...himself: see an instance given on the subject of writing fables in character, when he tells Johnson, •If you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like vhales.' — 1>. vol. ii. p. 220. more foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, nor more wise when...

...fishes." Just then, observing that Dr. Johnson was shaking his sides and laughing, he immediately added, " why, Dr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem...little fishes talk, they would talk like whales." * The following is given by Boswell, as an instance of robust sophistry : — " Once, when I was pressing...

...he observed Johnson shaking his sides with laughter ; upon which he smartly proceeded, " Why, Doctor Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem to think...little fishes talk, they would talk like WHALES."* At another time, f when he and Johnson were in Westminster Abbey, the former observed, " Forsi tan...

...sides and roll about with laughter. The comment of Goldsmith was inimitably apt and telling. " Why, Mr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem to think...little fishes talk, they would talk like WHALES." He was excitable, and, when excited, destitute of self control. This temperament brought him into numerous...

...observed Johnson shaking his sides and laughing, •whereupon he made this home thrust. " Why, Mr. Johnson, " this is not so easy as you seem to think...little fishes talk, they would talk like WHALES."* This was giving Johnson what Garrick called a forcible " versible ; " and Dryden describes his own...

...fishes." Just then observing that Dr. Johnson was shaking his sides and laughing, he immediately added, " Why, Dr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem...fishes talk, they would talk like whales." Johnson, in fact, was spoiled by being the oracle of the circle in which he moved. He talked as he wrote, for...

...chanced to be discussing the composition of fables, Goldsmith cried, with equal truth and aptness, " Why, Dr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you " seem to think ; for, if you had to write a fable upon " fishes, you would make all your little fishes talk like "whales!"* As poets...

...birds. The skill," continued he, " consists in making them talk like little fishes." While he indulged himself in this fanciful reverie, he observed Johnson...little fishes talk, they would talk like WHALES." " Glow-worm * lying in the garden saw a candle in a neighbouring palace, — and complained of the...

...sides and roll about with laughter. The comment of Goldsmith was inimitably apt and telling. " Why, Mr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem to think...little fishes talk, they would talk like WHALES." He was excitable, and, when excited, destitute of self control. This temperament brought him into numerous...

...birds. The skill (continued he) consists in making them talk like little fishes.' While he indulged himself in this fanciful reverie, he observed Johnson...little fishes talk, they would talk like whales.', During this argument, Goldsmith sat in restless agitation, from a wish to get in and shine. Finding...