by building a strong
dyke of stone across the river behind the garden. It was now somewhat
obstructed by branches of trees and other rubbish, which had come down
the river, and settled close to it. Johnson, partly from a desire to see
it play more freely, and partly from that inclination to activity which
will animate, at times, the most inert and sluggish mortal, took a long
pole which was lying on a bank, and pushed down several parcels of this
wreck with painful assiduity, while I stood quietly by, wondering to
behold the sage thus curiously employed, and smiling with an humorous
satisfaction each time when he carried his point. He worked till he was
quite out of breath; and having found a large dead cat so heavy that he
could not move it after several efforts, 'Come,' said he, (throwing down
the pole,) 'YOU shall take it now;' which I accordingly did, and being
a fresh man, soon made the cat tumble over the cascade. This may be
laughed at as too trifling to record; but it is a small characteristick
trait in the Flemish picture which I give of my friend, and in which,
therefore I mark the most minute particulars. And let it be remembered,
that Aesop at play is one of the instructive apologues of antiquity.

Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens
to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write
Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the only time I ever heard him say any thing
witty) observed, that if Rochester had been castrated himself, his
exceptionable poems would not have been written.' I asked if Burnet
had not given a good Life of Rochester. JOHNSON. 'We have a good Death:
there is not much Life.' I asked whether Prior's Poems were to be
printed entire: Johnson said they were. I mentioned Lord Hailes's
censure of Prior, in his Preface to a collection of Sacred Poems, by
various hands, published by him at Edinburgh a great many years ago,
where he mentions, 'those impure tales which will be the eternal
opprobrium of their ingenious authour.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, Lord Hailes has
forgot. There is nothing in Prior that will excite to lewdness. If Lord
Hailes thinks there is, he must be more combustible than other people.'
I instanced the tale of Paulo Purganti and his Wife. JOHNSON. Sir, there
is nothing there, but that his wife wanted to be kissed when poor Paulo
was out of pocket. No, Sir, Prior is a lady's book. No lady is ashamed
to have it standing in her library.'

The hypochond