tu in corte invecchiasti, e giurerei
Che fra i pochi non sei tenace ancora
Dell' antica onesta: quando bisogna,
Saprai sereno in volto
Vezzeggiare un nemico: accio vi cada,
Aprirgli innanzi un precipizio, e poi
Piangerne la caduta. Offrirti a tutti
E non esser che tuo; di false lodi
Vestir le accuse, ed aggravar le colpe
Nel farne la difesa, ognor dal trono
I buoni allontanar; d'ogni castigo
Lasciar Vodio allo seettro, c d'ogni dono
Il merito usurpar: tener nascosto
Sotto un zelo apparente un empio fine,
Ne fabbricar che sulle altrui rouine."

"Grown old in courts, thou art not surely one
Who keeps the rigid rules of ancient honour;
Well skilled to soothe a foe with looks of kindness,
To sink the fatal precipice before him,
And then lament his fall with seeming friendship:
Open to all, true only to thyself,
Thou know'st those arts which blast with envious praise,
Which aggravate a fault with feigned excuses,
And drive discountenanced virtue from the throne;
That leave blame of rigour to the prince,
And of his every gift usurp the merit;
That hide in seeming zeal a wicked purpose,
And only build upon another's ruin."

These characters Dr. Johnson, however, did not delight in reading, or in
hearing of: he always maintained that the world was not half so wicked as
it was represented; and he might very well continue in that opinion, as
he resolutely drove from him every story that could make him change it;
and when Mr. Bickerstaff's flight confirmed the report of his guilt, and
my husband said, in answer to Johnson's astonishment, that he had long
been a suspected man: "By those who look close to the ground, dirt will
be seen, sir," was the lofty reply. "I hope I see things from a greater
distance."

His desire to go abroad, particularly to see Italy, was very great; and
he had a longing wish, too, to leave some Latin verses at the Grand
Chartreux. He loved, indeed, the very act of travelling, and I cannot
tell how far one might have taken him in a carriage before he would have
wished for refreshment. He was therefore in some respects an admirable
companion on the road, as he piqued himself upon feeling no
inconvenience, and on despising no accommodations. On the other hand,
however, he expected no one else to feel any, and felt exceedingly
inflamed with anger if any one complained of the rain, the sun, or the
dust. "How," sa