第48章

Itiswonderfulthathehasbeenabletowritesuchvarietyofthem。’

AtMr。Beauclerk’s，whereIsupped，wasMr。Garrick，whomImadehappywithJohnson’spraiseofhisprologues；andIsuppose，ingratitudetohim，hetookuponeofhisfavouritetopicks，thenationalityoftheScotch，whichhemaintainedinapleasantmanner，withtheaidofalittlepoeticalfiction。’Come，come，don’tdenyit：theyarereallynational。Why，now，theAdamsareasliberal-mindedmenasanyintheworld：but，Idon’tknowhowitis，alltheirworkmenareScotch。Youare，tobesure，wonderfullyfreefromthatnationality：butsoithappens，thatyouemploytheonlyScotchshoe-blackinLondon。’Heimitatedthemannerofhisoldmasterwithludicrousexaggeration；repeating，withpausesandhalf-whistlingsinterjected，’Oshominisublimededit，——caelumquetueriJussit，——eterectosadsidera——tollerevultus’；

lookingdownwardsallthetime，and，whilepronouncingthefourlastwords，absolutelytouchingthegroundwithakindofcontortedgesticulation。

Garrick，however，whenhepleased，couldimitateJohnsonveryexactly；forthatgreatactor，withhisdistinguishedpowersofexpressionwhichweresouniversallyadmired，possessedalsoanadmirabletalentofmimickry。HewasalwaysjealousthatJohnsonspokelightlyofhim。Irecollecthisexhibitinghimtomeoneday，asifsaying，’Davyhassomeconvivialpleasantryabouthim，but’tisafutilefellow；’whichheutteredperfectlywiththetoneandairofJohnson。

Icannottoofrequentlyrequestofmyreaders，whiletheyperusemyaccountofJohnson’sconversation，toendeavourtokeepinmindhisdeliberateandstrongutterance。Hismodeofspeakingwasindeedveryimpressive；andIwishitcouldbepreservedasmusickiswritten，accordingtotheveryingeniousmethodofMr。Steele，whohasshewnhowtherecitationofMr。Garrick，andothereminentspeakers，mightbetransmittedtoposterityINSCORE。

NextdayIdinedwithJohnsonatMr。Thrale’s。HeattackedGray，callinghim’adullfellow。’BOSWELL。’Iunderstandhewasreserved，andmightappeardullincompany；butsurelyhewasnotdullinpoetry。’JOHNSON。’Sir，hewasdullincompany，dullinhiscloset，dulleverywhere。Hewasdullinanewway，andthatmademanypeoplethinkhimGREAT。Hewasamechanicalpoet。’Hethenrepeatedsomeludicrouslines，whichhaveescapedmymemory，andsaid，’IsnotthatGREAT，likehisOdes？’Mrs。ThralemaintainedthathisOdesweremelodious；uponwhichheexclaimed，’Weavethewarp，andweavethewoof；’——

Iadded，inasolemntone，’Thewinding-sheetofEdward’srace。’

’THEREisagoodline。’’Ay，(saidhe，)andthenextlineisagoodone，’(pronouncingitcontemptuously；)

’Giveamplevergeandroomenough。’——

’No，Sir，therearebuttwogoodstanzasinGray’spoetry，whichareinhisElegyinaCountryChurch-yard。’Hethenrepeatedthestanza，’Forwhotodumbforgetfulnessaprey，’&c。

mistakingoneword；forinsteadofprecinctshesaidconfines。Headded，’TheotherstanzaIforget。’

Ayoungladywhohadmarriedamanmuchherinferiourinrankbeingmentioned，aquestionarosehowawoman’srelationsshouldbehavetoherinsuchasituation；and，whileIrecapitulatethedebate，andrecollectwhathassincehappened，Icannotbutbestruckinamannerthatdelicacyforbidsmetoexpress。

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