No sooner did he, of whom we had been thus talking so easily, arrive, than we were all as quiet 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.  Johnson.  ’Yet this man cut his own throat.  The true strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small.  Now I am told the King of Prussia will say to a servant, “Bring me a bottle of such a wine, which came in such a year; it lies in such a corner of the cellars.”  I would have a man great in great things, and elegant in little things.’  He said to me afterwards, when we were by ourselves, ’Robertson was in a mighty romantick humour, he talked of one whom he did not know; but I downed him with the King of Prussia.’  ’Yes, Sir, (said I,) you threw a bottle at his head.’