“And the very fact of your believing that, sir, amounts almost to a positive proof that the contrary is the case,” roared Johnson.
“Pray, sir, do not condemn me on such evidence,” said Goldsmith.
“Men have been hanged on less,” remarked Burke. “But, to return to the original matter, I should like to know upon what facts——”
“Ah, sir, to introduce facts into any controversy on a point of art would indeed be a departure,” said Goldsmith solemnly. “I cannot countenance a proceeding which threatens to strangle the imagination.”
“And you require yours to be particularly healthy just now, Doctor. Did you not tell us that you were about to write a Natural History?” said Garrick.
“Well, I remarked that I had got paid for doing so—that's not just the same thing,” laughed Goldsmith.
“Ah, the money is in hand; the Natural History is left to the imagination,” said Reynolds. “That is the most satisfactory arrangement.”
“Yes, for the author,” said Burke. “Some time ago it was the book which was in hand, and the payment was left to the imagination.”
“These sallies are all very well in their way,” said Garrick, “but their brilliance tends to blind us to the real issue of the question that Dr. Goldsmith introduced, which I take it was, Why should not acting be included among the arts? As a matter of course, the question possesses no more than a casual interest to any of the gentlemen present, with the exception of Mr. Burke and myself. I am an actor and Mr. Burke is a statesman—another branch of the same profession—and therefore we are vitally concerned in the settlement of the question.”
“The matter never rose to the dignity of being a question, sir,” said Johnson. “It must be apparent to the humblest intelligence—nay, even to Boswell's—that acting is a trick, not a profession—a diversion, not an art. I am ashamed of Dr. Goldsmith for having contended to the contrary.”