasMr。Strahan，buthadkepthiscoachseveralyearssooner。JOHNSON。’Hewasintheright。Lifeisshort。Thesoonerthatamanbeginstoenjoyhiswealththebetter。’

Mr。Elphinstontalkedofanewbookthatwasmuchadmired，andaskedDr。Johnsonifhehadreadit。JOHNSON。’Ihavelookedintoit。’’What，(saidElphinston，)haveyounotreadi

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