[408] Johnson (Works, ix. 23) more cautiously says:—­’Here is a castle, called the castle of Macbeth.’

[409] ’This short dialogue between Duncan and Banquo, whilst they are approaching the gates of Macbeth’s castle, has always appeared to me a striking instance of what in painting is termed repose.  Their conversation very naturally turns upon the beauty of its situation, and the pleasantness of the air; and Banquo, observing the martlet’s nests in every recess of the cornice, remarks that where those birds most breed and haunt the air is delicate.  The subject of this quiet and easy conversation gives that repose so necessary to the mind after the tumultuous bustle of the preceding scenes, and perfectly contrasts the scene of horror that immediately succeeds.  It seems as if Shakespeare asked himself, what is a prince likely to say to his attendants on such an occasion? whereas the modern writers seem, on the contrary, to be always searching for new thoughts, such as would never occur to men in the situation which is represented.  This also is frequently the practice of Homer, who from the midst of battles and horrors relieves and refreshes the mind of the reader by introducing some quiet rural image, or picture of familiar domestick life.’  Johnson’s Shakespeare.  Northcote (Life of Reynolds, i. 144-151) quotes other notes by Reynolds.

[410] In the original senses.  Act i, sc. 6.

[411] Act i. sc. 5.

[412] Boswell forgets scoundrelism, ante, p. 106, which, I suppose, Johnson coined.

[413] See ante, ii. 154, note 3.  Peter Paragraph is one of the characters in Foote’s Comedy of The Orators.

[414] When upon the subject of this peregrinity, he told me some particulars concerning the compilation of his Dictionary, and concerning his throwing off Lord Chesterfield’s patronage, of which very erroneous accounts have been circulated.  These particulars, with others which he afterwards gave me,—­as also his celebrated letter to Lord Chesterfield, which he dictated to me,—­I reserve for his Life. BOSWELL.  See ante, i. 221, 261.

[415] See ante, ii. 326, 371, and v. 18.

[416] It is the third edition, published in 1778, that first bears this title.  The first edition was published in 1761, and the second in 1762.

[417] ’One of them was a man of great liveliness and activity, of whom his companion said that he would tire any horse in Inverness.  Both of them were civil and ready-handed Civility seems part of the national character of Highlanders.’ Works, ix. 25.

[418] ’The way was very pleasant; the rock out of which the road was cut was covered with birch trees, fern, and heath.  The lake below was beating its bank by a gentle wind....  In one part of the way we had trees on both sides for perhaps half a mile.  Such a length of shade, perhaps, Scotland cannot shew in any other place.’ Piozzi Letters, i. 123.  The travellers must have passed close by the cottage where James Mackintosh was living, a child of seven.