I objected very freely to several passages.
Cibber lost patience, and would not read his Ode to an end. When we
had done with criticism, we walked over to Richardson's, the authour of
Clarissa and I wondered to find Richardson displeased that I "did not
treat Cibber with more RESPECT." Now, Sir, to talk of RESPECT for a
PLAYER!' (smiling disdainfully.) BOSWELL. 'There, Sir, you are always
heretical: you never will allow merit to a player.' JOHNSON. 'Merit,
Sir! what merit? Do you respect a rope-dancer, or a ballad-singer?'
BOSWELL. 'No, Sir: but we respect a great player, as a man who can
conceive lofty sentiments, and can express them gracefully.' JOHNSON.
'What, Sir, a fellow who claps a hump on his back, and a lump on his
leg, and cries "I am Richard the Third"? Nay, Sir, a ballad-singer is
a higher man, for he does two things; he repeats and he sings: there is
both recitation and musick in his performance: the player only recites.'
BOSWELL. 'My dear Sir! you may turn anything into ridicule.
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