Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

would have been afraid to marry; and, perhaps, married one whom he would have been ashamed to praise. Many qualities contribute to domestic happiness, upon which poetry has no colours to bestow; and many airs and sallies may delight imagination, which he who flatters them never can approve."

66

Supposing (said he) a wife to be of a studious or argumentative turn, it would be very troublesome; for instance-if a woman should continually dwell upon the subject of the Arian heresy."

He expressed his opinion, that "a man has a very bad chance for happiness in that state unless he marries a woman of very strong and fixed principles of religion."

He maintained, contrary to the common notion, that a woman would not be the worse wife for being learned.

Talking of the heinousness of the crime of adultery, by which the peace of families was destroyed, he said, "Confusion of progeny constitutes the essence of the crime; and therefore a woman who breaks her marriage vows is much more criminal than a man who does it. A man, to be sure, is criminal in the sight of GOD; but he does not do his wife a very material injury, if he does not insult her; if, for instance, from mere wantonness of appetite, he steals privately to her

chambermaid. Sir, a wife ought not greatly to resent this. I would not receive home a daughter who had run away from her husband on that account. A wife should study to reclaim her husband by more attention to please him. Sir, a man will not, once in a hundred instances, leave his wife and go to a harlot, if his wife has not been negligent of pleasing."

Here he discovered that acute discrimination, that solid judgment, and that knowledge of human nature, for which he was upon all occasions remarkable. Taking care to keep in view the moral and religious duty, as understood in our nation, he shewed clearly, from reason and good sense, the greater degree of culpability in the one sex deviating from it than the other: and, at the same time, inculcated a very useful lesson as to the way to keep him.

Being asked if it was not hard that one deviation from chastity should absolutely ruin a young woman?—JOHNSON. "Why no, Sir; it is the great principle which she is taught. When she has given up that principle, she has given up every notion of female honour and virtue, which are all included in chastity."

"I mentioned to him (says Mr. Boswell) a dispute between a friend of mine and his lady, concerning conjugal infidelity, which my friend had maintained was by no means so bad in the hus

band as in the wife. "Your friend was in the right, Sir, said Johnson. Between a man and his Maker it is a different question; but between a man and his wife a husband's infidelity is nothing. They are connected by children, by fortune, by serious considerations of community. Wise married women don't trouble themselves about the infidelity of their husbands."-BosWELL. "To be sure there is a great difference between the offence of infidelity in a man and that of his wife.-7. "The difference is boundless. The man imposes no bastards upon his wife."

"Here (Mr. B. observes) it may be questioned, whether Johnson was entirely in the right. It will hardly be controverted, that the difference in the degree of criminality is very great on account of the consequences; but still it may be maintained, that independent of moral obligation, infidelity is by no means a light offence in a husband, because it must hurt a delicate attachment, in which a mutual constancy is implied, with such refined sentiments as Massinger has exhibited in his play of "The Picture." Johnson probably at another time would have admitted this opinion. And let it be kept in remembrance, that he was very careful not to give any encouragement to irregular conduct."

He praised the ladies of the present age, insist

ing that they were more faithful to their husbands, and more virtuous in every respect, than in former times; because their understandings were better cultivated. It was an undoubted proof of his good sense and good disposition, that he was never querulous, never prone to inveigh against the present times, as is so common when superficial minds are on the fret.

He disapproved of the Royal Marriage Bill; “Because (said he) I would not have the people think that the validity of marriage depends on the will of man, or that the right of a King depends on the will of man. I should not have been against making the marriage of any of the royal family, without the approbation of the King and Parliament, highly criminal.”

CHILDREN.

TALKING of the common remark, that affection descends, a gentleman said, that "this was wisely contrived for the preservation of mankind, for which it was not so necessary that there should be affection from children to parents, as from parents to children; nay there would be no harm in that view though children should at a certain age eat their parents."-JOHNSON. "But,

Sir, if this were known generally to be the case, parents would not have affection for children.” -BOSWELL. "True, Sir; for it is in expectation of return that parents are so attentive to their children; and I know a very pretty instance of a little girl of whom her father was very fond, who once when he was in a melancholy fit, and had gone to bed, persuaded him to rise in good humour, by saying, "My dear papa, please to get up, and let me help you on with your clothes, that I may learn to do it when you are an old man."

"I know not (says Mr. B.) how so whimsical a thought came into my mind; but I asked, "If, Sir, you were shut up in a castle, and a newborn child with you, what would you do?”. JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, I should not much like my company."-B." But would you take the trouble of rearing it?" He seemed, as may well be supposed, unwilling to pursue the subject; but upon my persevering in my question, replied, Why yes, Sir, I would; but I must have all conveniencies. If I had no garden, I would make a shed on the roof, and take it there for fresh air. I should feed it, and wash it much, and with warm water, to please it, not with cold water, to give it pain."-B. "But, Sir, does not heat relax?". "Sir, you are not to imagine the water is to be very hot. I would not coddle the child. No, Sir, the hardy method of treating

66

« ПредишнаНапред »