按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
er； with surprising felicity。 His antagonist having repeated with an air of triumph the famous epigram written by Dr。 Trapp
〃Our royal master saw； with heedful eyes； The wants of his two universities： Troops he to Oxford sent； as knowing why That learned body wanted loyalty： But books to Cambridge gave； as well discerning That that right loyal body wanted learning。〃
Which； says Sir William； might well be answered thus：
〃The King to Oxford sent his troop of horse； For Tories own no argument but force； With equal care to Cambridge books he sent； For Whigs allow no force but argument。〃
Mr。 Johnson did him the justice to say it was one of the happiest extemporaneous productions he ever met with； though he once comically confessed that he hated to repeat the wit of a Whig urged in support of Whiggism。 Says Garrick to him one day； 〃Why did not you make me a Tory； when we lived so much together？ You love to make people Tories。〃 〃Why；〃 says Johnson； pulling a heap of halfpence from his pocket； 〃did not the king make these guineas？〃
Of Mr。 Johnson's Toryism the world has long been witness； and the political pamphlets written by him in defence of his party are vigorous and elegant。 He often delighted his imagination with the thoughts of having destroyed Junius； an anonymous writer who flourished in the years 1769 and 177O； and who kept himself so ingeniously concealed from every endeavour to detect him that no probable guess was； I believe； ever formed concerning the author's name； though at that time the subject of general conversation。 Mr。 Johnson made us all laugh one day； because I had received a remarkably fine Stilton cheese as a present from some person who had packed and directed it carefully； but without mentioning whence it came。 Mr。 Thrale； desirous to know who we were obliged to； asked every friend as they came in； but nobody owned it。 〃Depend upon it； sir；〃 says Johnson； 〃it was sent by JUNIUS。〃
The 〃False Alarm；〃 his first and favourite pamphlet； was written at our house between eight o'clock on Wednesday night and twelve o'clock on Thursday night。 We read it to Mr。 Thrale when he came very late home from the House of Commons； the other political tracts followed in their order。 I have forgotten which contains the stroke at Junius； but shall for ever remember the pleasure it gave him to have written it。 It was； however； in the year 1775 that Mr。 Edmund Burke made the famous speech in Parliament that struck even foes with admiration； and friends with delight。 Among the nameless thousands who are contented to echo those praises they have not skill to invent； _I_ ventured； before Dr。 Johnson himself； to applaud with rapture the beautiful passage in it concerning Lord Bathurst and the Angel； which； said our Doctor； had I been in the house； I would have answered THUS：
〃Suppose； Mr。 Speaker； that to Wharton or to Marlborough； or to any of the eminent Whigs of the last age； the devil had； not with any great impropriety； consented to appear； he would； perhaps； in somewhat like these words； have commenced the conversation：
〃'You seem； my lord； to be concerned at the judicious apprehension that while you are sapping the foundations of royalty at home； and propagating here the dangerous doctrine of resistance； the distance of America may secure its inhabitants from your arts； though active。 But I will unfold to you the gay prospects of futurity。 This people； now so innocent and harmless； shall draw the sword against their mother country； and bathe its point in the blood of their benefactors； this people； now contented with a little； shall then refuse to spare what they themselves confess they could not miss； and these men； now so honest and so grateful； shall； in return for peace and for protection； see their vile agents in the House of Parliament； there to sow the seeds of sedition； and propagate confusion； perplexity； and pain。 Be not dispirited； then； at the contemplation of their present happy state： I promise you that anarchy； poverty； and death shall； by my care； be carried even across the spacious Atlantic； and settle in America itself； the sure consequences of our beloved Whiggism。'〃
This I thought a thing so very particular that I begged his leave to write it down directly； before anything could intervene that might make me forget the force of the expressions。 A trick which I have； however； seen played on common occasions； of sitting steadily down at the other end of the room to write at the moment what should be said in company； either BY Dr。 Johnson or TO him； I never practised myself； nor approved of in another。 There is something so ill…bred； and so inclining to treachery in this conduct； that were it commonly adopted all confidence would soon be exiled from society； and a conversation assembly…room would become tremendous as a court of justice。 A set of acquaintance joined in familiar chat may say a thousand things which； as the phrase is； pass well enough at the time； though they cannot stand the test of critical examination； and as all talk beyond that which is necessary to the purposes of actual business is a kind of game； there will be ever found ways of playing fairly or unfairly at it； which distinguish the gentleman from the juggler。 Dr。 Johnson； as well as many of my acquaintance； knew that I kept a common…place book； and he one day said to me good…humouredly that he would give me something to write in my repository。 〃I warrant；〃 said he； 〃there is a great deal about me in it。 You shall have at least one thing worth your pains； so if you will get the pen and ink I will repeat to you Anacreon's 'Dove' directly； but tell at the same time that as I never was struck with anything in the Greek language till I read THAT； so I never read anything in the same language since that pleased me as much。 I hope my translation；〃 continued he； 〃is not worse than that of Frank Fawkes。〃 Seeing me disposed to laugh； 〃Nay； nay；〃 said he； 〃Frank Fawkes has done them very finely。〃
〃Lovely courier of the sky； Whence and whither dost thou fly？ Scatt'ring； as thy pinions play； Liquid fragrance all the way。 Is it business？ is it love？ Tell me； tell me； gentle Dove。 'Soft Anacreon's vows I bear； Vows to Myrtale the fair； Graced with all that charms the heart； Blushing nature； smiling art。 Venus； courted by an ode； On the bard her Dove bestowed。 Vested with a master's right Now Anacreon rules my flight； His the letters that you see； Weighty charge consigned to me； Think not yet my service hard； Joyless task without reward； Smiling at my master's gates； Freedom my return awaits。 But the liberal grant in vain Tempts me to be wild again。 Can a prudent Dove decline Blissful bondage such as mine？ Over hills and fields to roam； Fortune's guest without a home； Under leaves to hide one's head； Slightly sheltered； coarsely fed； Now my better lot bestows Sweet repast； and soft repose； Now the generous bowl I sip As it leaves Anacreon's lip； Void of care；