One evening in the oratorio season of the year 1771 Mr. Johnson went with me to Covent Garden Theatre, and though he was for the most part an exceedingly bad playhouse companion, as his person drew people's eyes upon the box, and the loudness of his voice made it difficult for me to hear anybody but himself, he sat surprisingly quiet, and I flattered myself that he was listening to the music. When we were got home, however, he repeated these verses, which he said he had made at the oratorio, and he bade me translate them: IN THEATRO. "Tertii verso quater orbe lustri Quid theatrales tibi crispe pompae! Quam decet canos male literatos Sera voluptas! "Tene mulceri fidibus canoris? Tene cantorum modulis stupere? Tene per pictas oculo elegante Currere formas? "Inter equales sine felle liber, Codices veri studiosus inter Rectius vives, sua quisque carpat Gaudia gratus. "Lusibus gaudet puer otiosis Luxus oblectat juvenem theatri, At seni fluxo sapienter uti Tempore restat." I gave him the following lines in imitation, which he liked well enough, I think: "When threescore years have chilled thee quite, Still can theatric scenes delight? Ill suits this place with learned wight, May Bates or Coulson cry. "The scholar's pride can Brent disarm? His heart can soft Guadagni warm? Or scenes with sweet delusion charm The climacteric eye? "The social club, the lonely tower, Far better suit thy midnight hour; Let each according to his power In worth or wisdom shine! "And while play pleases idle boys, And wanton mirth fond youth employs, To fix the soul, and free from toys, That useful task be thine."