Scan 508
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1909
12 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 430. See the scan on archive.org.
1you call it, sir?' replied the Doctor; 'I wish it were impossible.'"—Seward's "Anecdotes of Dr. Johnson."
3"In the evening our gentleman farmer and two others entertained themselves and the company with a great number of tunes on the Fiddle. Johnson desired to have 'Let ambition fire thy mind' played over again, and appeared to give a patient attention to it; though he owned to me that he was very insensible to the power of music. I told him that it affected me to such a degree, as often to agitate my nerves painfully, producing in my mind alternate sensations of pathetic dejection, so that I was ready to shed tears; and of daring resolution, so that I was inclined to rush into the thickest part of the battle. 'Sir,' said he, 'I should never hear it if it made me such a fool.'"—Boswell's "Life of Johnson."
5DR. JOHNSON ON THE DIFFICULTY OF PLAYING THE FIDDLE.
7"Goldsmith: 'I spoke of Mr. Harris, of Salisbury, as being a very learned man, and in particular an eminent Grecian.'
9"Johnson: 'I am not sure of that. His friends give him out as such, but I know not who of his friends are able to judge of it.'
11"Goldsmith: 'He is what is much better; he is a worthy, humane man.'
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