〃 said I； as he went out of the coach。 He turned back； stood still two minutes on the carriage…step〃When I have written my letter for Dick； I may hang myself； mayn't I？〃 and turned away in a very ill humour indeed。
Though apt enough to take sudden likings or aversions to people he occasionally met； he would never hastily pronounce upon their character； and when； seeing him justly delighted with Solander's conversation； I observed once that he was a man of great parts who talked from a full mind… …〃It may be so；〃 said Mr。 Johnson； 〃but you cannot know it yet； nor I neither： the pump works well； to be sure！ but how； I wonder； are we to decide in so very short an acquaintance； whether it is supplied by a spring or a reservoir？〃 He always made a great difference in his esteem between talents and erudition； and when he saw a person eminent for literature； though wholly unconversible； it fretted him。 〃Teaching such tonies；〃 said he to me one day； 〃is like setting a lady's diamonds in lead； which only obscures the lustre of the stone； and makes the possessor ashamed on't。〃 Useful and what we call everyday knowledge had the most of his just praise。 〃Let your boy learn arithmetic； dear madam；〃 was his advice to the mother of a rich young heir： 〃he will not then be a prey to every rascal which this town swarms with。 Teach him the value of money； and how to reckon it； ignorance to a wealthy lad of one…and…twenty is only so much fat to a sick sheep： it just serves to call the ROOKS about him。〃
〃And all that prey in vice or folly Joy to see their quarry fly； Here the gamester light and jolly； There the lender grave and sly。〃
These improviso lines； making part of a long copy of verses which my regard for the youth on whose birthday they were written obliges me to suppress； lest they should give him pain； show a mind of surprising activity and warmth； the more so as he was past seventy years of age when he composed them； but nothing more certainly offended Mr。 Johnson than the idea of a man's faculties （mental ones； I mean） decaying by time。 〃It is not true； sir；〃 would he say； 〃what a man could once do； he would always do； unless； indeed； by dint of vicious indolence； and compliance with the nephews and the nieces who crowd round an old fellow； and help to tuck him in； till he； contented with the exchange of fame for ease； e'en resolves to let them set the pillows at his back； and gives no further proof of his existence than just to suck the jelly that prolongs it。〃
For such a life or such a death Dr。 Johnson was indeed never intended by Providence： his mind was like a warm climate； which brings everything to perfection suddenly and vigorously； not like the alembicated productions of artificial fire； which always betray the difficulty of bringing them forth when their size is disproportionate to their flavour。 〃Je ferois un Roman tout comme un autre； mais la vie n'est point un Roman；〃 says a famous French writer； and this was so certainly the opinion of the author of the 〃Rambler；〃 that all his conversation precepts tended towards the dispersion of romantic ideas； and were chiefly intended to promote the cultivation of
〃That which before thee lies in daily life。〃 MILTON。
And when he talked of authors； his praise went spontaneously to such passages as are sure in his own phrase to leave something behind them useful on common occasions； or observant of common manners。 For example； it was not the two LAST； but the two FIRST volumes of 〃Clarissa〃 that he prized； 〃for give me a sick…bed and a dying lady；〃 said he； 〃and I'll be pathetic myself。 But Richardson had picked the kernel of life；〃 he said； 〃while Fielding was contented with the husk。〃 It was not King Lear cursing his daughters； or deprecating the storm； that I remember his commendations of； but Iago's ingenious malice and subtle revenge； or Prince Hal's gay compliance with the vices of Falstaff； whom he all along despised。 Those plays had indeed no rivals in Johnson's favour： 〃No man but Shakespeare；〃 he said； 〃could have drawn Sir John。〃
His manner of criticising and commending Addison's prose was the same in conversation as we read it in the printed strictures； and many of the expressions used have been heard to fall from him on common occasions。 It was notwithstanding observable enough （or I fancied so） that he did never like； though he always thought fit to praise it； and his praises resembled those of a man who extols the superior elegance of high painted porcelain； while he himself always chooses to eat off PLATE。 I told him so one day； and he neither denied it nor appeared displeased。
Of the pathetic in poetry he never liked to speak； and the only passage I ever heard him applaud as particularly tender in any common book was Jane Shore's exclamation in the last act
〃Forgive me！ BUT forgive me！〃
It was not； however； from the want of a susceptible heart that he hated to cite tender expressions； for he was more strongly and more violently affected by the force of words representing ideas capable of affecting him at all than any other man in the world； I believe： and when he would try to repeat the celebrated Prosa Ecclesiastica pro Mortuis； as it is called； beginning 〃Dies irae； Dies illa；〃 he could never pass the stanza ending thus； 〃Tantus labor non sit cassus；〃 without bursting into a flood of tears； which sensibility I used to quote against him when he would inveigh against devotional poetry； and protest that all religious verses were cold and feeble； and unworthy the subject； which ought to be treated with higher reverence； he said； than either poets or painters could presume to excite or bestow。 Nor can anything be a stronger proof of Dr。 Johnson's piety than such an expression； for his idea of poetry was magnificent indeed； and very fully was he persuaded of its superiority over every other talent bestowed by heaven on man。 His chapter upon that particular subject in his 〃Rasselas〃 is really written from the fulness of his heart； and quite in his best manner； I think。 I am not so sure that this is the proper place to mention his writing that surprising little volume in a week or ten days' time； in order to obtain money for his journey to Lichfield when his mother lay upon her last sick…bed。
Promptitude of thought； indeed； and quickness of expression； were among the peculiar felicities of Johnson； his notions rose up like the dragon's teeth sowed by Cadmus all ready clothed； and in bright armour too； fit for immediate battle。 He was therefore （as somebody is said to have expressed it） a tremendous converser； and few people ventured to try their skill against an antagonist with whom contention was so hopeless。 One gentleman； however； who dined at a nobleman's house in his company； and that of Mr。 Thrale； to whom I was obliged for the anecdote； was willing to enter the lists in defence of King William's character； and having opposed and contradicted Johnson two or three times petulantly enough； the master of the house began to feel uneasy； and expect disagreeable consequences； to avoid which he said； loud enough for the Doctor to hear； 〃Our friend here has no meaning now in all this； except just to relate at club to…morrow how he teased Johnson at dinner to…daythis is all to do himself HONOUR。〃 〃No； upon my word；〃 replied the other； 〃I see no HONOUR in it； whatever you may do。〃 〃Well； sir！〃 returned Mr。 Johnson； sternly； 〃if you do not SEE the HONOUR； I am sure I FEEL the DISGRACE。〃
A young fellow； less confident of his own abilities； lamenting one day that he had lost all his Greek〃I believe it happened at the same time； sir；〃 said Johnson； 〃that I lost all my large estate in Yorkshire。〃
But however roughly he might be suddenly provoked to treat a harmless exertion of vanity； he did not wish to inflict the pain he gave； and was sometimes very sorry when he perceived the people to smart more than they deserved。 〃How harshly you treated that man today；〃 said I once； 〃who harangued us so about gardening。〃 〃I am sorry；〃 said he； 〃if I vexed the creature； for there is certainly no harm in a fellow's rattling a rattle…box； only don't let him think that he thunders。〃 The Lincolnshire lady who showed him a grotto she had been making； came off no better； as I remember。 〃Would it not be a pretty cool habitation in summer；〃 said she； 〃Mr。 Johnson？〃 〃I think it would； madam；〃 replied he； 〃for a toad。〃
All desire of distinction； indeed； had a sure enemy in Mr。 Johnson。 We met a friend driving six very small ponies； and stopped to admire them。 〃Why does nobody；〃 said our Doctor； 〃begin the fashion of driving six spavined horses； all spavined of the same leg？ It would have a mighty pretty effect； and produce the distinction of doing something worse than the common way。〃
When Mr。 Johnson had a mind to compliment any one he did it with more dignity to himself； and better effect upon the company； than any man。 I can recollect but few instances； indeed； though perhaps that may be more my fault than his。 When Sir Joshua Reynolds left the room one day； he said； 〃There goes a man not to be spoilt by prosperity。〃 And when Mrs。 Montague showed him some China plates which had once belonged to Queen Elizabeth； he told her 〃that they had no reason to be ashamed of their present possessor； who was so little inferior to the first。〃 I likewise remember that he pronounced one day at my house a most lofty panegyric upon Jones the Orientalist； who seemed little pleased with the praise； for what cause I know not。 He was not at all offended when； comparing all our acquaintance to some animal or other； we pitched upon the elephant for his resemblance； adding that the proboscis of that creature was like his mind most exactly； strong to buffet even the tiger； and pliable to pick up even the pin。 The truth is； Mr。 Johnson was often good humouredly willing to join in childish amusements； and hated to be left out of any innocent merriment that was going forward。 Mr。 Murphy always said he was incomparable at buffoonery； and I verily think； if he had had good eyes； and a form less inflexible； he would have made an admirable mimic。
He certainly rode on Mr。 Thrale's old hunter