366 A Biographical Sketch of Dr. Johnson
fire-side, and a white world abroad z . His reader has a moment's leisure to censure or commend the harvest of anecdote that is brought in, for his sake ; and if he has more reading than usual, may remark for or against it in the manner of the Cardinal to Ariosto : ( All this may be true, extraordinary, and entertaining ; but where the deuce did you pick it all up 2 ?' The writer perhaps comes within the proverbial observation, that the inquisitive person ends often in the character of the tell-tale. Johnson's advice was consulted on all occasions. He was known to be a good casuist 3 , and therefore had many cases for his judgment 4 . It is notorious, that some men had the wickedness to over-reach him, and to injure him. till they were found out. Lauder was of the number, who made, at the time, all the friends of Milton his enemies 5 . There is nobody so likely to be imposed upon as a good man. His conversation, in the judgment of several, was thought to be equal to his correct writings 6 . Perhaps the tongue will throw out more animated expressions than the pen. He said the most common things in the newest manner. He always commanded attention and regard. His person, though un adorned with dress, and even deformed by neglect, made you expect something, and you was hardly ever disappointed. His manner was interesting ; the tone of his voice and the sincerity of his expressions, even when they did not captivate your affections, or carry conviction, prevented contempt. It must be owned, his countenance, on some occasions, resembled too much the medallic likeness of Magliabechi, as exhibited before the printed account of him by Mr. Spence 7 . No man dared to
1 Tyers wrote his narrative directly 4 Ante, i. 300. after Johnson's death. For * the 5 Ante, i. 393.
white world ' see Letters, ii. 433. 6 Life, ii. 95, n. 2 ; iv. 236 ; ante,
2 ' Je ne sais quel plaisant a fait i. 348.
courir le premier ce mot pre'tendu 7 * Magliabechi had almost the air
du Cardinal d'Este : Messer Lodovico, of a savage, and even affected it;
dove avete pigliato tante coglio- together with a cynical or contemp-
nerieT (Euvres de Voltaire, ed. tuous smile.' Spence's Parallel.
1819, xxxv. 434. See Fugitive Pieces on Various Sub-
3 For his casuistry in the defence jects, ed. 1761, ii. 332, where the of duelling see Life, n. 179,226; iv. likeness is given. ' Magliabechi's 211 ; and of dining with two Bishops nose was aquiline, and his face in Passion Week, ib. iv. 88. generally drawn into a kind of cynical
take
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