Page:Scribner's magazine (IA scribnersmagazin16newy).pdf/355

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Dr. Samuel Johnson (Engraved by Watson from portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, painted for the Duke of Sutherland in 1770.)

French into English—Sir Thomas North, Knight. It is a most majestic old book, and one to be touched with reverence. It shows no disdain to the lover of pleasure. Amiot says to his readers: "The reading of books which bring but a vain and unprofitable pleasure to the reader, is justly misliked of wise and grave men. Againe, the reading of such as do but only bring profit, and make the reader in love therewith, and do not ease the paine of reading by some pleasantnesse in the same; do seemc somewhat harsh to divers delicate wits. . . . But such books as yield pleasure and profit . . . have all that a man can desire. . . ." Both the great Bishop

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