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I have seen even Mrs Thrale stunned; but I have often maintained, that it is better he should retain his own manner. Pliability of address I conceive to be inconsistent with that majestick power of mind which he possesses, and which produces such noble effects. A lofty oak will not bend like a supple willow.
Thrale suggested that a lady would be grieved because her friend had lost the chance of a fortune, "She will suffer as much, perhaps," he replied, "as your horse did when your cow miscarried." Mrs. Thrale testifies that he once reproached her sternly for complaining of the dust.
Another floating spark went even nearer to the tinder, when, going back to Dave and Dolly, old Maisie talked of the pleasure of having the little girl at home, now that Dave was so much away at school. She was getting dim in thought and irresponsible when she gave Widow Thrale this chance insight into her early days.
BOSWELL. 'In that stanza of Pope's, "rod of fires" is certainly a bad metaphor. MRS. THRALE. 'And "sins of moment" is a faulty expression; for its true import is momentous, which cannot be intended. JOHNSON. 'It must have been written "of moments." Of moment, is momentous; of moments, momentary. I warrant you, however, Pope wrote this stanza, and some friend struck it out.
One of her sisters betrayed the secret to her father, who then eagerly lent his ears to hear what was said of the new novel, and the first opinion which saluted his delighted ears was the voice of Johnson energetically recommending it to the perusal of Mrs Thrale. At parting, Rogers gave me a gold-mounted pair of glasses, which I will not part with in a hurry.
'As to it, she continues, 'all the flattery I ever received from everybody together would not make up his sum. He said there was no name in poetry that might not be glad to own it. All this from Johnson, that parsimonious praiser! He wrote of it to Mrs. Thrale on April 19, 1784: 'It is in my opinion a very great performance. Piozzi Letters, ii. 364. Dr.
Granny Marrable, she'd been married before, in Sussex. Now what was her first husband's name?... Well I ought to be able to recollect that! Ruth Ruth Ruth what?" She was trying to remember the name by which she had known Widow Thrale in her childhood.
She possessed herself again of the precious hand, surrendered to assist in resettling a strayed head-cushion. "Only, tell me first did you know...?" She paused and dropped her voice " ... Did you know that they thought me...?" "Thought you what?" "Did you know that they thought me mad?" "They were wrong if they did. But Mrs. Thrale does not think you mad now. I know she does not."
Thrale in her answer, giving the date, 'Bath, 3 o'clock on Saturday morning, June 10, 1780, asks, 'Oh! my dear Sir, was I ever particular in dating a letter before? and is this a time to begin to be particular when I have been up all night in trembling agitation?
Thrale, she says, was absent and agitated, restless in manner, and hurried in speech, forcing smiles, and averting her eyes from her friends; neglecting every one, including Johnson and excepting only Miss Burney herself, to whom the secret was confided, and the situation therefore explained.
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