The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [940]
1034. a young lady: Possibly Fanny Burney.
1035. Chief Justice —: Sir John Willes.
1036. a celebrated orator: Edmund Burke.
1037. Sure, Sir… law of the land: Wilkes had defied a resolution of the House of Commons excluding him from sitting as a member.
1038. Proteus: In Greek mythology a sea god who had the power of assuming different shapes.
1039. in Scripture… the kid: Isaiah 11:6 (slightly misremembered).
1040. the most charming Duchess: Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.
1041. an eminent friend of his: William Gerard Hamilton.
1042. cui bono: To the benefit of whom?
1043. a friend: Possibly Boswell himself.
1044. non est tanti: It is not worthwhile.
1045. The authour: William Mason.
1046. Rarus… Fortuna: ‘Regard for others is rarely encountered among the nobility’ – Juvenal, Satires, viii.73-4.
1047. That no man… his own condition: The allusion is to Horace, Satires, I.i.1-3: ‘Qui fit, Maecenas, ut nemo, quam sibi sortem | seu ratio dederit seu fors obiecerit, illa | contentus vivat, laudet diversa sequentis?’ – ‘How is it, Maecenas, that no living man is happy with the lot either which he has chosen or which fate has thrown in his way, but rather praises those who have followed other paths of life?’
1048. address: Skill, dexterity, adroitness (OED, 4).
1049. Ambulantis… vocem Dei: ‘They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden’ – Genesis 3:8.
1050. Vivendi… horam, &c: ‘He who puts off the hour of right-living is like the bumpkin waiting for the river to run out: yet on it glides, and on it will glide, rolling its flood for ever’ – Horace, Epistles, I.ii.41-3.
1051. St. Paul… a cast-away: 1 Corinthians 9:27.
1052. a learned Bishop: Dr Thomas Barnard, bishop of Killaloe.
1053. as the Apostle says… not by sight: 2 Corinthians 5:7.
1054. The Lamb of God… the world: John 1:29.
1055. Our Saviour… to fulfill: Matthew 5:17.
1056. fourteen years: In fact seven years.
1057. Solventur… abibis: ‘The tables will dissolve with laughter, and you will be discharged’ – Horace, Satires, II.i.86.
1058. De minimis… Prcetor: The law does not concern itself with trifles.
1059. animus injuriandi: Intention to injure.
1060. animus irritandi: Intention to annoy.
1061. genus irritabile: ‘The sensitive race of poets’ – Horace, Epistles, II.ii.102.
1062. honores mutant mores: Honours change manners.
1063. jus est… servitus: Law is either unknown or uncertain… the slavery is wretched.
1064. a friend of mine: Charles Dilly.
1065. Commendavi: I commended (his soul to heaven).
1066. Nostrum… Deus: God have mercy on us all.
1067. T. Lawrencio… vertam: ‘To Dr Lawrence. A fresh chill, a fresh cough, and a fresh difficulty in breathing call for a fresh letting of blood. Without your advice, however, I would not submit to the operation. I cannot well come to you, nor need you come to me. Say yes or no in one word, and leave the rest to Holder and to me. If you say yes, tell the messenger to send Holder. May 1,1782. When you have left, to whom shall I turn?’
1068. Without… this time: In fact postmarked 28 August, and therefore belonging to an earlier year.
1069. some obscure scribbler: J. Thomson Callender.
1070. phlebotomy: The action or practice of extracting blood from a vein for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes (OED, 1).
1071. The Reverend Mr. —: Lancelot St Albyn.
1072. Exercise… his folly: Johnson, Rambler, 85 (1751).
1073. Life… a well-ordered poem: ‘Life should a well-order’d Poem be’ – Abraham Cowley, ‘Upon Liberty’ (composed? 1665-7, first published 1668), vi.
1074. Templo… osculo: I took my leave of the church with a kiss.
1075. an old man: John