Mr. Robert Browning, in his Parleyings with Christopher Smart, under the similitude of 'some huge house,' thus describes the general run of that unfortunate poet's verse:—
'All showed the Golden Mean without a hint
Of brave extravagance that breaks the rule.
The master of the mansion was no fool
Assuredly, no genius just as sure!
Safe mediocrity had scorned the lure
Of now too much and now too little cost,
And satisfied me sight was never lost
Of moderate design's accomplishment
In calm completeness.'
Mr. Browning goes on to liken one solitary poem to a Chapel in the house, in which is found—
'from floor to roof one evidence
Of how far earth may rival heaven.'
Parleyings with certain People of Importance in their Day (pp. 80-82), London, 1887.
Johnsons discussion on baptism—with Mr. Lloyd, the Birmingham Quaker.
(Vol. ii, p. 458.)
In Farm and its Inhabitants (ante, p. xlii), a further account is given of the controversy between Johnson and Mr. Lloyd the Quaker, on the subject of Barclay's Apology.
'Tradition states that, losing his temper, Dr. Johnson threw the volume
on the floor, and put his foot on it, in denunciation of its statements.
The identical volume is now in the possession of G. B. Lloyd, of Edgbaston
Grove.
'At the dinner table he continued the debate in such angry tones, and struck the table so violently that the children were frightened, and desired to escape.