The desire of shining in conversation was in him, v indeed, a predominant passion ; and if it must be attributed to vanity, let it at the same time be recollected, that it produced that loqua ciousness from which his more intimate friends derived consider able advantage. The observations which he made on poetry, on life, and on every thing about us, I applied to our art ; with what success, others must judge. Perhaps an artist in his studies should pursue the same conduct ; and, instead of patching up a particular work on the narrow plan of imitation, rather en deavour to acquire the art and power of thinking. On this subject I have often spoken J ; but it cannot be too often repeated, that the general power of composition may be acquired ; and when acquired, the artist may then lawfully take hints from his predecessors. In reality, indeed, it appears to me, that a man must begin by the study of others. Thus Bacon became a great thinker, by entering into and making himself master of the thoughts of other men.
attacked me with such rudeness that which he probably retained from
I was vexed and angry.' Life, iii. Johnson's talk : * Some allowance
337. must be made for what is said in
1 Reynolds's Sixth Discourse is on the gaiety of rhetoric' Reynolds's
imitation. In it he has a phrase Works, 1824, i. 118.
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