iet as a school upon the entrance of the
head-master; and were very soon set down to a table covered with such
variety of good things, as contributed not a little to dispose him to be
pleased.

RAMSAY. 'I am old enough to have been a contemporary of Pope. His poetry
was highly admired in his life-time, more a great deal than after his
death.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, it has not been less admired since his death;
no authours ever had so much fame in their own life-time as Pope and
Voltaire; and Pope's poetry has been as much admired since his death
as during his life; it has only not been as much talked of, but that is
owing to its being now more distant, and people having other writings to
talk of. Virgil is less talked of than Pope, and Homer is less talked of
than Virgil; but they are not less admired. We must read what the world
reads at the moment. It has been maintained that this superfoetation,
this teeming of the press in modern times, is prejudicial to good
literature, because it obliges us to read so much of what is of
inferiour value, in order to be in the fashion; so that better works are
neglected for want of time, because a man will have more gratification
of his vanity in conversation, from having read modern books, than from
having read the best works of antiquity. But it must be considered, that
we have now more knowledge generally diffused; all our ladies read now,
which is a great extension. Modern writers are the moons of literature;
they shine with reflected light, with light borrowed from the ancients.
Greece appears to me to be the fountain of knowledge; Rome of elegance.'
RAMSAY. 'I suppose Homer's Iliad to be a collection of pieces which had
been written before his time. I should like to see a translation of it
in poetical prose like the book of Ruth or Job.' ROBERTSON. 'Would you,
Dr. Johnson, who are master of the English language, but try your hand
upon a part of it.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, you could not read it without the
pleasure of verse.

Dr. Robertson expatiated on the character of a certain nobleman; that he
was one of the strongest-minded men that ever lived; that he would sit
in company quite sluggish, while there was nothing to call forth his
intellectual vigour; but the moment that any important subject was
started, for instance, how this country is to be defended against a
French invasion, he would rouse himself, and shew his extraordinary
talents with the most powerful ability and animation. JOHNS