When he had
once overcome his aversion to begin, he was, I suppose, desirous to go
on, in order to relieve his mind from the uneasy reflection of delaying
what he ought to do.
We now behold Johnson for the last time, in his native city, for which
he ever retained a warm affection, and which, by a sudden apostrophe,
under the word Lich, he introduces with reverence, into his immortal
Work, THE ENGLISH DICTIONARY:--Salve, magna parens! While here, he felt
a revival of all the tenderness of filial affection, an instance of
which appeared in his ordering the grave-stone and inscription over
Elizabeth Blaney* to be substantially and carefully renewed.
* His mother.--ED.
To Mr. Henry White, a young clergyman, with whom he now formed an
intimacy, so as to talk to him with great freedom, he mentioned that
he could not in general accuse himself of having been an undutiful son.
'Once, indeed, (said he,) I was disobedient; I refused to attend my
father to Uttoxeter-market. Pride was the source of that refusal, and
the remembrance of it was painful.
Pages:
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116