did I know any person so cautious in mentioning that awful name on common occasions, and I have often heard him rebuke those who have unawares interjuctionaly [sic] made use of it z .
It was about this time when a lady was traveling [sic] with him in a post-chaise near a village Churchyard 2 , in which she had seen a very stricking [sic] object of maternal affection, a little verdent [sic] flowery monument, raised by the Widow'd Mother over the grave of her only child, and had heard some melancholy circumstances concerning them, and as she was relating them to Dr. Johnson, she heard him make heavy sighs, indeed sobs, and turning round she saw his Dear Face bathed in tears, an incident which induced the Lady to describe them in a little poem intitled [sic] A melancholy 3 Tale, founded upon true circumstances 4 .
1 Ante, ii. 18 n., 45 n f much affected. Dr. Johnson honour'd
2 Wear in Deavonshire (sic)) near two more poems by the same Author Torrington. Miss REYNOLDS. with his corrections and inserted
Johnson went to Devonshire in them in Mrs. Williams's collection of
1762, and spent two days at Torring- poems, without knowing who was
ton, with Reynolds's brothers-in- the Author till many years after. In
law, Palmer and Johnson. Miss the same Book is a most beautiful
Reynolds, who saw him there, was little composition of his own, a Fairy
no doubt the lady. Taylor's Rey- tale, which I think shews the most
nolds, ii. 215, 217 ; Life, i. 377. amiable view of Dr. Johnson's mind
'Mr. Palmer's house is in its arrange- of any of his works.' See Life, ii. 26.
ments little altered since Dr. John- He wrote to her on June 16,
son dined in it in 1762.' Murray's 1780: * Do not, my love, burn your
Handbook to Devon, ed. 1872, p. 260. papers. I have mended little but
3 Melancholy is scored through in some bad rhymes. I thought them the original. very pretty, and was much moved in
4 In one of her manuscripts, after reading them.' Letters, ii. 180. 'bathed in tears,' Miss Reynolds In Lady Colomb's collection is a added : * A circumstance he had copy of her verses mended by John- probably long forgotten, when he son. The following extract shows the wrote at the end of the manuscript badness of her rhymes and the nature Poem with his correcting pen in red of his corrections. These last, in ink, I know not when I have been so italics, were written above the original.
- As late disconsolate in pensive mood
I sat revolving life's vicissitude Oft sigh'd to think how youth had pass'd away, And saw with sorrow Hope's diminish'd ray, View'd the dark scene with melancholy gaze In prospect view the dismal scene to come Should Fate to helpless age prolong my Days Of gloomy age should Fate my Days prolong,
Tho'
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