352 A Biographical Sketch of Dr. Johnson
that there is not a hard word in it, yet he does not rattle through hard words and stalk through polysyllables, to use an expression of Addison 1 , as in his earlier productions. His style, as he says of Pope, became smoothed by the scythe, and levelled by the roller 2 . It pleased him to be told by Dr. Robertson, that he had read his Dictionary twice over. If he had some enemies beyond and even on this side of the Tweed, he had more friends 3 . Only he preferred England to Scotland. As it is cowardly to insult a dead lion, it is hoped, that as death extinguishes envy, it also does ill-will : ' for British vengeance wars not with the dead V
He gave himself very much to companionable friends for the last years of his life (for he was delivered from the daily labour of the pen, and he wanted relaxation), and they were eager for the advantage and reputation of his conversation 5 . Therefore he frequently left his own home (for his household gods were not numerous or splendid enough for the reception of his great acquaintance 6 ), and visited them both in town and country. This was particularly the case with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale (ex uno disce omnes 7 ), who were the most obliging and obliged of all within his intimacy, and to whom he was introduced by his friend Murphy 8 . He lived with them a great part of every year. He formed at Streatham a room for a library, and increased by his recom mendation the number of books. Here he was to be found (himself a library) when a friend called upon him; and by him the friend was sure to be introduced to the dinner-table, which Mrs. Thrale knew how to spread with the utmost plenty and elegance 9 ;
1 'Your high nonsense blusters and Wise. Life, iii. 114; ante, i. 181 ; ii. 6. makes a noise; it stalks upon hard 5 Ante, ii. 115.
words and rattles through poly- 6 Boswell, who dined and slept at
syllables.' The Whig Examiner, Johnson's house, 'found everything
No. 4. in excellent order.' Life, ii. 215, 375 ;
2 'Pope's page is a velvet lawn, iv. 92. Hawkins (ante, ii. 120) says shaven by the scythe and levelled by that he 'sometimes gave not inelegant the roller.' Works, viii. 324. dinners.' See also ante, ii. 141.
3 Life, ii. 121, 306 ; ante, i. 429. 'Crimine ab uno
4 'From zeal or malice now no Disce omnes.' Aeneid, ii. 65.
more we dread, 8 Ante, i. 232.
For English vengeance wars 9 For her luxurious table see Life,
not with the dead.' iii. 423, n. I ; Letters, ii. 389, and
Johnson's Prologue to A Word to the ante, ii. 43.
and
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