johnsonian aphorisms

Today's theme: a first person (unreliable?) (florid?) narrative

      

             On being questioned by a certain most fashionable Lady whilst upon a perambulation of St James's yester even, she did inquire whether my Journal were to become a source of Scandal in that it recorded infamous Secrets of Society. I demurred and answered thus: 'Madam, as you know I am a modest and to some eyes dull individual, little being my contribution to the Greater Good, and therefore I took up the occupation of inscribing a daily Journal, not to record unpalatable secrets of the world, but to capture for Posterity the wit and aphorisms of our great men, and in particular the noble words of our greatest thinker, the honourable Doctor Samuel Johnson, LLD.

'I could extol the inestimable virtues of that particular Gentleman all day and night, Mr Boswell', replied she, 'and that being the case, I pray you ignore any suggestion of impropriety on your part that my thoughtless peroration might imply'.

I hastened to assure the good Lady in question that no such suggestion had entered my head, nor could such a thought for a moment be entertained about such an upright and moral Personage as her good self. We immediately agreed to exchange Anecdotes about the Doctor and repaired to Ferzackerley's coffee house in Crown-passage, just at hand, to discuss our mutual Friend.

I mentioned the recent Excursion I had made with the good Doctor to the Western Islands of my home Country of North Britain, and some of the fine aphorisms with which he had entertained myself and the local Populace.

Whilst traversing the Trossachs, he had noted what a fine Prospect the mountains there presented. I agreed, but wondered if the High Road leading back to England were not a nobler Prospect. Straightway he responded with the observation: 'Let me tell you, Sir: the noblest Prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the High Road that leads him to England!' Such ready and immediate wit was ever the mark of the genius that is Doctor Johnson!

The Lady found this most amusing and indeed typical of the great man. She found that he was always fond of England and particularly its great Capital, London. She recalled meeting him at a Soirée at the London house of the Lord M——, who mentioned that he was soon returning to the Country. When she asked him whether he was tired of London, and how that could be when there was everything here that Life had to offer, our dear Doctor had immediately ejaculated, 'Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of Life; for there is in London all that Life can afford.'

How wonderful to be able to capture and record the great Aphorisms in my Journal. I expressed my gratitude to the good Lady, who urged me to record this and more forthwith. I told her that I did with some temerity because the Doctor could be very critical of my writing. When I showed him parts of my Journal, asking for his opinion and noting that there were some good passages, although not especially original, and that where I had had original Thoughts they were not written in particularly good style, he read my scribblings and remarked, 'My congratulations to you, Sir. Your Manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.' Such wit in mortal man!

My Companion further reported that Lord M——, somewhat taken aback at the Soirée by the statement regarding London, had attempted a reply. As an aside she had whispered to the Doctor, behind her fan, that his Lordship seemed a little disadvantaged by drink and that there was little thought behind his Words. The Doctor immediately riposted, and within earshot of the noble Lord, 'This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake Words for Thoughts.'

I assured the good Lady that this would receive due prominence in my next entry, so that the whole World should know of the Wit and Wisdom of Doctor Samuel Johnson.