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 184 Anecdotes.

��to see Dr. Johnson at our country-house ; and having heard, he said, that he was not famous for Greek literature, attacked him on the weak side ; politely adding, that he chose that conversa tion on purpose to favour himself. Our Doctor, however, dis played so copious, so compendious a knowledge of authors, books, and every branch of learning in that language, that the gentleman appeared astonished. When he was gone home (says Johnson), ' Now for all this triumph, I may thank Thrale's Xenophon here, as, I think, excepting that one> I have not looked in a Greek book these ten years ; but see what haste my dear friends were all in (continued he) to tell this poor innocent foreigner that I knew nothing of Greek ! Oh, no, he knows nothing of Greek ! ' with a loud burst of laughing.

When Davies printed the Fugitive Pieces without his know ledge or consent ' ; How, said I, would Pope have raved, had he been served so ? * We should never (replied he) have heard the last on't, to be sure ; but then Pope was a narrow man : I will however (added he) storm and bluster myself a little this time ' ; so went to London in all the wrath he could muster up. At his return I asked how the affair ended : ' Why (said he), I was a fierce fellow, and pretended to be very angry, and Thomas was a good-natured fellow, and pretended to be very sorry : so there the matter ended : I believe the dog loves me dearly. Mr. Thrale (turning to my husband), what shall you and I do that is good for Tom Davies ? We will do something for him, to be sure V

Of Pope as a writer he had the highest opinion, and once when a lady at our house talked of his preface to Shakespeare

1 In Johnson's absence in Scotland Ib. iii. 223. The Rev. John Hussey Davies ' published two volumes, en- has the following manuscript mar- titled Miscellaneous and Fugitive ginal note on this passage : ' About Pieces ', which he advertised in the this time I met poor Davies in the newspapers " By the Authour of the street, and enquiring earnestly after Rambler." ' Life, ii. 270. our common friend, Doctor Johnson

2 ' Tom Davies had now unfortun- (for I had been absent from Town ately failed in his circumstances, four months), Davies burst into tears and was much indebted to Dr. John- and replied, " God for ever bless him. son's kindness for obtaining for him I am beholden to that good man for many alleviations of his distress.' the bread I eat and the bed I lie on." '

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