Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies I.djvu/333

 ��Ascham says the wits do, Men know not how ; and at last die obscurely, men mark not where 1 -'

Dr. Johnson had indeed a veneration for the voice of mankind beyond what most people will own ; and as he liberally confessed that all his own disappointments proceeded from himself, he hated to hear others complain of general injustice 2. I remember when lamentation was made of the neglect shewed to Jeremiah Markland 3, a great philologist as some one ventured to call him ' He is a scholar undoubtedly Sir (replied Dr. Johnson), but remember that he would run from the world, and that it is not the world's business to run after him. I hate a fellow whom pride, or cowardice, or laziness drives into a corner, and [who] does nothing when he is there but sit and growl ; let him come out as I do, and bark 4. The world (added he) is chiefly unjust and ungenerous in this, that all are ready to encourage a man who once talks of leaving it, and few things do really provoke me more, than to hear people prate of retirement, when they have neither skill to discern their own motives, or penetration to estimate the consequences : but while a fellow is active to gain

1 Ascham is not writing of 'the when.' Ascham's Works, ed. 1864, wits ' in the eighteenth century sense iii. 99. of the term, but of 'quick wits,' 2 Ltfe,\v. 172. those who at school ' take their les- 3 Jb. iv. 161 ; Letters, ii. 276. son readily;' who 'commonly be 4 Markland is perhaps alluded to apt to take, unapt to keep ; soon in the following passage : * All the hot, and desirous of this and that, complaints which are made of the as cold, and soon weary of the same world are unjust. I never knew a again ; ' who are ' ever quick, hasty, man of merit neglected : it was rash, heady and brain-sick.' Of generally by his own fault that he them he says : ' In youth also they failed of success. A man may hide be ready scoffers, privy mockers, and his head in a hole : he may go into ever over-light and merry ; in age, the country, and publish a book now soon testy, very waspish and always and then, which nobody reads, and over-miserable. And yet few of then complain he is neglected. There them come to any great age by is no reason why any person should reason of their misordered life when exert himself for a man who has they were young ; but a great deal written a good book : he has not fewer of them come to show any written it for any individual. I may great countenance, or bear any great as well make a present to the post- authority abroad in the world, but man who brings me a letter.' Life, either live obscurely, men know not iv. 172. how, or die obscurely, men mark not

either

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