'Sir,
(said Johnson,) this is only a disordered imagination taking a different
turn.'
He observed, that a gentleman of eminence in literature had got into a
bad style of poetry of late. 'He puts (said he,) a very common thing
in a strange dress till he does not know it himself, and thinks other
people do not know it.' BOSWELL. 'That is owing to his being so much
versant in old English poetry.' JOHNSON. 'What is that to the purpose,
Sir? If I say a man is drunk, and you tell me it is owing to his taking
much drink, the matter is not mended. No, Sir, ------ has taken to an
odd mode. For example, he'd write thus:
"Hermit hoar, in solemn cell,
Wearing out life's evening gray."
Gray evening is common enough; but evening gray he'd think
fine.--Stay;--we'll make out the stanza:
"Hermit hoar, in solemn cell,
Wearing out life's evening gray;
Smite thy bosom, sage, and tell,
What is bliss? and which the way?"'
BOSWELL.
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