458 Reviews. 
less occasionally bring forth such rare specimens of excel- 
lence as deserve to be treasured up in the archives of lite- 
rature and refined taste. 
Amongst the collection of the Lyra Elegantiarum, are 
many anonymous poems of high merit. We had marked 
out a few to which we desired to give prominence, but our 
limits prevent us from giving effect to our wish. We can- 
not, however, refrain from citing the happy lines of Dr. 
Bernard, Bishop of Limerick, not so much for their poetic 
excellence, as for the courage they show on the part of the 
author, who dared to bravethe “learned Bear” so slavishly 
worshipped by Boswell, or as Goldsmith called that Bos- 
well idol, “the man with a bear's skin.” The story is well 
known to the readers of “ Boswell’s Life of Johnson.” The 
good Bishop had asserted, in the presence of Johnson, 
that after the age of forty-five men did not improve.” 
“ That’s not true,’ said Johnson, in his usual gruff manner. 
“ You are perhaps forty-eight, and you may still improve if 
you try. Pray set about it, for I am afraid there is great 
room for it.” Johnson, it is said, regretted his unmanly 
behaviour to the Bishop, who took the rebuff in good part. 
But the Church did not forget to wipe off the score. Next 
day, Sir Joshua Reynolds, the intimate friend of Johnson, 
received from the Bishop the following verses, which the 
receiver would not fail to show, as the writer well knew, 
to the “ Bear-skin sage” :— 
I lately thought no man alive 
Could e’er improve past forty-five, 
And ventured to assert it. 
The observation was not new, 
But seemed to me so just and true 
That none could controvert it. 
‘No, Sir,” said Johnson, ‘’tis not so; 
"Tis your mistake, and I can show 
An instance, if you doubt it. 
You, who perhaps, are forty-eight, 
May still improve, ’tis not too late ; 
I wish you'd set about it.” 
Encouraged thus to mend my faults, 
I turn’d his counsel in my thoughts 
Which way I could apply it ; 
Genius, I knew, was past my reach, 
For who can learn what none can teach? 
And wit—I could not buy it. 
