'
I instanced the tale of Paulo Purganti and his Wife. JOHNSON. Sir, there
is nothing there, but that his wife wanted to be kissed when poor Paulo
was out of pocket. No, Sir, Prior is a lady's book. No lady is ashamed
to have it standing in her library.'
The hypochondriack disorder being mentioned, Dr. Johnson did not think
it so common as I supposed. 'Dr. Taylor (said he,) is the same one day
as another. Burke and Reynolds are the same; Beauclerk, except when
in pain, is the same. I am not so myself; but this I do not mention
commonly.'
Dr. Johnson advised me to-day, to have as many books about me as I
could; that I might read upon any subject upon which I had a desire
for instruction at the time. 'What you read THEN (said he,) you will
remember; but if you have not a book immediately ready, and the subject
moulds in your mind, it is a chance if you again have a desire to study
it.' He added, 'If a man never has an eager desire for instruction, he
should prescribe a task for himself.
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