xsay, 'that the size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth ; ' and his own was never con temptible. He would laugh at a stroke of genuine humour, or "sudden sally of odd absurdity, as heartily and freely as I ever yet saw any man ; and though the jest was often such as few felt besides himself, yet his laugh was irresistible, and was ob served immediately to produce that of the company, not merely from the notion that it was proper to laugh when he did, but purely out of want of power to forbear it l . He was no enemy to splendour of apparel or pomp of equipage ' Life (he would say) is barren enough surely with all her trappings ; let us there fore be cautious how we strip her 2 .' In matters of still higher moment he once observed, when speaking on the subject of sudden innovation, * He who plants a forest may doubtless cut down a hedge ; yet I could wish methinks that even he would wait till he sees his young plants grow.'
With regard to common occurrences Mr. Johnson had, when I first knew him, looked on the still-shifting scenes of life 3 till he was weary ; for as a mind slow in its own nature, or unen lightened by information, will contentedly read in the same
once said to me, in a pleasant in the silence of the night seemed
humour, "Sir, if Robertson's style be to resound from Temple Bar to Fleet
faulty, he owes it to me ; that is, Ditch.' See also ante, p. 269.
having too many words, and those 2 At Inverary Castle he said:
too big ones." ' Life, Hi. 173. 'What I admire here is the total
1 ' Garrick remarked to me of him, defiance of expense.' Life, v. 355.
"Rabelais and all other wits are 'Sir' (he said), 'were I to have any
nothing compared with him. You thing fine, it should be very fine,
may be diverted by them ; but John- Were I to wear a ring, it should not
son gives you a forcible hug, and be a bauble, but a stone of great
shakes laughter out of you whether value. Were I to wear a laced or
you will or no."' Ib. ii. 231. 'I embroidered waistcoat, it should be
passed many hours with him on the very rich. I had once a very rich
1 7th, of which I find all my me- laced waistcoat, which I wore the
morial is "much laughing." It first night of my tragedy.' Ib. v.
should seem he had that day been 364.
in a humour for jocularity and merri- 3 ' Remark each anxious toil, each
ment, and upon such occasions I eager strife,
never knew a man laugh more And watch the busy scenes of
heartily.' Ib. ii. 378. See also ib. crowded life.'
ii. 262, for his peals of laughter ' that The Vanity of Human Wishes, 1. 3.
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