Selections from Boswell's Life of JohnsonCharles E. Merrill Company, 1912 - 93 pages |
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Page 37
... means correct . He told me that he had sold a novel for four hundred pounds . This was his Vicar of Wakefield . But Johnson in- formed me , that he had made the bargain for Gold- smith , and the price was sixty pounds . " And , sir ...
... means correct . He told me that he had sold a novel for four hundred pounds . This was his Vicar of Wakefield . But Johnson in- formed me , that he had made the bargain for Gold- smith , and the price was sixty pounds . " And , sir ...
Page 38
... means by which he might be extricated . He then told me that he had a novel ready for the press , which he produced to me . I looked into it , and saw its merit ; told the landlady I should soon return , and , having gone to a ...
... means by which he might be extricated . He then told me that he had a novel ready for the press , which he produced to me . I looked into it , and saw its merit ; told the landlady I should soon return , and , having gone to a ...
Page 47
... mean so much to compliment you as my- self . It may do me some honour to inform the public that I have lived many years in intimacy with you . It may serve the interests of mankind also to inform them , that the greatest wit may be ...
... mean so much to compliment you as my- self . It may do me some honour to inform the public that I have lived many years in intimacy with you . It may serve the interests of mankind also to inform them , that the greatest wit may be ...
Page 56
... means to take me off , as he calls it , and I am determined the fellow shall not do it with impunity . " Davies took care to acquaint Foote of this , which effectually checked the wantonness of the mimic . Vol . III , p . 150 . - - 1775 ...
... means to take me off , as he calls it , and I am determined the fellow shall not do it with impunity . " Davies took care to acquaint Foote of this , which effectually checked the wantonness of the mimic . Vol . III , p . 150 . - - 1775 ...
Page 62
... means pleased with our inn at Bristol . " Let us see now ( said I ) how we should describe it . " Johnson was ready with his raillery . " Describe it , sir ? Why , it was so bad that Boswell wished to be in Scotland . " - Vol . IV , p ...
... means pleased with our inn at Bristol . " Let us see now ( said I ) how we should describe it . " Johnson was ready with his raillery . " Describe it , sir ? Why , it was so bad that Boswell wished to be in Scotland . " - Vol . IV , p ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison Amen appeared Arthur Lee Beauclerk Bennet Langton bless bookseller Boswell BOSWELL'S Burke caulay Cawston character compliments conversation critical Davies dear sir death desire Dictionary Dilly Dilly's dine dinner Edinburgh endeavour English entertained fancy father favour Garrick gayety gentleman give Goldsmith hand happiness head heard Hebrides hope House of Hanover house of Stuart humour hundred pounds Jack Wilkes JAMES BOSWELL Jesus Christ King knew labour ladies Langton letter Lichfield literary live London Lord Lordship Macaulay's Madam manner mentioned merit Miss morning mother never obliged observed Pembroke College pension pleased Poets Pray prayer Raasay received recollect Robertson Samuel Johnson Scotch Scotland seemed servant Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds smile soon style suppose talk thought Thrale tion told Tory violent Whig William wish write
Popular passages
Page 22 - Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your Lordship. To be so distinguished, is an honor, which, being very little accustomed to favors from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge. When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your Lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of...
Page 26 - Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to Him. COME unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.
Page 31 - At last, on Monday the 16th of May, when I was sitting in Mr. Davies's back-parlour, after having drunk tea with him and Mrs. Davies, Johnson unexpectedly came into the shop ; and Mr.
Page 18 - What he attempted, he performed ; he is never feeble, and he did not wish to be energetic ; he is never rapid, and he never stagnates. His sentences have neither studied amplitude, nor affected brevity : his periods, though not diligently rounded, are voluble and easy. Whoever wishes to attain an English stile, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.
Page 64 - Notwithstanding the high veneration which I entertained for Dr. Johnson, I was sensible that he was sometimes a little actuated by the spirit of contradiction, and by means of that I hoped I should gain my point. I was persuaded that if I had come upon him with a direct proposal, 'Sir, will you dine in company with Jack Wilkes?' he would have flown into a passion, and would probably have answered, 'Dine with Jack Wilkes, Sir! I'd as soon dine with Jack Ketch.
Page 52 - Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know ; Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time ; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils, "Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.
Page 36 - He had no doubt a more than common share of that hurry of ideas which we often find in his countrymen, and which sometimes produces a laughable confusion in expressing them.
Page 33 - I am willing to flatter myself that I meant this as light pleasantry to soothe and conciliate him, and not as an humiliating abasement at the expense of my country. But however that might be, this speech was somewhat unlucky; for, with that quickness of wit for which he was so remarkable, he seized the expression, "come from Scotland...
Page 40 - Sir, in my early years I read very hard. It is a sad reflection, but a true one, that I knew almost as much at eighteen as I do now.
Page 35 - ... readers in some degree acquainted with his singular character. He was a native of Ireland, and a contemporary with Mr. Burke, at Trinity College, Dublin, but did not then give much promise of future celebrity.