Life of Johnson.
‘ rod of fires ’ is certainly a bad metaphor." Mrs Thrale. 44 And 4 sins of moment * is a faulty expression: for its true import is momentous, which cannot be intended." Johnson. “It must have been written 4 of moments.’ Of moment, is momentous; of moments, momentary. I warrant you, however, Pope wrote this stanza, and some friend struck it out. Boileau wrote some such thing, and Arnaud struck it out, saying, 4 Vous gagnerez deux ou trois impies, et perdrez je ne scais combien des honnettes gens.’ These fellows want to say a daring thing, and don’t know how to go about it. Mere poets know no more of fundamental principles than ." Here he was interrupted somehow. J" AFTERWARDS put the question to Johnson (regarding the meaning of a word): “Why. Sir. (said he,) ‘get abroad.’*' Boswell. “ That. Sir. is using two words.’’ Johnson. “ Sir. there is no end of this. You may as well insist to have a word for old age." Boswell. “ Well, Sir, Seneetus.” Johnson. “ Nay, Sir, to insist always that there should be one word to express a thing in English, because there is one in another language, is to change the language.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19341207.2.75
Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20482, 7 December 1934, Page 6
Word Count
200Life of Johnson. Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20482, 7 December 1934, Page 6
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