第53章

’Afterhavingtalkedslightinglyofmusick，hewasobservedtolistenveryattentivelywhileMissThraleplayedontheharpsichord，andwitheagernesshecalledtoher，“Whydon’tyoudashawaylikeBurney？“Dr。Burneyuponthissaidtohim，“I

believe，Sir，weshallmakeamusicianofyouatlast。“Johnsonwithcandidcomplacencyreplied，“Sir，Ishallbegladtohaveanewsensegiventome。“’

’Hehadcomedownonemorningtothebreakfast-room，andbeenaconsiderabletimebyhimselfbeforeanybodyappeared。When，onasubsequentday，hewastwittedbyMrs。Thraleforbeingverylate，whichhegenerallywas，hedefendedhimselfbyalludingtotheextraordinarymorning，whenhehadbeentooearly。“Madame，IdonotliketocomedowntoVACUITY。“’

’Dr。BurneyhavingremarkedthatMr。Garrickwasbeginningtolookold，hesaid，“Why，Sir，youarenottowonderatthat；noman’sfacehashadmorewearandtear。“’

1776：AETAT。67。]——HavingarrivedinLondonlateonFriday，the15thofMarch，IhastenednextmorningtowaitonDr。Johnson，athishouse；butfoundhewasremovedfromJohnson’s-court，No。7，toBolt-court，No。8，stillkeepingtohisfavouriteFleet-street。MyreflectionatthetimeuponthischangeasmarkedinmyJournal，isasfollows：’Ifeltafoolishregretthathehadleftacourtwhichborehisname；*butitwasnotfoolishtobeaffectedwithsometendernessofregardforaplaceinwhichIhadseenhimagreatdeal，fromwhenceIhadoftenissuedabetterandahappiermanthanwhenIwentin，andwhichhadoftenappearedtomyimaginationwhileItroditspavements，inthesolemndarknessofthenight，tobesacredtowisdomandpiety。’BeinginformedthathewasatMr。

Thrale’s，intheBorough，Ihastenedthither，andfoundMrs。Thraleandhimatbreakfast。Iwaskindlywelcomed。Inamomenthewasinafullglowofconversation，andIfeltmyselfelevatedasifbroughtintoanotherstateofbeing。Mrs。ThraleandIlookedtoeachotherwhilehetalked，andourlooksexpressedourcongenialadmirationandaffectionforhim。Ishalleverrecollectthisscenewithgreatpleasure，Iexclaimedtoher，’Iamnow，intellectually，Hermippusredivivus，Iamquiterestoredbyhim，bytransfusionofmind。’’Therearemany(shereplied)whoadmireandrespectMr。Johnson；butyouandILOVEhim。’

*Hesaid，wheninScotland，thathewasJohnsonofthatIlk——

BOSWELL。

HeseemedveryhappyinthenearprospectofgoingtoItalywithMr。andMrs。Thrale。’But，(saidhe，)beforeleavingEnglandIamtotakeajaunttoOxford，Birmingham，mynativecityLichfield，andmyoldfriend，Dr。Taylor’s，atAshbourn，inDerbyshire。I

shallgoinafewdays，andyou，Boswell，shallgowithme。’Iwasreadytoaccompanyhim；beingwillingeventoleaveLondontohavethepleasureofhisconversation。

WegotintoaboattocrossovertoBlack-friars；andaswemovedalongtheThames，Italkedtohimofalittlevolume，which，altogetherunknowntohim，wasadvertisedtobepublishedinafewdays，underthetitleofJohnsoniana，orBon-MotsofDr。Johnson。

JOHNSON。’Sir，itisamightyimpudentthing。’BOSWELL。’Pray，Sir，couldyouhavenoredressifyouweretoprosecuteapublisherforbringingout，underyourname，whatyouneversaid，andascribingtoyoudullstupidnonsense，ormakingyouswearprofanely，asmanyignorantrelatersofyourbon-motsdo？’

JOHNSON。’No，Sir；therewillalwaysbesometruthmixedwiththefalsehood

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