say, 'that the size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth;' and his own was never contemptible. He would laugh at a stroke of genuine humour, or sudden sally of odd absurdity, as heartily and freely as I ever yet saw any man; and though the jest was often such as few felt besides himself, yet his laugh was irresistible, and was observed immediately to produce that of the company, not merely from the notion that it was proper to laugh when he did, but purely out of want of power to forbear it[1]. He was no enemy to splendour of apparel or pomp of equipage — 'Life (he would say) is barren enough surely with all her trappings; let us therefore be cautious how we strip her[2].' In matters of still higher moment he once observed, when speaking on the subject of sudden innovation, — 'He who plants a forest may doubtless cut down a hedge; yet I could wish methinks that even he would wait till he sees his young plants grow.'
With regard to common occurrences Mr. Johnson had, when I first knew him, looked on the still-shifting scenes of life[3] till he was weary; for as a mind slow in its own nature, or unenlightened by information, will contentedly read in the same
once said to me, in a pleasant humour, "Sir, if Robertson's style be faulty, he owes it to me; that is, having too many words, and those too big ones." Life, iii. 173.</ref>
1 'Garrick remarked to me of him, "Rabelais and all other wits are nothing compared with him. You may be diverted by them; but Johnson gives you a forcible hug, and shakes laughter out of you whether you will or no."' Ib. ii. 231. 'I passed many hours with him on the 17th, of which I find all my memorial is "much laughing." It should seem he had that day been in a humour for jocularity and merriment, and upon such occasions I never knew a man laugh more heartily.' Ib. ii. 378. See also ib. ii. 262, for his peals of laughter 'that in the silence of the night seemed to resound from Temple Bar to Fleet Ditch.' See also ante, p. 269.
2 At Inverary Castle he said: — 'What I admire here is the total defiance of expense.' Life, v. 355. 'Sir' (he said), 'were I to have any thing fine, it should be very fine. Were I to wear a ring, it should not be a bauble, but a stone of great value. Were I to wear a laced or embroidered waistcoat, it should be very rich. I had once a very rich laced waistcoat, which I wore the first night of my tragedy.' Ib. v. 364.
3 'Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife, And watch the busy scenes of crowded life.' The Vanity of Human Wishes, l. 3.
