' Boswell. 'But, Sir, you
will surely make allowance for the duty of hospitality. A gentleman who
loves drinking, comes to visit me.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, a man knows whom he
visits; he comes to the table of a sober man.' BOSWELL. 'But, Sir,
you and I should not have been so well received in the Highlands and
Hebrides, if I had not drunk with our worthy friends. Had I drunk water
only as you did, they would not have been so cordial.' JOHNSON. 'Sir
William Temple mentions that in his travels through the Netherlands he
had two or three gentlemen with him; and when a bumper was necessary, he
put it on THEM. Were I to travel again through the islands, I would have
Sir Joshua with me to take the bumpers.' BOSWELL. 'But, Sir, let me put
a case. Suppose Sir Joshua should take a jaunt into Scotland; he does me
the honour to pay me a visit at my house in the country; I am overjoyed
at seeing him; we are quite by ourselves, shall I unsociably and
churlishly let him sit drinking by himself? No, no, my dear Sir Joshua,
you shall not be treated so, I WILL take a bottle with you.
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