Johnson, who had done liberal justice to Warburton in his edition of Shakspeare[165], which was published during the life of that powerful writer, with still greater liberality[166] took an opportunity, in the Life of Pope, of paying the tribute due to him when he was no longer in ‘high place,’ but numbered with the dead[167].

It seems strange, that two such men as Johnson and Warburton, who lived in the same age and country, should not only not have been in any degree of intimacy, but been almost personally unacquainted.  But such instances, though we must wonder at them, are not rare.  If I am rightly informed, after a careful enquiry, they never met but once, which was at the house of Mrs. French, in London, well known for her elegant assemblies, and bringing eminent characters together.  The interview proved to be mutually agreeable[168].

I am well informed, that Warburton said of Johnson, ’I admire him, but I cannot bear his style:’  and that Johnson being told of this, said, ’That is exactly my case as to him[169].’  The manner in which he expressed his admiration of the fertility of Warburton’s genius and of the variety of his materials was, ’The table is always full, Sir.  He brings things from the north, and the south, and from every quarter.  In his Divine Legation, you are always entertained.  He carries you round and round, without carrying you forward to the point; but then you have no wish to be carried forward.’  He said to the Reverend Mr. Strahan, ’Warburton is perhaps the last man who has written with a mind full of reading and reflection[170].’

It is remarkable, that in the Life of Broome[171], Johnson takes notice of Dr. Warburton using a mode of expression which he himself used, and that not seldom, to the great offence of those who did not know him.  Having occasion to mention a note, stating the different parts which were executed by the associated translators of The Odyssey, he says, ’Dr. Warburton told me, in his warm language, that he thought the relation given in the note a lie.  The language is warm indeed; and, I must own, cannot be justified in consistency with a decent regard to the established forms of speech.  Johnson had accustomed himself to use the word lie[172], to express a mistake or an errour in relation; in short, when the thing was not so as told, though the relator did not mean to deceive.  When he thought there was intentional falsehood in the relator, his expression was, ‘He lies, and he knows he lies.’