Johnson (now in his seventieth year,) said, 'It is
a man's own fault, it is from want of use, if his mind grows torpid in
old age.' The Bishop asked, if an old man does not lose faster than he
gets. JOHNSON. 'I think not, my Lord, if he exerts himself.' One of the
company rashly observed, that he thought it was happy for an old man
that insensibility comes upon him. JOHNSON. (with a noble elevation and
disdain,) 'No, Sir, I should never be happy by being less rational.'
BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH. 'Your wish then, Sir, is [Greek text omitted].'
JOHNSON. 'Yes, my Lord.'
This season there was a whimsical fashion in the newspapers of applying
Shakspeare's words to describe living persons well known in the world;
which was done under the title of Modern Characters from Shakspeare;
many of which were admirably adapted. The fancy took so much, that they
were afterwards collected into a pamphlet. Somebody said to Johnson,
across the table, that he had not been in those characters. 'Yes (said
he,) I have.
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