登陆注册
5184600000201

第201章

Poor Sack!He is very ill,indeed.We parted as never to meet again.It has quite broke me down.'This pathetic narrative was strangely diversified with the grave and earnest defence of a man's having married his maid.I could not but feel it as in some degree ludicrous.

In the morning of Tuesday,June 15,while we sat at Dr.Adams's,we talked of a printed letter from the Reverend Herbert Croft,to a young gentleman who had been his pupil,in which he advised him to read to the end of whatever books he should begin to read.

JOHNSON.'This is surely a strange advice;you may as well resolve that whatever men you happen to get acquainted with,you are to keep to them for life.A book may be good for nothing;or there may be only one thing in it worth knowing;are we to read it all through?These Voyages,(pointing to the three large volumes of Voyages to the South Sea,which were just come out)WHO will read them through?A man had better work his way before the mast,than read them through;they will be eaten by rats and mice,before they are read through.There can be little entertainment in such books;one set of Savages is like another.'BOSWELL.'I do not think the people of Otaheite can be reckoned Savages.'JOHNSON.'Don't cant in defence of Savages.'BOSWELL.'They have the art of navigation.'JOHNSON.'A dog or a cat can swim.'BOSWELL.'They carve very ingeniously.'JOHNSON.'A cat can scratch,and a child with a nail can scratch.'I perceived this was none of the mollia tempora fandi;so desisted.

Upon his mentioning that when he came to College he wrote his first exercise twice over;but never did so afterwards;MISS ADAMS.'Isuppose,Sir,you could not make them better?'JOHNSON.'Yes,Madam,to be sure,I could make them better.Thought is better than no thought.'MISS ADAMS.'Do you think,Sir,you could make your Ramblers better?'JOHNSON.'Certainly I could.'BOSWELL.

'I'll lay a bet,Sir,you cannot.'JOHNSON.'But I will,Sir,if I choose.I shall make the best of them you shall pick out,better.'BOSWELL.'But you may add to them.I will not allow of that.'JOHNSON.'Nay,Sir,there are three ways of making them better;--putting out,--adding,--or correcting.'

During our visit at Oxford,the following conversation passed between him and me on the subject of my trying my fortune at the English bar:Having asked whether a very extensive acquaintance in London,which was very valuable,and of great advantage to a man at large,might not be prejudicial to a lawyer,by preventing him from giving sufficient attention to his business;--JOHNSON.'Sir,you will attend to business,as business lays hold of you.When not actually employed,you may see your friends as much as you do now.

You may dine at a Club every day,and sup with one of the members every night;and you may be as much at publick places as one who has seen them all would wish to be.But you must take care to attend constantly in Westminster-Hall;both to mind your business,as it is almost all learnt there,(for nobody reads now;)and to shew that you want to have business.And you must not be too often seen at publick places,that competitors may not have it to say,"He is always at the Playhouse or at Ranelagh,and never to be found at his chambers."And,Sir,there must be a kind of solemnity in the manner of a professional man.I have nothing particular to say to you on the subject.All this I should say to any one;I should have said it to Lord Thurlow twenty years ago.'

On Wednesday,June 19,Dr.Johnson and I returned to London;he was not well to-day,and said very little,employing himself chiefly in reading Euripides.He expressed some displeasure at me,for not observing sufficiently the various objects upon the road.'If Ihad your eyes,Sir,(said he,)I should count the passengers.'It was wonderful how accurate his observation of visual objects was,notwithstanding his imperfect eyesight,owing to a habit of attention.That he was much satisfied with the respect paid to him at Dr.Adams's is thus attested by himself:'I returned last night from Oxford,after a fortnight's abode with Dr.Adams,who treated me as well as I could expect or wish;and he that contents a sick man,a man whom it is impossible to please,has surely done his part well.'

After his return to London from this excursion,I saw him frequently,but have few memorandums:I shall therefore here insert some particulars which I collected at various times.

It having been mentioned to Dr.Johnson that a gentleman who had a son whom he imagined to have an extreme degree of timidity,resolved to send him to a publick school,that he might acquire confidence;--'Sir,(said Johnson,)this is a preposterous expedient for removing his infirmity;such a disposition should be cultivated in the shade.Placing him at a publick school is forcing an owl upon day.'

Speaking of a gentleman whose house was much frequented by low company;'Rags,Sir,(said he,)will always make their appearance where they have a right to do it.'

Of the same gentleman's mode of living,he said,'Sir,the servants,instead of doing what they are bid,stand round the table in idle clusters,gaping upon the guests;and seem as unfit to attend a company,as to steer a man of war.'

A dull country magistrate gave Johnson a long tedious account of his exercising his criminal jurisdiction,the result of which was his having sentenced four convicts to transportation.Johnson,in an agony of impatience to get rid of such a companion,exclaimed,'I heartily wish,Sir,that I were a fifth.'

Johnson was present when a tragedy was read,in which there occurred this line:--'Who rules o'er freemen should himself be free.'

The company having admired it much,'I cannot agree with you (said Johnson).It might as well be said,--'Who drives fat oxen should himself be fat.'

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 劫来的华贵(全本)

    劫来的华贵(全本)

    一直很欣赏这样一种爱情:深情粗野的男人,和娇媚享受的女人,在一场不能言说的灾难里,相互仇视对抗到倾心,在共同经历了一场心劫之后的明朗里,男人才敢在霸道和粗野中,将一颗心完全打开,捧出深情;而女人则会在男人展露出的深情里,更加娇媚更加柔情更加享受!因劫被劫的离奇,因劫而爱的注定,这是一种劫配!一种劫美!别样的惊心动魄!世间任何一种爱情,对于任何一个人,都是一种“劫”!只是,只是有些“劫”,注定了只是一个“劫”,而有些劫,需要勇气,需要超出于世俗之外的执着,才能得到!而后,宠爱一生,华贵一生!劫,是灭顶的灾难,也是命运的转折;从阴谋中来,向未知中去,经过的路途,看到花草,谷蔬,虫鸟,经历风雨,苦痛,挣扎,在本是平常的风月前,却惹来无端的痴痴傻傻,那是自然气息的侵入,全凭一条爱的血脉,游走全身……《劫来的逆宠》,就是因这一个“劫”字,而落笔成文!本文慢热,需要耐心,一点悬疑的设置,牵引出一个迷茫的爱情,如果你有时间,坐下来,听我慢慢道来.....很抱歉,为了保护作品的版权,本小说申请了VIP,如果愿意阅读收费章节,请按照以下步骤获取红袖币:1、注册成为红袖用户,如果已是红袖注册用户跳过此步骤,;2、进入个人管理中心;3、找到功能栏目里的VIP管理,点击,在出现的选项里点VIP读者;4、然后在出现的选项里点VIP会员申请,申请成功后,会出现冲值页面,一次性冲值20元就可以成为会员。人民币1元相当于100点红袖币。感谢亲们的支持!
  • 王莽发迹史

    王莽发迹史

    有人说他是“野心家”、“伪君子”,有人说他是政治家、书呆子,王莽究竟是一个什么样的人?本书《王莽发迹史》在史实的基础上,适当运用小说手法,为读者还原一个真实、矛盾、复杂的王莽。他是一个显赫家族中的没落户,最后却和平接管了国家政权,登上至高无上的权力顶峰;他骨子里是个书生,凡事都从书本上找答案,一言一行都遵循圣人的教诲;他是一个近乎完美的道德超人,靠着自身的道德感召力赢得了崇高的声望和举世的拥戴……畅销书作家磨剑将为读者揭秘王莽的发迹之路。
  • 机舞苍穹

    机舞苍穹

    吕锋遥指苍穹:“我所要寻找的,只是属于我的尊严!”
  • 我只想你幸福

    我只想你幸福

    从小在孤儿院长大的徐敏月,成年后离开孤儿院走进大学,临走前院长交给她一张合照,照片中的男孩子是她五岁那年进孤儿院前救过她的人。在大学里,徐敏月意外的发现同班的男神顾宇轩就是的小男孩。那一刻,她春心萌动,想要和男神在一起的愿望成为了生命中的全部。只是面对来自对方家庭的阻力,男神自幼定亲女友的争夺以及闺蜜无耻的挖墙脚,温柔善良却又有着一丝自卑心理的徐敏月是否可以坚守自己的爱情?
  • 开始一座城

    开始一座城

    开局一座城,你能否征服诸天万界。遥远的异界,有一座城,不断吸引位面人物。有小说人物,有影视人物,有主角,有仙女,就连天道都忍不住化身进入。所有愿望在这都能得到实现。世界那么大,我想去看看。不要犹豫,进入这座城。你想看的世界这都有。
  • 我家有个狐狸殿下

    我家有个狐狸殿下

    某天,某王妃接到某王爷的特殊命令,什么?让她给他挑妾室!?这该死的臭男人,真是一天吃素都不行!于是乎咱们的王妃点头哈腰地使出给力本事,某年某月某天,某王爷的征妾启事遍布凤离城大街小巷。斗,她江雪芽一向不怕!他不让自己好过,他也别想一天快活!
  • 人一生必须具备的30种关键能力

    人一生必须具备的30种关键能力

    人的一生中,有的人取得了辉煌的业绩,成为众人瞩目的精英人士。有的人却湮没无闻,与成功无缘。其中一个重要的原因是一些人拥有关键能力,而一些人缺少关键能力,不具备核心竞争力。培养提高关键能力,让你脱颖而出。改变一生。
  • 血与火的苍蓝逆袭

    血与火的苍蓝逆袭

    这是一部男人的热血与狂傲的小说,男人铁骨铮铮,顶天立地。主角一步步在艰辛与苦难中成长,在得与失之间权衡自身的价值。血与火的交融,使主角踏着命运的毁灭走向辉煌。热血狂傲,铮铮铁骨,使人热血沸腾。铁血男儿,为了心中的理想与大义,来战吧!我若卑微,问世间谁敢主宰!我若称王,那世间必将臣服于我脚下!
  • 料事如神(开启青少年智慧故事)

    料事如神(开启青少年智慧故事)

    人之所以烦恼横生,对人生困惑茫然,很多时候并不是因为没有健康,而是因为没有智慧,没有体悟茫茫人生的真相。本书在妙趣横生的小故事里让你感受智慧人生。所谓料事如神,并不是通过超自然的神奇力量去预知未来,而是通过对人生经验的积累和因果关系进行合理的分析预料将要发生的事情。掌握了这项能力,你的人生会柳暗花明,云开见月明的。
  • 听说我老公很傲娇

    听说我老公很傲娇

    〖豪宠+巨甜〗“听说季总裁是高岭之花不近女色?” 她摸了摸自己微微凸起的小腹,笑了,不近女色? “听说季总裁冷漠果狠又无情?” 她想起昨晚男人在她耳边的轻喃温语,又笑了。 ———— 某天,她问:“季瑾言,为什么你总对我这么好呢?” 他淡淡:“因为你是我相伴一生的妻子,是我未来儿女的母亲,我自然要对你好。” 她噘嘴:“季先生,你这个回答太过官方了!” 他笑:“因为我爱你,如琼向海,如鸟投林。不可避免,退无可退。” 借用前人的一句话:他这一生都是坚定不移的唯物主义,唯有她,他希望有来生。