‘’Tis a terrible thing that we cannot wish young ladies well without wishing them to become old women!’
‘But some people,’ said Mr. Seward, ‘are old and young at the same time, for they wear so well that they never look old.’
‘No, sir, no,’ cried the doctor, laughing; ‘that never yet was; you might as well say they are at the same time tall and short. I remember an epitaph to that purpose, which is in——’
(I have quite forgot what,—and also the name it was made upon, but the rest I recollect exactly:)
‘—— lies buried here;
So early wise, so lasting fair,
That none, unless her years you told,
Thought her a child, or thought her old.’
Mrs. Thrale then repeated some lines in French, and Dr. Johnson some more in Latin. An epilogue of Mr. Garrick’s to ‘Bonduca’ was then mentioned, and Dr. Johnson said it was a miserable performance, and everybody agreed it was the worst he had ever made.
‘And yet,’ said Mr. Seward, ‘it has been very much admired: but it is in praise of English valour, and so I suppose the subject made it popular.’