misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第21章
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unskilful and unlucky in his literary bargains。 He was generally reputed
the first English writer of his time。 Yet several writers of his time sold their
copyrights for sums such as he never ventured to ask。 To give a single
instance； Robertson received four thousand five hundred pounds for the
History of Charles V。； and it is no disrespect to the memory of Robertson
to say that the History of Charles V。 is both a less valuable and a less
amusing book than the Lives of the Poets。
Johnson was now in his seventy…second year。 The infirmities of age
were coming fast upon him。 That inevitable event of which he never
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thought without horror was brought near to him； and his whole life was
darkened by the shadow of death。 He had often to pay the cruel price of
longevity。 Every year he lost what could never be replaced。 The strange
dependents to whom he had given shelter； and to whom； in spite of their
faults； he was strongly attached by habit； dropped off one by one； and； in
the silence of his home； he regretted even the noise of their scolding
matches。 The kind and generous Thrale was no more； and it would have
been well if his wife had been laid beside him。 But she survived to be the
laughing…stock of those who had envied her； and to draw from the eyes of
the old man who had loved her beyond anything in the world tears far
more bitter than he would have shed over her grave。 With some estimable
and many agreeable qualities； she was not made to be independent。 The
control of a mind more steadfast than her own was necessary to her
respectability。 While she was restrained by her husband； a man of sense
and firmness； indulgent to her taste in trifles； but always the undisputed
master of his house； her worst offences had been impertinent jokes； white
lies； and short fits of pettishness ending in sunny good humour。 But he was
gone； and she was left an opulent widow of forty； with strong sensibility；
volatile fancy； and slender judgment。 She soon fell in love with a music…
master from Brescia； in whom nobody but herself could discover anything
to admire。 Her pride； and perhaps some better feelings； struggled hard
against this degrading passion。 But the struggle irritated her nerves； soured
her temper； and at length endangered her health。 Conscious that her choice
was one which Johnson could not approve； she became desirous to escape
from his inspection。 Her manner towards him changed。 She was
sometimes cold and sometimes petulant。 She did not conceal her joy when
he left Streatham； she never pressed him to return； and； if he came
unbidden； she received him in a manner which convinced him that he was
no longer a welcome guest。 He took the very intelligible hints which she
gave。 He read； for the last time； a chapter of the Greek testament in the
library which had been formed by himself。 In a solemn and tender prayer
he commended the house and its inmates to the Divine protection； and；
with emotions which choked his voice and convulsed his powerful frame；
left for ever that beloved home for the gloomy and desolate house behind
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Fleet Street； where the few and evil days which still remained to him were
to run out。 Here； in June 1783； he had a paralytic stroke； from which；
however； he recovered； and which does not appear to have at all impaired
his intellectual faculties。 But other maladies came thick upon him。 His
asthma tormented him day and night。 Dropsical symptoms made their
appearance。 While sinking under a complication of diseases； he heard that
the woman whose friendship had been the chief happiness of sixteen years
of his life had married an Italian fiddler； that all London was crying shame
upon her； and that the newspapers and magazines were filled with
allusions to the Ephesian matron； and the two pictures in Hamlet。 He
vehemently said that he would try to forget her existence。 He never uttered
her name。 Every memorial of her which met his eye he flung into the fire。
She meanwhile fled from the laughter and hisses of her countrymen and
countrywomen to a land where she was unknown； hastened across Mount
Cenis； and learned； while passing a merry Christmas of concerts and
lemonade parties at Milan； that the great man with whose name hers is
inseparably associated had ceased to exist。
He had； in spite of much mental and much bodily affliction； clung
vehemently to life。 The feeling described in that fine but gloomy paper
which closes the series of his Idlers seemed to grow stronger in him as his
last hour drew near。 He fancied that he should be able to draw his breath
more easily in a southern climate； and would probably have set out for
Rome and Naples； but for his fear of the expense of the journey。 That
expense； indeed； he had the means of defraying； for he had laid up about
two thousand pounds； the fruit of labours which had made the fortune of
several publishers。 But he was unwilling to break in upon this hoard； and
he seems to have wished even to keep its existence a secret。 Some of his
friends hoped that the government might be induced to increase his
pension to six hundred pounds a year： but this hope was disappointed； and
he resolved to stand one English winter more。 That winter was his last。 His
legs grew weaker； his breath grew shorter； the fatal water gathered fast； in
spite of incisions which he； courageous against pain； but timid against
death； urged his surgeons to make deeper and deeper。 Though the tender
care which had mitigated his sufferings during months of sickness at
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Streatham was withdrawn； he was not left desolate。 The ablest physicians
and surgeons attended him； and refused to accept fees from him。 Burke
parted from him with deep emotion。 Windham sate much in the sick room；
arranged the pillows； and sent his own servant to watch a night by the bed。
Frances Burney； whom the old man had cherished with fatherly kindness；
stood weeping at the door； while Langton； whose piety eminently
qualified him to be an adviser and comforter at such a time； received the
last pressure of his friend's hand within。 When at length the moment；
dreaded through so many years； came close； the dark cloud passed away
from Johnson's mind。 His temper became unusually patient and gentle； he
ceased to think with terror of death； and of that which lies beyond death；
and he spoke much of the mercy of God； and of the propitiation of Christ。
In this serene frame of mind he died on the 13th of December 1784。 He
was laid； a week later； in Westminster Abbey； among the eminent men of
whom he had been the historian；Cowley and Denham； Dryden and
Congreve； Gay； Prior； and Addison。
Since his death the popularity of his worksthe Lives of the Poets； and；
perhaps； the Vanity of Human Wishes； exceptedhas greatly diminished。
His Dictionary has been altered by editors till it can scarcely be called his。
An allusion to his Rambler or his Idler is not readily apprehended in
literary circles。 The fame even of Rasselas has grown somewhat dim。 But；
though the celebrity of the writings may have declined； the celebrity of the
writer； strange to say； is as great as ever。 Boswell's book has done for him
more than the best of his own books could do。 The memory of other
authors is kept alive by their works。 But the memory of Johnson keeps
many of his works alive。 The old philosopher is still among us in the
brown coat with the metal buttons and the shirt which ought to be at wash；
blinking； puffing； rolling his head； drumming with his fingers； tearing his
meat like a tiger； and swallowing his tea in oceans。 No human being who
has been more than seventy years in the grave is so well known to us。 And
it is but just to say that our intimate acquaintance with what he would
himself have called the anfractuosities of his intellect and of his temper
serves only to strengthen our conviction that he was both a great and a
good man。
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。。。
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WILLIAM PITT。
（January 1859。）
William Pitt； the second son of William Pitt； Earl of Chatham； and of
Lady Hester Granville； daughter of Hester Countess Temple； was born on
the 28th of May 1759。 The child inherited a name which； at the time of his
birth； was the most illustrious in the civilised world； and was pronounced
by every Englishman with pride； and by every enemy of England with
mingled admiration and terror。 During the first year of his life； every
month had its illuminations and bonfires； and every wind brought some
messenger charged with joyful tidings and hostile standards。 In Westphalia
the English infantry won a great battle which arrested the armies of Louis
the Fifteenth in the midst of a career of conquest； Boscawen defeated one
French fleet on the coast of Portugal； Hawke put to flight another in the
Bay of Biscay； Johnson took Niagara； Amherst took Ticonderoga； Wolfe
died by the most enviable of deaths under the walls of Quebec； Clive
destroyed a Dutch armament in the Hooghly； and established the English
supremacy in Bengal； Coote routed Lally at Wandewash； and established
the English supremacy in the Carnatic。 The nation；
