第44章

Then，Sir，theyhavenotthatextremenationalitywhichwefindintheScotch。Iwilldoyou，Boswell，thejusticetosay，thatyouarethemostUNSCOTTIFIEDofyourcountrymen。YouarealmosttheonlyinstanceofaScotchmanthatIhaveknown，whodidnotateveryothersentencebringinsomeotherScotchman。’

(PartThree)

OnFriday，May7，IbreakfastedwithhimatMr。Thrale’sintheBorough。Whilewewerealone，IendeavouredaswellasIcouldtoapologiseforaladywhohadbeendivorcedfromherhusbandbyactofParliament。Isaid，thathehadusedherveryill，hadbehavedbrutallytoher，andthatshecouldnotcontinuetolivewithhimwithouthavingherdelicacycontaminated；thatallaffectionforhimwasthusdestroyed；thattheessenceofconjugalunionbeinggone，thereremainedonlyacoldform，amerecivilobligation；

thatshewasintheprimeoflife，withqualitiestoproducehappiness；thattheseoughtnottobelost；and，thatthegentlemanonwhoseaccountshewasdivorcedhadgainedherheartwhilethusunhappilysituated。Seduced，perhaps，bythecharmsoftheladyinquestion，IthusattemptedtopalliatewhatIwassensiblecouldnotbejustified；forwhenIhadfinishedmyharangue，myvenerablefriendgavemeapropercheck：’MydearSir，neveraccustomyourmindtominglevirtueandvice。Thewoman’sawhore，andthere’sanendon’t。’

Hedescribedthefatherofoneofhisfriendsthus：’Sir，hewassoexuberantatalkeratpublickmeeting，thatthegentlemenofhiscountywereafraidofhim。Nobusinesscouldbedoneforhisdeclamation。’

HedidnotgivemefullcreditwhenImentionedthatIhadcarriedonashortconversationbysignswithsomeEsquimauxwhoweretheninLondon，particularlywithoneofthemwhowasapriest。HethoughtIcouldnotmakethemunderstandme。Nomanwasmoreincredulousastoparticularfacts，whichwereatallextraordinary；andthereforenomanwasmorescrupulouslyinquisitive，inordertodiscoverthetruth。

Idinedwithhimthisdayatthehouseofmyfriends，MessieursEdwardandCharlesDilly，booksellersinthePoultry：therewerepresent，theirelderbrotherMr。DillyofBedfordshire，Dr。

Goldsmith，Mr。Langton，Mr。Claxton，ReverendDr。Mayoadissentingminister，theReverendMr。Toplady，andmyfriendtheReverendMr。

Temple。

BOSWELL。’IamwellassuredthatthepeopleofOtaheitewhohavethebreadtree，thefruitofwhichservesthemforbread，laughedheartilywhentheywereinformedofthetediousprocessnecessarywithustohavebread；——plowing，sowing，harrowing，reaping，threshing，grinding，baking。’JOHNSON。’Why，Sir，allignorantsavageswilllaughwhentheyaretoldoftheadvantagesofcivilizedlife。Wereyoutotellmenwholivewithouthouses，howwepilebrickuponbrick，andrafteruponrafter，andthatafterahouseisraisedtoacertainheight，amantumblesoffascaffold，andbreakshisneck；hewouldlaughheartilyatourfollyinbuilding；butitdoesnotfollowthatmenarebetterwithouthouses。No，Sir，(holdingupasliceofagoodloaf，)thisisbetterthanthebreadtree。’

Iintroducedthesubjectoftoleration。JOHNSON。’Everysocietyhasarighttopreservepublickpeaceandorder，andthereforehasagoodrighttoprohibitthepropagationofopinionswhichhaveadangeroustendency。TosaytheMAGISTRATEhasthisright，isusinganinadequateword：itistheSOCIETYforwhichthemagistrateisagent。Hemaybemorallyortheologicallywronginrestrainingthepropagationofopinionswhichhethinksdangerous，butheispoliticallyright。’MAYO。’Iamofopinion，Sir，thateverymanisentitledtolibertyofconscienceinreligion；andthatthemagistratecannotrestrainthatright。’JOHNSON。’Sir，Iagreewithyou。Everymanhasarighttolibertyofconscience，andwiththatthemagistratecannotinterfere。Peopleconfoundlibertyofthinkingwithlibertyoftalking；nay，w

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节