posed on them, which they did not dare to refuse, they were idle, careless, and incorrect; not giving themselves the trouble to read over what they had written. The celebrated Atticus kept a great number of these transcribing slaves, and got great sums of money by their labors. [November, 1745.]
Greek Epigrams.—I hope you will keep company
with Horace and Cicero among the Romans;
and Homer and Xenophon among the Greeks, and
that you have got out of the worst company in the
world, the Greek epigrams. Martial has wit and is
worth your looking into sometimes, but I recommend
the Greek epigrams to your supreme contempt.
Good night to you. [Same date.]
Dancing Trifling.—Dancing is in itself a very
trifling, silly thing; but it is one of those established
follies to which people of sense are sometimes
obliged to conform; and then they should be able to
do it well. And, though I would not have you a
dancer, yet, when you do dance, I would have you
dance well, as I would have you do everything you
do, well. There is no one thing so trifling, but
which (if it is to be done at all) ought to be done
well. And I have often told you that I wished you
even played at pitch and cricket better than any boy
at Westminster. For instance: dress is a very fool-
