I proceeded to
answer myself thus: 'Perhaps it has been of advantage, as it has given
weight to what you said: you could not, perhaps, have talked with such
authority without it.' JOHNSON. 'No, Sir; I have done more good as I
am. Obscenity and Impiety have always been repressed in my company.'
BOSWELL. 'True, Sir; and that is more than can be said of every Bishop.
Greater liberties have been taken in the presence of a Bishop, though a
very good man, from his being milder, and therefore not commanding
such awe. Yet, Sir, many people who might have been benefited by your
conversation, have been frightened away. A worthy friend of ours has
told me, that he has often been afraid to talk to you.' JOHNSON. 'Sir,
he need not have been afraid, if he had any thing rational to say. If he
had not, it was better he did not talk.'
We talked of a certain clergyman of extraordinary character, who by
exerting his talents in writing on temporary topicks, and displaying
uncommon intrepidity, had raised himself to affluence.
Pages:
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070