Dr. Johnson. Why, sir? Sir, you must be very dull. I say, sir, that Wick should be called “The Modern Athens.”
Mr. Boswell. I confess, sir, that I am dull, and yet I cannot perceive why Wick should be called “The Modern Athens” rather than Edinburgh.
Dr. Johnson. Sir, you indeed must be dull if you do not associate Wick with the centre of Greece!
I was silent for a few minutes, and then I ventured to make a remark.
“Sir,” said I, “you once expressed a very strong opinion about pun-makers. Sir, you asserted your belief that a man who would make a pun would be capable of picking a pocket.”
Dr. Johnson. Sir, I believe so still.
Mr. Boswell. And yet, sir, during the course of our tour, you have made a large number of puns.
Dr. Johnson. Sir, you have good grounds for what you assert. I admit, sir, with a feeling of sorrow, that I have made many puns during our tour.
Mr. Boswell. Sir, may I venture to ask you why you have made so many puns?