第78章

Goldsmith，inhisdivertingsimplicity，complainedoneday，inamixedcompany，ofLordCamden。’Imethim(saidhe，)atLordClare’shouseinthecountry，andhetooknomorenoticeofmethanifIhadbeenanordinaryman。Thecompanyhavinglaughedheartily，Johnsonstoodforthindefenceofhisfriend。’Nay，Gentlemen，(saidhe，)Dr。Goldsmithisintheright。AnoblemanoughttohavemadeuptosuchamanasGoldsmith；andIthinkitismuchagainstLordCamdenthatheneglectedhim。’

Norcouldhepatientlyenduretohearthatsuchrespectashethoughtdueonlytohigherintellectualqualities，shouldbebestowedonmenofslighter，thoughperhapsmoreamusingtalents。

Itoldhim，thatonemorning，whenIwenttobreakfastwithGarrick，whowasveryvainofhisintimacywithLordCamden，heaccostedmethus：——’Praynow，didyou——didyoumeetalittlelawyerturningthecorner，eh？’——’No，Sir，(saidI)。Praywhatdoyoumeanbythequestion？’——’Why，(repliedGarrick，withanaffectedindifference，yetasifstandingontip-toe，)LordCamdenhasthismomentleftme。Wehavehadalongwalktogether。’JOHNSON。

’Well，Sir，Garricktalkedveryproperly。LordCamdenWASALITTLE

LAWYERtobeassociatingsofamiliarlywithaplayer。’

SirJoshuaReynoldsobserved，withgreattruth，thatJohnsonconsideredGarricktobeasitwerehisPROPERTY。HewouldallownomaneithertoblameortopraiseGarrickinhispresence，withoutcontradictinghim。

Havingfallenintoaveryseriousframeofmind，inwhichmutualexpressionsofkindnesspassedbetweenus，suchaswouldbethoughttoovaininmetorepeat，Italkedwithregretofthesadinevitablecertaintythatoneofusmustsurvivetheother。

JOHNSON。’Yes，Sir，thatisanaffectingconsideration。I

rememberSwift，inoneofhisletterstoPope，says，“Iintendtocomeover，thatwemaymeetoncemore；andwhenwemustpart，itiswhathappenstoallhumanbeings。“’BOSWELL。’Thehopethatweshallseeourdepartedfriendsagainmustsupportthemind。’

JOHNSON。’Whyyes，Sir。’BOSWELL。’Thereisastrangeunwillingnesstopartwithlife，independentofseriousfearsastofuturity。Areverendfriendofours(naminghim)tellsme，thathefeelsanuneasinessatthethoughtsofleavinghishouse，hisstudy，hisbooks。’JOHNSON。’Thisisfoolishin*****。Amanneednotbeuneasyonthesegrounds；for，ashewillretainhisconsciousness，hemaysaywiththephilosopher，Omniameamecumporto。’BOSWELL。’True，Sir：wemaycarryourbooksinourheads；

butstillthereissomethingpainfulinthethoughtofleavingforeverwhathasgivenuspleasure。Iremember，manyyearsago，whenmyimaginationwaswarm，andIhappenedtobeinamelancholymood，itdistressedmetothinkofgoingintoastateofbeinginwhichShakspeare’spoetrydidnotexist。AladywhomIthenmuchadmired，averyamiablewoman，humouredmyfancy，andrelievedmebysaying，“Thefirstthingyouwillmeetintheotherworld，willbeanelegantcopyofShakspeare’sworkspresentedtoyou。“’Dr。

Johnsonsmiledbenignantlyatthis，anddidnotappeartodisapproveofthenotion。

WewenttoSt。Clement’schurchagainintheafternoon，andthenreturnedanddrankteaandcoffeeinMrs。Williams’sroom；Mrs。

Desmoulinsdoingthehonoursofthetea-table。Iobservedthathewo

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