BEAUTIES of GOLDSMITH 
 
 
 
 H alf a Crown Sewed .
 
 SN^SNVNS\\>N ^ \ 
 
 *-* 
 
 'h'/i^J 

 
 TO THE 
 
 EARL OF SHELBURNE, 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 IOUR friendfhip for Dr. Goldfmitb 
 is a fufficient inducement for me to in- 
 fcribe his Beauties to you. In all ages, 
 the illuflrious and the learned have been 
 courted, in the highefl ftrain of panegyric, 
 to take the offspring of Genius under 
 their patronage. This I am prevented 
 from doing here ; for the writings from 
 which this cento of excellence is taken, 
 have long fmce found innumerable ad- 
 mirers in every polifhed fociety. My 
 fble motive for addreffing your Lordfhip, 
 a arifes
 
 arifes from your efteem for the Author, 
 whofe moral and fentimental writings 
 have given birth to a volume every way 
 meriting your Lordfliip's countenance. 
 
 I am, 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 With the moft perfect efteem, 
 Your LORDSHIP'S moft obedient 
 and moft devoted 
 
 humble fervant, 
 
 w. H. 
 
 London, April 23, 
 1782.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IT is merely in compliance with cuftom I fit 
 down to write a Preface. Dn Goldftnith's 
 writings need not an eulogium at this hour : 
 they may be compared to the invaluable paint- 
 ings of Raphael-, the longer thsy are in the 
 world, their eftimation becomes more exten- 
 ftve. Time has drawn the veil of oblivion 
 over the works of many writers, once renowned 
 (if we may credit tradition) for every perfection 
 that captivates. Nature was certainly wanting 
 to enrich thofe compofitions. What {he has 
 had a hand in, Time reverences, and a final 
 diffolution can only dcftroy. How happy, then, 
 muft the hallowed fpirit of Goldfmith be, whofe 
 Beauties wear the fimple brilliancy of Nature, 
 and all the decorative charms of Fancy ! whofe 
 praife is the theme of the ingenious, from the 
 * Capital of Tafte and Patronage, to the cot- 
 tage of learned tranquillity, and which Time 
 will for ever regard with parental affection ! 
 
 a 2 The 
 
 * London.
 
 iv PREFACE. 
 
 The Pi&ures I have given from his Poems, 
 are the higheft fmifhed in the group j and the 
 whole fele&ion will be found, it is hoped, 
 meriting the attention and patronage of the 
 refined lovers of elegant and eftimable litera- 
 ture. 
 
 W. H. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.B. 
 
 TAME, the only inflexible friend of Genius, has 
 been fmguiarly kind to the Author whofe life I with 
 much pieafure fit down to give feme account of. 
 She has founded the praifes of her favourite to the 
 extremities of tafte and literary refinement. The 
 Court and the Cottage fhare with equal felicity 
 the invaluable fruits of his elegant ftudies ! The 
 fmalleft memorial is a beacon for the incautious 
 heart of virtue and fimplicity, or a balm for the 
 wounded foul of the comfortlefs ! Hence the lovers 
 of human excellence have been fedulous in efta- 
 blifhing our writer's reputation on the bafis oF 
 immortality. 
 
 GoMjmtt&l biographers have been many ; their 
 opinions, in feme meafitre, different ; but they all 
 agree that he was a man of elevated genius, un- 
 bounded philanthropy, and poiTeffing the milk of 
 human kindnefs in a fupereminent degree. J have 
 a 3 their
 
 vi LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. 
 their feveral accounts before me ; and, upon an 
 impartial furvey, Dr. G/cwr's ftands higheft in my 
 eflimation. He was Goldfmitb* $ intimate friend, a 
 companion in many of his literary purfuits, and 
 liis enthufiaftic admirer ! What fuch a writer fays, 
 as far as relates to fafts, muft be liftened to with 
 more pleafure than a mere work of fiction, how- 
 ever elaborate, or fplendidly fet off. It gives me 
 pleafure to acknowledge the obligations I lie under 
 to this ingenious and excellent companion, for 
 many particulars relative to Dr. Goldfmitb. I ftiall 
 give his account entire, marked with double com* 
 
 " OLIVER GOLDSMITH was born at R f. 
 common, in Ireland, in the year 1731. His father r 
 *vho pofTefled a fmall eftate in that county, had 
 nine fons, of which Oliver was the third. He 
 was originally intended for the church ; and with 
 that view, after being well inftru&ed in the claf- 
 fics, was, with his brother the Rev. Htnry Goldfmitb, 
 placed in Trinity college, Dublin, about the latter 
 end of the year 1749. In this feminary of learn- 
 ing he continued a few years, when he took a Ba- 
 chelor's degree ; but his brother not being able to- 
 obtain any preferment after he left the college, 
 Oliver, by the advice of Dean Goldfmitb, of Cork, 
 turned his thoughts to the profeflion of phyfic, 
 and, after attending fome courfes of anatomy in 
 Dublin, proceeded to Edinburgh in the year I75t y 
 where he iludied the feveral branches of medicine 
 
 under
 
 LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. vii 
 
 under the different ProfefTors in 'that univerfity, 
 which was defervedly ranked among the firft fchools 
 of phyfic in Europe. Hb beneficent difpofition 
 foon involved him in unexpected difficulties, and 
 he was obliged precipitately to leave Scotland, in 
 confequence of engaging himfelf to pay a con- 
 fiderable fum of money for a fellow-ftudent. 
 
 " A few days after, about the beginning of the 
 year 1754, he arrived at Sunderland, near Neio-r 
 caftle, where he was arrefted at the fuit of one 
 Barclay, a taylor in Edinburgh, to whom he had 
 given fecurity for his friend. By the good graces 
 of Laugblin Madam, Efq; and Dr. Sleigh, who 
 were then in the college, he was foon delivered 
 out of the hands of the bailiff, and took his paf- 
 fage on board a Dutch fhip to Rotterdam, where, 
 after a (hcrt ftay, he proceeded to JBru/e/s. He 
 then vifited great part of Flanders, and, after pafs- 
 ing fome time at Strajbourg and Lovain, where he~ 
 obtained a degree of Bachelor in Phyfic, he accom- 
 panied an Englijb gentleman to Geneva. 
 
 " It is undoubtedly fa<5l, that this ingenious,, 
 unfortunate man, made moft part of his tour on 
 foot ! He had left England with very little money ; 
 and, being of a philofophical turn, and at that 
 time pofleffing a body capable of fuftaining every 
 fatigue, and a heart not eafily terrified at danger, 
 he became an enthufiaft to the defign he had formed 
 of feeing the manners of different countries. He 
 
 had
 
 viii LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. 
 
 had fome knowledge of the French language, 
 and of muilc ; he played tolerably well on the 
 German flute ; which, from an amufement, became 
 at fome times the means of fubiiftence. His learn- 
 ing produced him an hofpitable reception at moll: 
 o-f the religious houfes, and his muiic made him 
 welcome to the peafants of Flanders and Germany. 
 ' Whenever I approached a peafant's houfe towards 
 night-fall,' he ufed to fay, c I played one of my 
 moft merry tunes, and that generally procured me 
 not only a lodging, but fubfiftence for the next 
 djjry : but in truth,' (his conftant expreffion) ' I muft 
 own, whenever I attempted to entertain perfons of 
 a higher rank, they always thought my perform- 
 ance odious, and never made me any return for 
 my endeavours to plcafe them.'* 
 
 " On his arrival at Geneva, he was recom- 
 mended as a proper perfon for a travelling tutor 
 to a young man, who had been unexpectedly left 
 a confiderable fum of money by his uncle, Mr- 
 S . This youth, who was articled to an at- 
 torney, on receipt of his fortune, determined to 
 fee the wcrld ; and, on his engaging with his pre- 
 ceptor, made a provifo, that he Ihould be permitted 
 to govern himfelf; and our traveller foon found 
 his pupil underftood the art of directing in money 
 concerns extremely well, as avarice was his pre- 
 vailing paClon. 
 
 " During
 
 LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. ix 
 " During Goldfmitb's continuance in Switzerland, 
 he ^ffiduoufly cultivated his poetical talent, of 
 which he had given fome ftriking proofs at the 
 college of Edinburgh. It was from hence he fent 
 the firft (ketch of his delightful epiiHe, called <The 
 Traveller, to his brother, the clergyman, in Ire- 
 land, who, giving up fame and fortune, had re- 
 tired, with an amiable wife, to happinefs and ob- 
 fcurity, on an income of only 40!. a year. 
 
 " From Geneva, Mr. Goldfmith and his pupil 
 vifited the South of France, where the young man, 
 upon fome difagreement with his preceptor, paid 
 him the fmall part of his falary which was due, 
 and embarked at Marfeilles for England. Our wan- 
 derer was left once more upon the world at large, 
 and paffed through a number of difficulties in tra- 
 verfmg the greateft part of France. At length, 
 his curiofity being gratified, he bent his courfe 
 towards England, and arrived at Denver, the begin- 
 ning of the winter, in the year 1758. 
 
 " His finances were fo low on his return to Eng- 
 land, that he with difficulty got to this metropolis, 
 his whole ftock of cafh amounting to no more than 
 a few halfpence ! An entire ftranger in London, his 
 mind was filled with the moft gloomy reflections, 
 in confequence of his embarraffed fituation ! He 
 applied to feveral apothecaries, in hopes of being 
 received in the capacity of a journeyman ; but his 
 broad Irijh accent, and the uncouthnefs of his ap~ 
 
 pe.arance r
 
 x LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.B. 
 
 pearance, occafioned him to meet with infult from 
 moft of the medicinal tribe. The next day, how- 
 ever, a chymift near Fijh-flreet, flruck with his 
 forlorn condition, and the fimplicity of his man- 
 ner, took him Into his laboratory, where he con- 
 tinued till he difcovered his old friend Dr. Sleigh 
 was in London. This gentleman received him with 
 the warmeft afFeclion, and liberally invited him to 
 fhare his purfe.till fome eftablimment could be pro- 
 cured for him. GeldJ'mith, unwilling to be a bur- 
 den to his friend, a fhort time after eagerly em- 
 braced nn offer which was made him, to afuil the 
 late Rev. Dlf.'Afc'&ter, in inftrufting the young gen- 
 tlemen at the academy at Peckbam ; and acquitted 
 himfelf greatly to the Do&or's fatisfacKon for a 
 fhort time j but, having obtained fome reputation 
 by the criticifms he had written in the Monthly 
 Review, Mr. Griffiths, the principal proprietor, 
 engaged him in the compilation of it ; and, re- 
 folving to purfue the profeflion of writing, he re- 
 turned to London, as the mart where abilities of 
 every kind were fure of meeting diftindlion and 
 reward. Here he determined to adopt a plan of 
 the ftri&eft oeconomy, and took lodgings in Green- 
 Ar hour-court, in the Old-Bailey, where he wrote 
 feveral ingenious pieces. The late Mr. Newbery, 
 who at that time gave great encouragement to men 
 of literary abilities, became a kind of patron to 
 crtir young author, and introduced him as one of 
 the writers in the Public Ledger, in which his Citi- 
 zen of the World originally appeared, under the . 
 title of ' Ckittffe Letters.'
 
 LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. xi 
 
 " Fortune now feemed to take fome notice of a 
 man ihe had long neglected. The fimpUcity of his 
 character, the integrity of his heart, an-d the me- 
 rit of his productions, made his company very ac- 
 ceptable to a number of refpeclable perfons ; and 
 he emerged from his fhabby apartments near the 
 Old-Bailey to the politer air of the Temfte, where 
 he took handfome chambers, and lived in a gen- 
 teel ftyle. The publication of his ^Traveller, his 
 Vicar of Wakefield, and his Letters en the Hijiory of 
 England, was followed by the performance of his 
 comedy of The Good-natured Man, at Convent-garden 
 theatre, and placed him in the firft rank of the 
 poets of the prefcnt age. 
 
 " Our Doctor, as he was now univerfally called, 
 had a conftant levee of his diftreiTed countrymen ; 
 \vhofe wants, as far as he was able, he always re- 
 lieved ; and he has been often known to leave him- 
 felf even without a guinea, in order to fupply the 
 necefiities of others ! 
 
 " Another feature in his character we cannot 
 help laying before the reader. Previous to the 
 publication of his Deferted Village, the bookfeiler 
 had given him a note for one hundred guineas for 
 the copy; which the Doctor mentioned, a few 
 hours after, to one of his friends, who obfervcd it 
 was a very great fum for fo fhort a performance. 
 ' In truth/ replied Gold/mith, ' I think fo toe ; it 
 is much more than the honeft man can afford, or 
 
 the
 
 xii LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. 
 
 the piece is worth ; I have not been eafy fince I 
 received it ; therefore I will go back and return 
 him his note ;' which he abfolutely did, and left 
 it entirely to the bookfeller to pay him according 
 to the profits produced by the fale of the poem, 
 which turned out very confiderable. 
 
 " During the laft rehearfal of his comedy, in- 
 titled, She Stoops to Conquer, which Mr. Caiman 
 had no opinion would fucceed, on the Doctor's 
 objecting to the repetition of one of Tony Lumpkin's 
 fpceches, being apprehenfive it might injure the 
 play, the manager with great keennefs replied, 
 ' Pfha, my dearDo&or, do not be fearful otfquibs, 
 when we have been utting almoft thefe two hours 
 upon a barrel of gunpowder /' The piece, how- 
 eve r, contrary to Mr. Co/man's expectation, was 
 received with uncommon applaufe by the audience ; 
 and Goldfmitb's pride was fo hurt by the feverity 
 of the above obfervation, that it entirely put au 
 end to his friendship for the gentleman who made 
 it. 
 
 " Notwithftanding the great fuccefs of his pieces, 
 by fome of which, it is aflerted, upon good autho- 
 rity, he cleared iSool. in one year, his circum- 
 ftances were by no means in a profperous fituation ! 
 partly owing to the liberality of his difpofition, 
 and partly to an unfortunate habit he had con- 
 tradted of gaming, the arts of which he knew very 
 little of, and confequently became the prey of 
 
 thofe
 
 LIFE' OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.B. xiii 
 thofe who were unprincipled enough to take ad- 
 vantage of his ignorance. 
 
 " Juft before his death, he had formed a defigu 
 for executing an Univerfal Dictionary of Arts and 
 Sciences, the profpectus of which he actually print- 
 ed, and diftributed among his acquaintance. In 
 this work, feveral of his literary friends (particu- 
 larly Sir Jojbua Reynolds) Dr. John/on, Mr. Beau- 
 -clerc, and Mr. Garrick) had engaged to furnifh 
 him with articles upon different fubjecls. He had 
 entertained the moft fanguine expectations from 
 'the fuccefs of it. The undertaking, however, 
 did not meet with that encouragement from the 
 bookfellers which he had imagined it would un- 
 doubtedly receive ; and he ufed to lament this 
 circumftance almoft to the laii hour of his exiil- 
 
 " He had been for fome years afflicted, at different 
 times, with a violent ftrangury, which contributed 
 not a little to imbitter the latter part of his life ; and 
 which, united with the vexations he fufFered upon 
 other occaf:ons, brought on a kind of habitual 
 defpondency. In this unhappy condition he was 
 attacked by a nervous fever, which, being im- 
 properly treated, terminated in his diflblution OR 
 the 4th day of April, 1774, in the forty- third 
 year of his age. His friends, who were very nu- 
 merous and refpectable, had determined to bury 
 -kim in Weftmiufter- Abbey, where a tablet was to 
 b have
 
 xiv LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, T,LZ. 
 
 have been erected to his memory. His pall was 
 to have been fupported by Lord Sldlurne, Lord 
 Lcutb, Sir Jojbua Reynolds, the Hon. Mr. Be air 
 clerc, Mr. Edmund Burke, and Mr. Garrick ; but, 
 from fome unaccountable circumitances, this de- 
 fign was dropped, and his remains were privately 
 depofited in the Temple burial-ground*. 
 
 " As to his chara&er, it is ftrongly illuftrated 
 by Mr. Pope 's line ; 
 
 ' In wit a man, fimplicity a child.' 
 
 " The learned leifure he loved to enjoy was too 
 often interrupted by diflrefles which arofo- from 
 the opennefs of his temper, and which fometimes 
 threw him into loud fits of pafiion ; but this impe- 
 tuofity was corrected upon a moment's reflection ; 
 and his fervants have been known, upon thefe oc- 
 calions, purpofely to throw themfelves in his way, 
 that they might profit by it immediately after; 
 for he who had the good fortune to be reproved, 
 was certain of being rewarded for it. His difap- 
 pointments at other times made him peevifh and 
 fullen, and he has often kft a party of convivial 
 
 friends 
 
 * As there is no veftige for Grangers to diftlngui/h the phce 
 cf his interment, a number of his admirers have long wiihcd 
 for a fubfcription to be opened towards creating a tomb, or 
 head-ftone, at his grave- The Publiflier of this Volume, 
 anxious for this tribute to Genius and Friendship, will receive 
 fubfcriptions from any of Dr. Goldfrnitfrs friends who may Its. 
 . inclined to patrouife this undertaking.
 
 LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. xv 
 
 friends abruptly in the evening, in order to go 
 Borne and brood over his misfortunes : a circum- 
 ftance v/hich contributed not a little to the increafe 
 of his malady. 
 
 " The univerfal efteem in which his poems are 
 held, and the repeated pleafure they give in the 
 perufal, is a {Inking teft of their merit. He was 
 a ftudious and correfl obferver of nature, happy 
 in the fele&ion of his images, in the choice of his 
 fubjcfts, and in the harmony of his verification ; 
 and, though his embarrafied fituation prevented 
 him from putting the lait hand to many of his 
 productions, his Hermit, his 7rtovetter s and his De- 
 ferted Village, bid fair to claim a place among the 
 moft finiilied pieces in $ssi Englift language. 
 
 '' The writer of thefe anecdotes cannot conclude 
 without declaring, that, as different accounts hars 
 been given of this ingenious man, thefe are all 
 founded upon facls, and collected by one who lived 
 &vith him upon the moft friendly footing for a great 
 number cf years, and who never felt any forrowr* 
 more fenfibly than that which was occafioned b/ 
 his death." 
 
 Let it be turned to what theme it will, the Opi- 
 nion cf an elevated literary character will fucceed. 
 bcft with the million. Let us hear what Dr. c j>,Lr-- 
 fo/i fays of our author, in his Life of Parndl-
 
 afvi LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. 
 
 " THE Life of Dr. Parnell is a taflc which I 
 fhould very willingly decline, fmce it has been 
 lately written by Gcldfmitb, a man of fuch variety 
 of powers, and fuch felicity of performance, that 
 he always feemed to do beft that which he was 
 doing ; a man who had the art of being minute 
 without tedioufnefs, and general without confu- 
 f:on ; whofe language was copious without exu- 
 berance, exad without conftraint, and ecfy with- 
 out \veaknsfs. 
 
 " What fuch an author has told, who would tell 
 again ? I have made an abftracl from his larger 
 narrative ; and fhall have this gratification from 
 ray attempt, that it gives me an opportunity of 
 paying due tribute to the memory of a departed 
 genius." 
 
 The moft interefKng part of the account which 
 Mr. Da<vies has given of our author, in his Life of 
 Garrick, deferves the reader's attention. The lat- 
 ter part of it exhibits to mankind, feelings of the 
 firft quality in nature. 
 
 * e EvE^y thing of Gotafmltb feems to bear the 
 magical touch of an enchanter ; no man took lefa 
 pains, and yet produced fo powerful an effecl: : 
 the great beauty of his compofition confifts in a 
 clear, copious, and exprefiive ftyle. 
 
 ~ Gddjmittt
 
 LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. xvii. 
 
 Goldfmitb was fo fincere a man, that he could 
 not conceal what was uppermoft in bis mind : 
 fo &r from defiring to appear in the eye of the 
 world to the beft advantage, he took more pains 
 to be'eiteemed \vorfe than he was, than others do 
 to appear better than they are. 
 
 His difpofition of mind v/as tender and compaf- 
 fionate ; no 1 unhappy perfon ever foed to him for 
 relief, without obtaining it, if he had any thing 
 to give; and, rather than not relieve the diftreiTed, 
 he would borrow. The poor woman, with whom 
 he had lodged, during his obfcurity, feveral years 
 in Green-Arbour Court, by his death loft an ex- 
 cellent friend; for the Doctor often fupplied her 
 with food from his table, and vifited her frequently 
 with the fole purpofe to be kind to her. He had 
 his diflike, as moft men have, to particular peo^ 
 pie, but unmixed with rancour. He, leaft of all 
 mankind, approved Baretti's converfation ; he 
 confidered him as an infolent, over-bearing fo- 
 reigner ; as Raretti, in his turn, thought him an 
 unpolifhed man, and an abfurd companion : but, 
 when this unhappy Italian was charged with mur- 
 der, and afterwards fent by Sir John Fielding to 
 Newgate, GoUfmith opened his purfe, and would 
 have given him every milling it contained ; he, at 
 the fame time, infilled upon going in the coach 
 with him to th place of his confinement." 
 
 b 3 A handfome
 
 xviii LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M. B. 
 
 A handfome Monument was ere&ed to his Memory, 
 fome time fince, in Weftminfter- Alley, in the 
 Poets' Corner, between Gay's and the Duke of 
 Argyl^s, with the following Infcription, fup- 
 pofed to be written by Dr. John/on. 
 
 OLIVARII GOLDSMITH, 
 
 Poetae, Phyfici, Hiftorici, 
 Qui nullum fere fcribendi genus 
 
 non tetigit, 
 
 nullum quod tetigit non ornavit ; 
 five rifus eflent movendi, 
 
 five lacrimse, 
 
 effedluum potens, at lenis dominator j 
 
 ingenio fublimis, vividus, verfatilis ; 
 
 oratione grandis, nitidus, venuitus ; 
 
 Hoc monumento memoriam coluit 
 
 Sodalium amor, 
 
 Amicorum fides, 
 
 Leftorum veneratio. 
 
 Natus Hiberraa, Fornei3 Lonfordienfisj 
 
 in loco ciii nomen Pallas> 
 
 Nov. xxix, M&CCXXXJ. 
 
 Eblanae literis inftitutus, 
 
 Obiit Londini, 
 Apr. iv. M DCC LXXIV.. 
 
 . 
 
 Tie Editor of this work will le obliged to his inge- 
 nious readers for an elegant Tranjlaticn of this 
 Epitaph. 
 
 Among
 
 LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. xk 
 
 Among a variety of other pieces to this excel- 
 lent writer's memory, the following are the moft 
 diftinguifhed for poetical merit. 
 
 EPITAPH ON DR. GOLDSMITH. 
 By W. WOTY. 
 
 ADIEU, fweet Bard ! to each fine feeling true, 
 Thy virtues many, and thy foibles few; 
 Thofe form'd to charm e'en vicious minds and, 
 
 Thefe 
 
 With harmless mirth the focial foul to pleafe. 
 Another's woe thy heart could always melt, 
 None gave more free for none more deeply felt. 
 Sweet Bard, adieu \ thy own harmonious lays 
 Have fculptur'd out thy monument of praife ; 
 Yes Thefe furvive to Time's remoteft day> 
 While drops the bull, and boaftful tombs decay. 
 Reader ! if number'd in the Mufes' train, 
 Go tune the lyre, and imitate his ftrain ; 
 But if no Poet thou, reverfe the plan, 
 Depart in peace, and imitate the Man. 
 
 EXTRACT
 
 xx LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE TEARS OF GENIUS-* 
 
 Occasioned by the Death of Dr. Gcldfmitb. 
 
 By J. S. PRATT. 
 
 THE village-bell tolls out the note of Death, 
 And, through the echoing air, the length'ning 
 
 found, 
 
 With dreadful paufe, reverberating deep, 
 Spreads the fad tidings o'er fair Auburn's vale. 
 There, to enjoy the fcenes her bard had prais'd 
 In all the fweet Simplicity of fong, 
 Genius, in pilgrim garb, fequefter'd fat, 
 And herded jocund with the harmlefs fwains : 
 But, when fhe heard the fate- foreboding knell, 
 With ftartled Hep, precipitate and fwift, 
 And look pathetic, full of dire prefage, 
 The church-way walk, befide the neighb'ring 
 
 green, 
 
 Sorrowing fhe fought ; and there, in black array, 
 Borne on the Shoulders of the fwains he lov'd, 
 She faw the boaft of Auburn mov'd along. 
 Touch'd at the view, her penfive breaft She Struck, 
 And, to the cyprefs, which incumbent hangs, 
 With leaning Slope, and branch irregular, 
 O'er the mofs'd pillars of the facred fane, 
 Th' briar-bound graves Shad'wing with fun'ral 
 
 gloom, 
 
 Forlorn She hied ; and there the crouding woe 
 {Swell'd by the parent) prefs'4 on bleeding 
 
 thought, 
 
 Big
 
 LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, MB. xxi 
 Big ran the drops from her maternal eye, 
 Fail broke the bofom-forrow from her heart, 
 And pale Diftrefs fat fickly on her cheek, 
 As thus her plaintive elegy began : 
 
 ' And, muft my children all expire ? 
 
 Shall none be left to ftrike the lyre ? 
 
 Courts Death alone a learned prize ? 
 
 Falls his fhafts only on the wife ? 
 
 Can no fit marks on earth be found, 
 
 From ufelefs thoufands fwarming round r 
 
 What crouding cyphers cram the land ! 
 
 What holts of vi&ims at command ! 
 
 Yet mail th' ingenious drop alone ! 
 
 Shall Science grace the tyrant's throne? 
 
 Thou murd'rer of the tuneful train ! 
 
 I charge thee with my children flain ! 
 Scarce has the Sun thrice urg'd his annual tour, 
 Since half my race have felt thy barbarous power : 
 
 Sore haft thou thinn'd each pleafing art, 
 
 And ftruck a Mufe with every dart : 
 Bard, after Bard, obey'd thy flaughtering call, 
 'Till fcarce a Poet lives to fmg a brother's fall. 
 
 Then, let a widow'd mother pay 
 
 The tribute of a parting lay, 
 Tearful, infcribe the monumental ftrain, 
 And fpeak, aloud, her feelings, and her pain ! 
 
 And, firft, farewell to thee, my fon,' fhe cried, 
 * Thou pride of Auburn's dale fvveet bard, fare- 
 well ! 
 
 Long, for thy Ikke, the peafants tears mall flow, 
 And many a virgin-bofom heave with woe ; 
 
 Fo*
 
 xxii LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. 
 
 Fofcthee mall Sorrow fadden all the fcene, 
 
 And every paftime perifh on the green ; 
 
 The flurdy Farmer fliall fufpend his tale, 
 
 The Woodmsn's ballad (hall no more regale ; 
 
 No more mall mirth each rufdc fport infpire, 
 
 But every frolic, every feat, fhal! tire. 
 
 No more d*e ev'ning gambol fiiall delight, 
 
 Nor moonfhine revels crown the vacant night ; 
 
 But groupes of Villagers, each joy forgot, 
 
 Shall form a -fad affembly round the con 
 
 Sweet Bard, farewell ! and farewell dulxru** 
 
 blifs, 
 
 The bafhful lover, and the yielded kifs : 
 The evening warble Philomela made, 
 The echoing foreft, and the whifpering {hade, 
 The winding brook, the bleat of brute content, 
 And tke blithe voice that " whittled as it went.'* 
 Thefe mail no longer charm the Plowman's care, 
 But fighs mall fill the paufes of defpair. 
 
 Goldfmitb, adieu ! the " book-learn'd Prieft'To? 
 
 thee 
 
 Shall now, in vain, poflefs his feftive gtee; 
 The oft-heard jell in vaiu he (hall reveal, 
 For now, alas i the jell he cannot feel : 
 But ruddy Damfels o'er thy tomb fhall bend, 
 And, confcious, weep for their and Virtue's friend; 
 The Milkmaid fhall rejeft the Shepherd's fong, 
 And ceafe to carol as fhe toils along : 
 All Auburn fhall 'bewail the fatal day, 
 \yjien, from their fields, their pride was fnatch'd. 
 
 And,
 
 LIFE OP OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.S. xxiit 
 And even the Matron of the crefly lake, 
 In piteous plight, her palfied head lhall {hake, 
 While, all a-dovvn the furrows of her face, 
 Slow (hall the lingering tears each other trace. 
 
 And, oh my child, feverer woes remain 
 To all the houfelefs and unfhelter'd train : ' 
 Thy fate (hall fadden many an humble gueft, 
 And heap frefti anguifh on the beggar's bread } 
 For dear wert thou to all the fons of pain. 
 To all that wander, forrow, or complain ; 
 Dear to the learned, to the fimple dear, 
 For daily bleflings mark'd thy virtuous year; 
 The rich received a moral from thy head, 
 And, from thy heart, the ftranger found abed: 
 Diflrefs came always fmiling from thy door, 
 For GOD had made thee agent to the poor; 
 Had form'd thy feelings on the nobleft plan, 
 To grace at once the Pact and the Man. 
 
 CONTENTS/I
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 A. 
 
 Page 
 
 ADVERSITY 17 
 
 Abilities 28 
 
 Affection 30 
 
 Difmterefted Adion - 87 
 
 The Country Alehoufe 93 
 
 Adulation 100 
 
 Age - 102 
 
 Attachment 104 
 
 Dr. Pn'mro/e's Addrefs to his Fellow-Prifoners in 
 
 Gratified Ambition 173 
 
 Afem, the Man-Hater . - 189 
 
 Story of Alcander and Septimim 204 
 
 B. 
 
 Benefaction '" 15 
 
 Utility of new Books _ . 42 
 
 Benefaction and Acknowledgement 108 
 
 A C. Cahu
 
 xxvi CONTENTS. 
 
 C. 
 
 Page 
 
 Calamities . . j i 
 
 Country Clergyman - 55 
 
 Opinion relative to Children . 41 
 
 Educating Children 75 
 
 Duty of Children to Parents 58 
 
 Love of Country ^ no 
 
 The Merchant's Clerk 139 
 
 Confcience - - . r;6 
 
 The Philofophic Cobler __ ,-. 
 
 Human Curiofity . 187 
 
 Ceremony - 201 
 
 Pifture of a Critic .. 220 
 
 D. 
 
 Dependance . ^ 
 
 Difquietude . . 59 
 
 Modeft Diffidence 7 o 
 
 Drefs I0 6 
 
 Diflembling , 129 
 
 Obfervations on Death 170 
 
 Magnificence of the Deity 203 
 
 E. 
 
 . ,-;- 
 
 Opinidri of the Englijb i$ 
 
 Edwin and Angelina .. j 8 
 
 Reflection on the Earth 33 
 
 Rejoicing
 
 CONTENTS. xxvii 
 
 Page 
 
 Rejoicing at the Deftru&ion of our Enemies 33 
 Natural Evils - . ^j 
 
 Pleafmg Expectation . . 109 
 
 Earnefl Employment ~- - 139 
 
 Charity of the Englijh - - 161 
 
 Infolence of the common Englijb to Foreigners 1 64 
 Pride of the Englijb . 219 
 
 F. 
 
 Faults - .. i . - 49 
 
 Royal Favour . 59 
 
 Flattery ...... . . 69 
 
 Infolence of Court Favourites 77 
 
 Eflay on Friendfhip 89 
 
 Favour * 107 
 Fortune the only Reprefentative of Love and 
 
 Affe&ion among the Moderns - < 222 
 
 G. 
 
 Good-Nature .1 > 
 
 Greatnefs 
 
 Generofity . 
 
 Gratitude 
 
 A 2
 
 -xxviii CONTENTS. 
 
 Gratitude and Love - 
 
 Monarchical and Republican Government 
 
 Greatnefs 
 
 Epitaph on Da*vld Garrick 
 
 Fidelity of a Dog 
 
 Popular Glory contrafted with True Glofy 
 True Generofity .. 
 
 Generofity . 
 
 Miferies of Genius in various Ages, and her 
 Happinefs in this -- 
 
 Generofity .. 
 
 H. 
 
 Hofpitality _ _ 
 
 Communion with our own Hearts 
 Hope ; a Song . 
 
 Hope, the Lamp of Life 
 
 Happinefs ever repugnant to our Wimes 
 
 I. 
 
 Inhumanity 12 
 
 Tndependance .- . . 29 
 
 Afluming Ignorance 41 
 
 Innocence and Simplicity 99 
 
 Coa tempt of the Ignorant . 210 
 
 L Juftice
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Juftice . _^ 2 
 Juftice _ 86 
 
 Knowledge . .. j^ 
 
 Vices of great Kings .. . , 59 
 
 Knowledge . . 73 
 
 L. 
 
 Defigning Lovers . , ,^ 
 
 Love and Gratitude . . ^i 
 
 Liberality , 32 
 
 Literature < .~.-~e. 87 
 
 Love of Life . -i. , i O ^ 
 
 Revolutions of Life -124 
 
 Love i - 130 
 
 Love, Ambition, and Avarice - j- - 156 
 
 Benefits arifing from Luxury . 216 
 
 M. 
 
 Malice - , 
 
 Dignity of Man *--- , z ~, 
 
 Memory j a Song .,. . , 
 
 A 3 _mty
 
 xxx CO 
 
 Dignity of Man 
 
 Life of Man 
 
 Misfortunes of the Great 
 
 thofe of the Poor 
 Accidental Meetings 
 Story of Colonel M- - 120 
 
 Tendernefs and Generofity of Engtijb Mif- 
 
 creants . - * 164 
 
 Contemplation of Celeftial Magnificence 188 
 
 N. 
 Judgment of Human Nature 110 
 
 O. 
 
 Obligations 72 
 
 Oftentation ' ... 133 
 
 P. 
 
 Politenefs __. 
 
 Praife 
 
 Reflexion on the Life of a Poet 
 Puniihmcnt i 
 
 Pride and Refentment 
 
 Epitaph upon Doftor Parnell 
 Uncontrouled Power 
 
 Pleafure _ 
 
 Want of Prudence
 
 C C : ' E N T S. xxxi 
 
 Page 
 
 Poverty . 85 
 
 Death, of a Phibfophcr - 88 
 
 The $<wifs Peaiant - loi 
 
 Pleafure . .. 133 
 
 Penitence ..... . 138 
 
 Legiflative Power . - 166 
 
 The Strolling Player ' 174 
 
 Allurements of Quality - 203 
 
 R. 
 
 Reputation - _ 14 
 
 Reading - ..... 74. 
 
 Retirement . - 118 
 
 Ridicule - ...... up 
 
 Repofe - - I55 
 
 Scientific Refinement . . 173 
 
 Literary Reputation - 202 
 
 Remembrance - . .- - - - 2 OA. 
 
 Pleafures of Rural Retirement ... ..... . .- 210 
 
 Reputation - - 220 
 
 S. 
 
 Story of Mifs Sylvia S 
 
 Song 
 
 The Soul 
 
 Life of a Scholar 
 
 Succefs . -.
 
 xxxii CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Solitude ... 48 
 
 The Country Schoolmafter 56 
 
 Sorrow - . 73 
 
 Sabinus and Olinda 94 
 
 Sympathetic Sincerity 107 
 
 The Soul 130 
 
 Study ' . 136 
 
 Pleafures of Study il. 
 
 Early Diftafte to Study not to be conquered 137 
 
 The Difabled Soldier 147 
 
 Secrecy 189 
 
 Song 217 
 
 T. * 
 
 Tenderneis 89 
 
 Tidings * 109 
 
 Entertainment in the Study of Trifles 200 
 
 U. 
 
 The common Englijh, Strangers to Urbanity 162 
 
 V. 
 Vice 
 
 Valfalage 
 
 Vanity 
 
 Virtue 
 
 Mifplaced Virtues 
 
 Countenance to the Vulgar 
 Opinion of the Genius of Voltaire
 
 CONTENTS. xxxiii 
 
 W. 
 
 Page 
 
 Civil War 17 
 
 Ingratitude of the World . 28 
 Opinion of Women, with an Account of Ca- 
 
 tharina Alexo--wna, Emprefs of Ruffia 49 
 
 Wifdom and Virtue . 57 
 
 The Man of the World . 60 
 
 Converfation of a fine Woman . 73 
 
 Connexion of Wits .. . .c. 188 
 
 Youth
 
 [ XXXV ] 
 
 BOOKS printed for G. KEARSLEY, at 
 No. 46, in Fleet- Sir set. 
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF 
 
 DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON, 
 
 I N T WO VOLUMES, 
 
 Price Five Shillings together, or Half a Crown 
 feparate j 
 
 THE FIFTH EDITION, 
 With Engraved Titles, and a Head of the Author. 
 
 tJ This Work has been already introduced into 
 a great Number of refpectable Schools, both LA- 
 DIES' and GENTLEMEN'b. 
 
 The MONTHLY REVIEW for March, 1782, gives 
 the following Character of this ^ELECTION : 
 
 ' The merit of Dr. fobnfon, as a moral and critical 
 ' Writer, is fowell known, that it would be fuper- 
 
 * fluous to point it out. His great excellence, 
 ' however, lies in deep obfervations and acute re- 
 
 * marks on men and manners, worthy both of the 
 ' fageandthewit: with thefe he interweavesreflec- 
 ' tions, which are admirably calculated to imprefs 
 
 * the heart with a fenfe of the beauty of Virtue, and 
 
 * the obligations of Religion. The Collector of 
 
 'his
 
 [ xxxvi ] 
 
 c his Maxims fufficiently exprefles the defigns of 
 f this publication in the Title-page ; and we 
 
 * heartily vvifh it fuccefs among the Young, for 
 ' whofe improvement and convenience, particularly 
 
 * in Schools, it feems principally intended.' Vide 
 the laji Monthly Review. 
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF STERNE, 
 
 THE THIRD EDITION, 
 
 In which every loofe Expreffion is carefully 
 omitted, 
 
 Is j uft publiftied, Price Half a Crown, with a H E A n 
 of the AUTHOR, and an ENGRAVED TITLE. 
 
 In the PRESS, 
 
 And in a few Days <-jcill be Publifved, price Half a 
 Crown each, with HEADS and ENGRAVED 
 TITLES, 
 
 THE 
 
 BEAUTIES of HENRY FIELDING, Efq. 
 
 AND 
 
 The BEAUTIES of DR. WATTS.
 
 THE 
 
 BEAUTIES 
 
 O F 
 
 GOLDSMITH. 
 
 STORY OF MISS SYLVIA S . 
 
 JVllSS SYLVIA S was defcended from 
 
 one of the beft families in the kingdom, and was 
 left- a large fortune upon her fitter's deceafe. She 
 had early in life been introduced into the beft com- 
 pany, and contra&ed a paffion for elegance and 
 expence. It is ufual to make the heroine of a 
 (lory very witty, and very beautiful ; and fuch cir- 
 cumftances are fo furely expe&ed, that they are 
 fcarce attended to. But whatever the fineft poet 
 could conceive of wit, or the moft celebrated 
 painter imagine of beauty, were excelled in the 
 perfections of this young lady. Her fuperiority 
 in both was allowed by all, who either heard, or 
 had feen her. She was naturally gay, generous to 
 a fault, good-natured to the higheft degree, affable 
 in converfation; and fome of her letters, and other 
 writings, as well in verfe as profe, would have 
 Ihone amongft thofe of the moft celebrated wits of 
 this, or any other age, had they been publifhed. 
 B But
 
 ^2 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 But thefe great qualifications were marked by 
 another, which leffened the value of them all. 
 She was imprudent ! But let it not be imagined, 
 -that her reputation or honour fuffered by her im- 
 prudence; I only mean, me had no knowledge of 
 the ufe of money; me relieved diftrefs, by putting 
 herfelf into the circumftances of the objed whofe 
 wants flie fupplied. 
 
 She was arrived at the age of nineteen, when 
 the croud of her lovers, and the continual repeti- 
 tion of new flattery, had taught her to think me 
 could never be forfaken, and never poor. Young 
 -ladies are apt to expeft a certainty of fuccefs, from 
 a number of lovers ; and yet I have feldom feen a 
 girl courted by an hundred lovers, that found an 
 hufband in any. Before the choice is fixed, me 
 has either loft her reputation, or her good fenfe j 
 and the lofs of either is fufficient-to conlign her to 
 perpetual virginity. 
 
 Among the number of this young lady's lovers, 
 
 Was the celebrated S , who, at that time, went 
 
 by the name of the good-natured man. This gen- 
 tleman, with talents that might have done honour 
 to humanity, fuffered himfelf to fall at length 
 into the loweft ftate of debafement. He followed 
 the diftates of every neweft paffion ; his love, his 
 pity, his generolity, and even his friendfhips, were 
 all in excefs : he was unable to make head againft 
 any of his fenfations or defires ; but they were in 
 
 general
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 3 
 
 general worthy wifhes and defires ; for he was con- 
 iiitutionaliy virtuous. This gentleman, who at 
 lail died in a gaol, was,. at that time, this lady's 
 envied favourite, 
 
 It is probable that he, thoaghtlefs creature ! had 
 no other profpeft from this amour, but that of 
 paffing the prefent moments agreeably. He only 
 courted diflipation ; but the lady's thoughts were 
 fixed on happinefs. At length, however, his debts 
 amounting to a considerable fum, he was arrefted, 
 and thrown into prifon. He endeavoured at firft 
 to conceal his fituation from his beautiful miftrefs ; 
 but me foon came to a knowledge of his diftrefs, 
 and took a fatal refolution of freeing him from 
 confinement by difcharging all the demands of his 
 creditors. 
 
 Mr. Nafi was at that time in London, and re- 
 prefented to the though tlefs young lady, that fuch 
 a meafure would effectually ruin both; that fo 
 
 warm a concern for the interefls of Mr. S , 
 
 would, in the firft place, quite impair her fortune 
 in the eyes of our fex, and, what was worfe, leffen. 
 her reputation in thofe of her own. He added, 
 
 that thus bringing Mr. S from prifon, would 
 
 be only a temporary relief; that a mind fo gene- 
 rous as his, would become bankrupt under the load 
 of gratitude ; and, in (lead of improving in friend- 
 fliip or affection, he would only ftudy to avoid a 
 B 2 creditor 
 
 * Then Majler cf t&e Ceremonies at Bath.
 
 4 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 creditor he could never repay : that, though fmatl 
 favours produce good -will, great ones deftroy 
 friendlhip. Thefe admonitions, however, were 
 difregarded ; and Ihe too late found the prudence 
 and truth of her advifer. In fhort, her fortune 
 Was by this means exhaufled ; and, with all her 
 attractions, {he found her acquaintance began to 
 difeftecm her, in proportion as ihe became poor. 
 
 In this fituation (he accepted Mr. Nafi's invita- 
 tion of returning to Bath. He promifed to intro- 
 duce her to the beft company there ; and he was 
 allured that her merit would do the reft. Upon 
 her very firft appearance, ladies of the higheft dif- 
 tinftion courted her friendfhip and efleem ; but a 
 fettled melancholy had taken pofleflion of her 
 mind, and no amufements that they could propofe 
 were fufficient to divert it. Yet {till, as if from 
 habit, me followed the crowd in its levities, and 
 frequented thofe places where all perfons endea- 
 vour to forget themfelves in the buftle of cere- 
 mony and {how. 
 
 Her beauty, her fimplicity, and her unguarded 
 fituation, foon drew the attention of a defigning 
 wretch, who at that time kept one of the Rooms 
 at Bath, and who thought that this lady's merit, 
 properly managed, might turn to good account. 
 This woman's name was Dame Lindfey, a creature, 
 who, though vicious, was in appearance fan&ified ; 
 and, though defigning, had feme wit and humour. 
 She began, by the humbleli affiduity, to ingratiate 
 
 herfelf
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 5 
 
 herfelf with Mifs S 1 ; fliewed that ihe could ba 
 
 amufmg as a companion, and, by frequent offers 
 of money, proved that fhe could be ufeful as a 
 friend. Thus, by degrees, fhe gained an entire 
 afcendant over this poor, thoughtlefs, defcrted 
 girl ; and, in lefs than one year, namely, about 
 
 1727, Mifs 5 , without ever tranfgreffing the 
 
 laws of virtue, had entirely loft her reputation. 
 Whenever a perfon was wanting to make up a party 
 for play at Dame Lindfey's, Sylvia, as me was then 
 familiarly called, was fent for, and was obliged to 
 fuffer all thofe flights, which the rich but too often 
 let fall upon their inferiors in point cf fortune. 
 
 In moil, even the greateft minds, the heart at 
 lait becomes level with the meannefs of its condi- 
 tion ; but in this charming girl it ftruggled hard 
 with adverfity, and yielded to every encroachment ' 
 of contempt with fallen reluctance. 
 
 But though in the courfe of three years fhe was 
 in the very eye of public infpe&ion, yet Mr. Wocd, 
 the architect, avers, that he could never, by the 
 flrifteft obfervations, perceive her to be tainted 
 with any other vice, than that of fuffering herfelf 
 to be decoyed to the gaming-table, and, at her 
 own hazard, playing for the amufement and ad . 
 vantage of others. Her friend, Mr. Najh, there- 
 fore, thought proper to induce her to break off all 
 conneftions with Dame Lindfey, and to rent part 
 of Mr. PFfod's houfe, in Queen-fquare , where fhe 
 B 3 behaved
 
 6 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMTTH. 
 
 behaved with the utmoft complaifance, regularity, 
 and virtue. 
 
 In this fituation, her deteftation of life ftill con- 
 tinued ; fhe found, that time would infallibly de- 
 prive her of part of her attractions, and that con- 
 tinual folicitude would impair the reft. With thefe 
 reflections fhe would frequently entertain herfelf, 
 and an old faithful maid, in the vales of Bath, 
 whenever the weather would permit them to walk 
 out. She would even fometimes ftart queftions in 
 company, with feeming unconcern, in order to 
 know, what aft of fuicidc was eafieft, and which 
 was attended with the fmalleft pain. When tired 
 with exercife, fhe generally retired to meditation ; 
 and ihe became habituated to early hours of fleep 
 and reft. But when the weather prevented her 
 ufual exercife, and her fleep was thus more diffi- 
 cult, (he made.it a rule to rife from her bed, and 
 walk about her chamber, till Ihe began to find an 
 inclination for repofe. 
 
 This cuftom made it neceflary for her to order a 
 burning candle to be kept all night in her room : 
 and the maid ufually, when fhe withdrew, locked 
 the chamber-door; and, pufhing the key under it 
 beyond reach, her miftrefs, by that conftant me- 
 thod, lay undifturbed till feven o'clock in the 
 morning ; then fhe arofe, unlocked the door, and 
 rang the bell, as a fignal for the maid to return. 
 
 This
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH". 7 
 This flate of feeming piety, regularity, and 
 prudence, continued for fome time, till the gay, 
 celebrated, toafted Mifs Sylvia was funk into an 
 houfekeeper to the gentleman at whofe houfe fhe 
 lived. She was unable to keep company, for want 
 of the elegancies pf drefs, that are the ufual pafs- 
 port among the polite ; and fhe was too haughty 
 to feem to want them. The fafhionable, the 
 amufing, and the polite, in fociety, now feldora 
 vifited her ; and, from being once the objecl; of 
 every eye, fhe was now deferted by all, and preyed 
 upon by the bitter reflections of her own impru- 
 dence. 
 
 Mr. Wood, and part of his family, were gone to 
 London. Mifs Syl<uia was left with the reft, as a 
 governefs, at Eatb. She fometimes faw Mr. Najh- y 
 and acknowledged the friendship of his admoni- 
 tions, though fhe refufed to accept any other marks 
 of his generofity than that of advice. Upon the clofe 
 of the day in which Mr. Wcod was expected to re- 
 turn from London, fhe exprcffed fome uneafinefs at 
 the difappointment of not feeing him ; took parti- 
 cular care to fettle the affairs of his family ; and 
 then, as ufual, fat down to meditation. She now caft 
 a retrofpeft over her paft mifconduct, and her ap- 
 proaching mifjery ; fhe faw, that even affluence 
 gave her no real happinefs, and from indigence 
 fhe thought nothing could be hoped but lingering 
 calamity. She at length conceived the fatal refo- 
 lution of leaving a life, in which fhe could fee no 
 
 corner
 
 g THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 corner for comfort, and terminating a fcene of: 
 imprudence in fuicide. 
 
 Thus refolved, me fat down at her dining- 
 room window, and with cool intrepidity wrote the 
 following elegant lines on one of the panes of the 
 window : 
 
 O Death ! thou pleafmg end of human ; woe ! 
 Thou cure for life ! Thou greateft good below ! 
 Still may'ft thou fly the coward, and the flave, 
 And thy foft {lumbers only blefs the brave. 
 
 She then went into company with the moft 
 chearfal ferenity ; talked of indifferent fubjefts 
 till fupper, which me ordered to be got ready in a 
 little library belonging to the family. There fhe 
 fpent the remaining hours, preceding bed-time, 
 in dandling two of Mr. Wood's children on her 
 knees. In retiring from thence to her chamber, 
 fhe went into the nurfery, to take her leave of 
 another child, as it lay fleeping in the cradle. 
 Struck with the innocence of the little babe's 
 looks, and the confcioufnefs of her meditated 
 guilt, fhe could not avoid burfting into tears, and 
 hugging it in her arms ; fhe then bid her old fer- 
 vant a good night, for the firfl time fhe had ever 
 done fo, and went to bed as ufual. 
 
 It is probable fhe foon quitted her bed, and 
 was feized with an alternation of paffions, before 
 
 me
 
 'I HE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 9 
 me yielded to the impulfe of defpair. She dreflld 
 herfelf in clean linen, and white garments of 
 every kind, like a bride-maid. Her gown was 
 pinned over her breaft, juft as a nurfe pins the 
 fwaddling-clothes of an infant. A pink filk gir- 
 dle was the inftrument with which fhe refolved to 
 terminate her mifery, and this was lengthened by 
 another made of gold thread. The end of the 
 former was tied with a noofe, and the latter with 
 three knots, at a fmall diftance from one another. 
 
 Thus prepared, fhe fat down again, and read ; 
 for fhe left the book open at that place, in the 
 ftory of Olympia, in the Orlando Furiofo of Ari- 
 ofto, where, by the perfidy and ingratitude of her 
 bofom friend, fhe was ruined, and left to the 
 mercy of an unpitying world. This tragical 
 event gave her frefh fpirits to go through her 
 fatal purpofe ; fo flan ding upon a ftocl, and fling* 
 ing the girdle, which was tied round her neck, 
 over a clofet-door that opened into her chamber, 
 fhe remained fufpended. Her weight however 
 broke the girdle, and the poor defpairer fell upon 
 the floor with fuch violence, that her fall awakened 
 a workman that lay in the houfe about half an 
 hour after two o'elock. 
 
 Recovering herfelf, fhe began to walk about 
 the room, as her ufual cuftom was when fhe 
 wanted fleep ; and the workman imagining it to 
 be only fome ordinary accident, again went to 
 
 fleep ^
 
 to THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 fleep. She once more, therefore, had recourfe t 
 a. rtronger girdle made of filver thread ; and this 
 kept her fufpended till fhe died. 
 
 Her old maid continued in the morning to wait 
 as ufual for the ringing of the bell, and protracted 
 her patience, hour after hour, till two o'clock in 
 the afternoon ; when the workmen at length en- 
 tering the room through the window, found their 
 unfortunate miftrefs fall hanging, and quite cold. 
 The coroner's jury being impanelled, brought in 
 theirverdift, Lunacy ; and her corpfe was next night 
 decently buried in her father's grave, at the 
 charge of a female companion, with whom fhe 
 had for many years an inseparable intimacy. 
 
 Thus ended a female wit, a toaft, and a game 
 fter ; loved, admired, and forfaken ; formed for 
 the delight of fociety, fallen by imprudence into 
 an objeft of pity. Hundreds in high life la- 
 mented her fate, and wifhed, when too late, to 
 redrefs her injuries. They who once had helped 
 to impair her fortune, now regretted that they 
 afiitted in fo mean a purfuit. The little effeills 
 fhe had left Behind were bought up with the great- 
 eft avidity, by thole who defired to 'preferve fome 
 token of a companion that once had given them 
 fuch delight. The remembrance of every virtue 
 flic was poffefTed of was now improved by pity. 
 Her former follies were few, but the laic fwelled 
 them, to a lar^e amount. As fhe remains the 
 
 ilrongefl.
 
 THE "BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. it 
 ftrongeft inftance to pofterity, that want of pru- 
 dence alone, almoft cancels every other virtue. 
 
 LIFE OF NASH, p. 84, 
 
 CALAMITIES. 
 
 JVlAN little knows what calamities are beyond 
 his patience to bear, till he tries them. As in 
 afcending the heights of ambition, which look 
 bright from below, every ftep we rife fnews us 
 fome new and gloomy profpecl of hidden difap- 
 pointment ; fo in our defcerrt from the fummits of 
 pleafure, though the vale of mifery below may 
 appear at firft dark and gloomy, yet the bufy 
 mind, ftill attentive to its own amufement, finds, 
 as we defcend, fomething to flatter and to pleafe. 
 Still as we approach, the darkeft objects appear to 
 brighten, and the mental eye becomes adapted to 
 its gloomy fituation. 
 
 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD, V. I. p. 199. 
 
 BOOKS. 
 
 BOOKS, while they teach us to refpefl the in- 
 terefts of others, often make us unmindful of our 
 own ; while they inftruct the youthful reader to 
 grafp at focial happinefs, he grows miferable in 
 detail, and, attentive to univerfal harmony, often 
 forgets that he himfelf has a part to fuftain in the 
 
 concert,
 
 12 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 concert. I diflike therefore the philofopher who 
 defcribes the inconveniencies of life in fuch plea- 
 fing colours, that the pupil grows enamoured of 
 diftrefs, longs to try the charms of poverty, meets 
 it without dread, nor fears its inconveniencies till 
 he feverely feels them. 
 
 CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 7 
 
 HOSPITALITY. 
 
 HOSPITALITY is one of the iirft chriftian 
 duties. The beaft retires to his flicker, and the 
 bird flies to its neft ; but helplefs man can only 
 find refuge from his fellow creature. The greateft 
 ftranger in this world was he that came to fave it. 
 He never had an houfe, as if willing to fee what 
 hofpitality was left remaining amongft us. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD,V. I. p. 59. 
 
 INHUM ANJT'Y. 
 
 WE mould never ftrike an unneceiTary blow at 
 a viftim over whom providence holds the fcourge 
 of its refentment. 
 
 IBID. v. i. p. 6z. 
 
 GOOD-NATURE. 
 TO the good-natured, fubfequent diftrefs often 
 atones for former guilt ; and while reafon would 
 reprefs humanity, yet our hearts plead in the fa- 
 vour of the wretched. 
 
 HIST. OF ENGLAND, IN LETTERS FROM A 
 NOBLEMAN TO HIS SON, V. 2. p. 2OO.
 
 . 
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 THE volume of nature is the book of know- 
 ledge ; and he becomes moft wife who makes the 
 moil judicious feleftion. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 14. 
 
 OPINION OF THE ENGLISH. 
 
 THE Englifh in general feem fonder of gaining 
 the efteem than the love of thofe they converfe 
 with : this gives a formality to their amufements ; 
 their gayeil converfations have fomething too wife 
 for innocent relaxation ; though in company you 
 are feldom difgufted with the abfurdity of a fool, 
 you are feldom lifted into rapture by thofe ftrokes 
 of vivacity which give inftant, though not perma- 
 nent pleafure. 
 
 What they want, however, in gaiety, they make 
 up in politenefs. You fmile at hearing me praife 
 the Englifh for their politenefs : you who have 
 heard very different accounts from the miffionaries 
 at Pekin, who have feeii fuch a different behaviour 
 in their merchants and feamen at home. But I 
 muft ftill repeat it, the Englifh feem more polite 
 than any of their neighbours : their great art in 
 this refpeft lies in endeavouring, while they oblige, 
 to lefien the force of the favour. Other coun- 
 tries are fond of obliging a ftranger ; but feem de- 
 firous that he mould be fenfible of the obligation. 
 The Englilh confer their kindnefs with an ap- 
 C pearanc
 
 14 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 pearance of indifference, and give away benefits, 
 with an air as if they defpifed them. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, v.i. p. 13. 
 
 REPUTATION. 
 .AS the reputation of books is raifed not by 
 their freedom from defect, but the greatnefs of 
 their beauties ; fo mould that of men be prized 
 not for their exemption from fault, but the fize of 
 . thofe virtuts they are poffeiTed of. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. I. p. 158. 
 
 G REATNESS. 
 
 IT is the misfortune of humanity, that we can 
 never know true greatnefs till that moment when 
 we are going to lofe it. 
 
 HIST. OF ENGLAND, V. 2. p. 266. 
 
 F A V O U R. 
 
 EVERY favour a man receives, in fome mea- 
 fure finks him below his dignity ; and in proportion 
 to the value of the benefit, or the frequency of its 
 acceptance, he gives up fo much of his natural 
 independance. He therefore, who thrives upon 
 the unmerited bounty of another, if he has any 
 fenfibility, fuffers the worft of fervitude : the 
 {hackled ilave may murmur without reproach, but 
 the humble dependant is taxed with ingratitude 
 upon every fymptcm of difcontent ; the one may 
 rave round the walls of his cell, but the other 
 
 lingers
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 15- 
 
 lingers in all the filence of mental confinements 
 To increafe his diftrefs, every new obligation but 
 adds to the former load which kept the vigorous 
 mind from riiing ; till at laft, elaftic no longer, it 
 Shapes itfelf to conflraint, and puts on habitual 
 fervility. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WOR-L0, V. 2. p. U?. 
 
 V 1C E. 
 
 WE are not to be furprifed that bad men want : 
 fhame ; they only blufh at being deteded in do- 
 ing good, but glory in their vices. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. I. p. l6z. 
 
 MALICE. 
 
 TO be at once merry and malicious, is the fign 
 of a corrupt heart* and mean undenlanding. 
 
 HIST. OF ENGLAND, V. 2. p. 36, 
 
 BE NE F A C TIO N. 
 IN general, the benefactions of a generous 
 man are but ill beftowed. His heart feldom givtfs 
 him leave to examine the real diftrefs of'the object 
 which fues for pity ; his good-nature takes the 
 alarm too foon, and he beflovvs -his fortune only 
 on apparent wretchednefs. The man naturally 
 frugal, on the other hand, feldom relieves ; but: 
 when he does, his reafon, and not his fenfations, 
 generally find out -the objecl. Every inftince- of 
 C2 his
 
 16 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 his bounty is therefore permanent, and bears wit- 
 
 nefs to his benevolence. 
 
 JLIFE OF NASH, p. 114. 
 
 COMMUNION WITH OUR OWN HEARTS. 
 
 IF we could but learn to commune with our 
 own hearts, and know what noble company we can 
 make them, we would little regard the elegance 
 and fplendors cf . the wcrthlefs. Almoft all men 
 have been taught to call life a pafTage, and tliem- 
 felves the travellers. The fimilitude fall may be 
 improved, when we ob&rve that the good are joy- 
 ful and ferene, like travellers that are going to- 
 wards home ; the wicked but by intervals happy,_ 
 like travellers that are going into exile. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. 2, p. 49. 
 
 VASSALAGE. 
 IT is perhaps one of the fevereft misfortunes of 
 the great, that they are, in general, obliged to 
 live among men whofe reaK value is leffened by 
 Uependance, and whofe minds are enflaved by 
 obligation. The humble companion may have at 
 firft accepted patronage with generous views ; 
 but foon he feels the mortifying influence of con- 
 fcious inferiority, by degrees finks into a flatterer, 
 and from flattery at laft degenerates into ftupid 
 veneration. To remedy this, the great often dif- 
 mifs their old dependants, and take new. Such 
 changes are falfely imputed to levity, falfehood,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF 'GOLD SMITH. 17 
 or caprice, in the patron, fmce they may be more 
 jtiftly afcribed to the client's gradual deteriora- 
 tion. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WOULD, V. 2. p. 144. 
 
 ADVERSITY. 
 
 THE greateit objeft in the univerfe, fays a cer- 
 tain philofophcr, is a good man ftruggling with 
 ad.verfity; yet there is ftill a greater, which is 
 the good man that comes t6 relieve it. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. 2. p. IOJ. 
 
 DE-SIGNING LOVERS. 
 DESIGNING lovers in the decline of life are 
 ever moft dangerous. Skilled in all the weak- 
 neffes of the fex, they feize each favourable op- 
 portunity, and by having lefs pafficn than youth- 
 ful admirers, have lefs real refpedl, and therefore 
 lefs timidity. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 1. p. 260, 
 
 CIVIL WAR. 
 
 CIVIL war is in itfelf terrible, but ftill more 
 fo when heightened by cruelty. How guilty fo- 
 ever men may be, it is ever the bufinefs of a fol- 
 dier to remember, that he is only to .fight an 
 enemy that oppofes him, and to fpare the fup- 
 pliant- 
 
 HIST. OF ENGLAND, V. 2. p. 2OO. 
 
 C POLITE-
 
 !8 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 POLITENESS. 
 
 SOME great minds r.re only fitted to put forth 
 their powers in the itorm ; and the occasion is 
 often wanting, during a whole life, for a great ex- 
 ertion : but trifling opportunities of fhining, are 
 almoft every hour offered to the little fedulous 
 mind ; and a perfon thus employed, is not only 
 more pleafing, but more ufeful in a fiate of tran- 
 quil fociety. 
 
 LIFE OF NASH, p- 7j. 
 
 EDWIN AND ANGELINA. 
 
 lURN, gentle Hermit of the dale, 
 'And guide my lonely way 
 
 * To where yon taper cheers the vale 
 
 ' With hofpitable ray : 
 
 ' For here, forlorn and loft I tread, 
 
 * With fainting fleps arid flow, 
 Where wilds immeafurably fpread 
 
 ' Seem length'ning as I go/ 
 
 ' Forbear, my fon,' the Hermit cries,. 
 ' To tempt the dangerous gloom ; 
 
 * For yonder faithlefs phantom flies 
 
 ' To lure thee to thy doom. 
 
 'He*?
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. ig 
 
 * Here to the hoiifelsfs child of want 
 
 ' My door is open ftill ; 
 
 * And though my portion is but (cant, 
 
 ' I give it with good-will. 
 
 * Then turn to-night, and freely frare 
 
 ' Whate'er my cell bellows ; 
 ' My rufhy couch, and frugal fare, 
 ' My bleffing, and repofe. 
 
 ' No flocks that range the, valley free, 
 
 ' To {laughter I condemn : 
 ' Taught by that Power that pities rtr, 
 
 ' I learn to pity them. 
 
 * But from the mountain's grafiy fide 
 
 ' A guiltlefs feaft I bring ; 
 ' A fcrip with herbs and fruits fupply'd, 
 ' And water from the fpring. 
 
 ( Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego; 
 ' All earth-born cares are wrong : 
 
 * Man wants but little here below, 
 
 ' Nor wants that little long. 1 
 
 Soft as the dew from Heav'n defcends, 
 
 His gentle accents fell : 
 The modeft ftranger lowly bends, 
 
 And follows to the cell.
 
 20 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH; 
 
 Far in a wilder nefs obfcure 
 
 The lonely manfion lay, 
 A refuge to the neighbouring poor, 
 
 And ftrangers led aftray. 
 
 No ftores beneath its humble, thatch 
 
 Requir'd a mailer's care ; 
 The wicket op'ning with a latch 
 
 Receiv'd the harmlefs pair. 
 
 And! now, when bufy crouds retire 
 
 To take their evening reft, 
 The^Iermit trimm'd his little fire, 
 
 And cheer 'd his penlive gueft ; 
 
 And fpread his vegetable ftore, 
 
 And gaily preft, and fmil'd, 
 And, fkill'd in legendary lore, 
 
 The lingering hours beguil'd. 
 
 Around in fympathetic mirth 
 Its tricks the kitten tries ; 
 The cricket chirrups in the hearth ; 
 . The crackling faggot flies. 
 
 But nothing could a charm impart 
 To foothe the ftranger's woe ; 
 
 For grief was heavy at his heart, 
 And tears began to flow.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. ZT 
 
 His riling cares the Hermit fpy'd, 
 
 With anfw'ring care oppreft : 
 ' And whence, unhappy youth,' he cry'd, 
 
 The forrows of thy breaft ? 
 
 ' From better habitations fpurn'd, 
 
 * Reluftant doft thou rove ? 
 
 * Or grieve for friendfhip unreturn'd, 
 
 ' Or unregarded love ? 
 
 * Alas ! the joys that fortune brli.gs, 
 
 ' Are trifiing, and decay; 
 
 * And thofe who prize the paltry things,.. 
 
 ' More trifling ftill than they. 
 
 e And what is Friendfhip but a name, 
 
 ' A charm that lulls to fleep ; 
 ' A made that follows wealth or fame,. 
 
 * But leaves the wretch to weep? 
 
 * And Love is ftill an emptier found,. 
 ' The modern fair-one's jefl, 
 
 ' On earth unfeen, or only found 
 ' To warm the turtle's neit. 
 
 * For Ihame, fond youth ! thy forrows hu&, 
 
 ' And fpurn the fex,' he faid : 
 But, while he fpoke, a rifing blufh 
 His love-lorn gueft betray'd. 
 
 Surpris'd
 
 zz THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 Surpris'd he fees new beauties rife 
 
 Swift mantling to the view, 
 Like colours o'er the morning fkie~, 
 
 As bright, as tranfient too. 
 
 The bafhful look, the rifing breaft,- 
 
 Alternate fpread alarms ; 
 The lovely ftranger rtands confeft 
 
 A maid in all her charms. 
 
 And, ah ! forgive a ftranger rude, 
 * A wretch forlorn,' me cry'd, 
 
 Whofe feet unhallow'd thus intrude 
 ' Where Heav'n and you refide. 
 
 ' But let a maid thy pity (hare, 
 ' Whom Love has taught to (tray ; 
 
 Who feeks for reft, but finds defpair 
 ' Companion of her way. 
 
 My father Jiv'd befide the Tyne, 
 ' A wealthy Lord was he ; 
 
 f And all his wealth was mark'd as mint, 
 ' He had but only me. . 
 
 ' To win me from his tender arms, - 
 * Unmimber'd fuitors came ; 
 
 * Who prais'd me for imputed charms, . 
 * And fdt or feign'd a flame.- 
 
 Each!
 
 
 TE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 23 
 
 f Each hour a mercenary croud 
 
 ' With richeft proffers ftrove : 
 c Among the reft young Edwin bow'd, 
 
 ' But never talk'd of love. 
 
 ' In humble fimpleft habit clad, 
 
 'No wealth or power had he : 
 f Wifdom and worth were alt he had ; 
 
 'But thefe were all to me. 
 
 ' The bloflbm op'ning to the day, 
 
 < The dews of heav'n refin'd, 
 ' Could nought of purity difplay, 
 
 * To emulate his mind. 
 
 * The dew, the blofibm on the tree, 
 ' With charms inconftant mine ; 
 
 * Their charms' were his, but, woe to me ! 
 ' Their conftancy was mine : 
 
 ' For ftill I try'd each fickle art, 
 
 ' Importunate and vain ; 
 ' And while his paffion touch'd my heart, 
 
 ' I triumph'd in his pain j 
 
 ' 'Till, quite dejected with my fcorn, 
 ' He left me to my pride, 
 
 * And fought a folitude forlorn, 
 ' In fecret> where he died. 
 
 But
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 
 ' But mine the forrow, mine the fault ; 
 
 ' And well my life mail pay ; 
 '* I'll feek the folitude he fought, 
 ' And ftretch me where he lay 
 
 ' And there forlorn, defpairing hid, 
 
 * I'll lay me down and die : 
 ' 'Twas fo forme that Edwin did, 
 
 ' And fo for him will I.' 
 
 '* Forbid it, Heaven !* the hermit cry 'd, 
 
 And clafp'd her to his breaft : 
 The wond'ring fair-one turn'd to chide 
 
 'Twas Edwin's felf that preft. 
 
 ' Turn, Angelina, ever dear, 
 
 ' My charmer, turn to fee 
 ' Thy own, thy long-loft Edwin here, 
 
 ' Reftor'd to love and thee. 
 
 '' Thus let me hold thee to my heart, 
 
 ' And ev'ry care refign : 
 "' And mail we never, never part, 
 
 ' My life my all that's mine. 
 
 '* No, never, from this hour to part, 
 
 ' We'll live and love fo true ; 
 * The figh that rends thy confirm t heart, 
 
 ' Shall break thy Edwin's too.' 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. I. p. 7$. 
 
 D R'E S S,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OP GOLDSMITH. 25 
 
 DRESS. 
 
 ALL things rare and brilliant will ever conti- 
 nue to be famionable, while men derive greater 
 advantage from opulence than virtue ; while the 
 means of appearing confiderable are more eafily ac- 
 quired than the title to be ccniidered. The firft 
 impreffion we generally make, arifes from our drefs ; 
 and this varies in conformity to our inclinations, 
 and the manner in which we defire to be confidered. 
 The modeft man, or he who would wifh to be 
 thought fo, def:res to (hew the fimplicity of his 
 mind by the plainnefs of his drefs : the vain man, 
 on the contrary, takes a plrafure in difplaying his 
 fuperiority, " and is willing to incur the fpecta- 
 tor's difiike, fo he does bnt excite his attention." 
 
 I! 1 ^ T . F A N I -VJ A L S , p. 99. 
 
 J U..ST ICE. 
 
 Of all virtues Juftice is the 'molt difficult to be 
 praftifed by a king who has a power to pardon. All 
 men, even tyrants themfelves, lean to mercy when 
 unbiased by pafiions cr intcrcit. The heart natu- 
 rally perfuades to forgivenefs ; and purfuing the 
 dictates of this pleafing deceiver, we are led to pre- 
 fer our private fatisfaclion to public utility. What 
 a thorough love for the public, what a ftrong 
 command over the paffions, what a finely conduct- 
 ed judgment muft he pofiefs, who oppofes the dic- 
 tates of reafon to thofe of his heart, and prefers the 
 D future
 
 r.6 THE BEAUTIEIS OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 future intereft of his people to his own immediate 
 fatisfaclion ! 
 
 If ftill to a man's own natural biafs for tender- 
 nefs, we add the numerous felicitations made by a 
 -criminal's friends for mercy ; if we furvey a king 
 not only oppofing his own feelings, but reludlantly 
 refufing thofe he regards, and this to fatisfy the 
 public, whofe cries he may never hear, whofe gra- 
 titude he may never receive ; this furely is true 
 greatnefs ! Let us fancy ourfelves fora moment in 
 this juft old man's place, furrounded by numbers, 
 all foliciting the fame favour, a favour that nature 
 difpofes us to grant, where the inducements to 
 pity are laid before us in the ftrongeft light, fup- 
 pliants at our feet, fome ready to refent a'refufal, 
 none oppofing a compliance ; let us, I fay, fup- 
 pofe ourfelves in fuch a Situation, and I fancy we 
 Ihould find ourfelves more apt to act the character 
 of gcod-natured men than of upright magiftrates. 
 
 What contributes to raife Juftice above all other 
 kingly virtues is, that it is attended feldom with 
 a due mare of applaufe, and thofe who practife it 
 muft be influenced by greater motives than empty 
 fame. The people are generally well pleafed with 
 a remiilion of puniihment, and all that wears the 
 appearance of humanity ; it is the wife alone who 
 are capable ofdifcerning that impartial juftice is 
 the trueft mercy : they know it to be difficult, very 
 
 difficult,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 27 
 
 difficult, at once to ccmpaiiionate, and yet con- 
 demn an object that pleads for tendernefs. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, p. l6o. 
 
 VANITY. 
 
 O VANITY ! thou conftr.nt deceiver, how do 
 all thy efforts to exalt, ferve but to fink us ! Thy 
 falfe colourings, like thofe employed to heighten 
 beauty, only feem to mend that bloom which they 
 contribute to deftroy. 
 
 GOOD-K ATUK.ED MAN, p. 42. 
 
 DIGNITY OF MAN, 
 
 MANKIND have ever been prone to expatiate 
 in the praife of human nature. The dignity of 
 man is a fubjecl: that has always been the favourite 
 theme of humanity ; they have declaimed with that 
 oftentation, which ufually accompanies fuch as are 
 fure of having a partial audience ; they have ob- 
 tained victories, becaufe there were none to op- 
 pofe. Yet, from all I have ever read or feen, men 
 appear more apt to err by having too high, than by- 
 having too defpicable an opinion of their nature ; 
 and by attempting to exalt their original place in 
 the creation, depr.efs their real value in fociety. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 2OI. 
 
 D 2 INGRA-
 
 28 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 INGRATITUDE OF THE WORLD. 
 
 THE ingratitude of the world can never deprive 
 us of the confcious happinefs of having acted with 
 humanity ourfeives. 
 
 GOOD-NATURED MAN, p. $2. 
 
 ABILITIES. 
 
 IN learning the ufeful part of every profefiion, 
 very moderate abilities will fuffice ; even if the 
 mind be a little balanced with ftupidity, it may in 
 this cafe be ufefal. Great abilities have always 
 been lefs ferviceable to the poileiTors than moderate 
 ones. Life has been compared to a race ; but the 
 ailufion Hill improves, by obferving that the moft 
 fvvift are ever the leaft manageable. 
 
 TO know one prcfeflicncnly, is enough for one 
 man to know ; and this ( whatever the profefTors 
 may tell you to the contrary) is foon learned. Be 
 contented, therefore, with one good employment ; 
 for, if you underfland two at a time, people will 
 give you bufmefs in neither. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 1. p. 266. 
 
 PRAISE. 
 
 PRAISE beftowed on living merit is often found 
 to injure the goodnefs it applauds. 
 
 HIST. OF EXG. IN LET. V. 2. p. 274. 
 
 IN D E-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 29, 
 
 I N D E P E N D A N-. C E. 
 
 A LIFE of independance is generally a life of 
 virtue. It is that which fits the foul for f very ge- 
 nerous flight of humanity, freedom, and frtendihip. 
 To give mould be our pleafure ; but to receive, our 
 mame. Serenity, health, and affluence, attend the 
 defire of rifmg by labour ; mifery, repentance, and 
 difrefpeft, that of fucceeding by extorted benevo- 
 lence. The man who can thank himfelf alone for 
 the happinefs he enjoys, is truly blefl ; and lovely, 
 far more lovely, the fturdy gloom of laborious in- 
 digence, than, the fawning fimper. of thriving adu- 
 lation. 
 
 CJT. OF THE WOR.LD, V. 2. p. 14^ 
 
 S ON G. 
 
 " WHEN lovely woman ftoops to folly, , 
 " And finds too late that men betray, 
 
 " What charm can foothe her melancholy, 
 " What art can warn her guilt away ? 
 
 <c The only art her guilt to cover, 
 
 " To hide her fliame from ev'ry eye,, 
 
 " To give repentance to her lover, 
 " And wring his bofom is to die." 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. 2. p. 5*. 
 
 D 3 AF-
 
 30 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 
 AFFECTION. 
 
 WHEN men arrive at a certain flation of great- 
 nefs, their regards arc diffipated on too great a num- 
 ber of objects to feel parental affection : the ties of 
 nature are only ftrong with thofe who have but few 
 friends, or few dependants. 
 
 HTST. OF ENG. IN LET..V. I. p. 195. 
 
 GENEROSITY. 
 
 GENEROSITY properly applied will fup- 
 ply every other external advantage in life, but the 
 loye of thofe we converfe with ; it will procure 
 efteem and a conduct refembjting real affection ':. 
 but actual love is the fpontaneous production of 
 the mind ; no generofity can purchafe, no re- 
 wards increafe, nor no liberality continue it ; the 
 \'ery perfon who is obliged, has it not in his power 
 to force his lingering affections upon the object 
 he mould love, and voluntarily mix paffion with 
 gratitude. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. I, 
 
 GRATITUDE. 
 
 GRATITUDE is never conferred, but where 
 there have been previous endeavours to excite it; 
 we confider it as a debt, and our fpirits wear a 
 load till we have difcharged the obligation. Every 
 acknowledgment of gratitude is a circiimftance of 
 
 humi-
 
 THIT BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 31 
 
 humiliation ; and fom-e are found to fubmit to . 
 frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming 
 what obligations they owe, merely becaufe they 
 think it in fome meafure cancels the debt. 
 
 I.BID, V. 2. p. 2.. 
 
 LOVE AND GRATITUDE, 
 LOVE is the moft cafy and agreeable, and gra- 
 titude the moft humiliating affeftion of the mind ; 
 we never refleft on the man we love, without ex- 
 ulting in our choice, while he who has bound us 
 to him by benefits alone, rifes to our idea as a per- 
 fon to whom we have in fome meafure forfeited 
 our freedom. Love and gratitude are feldom 
 therefore found in the fame breaft without impair 
 ing each other ; we may tender the one or the 
 other fmgly to thofe we converfe with, but can- 
 not command both together. By attempting to in- 
 ereafe, we diminifli them ; the mind becomes bank . 
 rupt under too large obligations; all additional 
 benefits leffen every hope of future return, and 
 bar up every avenue that leads to tcndernefs. 
 
 IBID. v. 2. p. 3, 
 
 FAVOURS. 
 
 IN all our connexions with fociety, it is not 
 only generous, but prudent, to appear infenfible 
 of the value of thofe favours we beftow, and en- 
 deavour to make the obligation feem as flight as 
 poffible. Love muft be taken by ftratagem, and
 
 32 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH; 
 not by open force : We fhould feem ignorant that 
 we oblige, and leave the mind at full liberty to 
 give or refufe its affections ; for conftraint may 
 indeed leave the receiver {till grateful, but it wiM 
 certainly produce difguft. 
 
 IBID. V. 2. p. 3. 
 
 LIB E R.AL IT Y. 
 
 IMPARTED fortune, and well-placed libe- 
 rality, may procure the benefactor good -will, may 
 load the perfon obliged with the fenfe of the 
 duty he lies under to retaliate : this is gratitude ; 
 and fimple gratitude, untinclured with love, is all 
 the return an ingenuous mind can beftow for for- 
 mer benefits. 
 
 I.B.I D. V. 2. p. 2. 
 
 GRATITUDE AND LOVE. 
 
 GRATITUDE and love are almoft opponte 
 affections ; love is often an involuntary paflion, 
 placed upon our companions without our confent, 
 and frequently conferred without our previous 
 efteem. We love feme men, we know not why ; 
 our tendernefs is naturally excited in all their 
 concerns ; we excufe their faults with the fame 
 indulgence, and approve their virtues with the 
 fame applaufe, with which we confider our own. 
 While we entertain the paflion, it pleafes us ; we 
 cherifh it with delight, and give it up with re- 
 luctance ; and love for love is all the reward we 
 expect or deiire. 
 
 IBID. V. 2. p. 2,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 33 
 
 REFLECTION ON THE EARTH. 
 
 THE Enrth, gentle and indulgent, ever fub- 
 fervient to the wants of man, fpreads his walks 
 with flowers, and his table with plenty ; returns 
 with intereil every good committed to her care ; 
 and, though {he produces the poifon, fiie flill 
 fupplies the antidote ; though conftantly teized 
 more to furnifh the luxuries of man than his ne- 
 ceffities, yet, even to the, laft, (he continues her 
 kind indulgence, and, when life is over, me pi- 
 oufly covers his remains in her bofom. 
 
 HIST. 02 THE EARTH, p. 54, 
 
 REJOICING AT THE DESTRUCTION OF 
 
 OUR ENEMIES. 
 
 TO rejoice at the deftruftion of our enemies, is 
 a foible grafted upon human nature, and we muft 
 be permitted to indulge it : the true way of ato- 
 ning for fuch an ill-founded pleafure, is thus to turn 
 our triumph into an aft of benevolence, and to 
 teflify our own joy by endeavouring to banifh 
 anxiety from others. 
 
 Kamti, the beft and wifeft emperor that ever 
 filled the throne, r.fter having gained three fignal 
 victories over the Tartars, who had invaded his 
 dominions, returned to Nankin in order to enjoy 
 the glory of his conqueft. After he had relied for 
 fome days, the people, who are naturally fond of 
 
 pro-
 
 34 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH: 
 proceffions, impatiently expefted the triumphal en- 
 try, which emperors upon fuch occafions were ac- 
 cuflomed to make. Their murmurs came to the 
 emperor's ear. He loved his people, and was will- 
 ing to do all in his power to fatisfy their j nil de 
 fires. He therefore affured them that he intended, 
 upon the next feafi of the Lanterns, to exhi- 
 bit one of the moft glorious triumphs that had ever, 
 been feen in China- 
 
 The people were in raptures at his condefcen- 
 fion ; and, on the appointed day, aflembled at the 
 gates of the palace with the moft eager expecta- 
 tions. Here they waked, for fome time, without 
 feeing any of thofe preparations which ufually pre 
 cede a pageant. The lantern, with ten thoufend 
 tapers, was not yet brought forth ; the fire-works, 
 which ufually covered the city walls, were not yet 
 lighted : the people once more began to murmur 
 at this delay ; when, i-n the midft of their impa- 
 tience, the palace gates flew open, and the emperor 
 himfelf appeared, not in fplendor or magnificence, 
 but in an ordinary habit, followed by the blind, 
 the maimed, and the ftrangers of the city, all ia 
 new clothes, and each carrying in his hand money 
 enough to fupply his neceffities for the year. The 
 people were at firft amazed, but foon. perceived the 
 wifdom of their king, who taught them, that to 
 make one man happy, was more truly great than 
 having ten thoufand captives groaning at the 
 wheels of his chariot. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 89*.
 
 BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 35 
 
 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 
 NEAR yonder copfe, where once the garden fmil'd, 
 And ftill where many a garden-flower grows wild ; 
 There, where a few torn flirubs the place difclofe, 
 The Village-Preacher's modeft manfion rofe. 
 A man he was, to all the country dear, 
 And paffing rich with forty pounds a year ; 
 Remote from towns he ran his godly race, 
 Nor e'er had chang'd, nor wifh'd to change his 
 
 place ; 
 
 Unpraclis'd he to fawn, or feek for power, 
 By doctrines fafhion'd to the varying hour ; 
 Far other aims his heart had learn'd to prize, 
 More ikill to raife the wretched, than to rife. 
 His houfe was known to all the vagrant train, 
 He chid their wand'rings, but reliev'd their pain: 
 The long-remembcr'd beggar was his gueft, 
 Whofe beard defcending, fwept his aged breaft : 
 The ruin'd fpendthrift, now no longer proud, 
 Claim'd kindred there, and had his claim allow'd : 
 The broken foldier, kindly bad to flay, 
 Sat by his fire, and talk'd the night away ; 
 Wept o'er his wounds, or, tales of forrow done, v 
 Shoulder' d his crutch, and fhew'd how fields were 
 
 won. 
 Pleas'd with his guefts, the good man learn'd to 
 
 glow, 
 
 And quite forgot their vices in their woe ; 
 Carelefs their merits, or their faults to fcan, 
 His pity gave ere charity began. 
 
 Thus
 
 36 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, 
 And even his failings lean'd to Virtue's fide ; 
 But in his duty prompt, at every call 
 He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt, for all ; 
 And, as a bird each fond endearment tries, 
 To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the flues, 
 He try'd each art, reprov'd each dull delay, 
 Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way. 
 Befu'e the bed where parting life was laid, 
 And forrow, guilt, and pain, by turns difmay'd, 
 The rev'rend champion Hood. At his control, 
 Defpair and anguilh fied the ftruggling foul ; 
 Comfort came down, the trembling wretch to raife, 
 And his laft falt'ring accents whifper'd praife. 
 At church, with meek and unaffefted grace, 
 His looks adcrn'd the venerable place ; 
 Truth from his lips prevail'd with double fway, 
 And fools, who came to feoff, remain'd to pray. 
 The fcrvice part, around the pious man, 
 With fteady zeal, each honeft ruilic ran ; 
 E'en children follovv'd with endearing wile, 
 And pluck'd his gown, to mare the good man's 
 
 fmile. 
 
 His ready fmile a Parent's warmth expreft, 
 Their welfare pleas'd him, and their cares diftreft; 
 To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given, 
 But all his ferious thoughts had reft in heaven. 
 As fome tall cliff, that lifts its awful form, 
 Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the ftorm, 
 Tho' round its brcaft the rolling clouds are fpread, 
 Eternal funfhine fettles on its head. 
 
 DESERTED VILLAGE, p. 8.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 37 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 IT has been often faid, that the feafon of youth 
 is the feafon of pleafures ; but this can only be 
 true in favage countries, where but little prepara- 
 tion is made for the perfection of human nature, 
 and where the mind has but a very fmall part in 
 the enjoyment. It is otherwife in thofe places 
 where nature is carried to the higheft pitch of re- 
 finement, in which this feafon of the greateft fen- 
 fual delight is wifely made fubfervient to the fuc- 
 ceeding, and more rational one of manhood. 
 Youth, with us, is but a fcene of preparation ; a 
 drama, upon the right conduft of which all fu- 
 ture happinefs is to depend. The youth who 
 follows his appetites, too foon feizes the cup, be- 
 fore it has received its beft ingredients ; and, by 
 anticipating his pleafures, robs the remaining 
 parts of life of their ihare ; fo that his eagernefs 
 only produces a manhood of imbecillity, and an 
 age of pain. 
 
 HIST. OF ANIMALS, p. 70. 
 
 THE SOUL. 
 
 WHEN the foul is at reft, all the features of 
 she vifage feem fettled in a itate of profound tran- 
 quillity. Their proportion, their union, and 
 iheir harmony, feem to mark the fweet ferenity of 
 the mind, and give a true information of what 
 pafles within. But, when the foul is excited, the 
 E human
 
 ^8 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 human vifage becomes a living pifture ; where the 
 paffions are exprefted with as much delicacy as 
 energy, where every motion is designed by fome 
 correfpondent feature, where every impreilion an- 
 ticipates the will, and betrays thofe hidden agita- 
 tions that he would often wilh to conceal. 
 
 It is particularly in the eyes that the paffions arc 
 painted ; and in which we may moft readily dif- 
 cover their beginning. The eye feems to belong 
 to the foul more than any other organ ; it feems to 
 participate of all its emotions, as well the moft 
 foft and tender, as the moft tumultuous and 
 forceful. It not only receives, but tranfmits them 
 by fympathy ; the obferving eye of one catches 
 the fecret fire from another ; and 'the paffion thus 
 often becomes general. 
 
 IBID. p. 81. 
 
 NATURE. 
 
 TO copy nature is a talk the moft bungling 
 workman is able to execute ; to feleft fuch parts 
 as contribute to delight, is referved only for thofe 
 whom accident has bleil with uncommon talents, 
 cr fuch as have read the Ancients with indefatiga- 
 ble induftry, 
 
 LIFE OF FARNELL, p. 21. 
 
 RE-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 39 
 
 REFLECTION ON THE LIFE OF A SCHOLAR. 
 THE life of a fchclar feldom abounds with ad- 
 venture. His fame is acquired in folitude ; and 
 the hiftorian, who only views him at 9 diftance, 
 muft be content with a dry detail of aftions, by 
 which he is fcarce diilinguimed from the reft of 
 majikind. But we are fond of talking of thofe 
 who have given us pleafure ; not that we have any 
 thing important to fay, but becaufe the fubjecl is 
 pleafing. 
 
 LJ.FE OF PARNELL, p. I. 
 
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONARCHICAL 
 
 AND REPUBLICAN. GOVERNMENT. 
 WE now are all agreed, that unlimited power 
 arrogated on one fide, and the tumultuous free- 
 dom introduced on the other, are both intolerable ; 
 yet, of the two, perhaps, defpotifm is fuperior. 
 In a republic, the number of tyrants are uncon- 
 troulable ; for they can fupport each other in op- 
 prefnon : in a monarchy, there is one object, who, 
 if he offends, is eafily punifliablo, becaufe rue is. but 
 one. The oppreffions of a monarch are generally 
 exerted only in the narrow fphere round him ; the 
 oppreflions of the governors of a republic, thjugh 
 not fo flagrant, are more univerfal :. the monarch 
 is apt to commit great enormities, but they feidom. 
 reach, the multitude at humble diltance from the 
 throne ; the republican deipot oppr.efTes the mi:'ti- 
 tude that lies within the circle of his influence, 
 E 2 fot
 
 40 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 for he knows them : the, monarch terrifies me with 
 great evils, which I may never feel ; the defpot 
 ticlually loads me with fubmiiTions, which I rm 
 ccnftantly obliged to fuiiain ; and, in my opinion, 
 it is much better to be in danger of having my 
 Jiead chopped off with an axe, once in my life, 
 than to have my leg galled with a continual fetter. 
 
 HIST. OF ENG. IN LET. &C. V. 2. p. l8. 
 
 REFLECTION ON THE LIFE OF A POET. 
 
 A^ POET, while living, is feldoin an object 
 fufHciently great to attract much attention : his 
 real merits are known but to a few ; and thefe are 
 generally fparing in their praifes. When his fame 
 is increafed by time, it is then too late to inveiU- 
 gate the peculiarities of his difpofltion : the dews 
 of the morning are paft, and we vainly try to con- 
 tinue the chace by the meridian fplendour. 
 
 LIFE OF PAR NELL,, p. 3. 
 
 SUCCESS. 
 
 HAPPY if we know when to bound our fuc- 
 cefles ; happy if we can diflinguifh. between victo- 
 ries and advantages ; if we can be convinced, that 
 when a nation mines brighteft with conqueft, it 
 may then, like a waiting taper, be only haftening 
 to decay. 
 
 KIST. OF ENG. IN LET. &C. V. 2. p. 258. 
 
 NAT U-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 41 
 
 NATURAL EVILS. 
 GOD has permitted thoufands of natural evib 
 to exift in the world, becaufe it is by their inter- 
 vention that man is capable of moral evil ; and he 
 has permitted that we mould be fabject to moral 
 evil, that we might do fomething to deferve eter- 
 nal happinefs, by fliewing we had re&itude to 
 avoid it. 
 
 HIST. OF THE EARTH, p. 2O. - 
 
 ASSUMING IGNORANCE. 
 
 ASSUMING IGNORANCE is, of all difpo- 
 fitions, the moft ridiculous : for, in the fame pro- 
 portion as the real man of wifdom is preferable to 
 the unletter'd ruftic, fo much is the ruftic ftipe- 
 rior to him, who without learning imagines him- 
 felf learned. It were better that fuch a man had 
 never read ; for. then-he might have been confcious 
 of his weaknefs : but the half-learned man, rely- 
 ing upon his ftrength, feldom perceives his wants 
 till he finds his deception paft a cure. 
 
 HIST, OF ENG. IN LET. &C. V. I. p. 8. 
 
 OPINION RELATIVE TO CHILDREN. 
 
 WHEN men fpeculate at liberty upon innate 
 ideas, or the abftra&ed diiKnftions between will 
 and power, they may be permitted to enjoy their 
 lyftems at pleafure, as they are harmlefs, although 
 rhf-y may be wrong : but when they alledge that 
 E 3 children
 
 42 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 children are to be every day plunged in cold water, 
 and, whatever be their conftitution, indifcrimi- 
 nately inured to cold and moifture ; that they are 
 to be kept wet in the feet, to prevent their catch- 
 ing cold; and never to be corrected when young, 
 for fear of breaking their fpirits when old ; thefe 
 are fuch noxious errors, that all reasonable men 
 ihonld endeavour to oppofe them. Many have 
 been the children whom thefe opinions, begun in 
 fpeculation, have injured or deftroyed in practice j. 
 and I have feen many a little philofophical martyr, 
 whom I wiihed, but was unable to relieve. 
 
 HIST. OF ANIMALS, p. 66. 
 
 HOPE; 
 
 A SONG. 
 
 THE wretch condemned with Irfe to part, 
 
 Still, ftill on Hooe relies ; 
 And er'ry pang that rends the heart, 
 
 Bids Expectation rife. 
 
 Hope, like the glimm'ring taper's light , 
 
 Adorns and chears the. way, 
 And ftill, as darker grows the night, 
 
 Emits a brighter ray. 
 
 CAPTIVITV, AN ORATORIO- 
 UTILITY OF NEW BOOKS. 
 IN proportion as fociety refines, new books muft 
 ever become more neceffary. Savage rufticity is 
 
 reclaimed
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. x 3 
 reclaimed by oral admonition alone ; but the ele- 
 gant excetfes of refinement are beft corrected by 
 the ftill voice of itudious enquiry. In a polite age, 
 almoft every perfon becomes a reader, aad receives 
 more initruftion front the prefs than the pulpit. 
 The preaching Bonfe may inftruft the illiterate 
 peafant ; but nothing lefs than the infinuating ad- 
 drefs of a fine writer can win its way to an heart 
 already relaxed in all the effeminacy of refinement. 
 Books are necefTary to corredl the vices of the po- 
 lite ; but thofe vices are ever changing, and the 
 antidote mould be changed accordingly, fhould 
 Hill be new.. 
 
 Inftead, therefore, of thinking the number of 
 new publications too great, I could wifh it ftilL 
 greater, as they are the moft ufeful inftruments of 
 reformation Every country muft be inftru&ed 
 either by writers or preachers ; but as the number 
 of readers increafes, the number of hearers is pro- 
 portionably diminished, the writer becomes more 
 ufeful, and the preaching Bonfe lefs neceflary. 
 
 Inftead, therefore, of complaining that writers 
 are overpaid, when their works procure them a 
 bare fubfiftance, I fhould imagine it the duty of a 
 ftate, not only to encourage their numbers, but 
 their induftry. A Bonfe is rewarded with immenfe 
 riches for inftruftrng only a few, even of the raoft 
 ignorant, of the people ; and fure the poor fcholar 
 fhould not beg his bread, who is capable of in-* 
 a million. 
 
 CIT, OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 45.
 
 44 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 Ivl O D E S T Y. 
 
 MODESTY feldom refides in a breaft that is 
 not enriched with nobler virtues. 
 
 SHE STOOPS TO CONO^UER, p. 7. 
 
 HAPPINESS. 
 
 IT is impoffible to form a philofophic fyftem of 
 happinefs which is adapted to every condition in 
 life ; fince ever) 7 perfon who travels in this great 
 purfuit, takes a feparate road. The different co- 
 lours which fuit different complexions, are not 
 more various than the different pleafures appro- 
 priated to particular minds. The various feds 
 who have pretended to give leffons to inftrufl men 
 in happinefs, have defcribed their own particular 
 fenfations without confidering ours, have only 
 loaded their difciples with conftraint, without add- 
 ing to their real felicity. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 184. 
 
 ENJOYMENT. 
 
 WE confider few objects with ardent attention, 
 but thofe which have fome connexion with our 
 wifhes, our pleafures, or our neceffities. A uefire 
 of enjoyment firft interefts our pafiions in the pur- 
 fuit ; points out the. objefl of inveftigation ; and 
 reafon then comments where fenfe has led the way. 
 An increafe in the number of our enjoyments, 
 therefore, neceflarily produces an increafe of fcien- 
 
 tific
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 45- 
 tific refearch ; bat in countries where almoil every 
 enjoyment is wanting, reafon there feems deilitute 
 of its great infpirer, and fpeculation is the bufmefs 
 of fools when it becomes its own reward. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 37. 
 
 GREATNESS. 
 WHEN a man has once fecured a circle of ad- 
 mirers, he may be as ridiculous as he thinks pro- 
 per ; and it all pafTes for- elevation of fentiment, 
 or learned abfence. If he tranfgreffes the common 
 forms of breeding, rniflakes even a tea-pot for a 
 tobacco-box, it is faid, that his thoughts are fixed 
 on more important objedls : to fpeak and aft like 
 the reft of mankind, is to be no greater than they. 
 There is fomething of oddity in the very idea of 
 greatnefs ; for we are feldom aftonifhed at a thing 
 very much refembling ourfelves. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 41. 
 
 MAN. 
 
 MAN is the lord of all the fublunary creation j 
 the howling favage, the winding ferpent, with all 
 the untameable and rebellious offspring of Nature, 
 are deftroyed in the conteft, or driven at a diftance 
 from his habitations. The extenfive and tem- 
 peiluous ocean, infrcad of limiting or dividing his 
 power, only ferves to affift his induftry, and en- 
 large the fphere of his enjoyments. Its billows, 
 and its monfters, inflead of prefenting a fcene of 
 
 terror*.
 
 46 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 terror, only call up the courage of this little in^ 
 trepid being; and the greateft danger that man 
 now fears on the deep, is from his fellow-creatures. 
 Indeed, when I consider the human race as Nature 
 has farmed them, there is but very little of the 
 habitable globe that feems made for them. But 
 when I confider them as accumulating the expe- 
 rience of ages, in commanding the earth, there is 
 nothing fo great, or fo terrible. What a poor 
 contemptible being is the naked favage, ftanding 
 on the beach of the ocean, and trembling at its 
 tumults ! How little capable is he of converting 
 its terrors into benefits ; or of faying, Behold an 
 element made wholly for my enjoyment ! He con- 
 fidexs it as an angry Deity, and pays it the homage 
 of fubmiffion. But it is very different when he 
 has exercifed his mental powers ; when he has 
 learned to find his own fuperiority, and to make 
 it fubfervient to his commands. Jt is then that 
 his dignity begins to appear, and that the true 
 Deity is juftly praifed for having been mindful of 
 man ; for having given him the earth for his habi- 
 t^tion, and the lea for an inheritance. 
 
 HIST. OF THE EARTH, p. 231, 
 
 MEMORY; 
 
 A SONG.' 
 
 O M EMORY! thou fond deceiver, 
 
 Still importunate and vain, 
 T,o former joys recurring ever, 
 
 And turaing all the paft to pain : 
 
 Thou,.
 
 BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 47 
 
 Thou, like the world, th'oppreft oppreffing, 
 Thy fmiles increafe the wretch's woe ; 
 
 And he who wants each other bleffing, 
 In thee muft ever 6nd a foe. 
 
 DIGNITY OF MAN. 
 
 STRENGTH and majefty belong to the man ; 
 grace and foftnefs are the peculiar embellimments 
 of the other fex. In both, every part of their 
 form declares their fovereignty over other crea- 
 tures. Man fupports his body erel ; his attitude 
 is that of command ; and his face, which is turned 
 towards the heavens, difplays the dignity of his 
 ftation. The image of his foul is painted in his 
 vifage ; and the excellence of his nature penetrates 
 through the material form in which it is inclofed. 
 His majeftic port, his fedate and refolute ftep, 
 announce the ncblenefs of his rank. He touches 
 the earth only with his extremity, and beholds it 
 as if at a difdainful diftance. His arms are not 
 given him, as to other creatures, for pillars of 
 fupport ; nor does he lofe, by rendering them cal- 
 lous againfl the ground, that delicacy of touch 
 which furnifhes him with fo many of his enjoy- 
 ments. His hands are made for very different pur- 
 pofes ; to fecond every intention of his will, and 
 to perfeft the gifts of nature. 
 
 HIST. OF ANIMALS, p. 80. 
 
 LUXURY.
 
 48 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 LUXURY. 
 
 LUXURY is the child of fociety alone; the 
 luxurious man ftands in need of a thoufand dif- 
 ferent artifts to furnifti out his happinefs : it is 
 more likely, therefore, that he fhould be a good 
 citizen, who is connected by motives of felf-inte- 
 reft with fo many, than the abftemious man, who 
 is united to none. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORL0, V. I. p. $6. 
 
 SOLITUDE. 
 
 IT has been faid, that he who retires to foli- 
 tude, is either a beaft or an angel. The cenfure 
 is too fevere, and the praife unmerited. The dif- 
 contented being, who retires from fociety, is ge- 
 nerally fome good-natured man, who has begun 
 life without experience, and knew not how to gain 
 it in his intercourfe with mankind. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. IO. 
 
 LIFE OF MAN. 
 
 TKE life of man is a journey ; a journey that 
 muft be travelled, however bad the roads, or the 
 accommodation. If, in the beginning, it is found 
 dangerous, narrow, and difficult, it muft either 
 grow better in the end, or we mall by cuftom learn 
 to bear its inequality. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 125. 
 
 PUNISH.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 49 
 
 PUNISHMENT. 
 
 A KING, who can reign without ever punifti- 
 ing, is happy ; but that monarch mult certainly 
 be undone, who, through fear, or ill-timed lenity, 
 fuffers repeated guilt to efcape without notice. 
 When a country becomes quite illicit, punifliments 
 then, like the loppings in a garden, only ferve to 
 ftrengthen the flock, and prepare for a new harveil 
 of virtues. 
 
 HIST. OT ENC. IN I.ET. &C. V. I. p. 22j. 
 
 FAULTS. 
 
 THERE are fome faults fo nearly allied to ex- 
 cellence, that we can fcarce weed out the vice 
 without eradicating the virtue. 
 
 GOOD-NATURED MAK, p. 3. 
 
 OPINION OF WOMEN; 
 
 WITH AN ACCOUNT OF CATH ARINA ALEXOWNA, 
 EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. 
 
 1HE modeft virgin, the prudent wife, or the 
 careful matron, are much more ferviceable in life 
 than petticoated philofophers, bluftering heroines, 
 or virago queens. She who makes her hufband 
 and her children happy, who reclaims the one from 
 vice, and trains up the other to virtue, is a much 
 greater character than ladies defcribed in romance, 
 \vhofe whole occupation is to murder mankind with 
 ftiafts from their quiver or their eyes. f 
 
 F Women,
 
 5 o THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 Women, it has been obferved, are not naturally 
 formed for great cares themfelves, but to foften 
 ours. Their tendernefs is the proper reward ibr 
 the dangers we undergo for their prefervation ; and 
 the eafe and chearfulnefs of their converfation, our 
 deiirable retreat from the fatigues of intenfe appli- 
 cation. They are confined within the narrow li- 
 mits of domeftic affiduity ; and when they llray 
 beyond them, they move beyond their fphere, and 
 confequently without grace. 
 
 Fame, therefore, has been very unjuftly dif- 
 penfed, among the female fex. Thofe who leaft 
 deferved to be remembered, meet our admiration 
 zmdapplaufe; while many, who have been an ho- 
 nour to humanity, are pafTed over in filence. Per- 
 haps no age has produced a ftronger inftance of 
 mifplaced fame than the prefent : the Semiramit 
 and the Tkaleftris of antiquity are talked of, while 
 a modern character, infinitely greater than either, 
 is ..unnoticed arid unknown. 
 
 * Catharina .4!exo-tva,:'boi-n near Derpat, a little 
 city in Livonia, was heir to no other inheritance 
 than the virtues and frugality of her parents. Her 
 father being dead, fhe lived with her aged mother, 
 in their cottage covered with ftraw; and both, 
 though very poor, were very contented. Here, re- 
 
 tired 
 
 * This account feems taken from the manufcript 
 memoirs of H. Spelman, Efq .
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 51 
 ?ired from- the gaze of the world, by the labour of 
 her hands fhe fupported her parent, who was now 
 incapable of fupporting'hcrfelf. While Catbarina 
 fpun, the old woman would fit by, and read fome 
 book of devotion ; thus, v. hen the fatigues of th<? 
 day were over, both w^uld fit down contentedly 
 by their fire-fide, and 'enjoy the frugal meal with ; 
 vacant feftivity. 
 
 Though her face and pcrfon were models of per L 
 fefticn, yet her whole attention fecmed beftov/ed 
 upon her mind ; her mother taught her to read, 
 and an old Lutheran minifter inftrudled her in the 
 maxims and duties of religion. Nature had fur- 
 nifhed her not only with a ready, but a folid turn 
 of thought, not only with a ftrong, but a right un- 
 deritanding. Such truly female accomplifhments 
 procured her feveral felicitations of marriage from 
 the peafants of the country; but their offers were 
 refufed : for ihe loved her mother too tenderly to 
 think of a feparation. 
 
 Catbarina was fifteen when her mother died : 
 fhe now, therefore, left her cottage, and went to 
 live with the Lutheran minifter, by whom fhe had 
 been iaftrucled from her childhood. In his houfe 
 fhe refidcd, in quality of governefs to his children ; 
 at once reconciling in her character unerring pru- 
 dence with furprifing vivacity. 
 
 The old man, who regarded her as one of his 
 
 own children, had her inftructed in dancing and 
 
 F 2 mufic.
 
 53 T>E BEAUTIES OP -GOLDSMITH. 
 
 muf-c, by the mafters who attended the reft of his. 
 family. Thus fhe continued to improve, till he 
 died ; by which accident fhe was once more re- 
 duced to priftine poverty. The country of Li-vo- 
 via was at this time wafted by war, and lay in a 
 moil miferable ftate of defolation. Thofe calami- 
 ties are ever moft heavy upon the poor ; wherefore 
 Catkarina, though poflefied of fo many accom- 
 plifhments, experienced all the miferies of hope- 
 lefs indigence. Provifions becoming every day 
 [ more fcarce, and her private ftock being entirely 
 exhaufted, me refolved at lait to travel to Marten- 
 burgh, a city of greater plenty. 
 
 With her fcanty wardrobe, packed up in a wal- 
 let, fhe fet out on her journey j on foot. She was 
 to walk through a region miferable by nature, but 
 rendered liill mere hideous by the Swedes and 
 Rujpans, who, as each happened to become mafters, 
 plundered it at difcreticn : but hunger had taught 
 her to defpife the dangers and fatigues of the way. 
 
 One evening, upon her journey, as fhe had en- 
 tered a cottage by the way-fide, to take up her 
 lodging for the night, fhe was infulted by two 
 Swedijh foldiers, who infilled upon qualifying her, 
 as they termed it, to follcvu the camp. They might, 
 probably, have carried their infults into violence, 
 had not a fubaltern officer, accidentally paffing by, 
 come in to her affiflance. Upon his appearing, 
 the foldiers immediately defifted ; but her thank- 
 
 fulnefs
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 53 
 
 iulnefs was hardly greater than her furprife, when 
 fhe inftantlv recollected, in her deliverer, the fon 
 of the Lutheran rmnifter, her former inftructor, 
 benefactor, and friend. 
 
 This was an happy interview for C-afkarika. 
 The little flock of money (he had brought frem" 
 home was by this time quite exhaufted ; her clothe* 
 were gone, piece by piece, in order to fatisfy thofcr 
 who had entertained her in their houfes : her gene- 
 rous countryman, therefore, parted with what he 
 could fpare, to buy her clothes, furnifhed her with : 
 an horfe, and gave her letters of recommendation 
 to Mr. Gluck, a faithful friend of his-, father's^ 
 and Superintendant of Marienburgb. 
 
 Our beautiful ftranger had only to appear, to be 
 well received : me was immediately admitted into 
 the Superintendant's family, as governefs to his 
 two daughters ; and, though yet but feventeen, 
 ftewed herfelf capable of inftructing her fex, not 
 only in virtue, but politenefs. Such was her good- 
 fenfe and beauty, that her mailer himfelf in a fhort 
 time offered her his hand, which to "his great fur- 
 prife me thought proper to refufe. Aftuated by 
 a principle of gratitude, me was refolved to marry 
 her deliverer only, even though he had loft an arm, 
 and was otherwife disfigured by wounds, in the 
 fervice. 
 
 In order, therefore, -to prevent further felicita- 
 tions irom others, as foon as the officer came to 
 F 3 town
 
 54 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 town upon duty, me offrrrd him her perfon, which 
 he accepted with tranfport ; and their nuptials 
 were fclemuiled as ufual. But all the lines of her 
 fortune were to be finking : the very day on which 
 they were married, the Rujpans laid fiege to Ma- 
 rienburgh. The unhappy foldier had now no time 
 to enjoy the well-earned pleafures of matrimony j 
 he was called off before confummation to an attack, 
 from which he was never after feen to return. 
 
 In the mean time, the fiege went on with fury,, 
 aggravated on one fide by obftinacy, on the other 
 by revenge. This war between the two northern 
 powers at that time was truly barbarous ; the in- 
 nocent peafant and the harmlefs virgin often fhared 
 the fate of the foldier in arms. Marienburgb was 
 taken by aflault ; and fuch was the fury of the af- 
 failants, that not only the garrifon, but slmoft all 
 the inhabitants, men, women, and children, were 
 put to the fword. At length, when the carnage 
 was pretty well over, Catharina was found hid in 
 an oven. 
 
 She had been hitherto poor, but ftill was free ; 
 fhe was now to conform to her hard fate, and learn.' 
 what it was to be a flave : in this fituation, how- 
 ever, me behaved with piety and humility ; and, 
 though misfortunes had abated her vivacity, yet 
 ihe was chearful. The fame of her merit and re- 
 fignation reached evert Prince Menxikoff, theRiefian 
 General : he defired to lee her, was ftruck with 
 her beauty, bought her from the foldier, her matter,, 
 
 and
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 55-; 
 
 and placed her under the direction of his own- 
 fifter. Here file was treated with all the refpeft 
 which her merit deferved, while her beauty every 
 day improved with her good fortune. 
 
 She had not been long in this fituation, when 
 Peter the Great paying the Prince a vin t, Cathartna 
 happened to come in with fome dry fruits, which 
 fhe ferved round with peculiar modefty. The 
 mighty monarch faw, and was ftruck with her. 
 beauty. He returned the next day, called for the 
 beautiful flave, afked her feveral queftions, and, 
 found her underilanding even more perfect than 
 her perfon. 
 
 He had been forced, when young, to marry 
 from motives of intereft ; he was now refolved to 
 marry purfuant to his own inclinations. He im- 
 mediately enquired the hiftory of the fair Li<vonian, 
 who was not yet eighteen.. He traced her through 
 the vale of obfcurity, through all the viciffiuides 
 of her fortune, and found her truly great in them, 
 all. The mcannefs of her birth was no obftruc- 
 tion to his defign ; their nuptials were folemnued. 
 in private ; the Prince afluring his courtiers, that 
 virtue alone was the propereft ladder to a throne. 
 
 We now fee Catbarina, from the low, mud- 
 walled cottage, Kmprels of the greateft kingdom 
 upon earth. The poor folitary wanderer is now 
 furrounded by thoufands, who find happincis in 
 her fmile. She, who formerly wanted a meal, is 
 
 now
 
 56- THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH; 
 
 now capable of diffufing plenty upon whole na- 
 tions. To her fortune (he owed a part of this pre- 
 eminence, but to her virtues more. 
 
 She ever after retained thofe great qualities 
 which firft placed her on a throne ; and while the 
 extraordinary prince, her huiband, laboured for- 
 the reformation of his male fubjefts, fhe ftudied, 
 in her turn, the improvement of her own fcx. Shs* 
 altered their drefles, introduced mixed affcmblies, 
 inftituted an order of female knighthood ; and, 
 at length, when fhe had greatly filled all the 
 Nations of . emprefs, friend, wife, and mother,- 
 bravely died without regret, regrett- .1 by all. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 1. p. 260. 
 
 THE COUNTRY SCHOOLMASTER. 
 
 BESIDE yon' ftraggling fence that fkirts the way 
 With blofTom'd furze, unprofitably gay, 
 There, in his noify manfion, fkill'd to rule, 
 The Village Mafter taught his little fchool. 
 A man fevere he was, and ftern to view ; 
 I knew him well, and ev'ry truant knew : 
 Well had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace 
 The day's difafters in his morning face ; 
 Full well they laugh'd, with counterfeited glee, 
 At all his jokes, for many a joke had he ; 
 Full well the bufy whifper, circling round, 
 Convey'd the difmal tidings when he frown'd : 
 
 Yet
 
 FHE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. $7- 
 
 Yet he was kind ; or, if fevere in aught, 
 The love he bore to learning was in fault : 
 The village all declar'd how much he knew ; 
 'Twas certain he could wj||e;*and cypher too ; . 
 Lands he could meafure, terms and tides prefage,. 
 And even the ftory ran that fee could gauge. 
 In arguing, too, the parfon own'd his fkill ; 
 For, e'en though vanquifh'd, he could argue flill ; 
 While words of learned length, and thund'ring 
 
 found, 
 
 Amaz'd the gating ruftics rang'd around ; 
 And {till they gaz'd, and ftill the wonder grew,. 
 That one fmall liead could carry all he knew. 
 But paft is all his fame. The very fpot, 
 Where many a time he triumph'd, is forgot. 
 
 DESERTED VILLAGE, p. II. 
 
 DEPENDANCE. 
 
 AMONG the many who have enforced the duty 
 of giving, I am furprifed there are none to incul- 
 cate the ignominy of receiving ; to mew, that by 
 every favour we accept, we in fome meafure for- 
 feit our native freedom, and that a ftate cf conti- 
 aual dependance on the generoilty of others is a 
 life of gradual debafement. 
 
 CIT. 0? THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 142.. 
 
 WISDOM AND VIRTUE. 
 AVOID fuch performances where vice aflumes 
 the face of virtue ; feek wifdom and knowledge 
 
 without
 
 $8 THS BEAUTIES' OF 'GOLDSMITHS 
 without ever thinking you have found them. A- 
 man is wife, while he continues in the purfuit of 
 wifd'otn ; but when he^ once fancies that he has 
 found the obje<El of hi$?enquiry, he then becomes 
 a fool. Learn to purfue virtue from the man that 
 is blind, who never makes a ftep without firft exa- 
 mining the ground with his flafF. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V- 2. p. 80. 
 
 MISFORTUNES OF THE GREAT cot.-*- 
 
 TRASTED WITH THOSE QF THE POOR. 
 
 THE fiighteft misfortunes of the great, the 
 raoft imaginary uneafineflV-, of the rich, are aggra- 
 vated with all the power cf eloquence, and held 
 up. to engage our attention and fympathetic forrow. 
 The poor weep unheeded, perfecuted by every 
 fubordinate {pecies of tyranny; and every law, 
 which gives others fecurity, becomes an enemy to 
 them. 
 
 IBID. p. 212. 
 
 PRIDE AND- RESENTMENT. 
 
 THERE are no obftrudlions more fatal to for* 
 
 tune than pride and refentment. If you mult re- 
 
 fent injuries at all, at leaft fupprefs your indigna^. 
 
 tion until you become rich, and then mew away.. 
 
 The refentment of a poor man is like the efforts 
 
 of a harmlefs infeft to fling-;- it may get him 
 
 crufhed, but cannot defend him. Who values that 
 
 a,nger which is confumed only in empty menaces * 
 
 IBID. v. i. p. 267,
 
 ~THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITK. $9 
 
 ROYAL FAVOUR. 
 A PRUDENT ICING may have private friends, 
 but mould never retain a public favourite : royal 
 Favour Ihould mine with indifcriminate luftre, 
 and the monarch mould ever guard againft raifing 
 thofe he moft loves to the higheft preferments. 
 In being thus biaffed by his aftedlions, he will 
 probably be induced to reward talents unequal to 
 the burthen of affairs, or impatient of the fatigues 
 of application. 
 
 HIST. OF ENG. IN LET. &C. V. I. p. I 19. 
 
 VICES OF GREAT KINGS. 
 THE vices of conquering monarchs and great 
 kings are ever moft dangerous, becaufe they moft 
 generally produce imitation. 
 
 IBID. p. 120. 
 
 D I S QJJ I E T U D E. 
 
 IT is a melancholy confideration, that our com- 
 forts often produce our greateft anxieties, and that 
 an increafe of our pofleffions is but an inlet to 
 new difquietudes. 
 
 GOOD'NATURED MAN, p. 8. 
 
 THE
 
 60 THE BEAUTIES or GOLDSMITH, 
 THE MAN OF THE WORLD. 
 
 A TALE. 
 
 JF you are fend of hearing balr-breadih '/capes, 
 my hiftory muft certainly pleafe ; for I have been 
 for twenty years upon the very verge of ftarving, 
 without ever being ftarved. 
 
 My father, the younger foh of a good family, 
 'was poflefled of a fmall living in the church. His 
 education was above his fortune, and his gene- 
 rofity greater than his education. Poor as he was, 
 he had his flatterers Hill poorer than himfelf ; for 
 every dinner he gave them, they returned him an 
 equivalent in praife ; and this was all he wanted. 
 The fame ambition that actuates a monarch at the 
 head of an army, influenced my father at the 
 head of his table : he told the ftory of the ivy- 
 tree, and that was laughed at ; he repeated the 
 jeft of the two fcholars and one pair of breeches, 
 and the company laughed at that ; but the ftory of 
 Taffy in the fedan chair was fure to fet the table 
 in a roar. Thus his pleafure increafed, in propor- 
 tion to the pleafure he gave : he loved all the 
 world, and he fancied all the world loved him. 
 
 As his fortune was but fmall, he lived up to 
 "the very extent of it ; he had no intentions of 
 leaving his children money, for that was drofs ; 
 he was refolved they fliould have learning, for 
 
 learning,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 61 
 learning, he ufed to obierve, was better than fi!- 
 ver or gold. For this purpofe he undertook to 
 inftrucl: us himfelf; and took as much pains to 
 form our morals, as to improve our underftanding. 
 We were told that univerfal benevolence was what 
 firft cemented fociety : we were taught to con- 
 fider all the wants of mankind as our own ; to 
 regard the human face divine with afFeftion and 
 efteem : he wound us up to be mere machines of 
 pity, and rendered us incapable of withftanding 
 the flighteit impulfe made either by real or ficli- 
 tious diftrefs ;^ in a word, we were perfeclly in- 
 ilrucled in the art of giving away thoufands, be- 
 fore we were taught the more neceffary qualifica- 
 tions of getting a farthing. 
 
 I cannot avoid imagining, that, thus refined by 
 his leflbns out of all my fufpicion, and diverted of 
 even ail the little cunning which nature had given 
 me, I refembled, upon my firit entrance into the 
 bufy and infidious world, one of thofe gladiators 
 who were eypofed without armour in the amphi- 
 theatre at Rome. My father, however, who had 
 only feen the world on one fide-, feemed to triumph 
 in my fuperior diicernment ; though my whole 
 flock of vvifdom con lifted in being able to talk 
 like himfelf upon fubjecls that once were ufeful, 
 becaufe they were then topics of the bufy world, 
 but that now were utterly ufelefs, becaufe con- 
 nected with the bufy world no longer. 
 
 G The
 
 62 T H E "BE ATJTIE S o F G OLD S MITH . 
 
 The firft opportunity he had of finding his ex- 
 Ise&ations difappointed, \ras at the very middling 
 : figure I made in the Univerfity: "he had flattered 
 himfelf that he fhould foon fee me rifing into the 
 foremoft rank in literary reputation, but was mor- 
 tified to find me utterly unnoticed and unknown. 
 His difappointment might have been partly afcri- 
 "bed to his having over-rated my talents, and partly 
 to my diflike of mathematical reafonings at a 
 time when my imagination and memory, yet un- 
 fatisfied, were more eager after new objects, than 
 def'.rous of reafoning upon thofe I knew. This 
 did not, however, pleafe my tutors, who obferved, 
 -indeed, that I xvas a little dull ; but at the fame 
 time allowed, that I fcemed to be very gond-na.- 
 tured, and had no harm in- me. 
 
 After I had reiided at college feven years, my 
 father died, and left me his blefling. Thus 
 fhoved from fhore without ill-nature to protect, or 
 cunning to guide, or proper ftores to fubfift me in 
 fo dangerous a voyage, I was obliged to embark in 
 the wide world at twenty- two. But, in order to 
 -fettle in life, my friends advifed (for they always 
 .advife when they begin to defpife us) they ad- 
 vifed me, I fay, to go into orders. 
 
 To be obliged to wear a long wig, when I liked 
 a fhort one, or a black coat, when I generally 
 dreiTed in brown, I thought was fuch a reftraint 
 upon my liberty, that I abfolutely rejedled the 
 
 propofal.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 63 
 
 poropofal. A prieft in England, is not the fame- 
 nicrtified creature with a bonze in China ; with' 
 u.s, not he that fafts beft, but eats bcft, is reckon- 
 ed the belt liver: yet I'reieiflcd a life of luxury,. 
 Indolence, and eafe, from no other consideration 
 but that boyish one of drefs ; fo that my friends- 
 were now perfe&ly fatisfied I was undone ; and 
 yet they thought it a pity for, one who had not' 
 the leaf: harm .in. him, and was fo very good- 
 natured. 
 
 Poverty naturally begets dependance, and I was 
 admitted as flatterer to a great man. At fir ft I" 
 was furprifed, that the fituation of a flatterer at a 
 great man's table could be thought difagreeable ; 
 there was no great trouble in liftening attentively 
 when his lordlhip fpoke, and laughing when he 
 looked round for applaufe. This even good- 
 manners might have obliged me to perform. I 
 found, however, too foon, that his lordmip was 
 a greater dunce than myfelf ; and from that very 
 moment my power of flattery was at an end. I 
 now rather aimed at fetting him right, than at re- 
 ceiving his abfurdities with fubmiflion. To flatter 
 thofe we do not know, is an eafy talk ; but to flat- 
 ter our intimate acquaintances, all whofe foible: ?.re 
 ftrongly in our eye, is drudgery infupportable. 
 Every time I now opened my lips in praife, rny falf- 
 hood went to my confeience : his lordmip foon per 
 ceived me- to be unfit for fervice ; I was therefore 
 difcharged ; my patron at the fame time being 
 G 2 gra-
 
 64 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 gracioufly pleafed to obferve, that he believed I 
 was tolerably good-natured, and had not the leaft 
 harm in me. 
 
 Difappointed in ambition, I had recourfe to 
 love. A young lady, who lived with her aunt, 
 and was poffeffed of a pretty fortune in her own 
 difpofal, had given me, as I fancied, fome reafons 
 to expeft fuccefs. The fymptoms by which I was 
 guided were ftriking : me had always laughed with 
 me at her aukward acquaintance, and at her aunt 
 among the number; me always obferved, that a 
 man of fenfe would make a better hufband than a 
 foci, and I as conftantly applied the obfervation 
 in my own favour. She continually talked in my 
 company of friendfhip, and the beauties of the 
 mind, and fpoke of Mr. Shrimp my rival's 
 high-heei'd {hoes' with deteftation. Thefe were 
 circumitances which I thought ftrongly in my fa- 
 vour ; fo, after refolving, and re-refolving, I had 
 courage enough to tell her my mind. Mifs heard 
 my propofal with ferenity, feeming at the fame 
 time to itudy the figures of her fan. Out at laft 
 it came. There was but one fmall objection to 
 complete our happinefs, which was no more than 
 ^that he was married three months before to Mr. 
 Shrimp with high-heel'd fnoes ! By way of ccnfo- 
 lation, however, fhe obferved, that, though I was 
 difappointed in her, my addreiTes to her aunt 
 would probably kindle her into fenfibility ; as the 
 old lady always allowed me to be very good-na- 
 tured,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 65- ' 
 tured, and not to have the leafl fliare of h::r;n 
 
 Yet {till I had friends, numerous friends ; and 
 to them I was rcfolved to apply. O Friendfhip ! 
 thou fond foother of the human breaft, to thee \ve 
 fly in every calamity ; to thee the wretched feck 
 for fuccour ; on thee the care-tired fon of mifery 
 fondly relies ; from thy kind affiltance the unfor- 
 tunate always hopes relief, and may be ever fure 
 
 of difappointment ! My firft application was 
 
 to a city fcrivener, who had frequently offered to 
 Tend me money, when he knew I did not want it, 
 I informed him, that now was the time to put his 
 friendfhip to the tefl ; that I wanted_to borrow a 
 couple of hundreds for a certain occafion, and 
 was refolved.to take it up from him. And pray, 
 Sir, cried my friend, do you want all this money? 
 Indeed, I never wanted it more, returned I. I ara 
 forry for that, cries the fcrivener, with all rny 
 heart ; for they who want money when they come 
 to borrow, will always want money when they 
 {Koald come to pay. 
 
 From him I flew with indignation to one of the 
 belt friends I had in the world, and mad.- the i..me 
 requeft. Indeed, Mr. Dry-bone, cries my friend, 
 I always thought it would come to this. You 
 know, Sir, I would not advife you but for your 
 own good ; but your conduit has hitherto been ri- 
 diculous in the higheit degree, and fome of your 
 G 3 as*
 
 66 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 acquaintance always thought you a very filly fel- 
 low. Let me fee you want two hundred pounds ; 
 do you want only two hundred, Sir, exaftly ? To 
 <onfefs a truth, returned I, I ihall want three 
 hundred ; but then I have another friend, from 
 whom I can borrow the reft. Why then, replied 
 my friend, if you would take my advice and 
 you know I mould not prefame to ad vile yon but 
 for your own good I would recommend it to you 
 to borrow the whole fum from that other friend ; 
 and then one note will ferve for all, you know. 
 
 Poverty now began to come faft upon me ; yet, 
 inftead of growing more provident or cautious as 
 I grew poor, I became every day more indolent 
 and fimple. A friend was arrefted for fifty pounds ; 
 I was unable to extricate him, except by becom- 
 ing his bail. When at liberty, he fled from his 
 creditors, and left me to take his place.. In pri- 
 fon I expe&ed greater fatisfadion than I had en- 
 joyed at large. I hoped to converle with men in 
 this new world, fimple and believing like myfelf ; 
 but I found them as curming and as cautious as 
 thofe in the world I had left behind. They 
 fpunged up my money whilft it lafted ; borrowed 
 my coals, and never paid them ; and cheated me 
 when I played at cribbage. All this was done 
 becaufe they believed me to be very good-natured, 
 and knew that I had no harm in me. 
 
 Upon my firft entrance into this maniion, which 
 is to fome the abode of defpair, I felt no fenfa- 
 
 tions
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 67 
 tions different from thofe I experienced abroad.. 
 J was now on one frde the door, and thofe who 
 were unconfined were on the other ; this was all 
 the difference between us. At firft, indeed, I felt 
 fome uneafmefs, in confidering how I fhould be 
 able to provide this week for the wants of the 
 week enfuing ; but, after fome time, if I found 
 myfelf fure of eating one day, I never troubled 
 my head how I v/as to be fupplied another. I 
 feized every precarious meal with the utmoft good- 
 humour, indulged no rants of fpleen at my fitua- 
 tion, never called down heaven and all the ftars 
 to behold me dining upon an half-penny-worth of 
 radifhes ; my very companions were taught to be- 
 lieve that I liked fallad better than mutton. I 
 contented myfelf with thinking, that all my life 
 I mould either eat white bread or brown ; cen- 
 tered that all that happened was bed, laughed 
 when I was not in pain, took the world as it went, 
 and read Tacitus often, for want of more books 
 and company. 
 
 How long I might have continued in this tor- 
 pid ftate of fimplkity 1 cannot tell, had I not 
 been roufed by feeing an old acquaintance, whom 
 I knew to be a prudent blockhead, preferred to a 
 place in the government. I now found that I had 
 purfued a wrong track, and that the true way of be- 
 ing able to relieve others, was .to aim at indepen- 
 dance myfelf. My immediate care, therefore, was to 
 leave my prefent habitation, and make an entire re- 
 formation
 
 6fc THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 formation in my conduct and behaviour. For a 
 free, open, undefigning deportment, 1 put on 
 that of clofenefs, prudence and ceconomy. One 
 of the moft heroic actions I ever performed, and 
 for which I fhall praife myfelf as long as I live, 
 was the refufmg half a crown to an old acquaint- 
 ance, at the time when he wanted it, and I had 
 it to fpare ; for this alone I deferve to be decreed 
 an ovation. 
 
 I now, therefore, purfued a cnurfe of uninter- 
 rupted frugality, feldom wanted a dinner, and 
 was confequently invited to twenty. I foon be- 
 gan to get the character of a faving hunks that 
 had money.; and infenfibly grew into efteem. 
 Neighbours have afked my advice in the difpofal 
 of their daughters, and I have always taken care 
 not to give any. I have contracted a friendfhip 
 with an alderman, only by obferving, that if we 
 take a farthing from a thoufand pound, it will be 
 a thoufand pound no longer. I have been invited" 
 to a pawnbroker's table, by pretending to hate 
 gravy ; and am now actually upon treaty of mar- 
 riage with a rich widow, for only having obferved 
 that bread was rifmg. If ever I am afked a quef- 
 tion, whether I know it or not, inftead of an- 
 fwering, I only fmile, and look wife. If a cha- 
 rity is propofed, I go about with the hat, but put 
 nothing in myfelf. If a wretch fclicits my jitv, 
 I cbferve, that the world is filled with impoftors ; 
 and take a certain method of not being; deceived^ 
 
 by
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 69. 
 
 by never relieving. In fhort, I now find the truefl 
 way of finding efteem, even from the indigcn-t, is 
 to give away nothing, and thus have much in our 
 power to gi<ve. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 103. 
 
 EPITAPH UPON DR. PARNELL. 
 
 IHIS tomb, infcrib'd to gentlePARNELL's name> 
 May fpeak our gratitude^ but not his fame.. 
 What heart but feels his fweetly-moral lay, 
 That leads to truth, thro' Pleafure's flow'ry way ? 
 Celeftiai themes confefs'd his tuneful aid ; 
 And Heav'n, that lent him Genius, was repaid.. 
 Needlefs to him the tribute we beftow,. 
 The tranfitory breath of Fame below : 
 More lafting rapture from his Works fliall rife,. 
 While Converts thank their Poet in the fides, 
 
 FLATTERY. 
 
 THE moft favage countries understand flattery 
 almoft as well as tire moft polite ; fmce, to be fuf- 
 ficiently fervile is, perhaps, the whole of the art, 
 and the trucft method of pleafing. 
 
 HIST. OF ENG. IN LET. V. I. p. 27* 
 
 UNCQN-
 
 70 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH:. 
 
 UNCONTROULED POWER. 
 
 OF all miferies that ever affefted kingdoms, an 
 uncontrouled power ..among the great is certainly 
 moft afflictive. The tyranny of a {ingle monarch 
 only falls upon the narrow circle round him ; the 
 arbitrary will of- a number of delegates falls moft 
 heavily upon the lower ranks of. people, who 
 have no redrefs. 
 
 IBID. v. i. p. 79. 
 
 MODEST DIFFIDEKCE. 
 
 THERE are attract. - in modeft diffidence, 
 above the force of words, /i ulent addrefs is the 
 genuine eloquence of fmcerity. 
 
 GOOD-NATURED MAN, p, l8. 
 
 EPITAPH ON DAVID GARRICK. 
 
 rlERE lies DAVID GARRICK; defcribe me 
 
 who can, 
 
 An abridgment of all that was pleafant in Man ; 
 As an Ac~lor, . confeft without rival to mine ; 
 As a Wit,. if .not ficft, in the very n"rft line : 
 Yet, with talents like thefe, and an excellent heart s 
 The man had his failings a dupe to his art. 
 l,jke an ill-judging beauty, his colours he fpread, 
 And beplailer'd with rouge his own natural red. 
 
 On,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 71 
 On the Stage he was natural, iimple, affecting ; 
 'Twas only that, \vhen he was off, he was acling. 
 With no reafon on earth to go out of his wa;, , 
 He turn'd, and he varied, fall ten times a-day : 
 Tlio' f:care of our hearts, yet confoundedly ikk 
 If they were not his own, by finefling and trick : 
 He call off his friends, as a huntfman his pack, 
 -For he knew, when he pleas'd, he could whittle 
 
 them back. 
 
 Of praife a mere glutton, he fwallow'd what cama, 
 And the pufF of a dunce, he miftook it for feme.; 
 J Till his relilh grown callous, almoft to difeafe, 
 Who pep.per'd the highefl, was furelt to pleafe. 
 But let us be candid, and fpeak out our mind, 
 If dunces applauded, he paid them in kind. 
 Ye Kenricks*, ye KcUy3\, and Woodfallsl fo 
 
 grave, 
 'What a commerce was yours, while you .got, and 
 
 you gave ! 
 "How did Grub-Street re-eccho the mouts that you 
 
 rais'd, 
 While he was be-Rcfcius'd, and you were be* 
 
 prais'd ! 
 
 But peace to his fpirit, wherever it flies, 
 To acl as an angel, and mix with the fides : 
 
 Thofe 
 
 * William Kenrick, L.L.D. author of FalftafPs 
 Wedding, &c. 
 
 f Hugh Kelly, Efq. author o/Falfe Delicacy, &c. 
 
 J Mr. William Woodfall, Printer cf the Morn- 
 ing Chronicle,
 
 7^ THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 Thofe Poets, who owe their belt fame to his fkitt, 
 Shall {till be his flatterers, go where he will. 
 Old Shaksfpcare receive him, with praife and 
 
 with love, 
 And Eeaumonts and Bens be his Ktllys above ! 
 
 F E A R. 
 
 FEAR guides more to their duty than grati- 
 "tude : for one man who is virtuous from the love 
 of virtue, from the obligation which he thinks he 
 lies under to the Giver of All, there are ten thou- 
 fund who are good only from their apprehenfions 
 of punifliment. Could thefe lalt be perfuaded, 
 as the Epicureans were, that Heaven had no thun- 
 ders in {tore for the villain, they would no longer 
 continue to acknowledge fubordination, or thank 
 that Being who gave them exiilence. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 34. 
 
 OBLIGATIONS. 
 
 WERE men taught to defpife the receiving ob 
 ligations with the fame force of reafoning and de- 
 clamation that they are in ftr acted to confer them, 
 ^ve might then fee every perfon in fociety filling 
 up the requifite duties of his flation with chear- 
 ful induftry, neither relaxed by hope, nor fullea 
 irom difappoinrment. 
 
 . 2. p. 142, 
 
 KNOW-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OT GOLDSMITH, 73 
 
 KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 WHEN we rife in knowledge as the profpect 
 widens, the objefts of our regard become mere 
 obfcure ; and the unlettered peafant, whofe views 
 are only directed to the narrow fphere around him, 
 beholds nature with a finer relifh, and tafles her 
 bleffings with a keener appetite, than the philo- 
 fopher, whofe mind attempts to grafp an univerfal 
 fyftem. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 152. 
 
 CONVERSATION OF A FINE WOMAN. 
 
 THERE is fomething irrefiftibly pleafing in the 
 converfation of a fine woman ; even though her 
 tongue be filent, the eloquence of her eyes teaches 
 wifdora. The mind fympathifes with the regu- 
 larity of the objecl in view, and, ftruck with ex- 
 ternal grace, vibrates into refpondent harmony. 
 IBID. v. 2. p. 205* 
 
 S O R R O W. 
 
 WE fhould feel forrow, but not fink under its 
 oppreffion ; the heart of a wife man mould refem- 
 ble a mirrour, which reflects every objeft without 
 being fullied by any. The wheel of fortune turn 
 inceffantly round, and who can fay within himf , 
 t mall to-day be uppermoft ? We mould hole ; 
 immutable mean that lies between infenfibilit; a i 
 anguifh ; our attempts mould be, not to exti 
 H n
 
 74 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 nature, but to reprefs it ; not to fland unmoved at 
 diitrefs, but endeavour to turn every difafter to 
 our own advantage. Our greateft glory is, not in 
 never falling, but in rifing every time we fall. 
 
 -CIT. OF T-HE WORLD, V.I. p. 22. 
 
 R E A D I N G. 
 
 IT is of no importance to read much, except 
 you be regular in your reading. If it be inter- 
 rupted for any confiderable time, it can never be 
 attended with proper improvement. There are 
 fonie who ftudy for one day with intenfe applica- 
 tion, and repofe themfelves for ten days after. 
 But wifdom is a coquette, and mult be courted with 
 unabating affiduity. 
 
 It was a'faying of the ancients, that a man never 
 opens a book without reaping fome advantage by 
 it. I fay, with them, that every book can ferve 
 to make us more expert, except romances ; and 
 thefe are no better than inftruments of debauchery. 
 They are dangerous ficlions, where love is the 
 ruling paffion. 
 
 IBID. vol. 2. p. 79. 
 
 INDOLENCE. 
 INDOLENCE an'umes the airs of wifdora, 
 and, while it tofies the cup and ball with infantine 
 folly, defires the world to look on, and calls the 
 ftupid paftime philofophy and learning. 
 
 IBID. p. 106,
 
 THE- BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 75; 
 
 EDUCATING CHILDREN. 
 I HAVE ever found it a vain tafk to try to 
 make a child's learning its anrufement ; nor do T 
 fee what good end it would anfv/er, were it adlually 
 attained. The child ought to have its (hare of 
 play, and it will be benefited thereby ; and for- 
 every reafon, alfo, it ought to have its fhare of 
 labour. The' mind, by early labour, will be thus 
 actuftomed to' fatigues and fubordinr.ticn ; and 
 \vb.:' s cver be the pcrfonV future employment in 
 life, he will be better fitted to endure it : h'c will 
 be thus enabled to fupport the drudgeries of office 
 with content, or to fill up the vacancies of life 
 with variety. The child, therefore, mould by 
 times be put to its duty; and be taught to know, 
 that the tafk is to be done, or the punifhment to 
 be endured. I do not cbjeft againfl alluring it to 
 duty by reward ; but we well know, that the mind 
 will be more ftrongly Simulated by pain ; and 
 both may, upon fome occafions, take their turn to 
 operate. In this manner, a child, by playing 
 with' its equals abroad, and labouring with them 
 at fchool, will acquire more health and knowledge 
 than by being bred up under the wing of any ipe- 
 culative fyftem-maker ; and will be thus qualified 
 for a life of activity and obedience. It is true, 
 indeed, that, when educated in this manner, the 
 boy may not be fo eemirrgly fenfible and forward 
 as- one -bred up under folitary inftruction ; and, 
 perhaps, this early forwardnefs is more engr.p,'.n;j 
 H 2 than-
 
 76 THS BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 than ufeful. It is well known, that many of thofe 
 chijdren who are fuch prodigies of literature before 
 ten, have not made an adequate progrefs to twenty* 
 It mould feem, that they only began learning manly 
 things before their time ; and, while others were 
 bufied in picking up that knowledge adapted to 
 their age and curioiity, thefe were forced upon 
 fubjefts unfuited to their years ; and, upon that 
 account alone, appearing extraordinary. The ftock 
 cf knowledge in both may be equal ; but with this 
 difference, that each is yet to learn what the other 
 knows. 
 
 HIST. CF ANIMALS, p. 67* 
 
 FELICITY. 
 VAIN,, very vain, my weary fearch to find 
 That blifs which only centers in the mind : 
 "Why have I ftray'd from pleafure and repofe, 
 To feek a good each government beftcws ? 
 In ev'ry government, though terrors reign, 
 Though tyrant kings, or tyrant laws reftraia, 
 How finall, of all that human hearts endure, 
 That part which laws or kings can caufe or cure T 
 [ Still to ourfelves in ev'ry place confign'd, 
 Our own felicity we make or find : 
 "With fecret ccurfe, which no loud ftorms annoy, 
 Glides the fmeoth current of domeftic joy. 
 
 TE.AVELLER, p. 50. 
 
 INSOLENCE
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 7.7 
 
 INSOLENCE OF COURT FAVOURITES. 
 AS, in a family, the faults and the imperti- 
 nence of fervants are often to be afcribed to their 
 matters ; fo, in a ftate, the vices and the infolence 
 of favourites fhould be juftly attributed to the 
 king who employs them. 
 
 HIST. OF ENG. IN LET. &C. V. I. p. 238. 
 
 FIDELITY OP A DOG. 
 
 OF all the beafts that graze the lawn or hunt 
 the foreft, a Dog is the only animal that, leaving 
 his fellows, attempts to cultivate the friendfhip of 
 man ; to man he looks, in all his neceffities, with 
 a fpeaking eye, for affiftance ; exerts, for him, all 
 the little fervice in his power, with chearfulnefs 
 and pleafure ; for him bears famine and fatigue 
 with patience and refignation : no injuries can. 
 abate his fidelity ; no diftrefs induce him to forfake 
 his benefactor : ftudious to pleafe, and fearing to 
 offend', he is Hill an humble, fteadfail dependant ; 
 and in him alone fawning is not flattery. How 
 unkind, then, to torture this faithful creature, 
 who has left the foreft to claim the protection of 
 man ! How ungrateful a return to the trufty ani- 
 mal for all its fervices ! 
 
 ESSAY 13. p. 109. 
 
 H 3 PLEASURE
 
 73 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 PLEASURE. 
 
 ALL our pleafures, though feemingly never fo 
 remote from fenfe, derive their origin from fome 
 pne of the fenfes. The moil exquiute demonflra- 
 tion in mathematics, or the moil pleafing difquifi- 
 tion in metaphyftcs, if it does not uhimately tend 
 to increafe fome fenfual fatisfaction, is delightful 
 only to fools, or to men who have by long habit 
 contracted a falfe idea of pleafure ; and he who 
 Separates fenfual and fentimental enjoyments, feek- 
 Ing happinefs from mind- alone, is in fact as 
 wretched as the naked inhabitant of the foreft, 
 who places all happinefs in the firit, regardlefs of 
 the latter. There are two extremes in this refpecl ; 
 the favage who fwallows down the draught of plea- 
 fure without ihying to refled on his happinefs.,. 
 and the fage who pafleth the cup while he reflects 
 on the conveniences of drinking. 
 
 CIT. Of THE WORLD, V- I. p. 2O. 
 
 WANT OF PRUDENCE. 
 
 WANT of prudence is too frequently the want 
 of virtue ; nor is there on earth a more powerful 
 advocate for vice than poverty. 
 
 IBID. p. 22^ 
 
 DUTY OF CHILDREN TO THEIR PARENTS. 
 
 THE duty of children to their parents, a duty 
 
 which nature implants in every breaft, forms the 
 
 ftrength
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 79 
 
 ftrength of that government which has fubfifted for 
 time immemorial.. Filial obedience is the firft and' 
 greateft rcquifite of a itate ; by this we become 
 good fubjefts, capable of behaving with juft fub- 
 erdinaticn to our fuperiors, and grateful depen- 
 dants on heaven ; by this we become fonder of 
 marriage, in order to be capable of exacting obe- 
 dience from others in our turn : by this we become 
 good magiflrates ; for early fubmifiion is the trueft 
 leffon to thofe who would learn to rule. By this 
 the whole ftate may be faid to referable one family, 
 of which the Emperor is the proteftor, father, 
 and friend. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 1. p. 176. 
 
 POPULAR GLORY CONTRASTED WITH, 
 TRUE GLORY. 
 
 POPULAR GLORY is a perfeft coquette; 
 her lovers muft toil, feel every inquietude, indulge 
 every caprice ; and, perhaps, at laft, be jilted for 
 their pains. True glory, on the other hand, re- 
 fembles a woman of fenfc; her admirers muft play 
 no tricks ; they feel no great anxiety, for they are 
 fure, in the end, of being rewarded in proportion, 
 to their merit. When Swift ufed to appear in pub- 
 lic, he generally had the mob fhouting in his train. 
 " Pox take thefe fools," he would fay, " how 
 much joy might all this bawling give my Lord- 
 Mayor !" 
 
 ESSAY 8. p. 73. 
 
 L O V E.
 
 So- THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH;, 
 
 L O V* E. 
 
 LOVE, when founded in the heart, will {hew- 
 itfelf in a thoufand unpremeditated Tallies of fond- 
 nefs ; but every cool deliberate exhibition of the. 
 paffion, only argues little understanding, or great' 
 infincerity. ' 
 
 Ckoang was the fondeft hu/band, artd Han/i the 
 moft endearing wife, in all the kingdom of Korea : 
 they were a pattern of conjugal blifs; tlae inhahi- 
 tants of the country around faw, and envied their 
 felicity ; wherever Choar.g came, Hanji was fure 
 to -follow ; and in all the pleafures of HanJl, Cbo- 
 ang was admitted a partner. They walked hand 
 in hand wherever they appeared^ mewing every 
 mark of mutual fatisfacKon, embracing, killing ; 
 their mouths were for ever joined; and, to fpeak in 
 the language of anatomy, it was with them one per- 
 petual anaftomolis. 
 
 Their love was fo great, that it was thought no- 
 thing could interrupt their mutual peace ; when an 
 accident happened, which, in fome meafure, di- 
 minimed the hufband's afTurance of Ins wife's fide- 
 lity; for love fo refined as his, was fubjecV to a 
 thoufand little difquietudes-. 
 
 Happening to go one day alone among the tombs 
 that lay at fome diftance from his houfe, he there 
 perceived a lady dreffed in the deepeft mourning, 
 
 (being
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. Si- 
 (being cloathed all over in white) fanning the wet 
 clay that was raifed over one of the graves with a 
 large fan, which fhe held in her hand, Choang y 
 who had early been taught wifdom in the fchool 
 of Lao, was unable to affign a caufe for her pre- 
 fent employment ; and, coming up, civilly demand- 
 ed the reafon. " Alas !" replied the lady, her eyes 
 bathed in tears, " how is it poffible to furvive the 
 lofs of my hufband, who- lies buried in this grave? 
 He was the bcft of men, the tendereft of hufbands ; 
 with his dying breath he bid me never marry again 
 till the earth over his grave mould be dry; and 
 here you fee me fteadily refolving to obey his will, 
 and endeavouring to dry it with my fan. t have 
 employed two whole days in fulfilling his com- 
 tnands, and am determined not to marry till they 
 are punctually obeyed, even though his grave 
 ihould take up four days in drying." 
 
 Cboang, who was ftruck with the widow's beauty,, 
 could not, however, avoid fmiling at her hafte to 
 be married ; but, concealing the caufe of his mirth, 
 civilly invited her home ; adding, that he had a 
 wife who might be capable of giving her fome 
 confolation. As foon as he and his gueft were re- 
 turned, he imparted to Hanji in private what he 
 had feen, and could not avoid expreffing his un- 
 eafmefs, that fuch might be his own cafe, if his 
 deareft wife fuould, one day happen to furvive 
 him. 
 
 ftt
 
 8z THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITHS 
 
 It is impoffible to defcribe Hanfis refentment r.t 
 fo unkind a fufpicion. As her paffion for him was. 
 not only great, but extremely delicate, fhe em- 
 ployed tears, anger, frowns, and exclamations, ta 
 chide his fufpicions ; the widow herfelf. was in- 
 veighed agaiaft; and Hanji declared fhe was re- 
 folved never to fleep under the fame roof \vith a 
 wretch, who, like her,- could be guilty of fucli 
 barefaced inconstancy. . The night was cold and 
 ftormy : however, the Granger was obliged to feek 
 another, lodging, for Choang was not difpofcd to 
 refift, and Hanji would have her way. 
 
 The widow had fcarce been gone an hour, u hen 
 an old difciple of Ckoang's, whom he had not feen 
 for many years, came to pay him a.vifit. He was 
 received with the utmoft ceremony, placed in the 
 moft honourable feat at/upper, .and the wine began 
 to circulate with great freedom. Ckoang and Hanfi 
 exhibited open- marks of mutual tendernefs and 
 unfeigned recorrciliation : nothing could equal their 
 apparent happinefs ; fo fond an hufband, fo obe- 
 dient a wifie,. few could behold without regretting 
 -their owir infelicity ; when, lo ! their happir.cfs 
 was at. once difturbed by a moft fatal accident. 
 Choang fell lifekfs in an apoplectic fit upon the 
 floor. Every method . was uded, bat in vain, for 
 his recovery. #*/? was at firft inconfolable for 
 his death : after bme hours, however,- (he found 
 fpirits to read his laft will. The enfuing day- i>.e 
 began to moralize and talk \vifdom ; the next day 
 
 (he.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 83 
 
 Tne was able to comfort the young difciple ; and, 
 on the third, to ihorten a long ftory, they both 
 agreed to be married. 
 
 There was now no longer mourning in the apart- 
 'ments ; the body of Choang was now thruft into 
 an old coffin, and placed in one of the meaneft 
 rooms, there to lie unattended until the time pre- 
 fcribed by law for his interment. In the mean 
 time, Hanji, and the young diiciple, were arrayed 
 in the mofl magnificent habits; the bride \vore in 
 her nole a jewel of immenfe price, and her lover 
 -v/as drefTed in all the finery of his former matter, 
 together with a pair of artificial whifkers that 
 reached down to his toes. The hour of their nup- 
 tials was arrived ; the whole family fympathifed 
 with their approaching happinefs ; the apartments 
 were ^brightened up with lights that diffufed the 
 moil exquiiite perfume, and a luftre more bright 
 than noon-day. The lady expeded her youthful 
 lover in an inner apartment, with impatience ; 
 when his fervant approaching with terror in his 
 countenance, informed her, that his matter was 
 fallen into a fit, which would certainly be mortal, 
 unlefs the heart of a man lately dead, could be 
 obtained, and applied to his breall. She fcarce 
 -waited to hear the end of his ftory, when, tucking 
 up her clothes, me ran with a mattock in her hand 
 to the coffin, where Choang lay, refolving to apply 
 the heart of her dead hulband as a cure for the 
 living. She therefore ftruck the lid with the ut- 
 raoft violence. In a few blows the coffin flew open, 
 
 when
 
 % THE BEAUTIES OP GOLDSMITH. 
 
 when the body, which to all appearance had been 
 dead, began to move. Terrified at the fight, 
 Hanfe dropped the mattock, and Cboang walked 
 out, aftonimed at his own fituation, his wife's un- 
 lifual magnificence, and her more amazing fur- 
 prife. He went among the apartments, unable to 
 conceive the caufe of fo much fplendour. He was 
 not long in fufpence, before his domeftics informed 
 him of every tranfaftion fince he firft became in- 
 /enfible. He could fcarce believe what they told 
 him, and went in purfuit of Hanjl herfelf, in order 
 to receive more certain information, or to reproach 
 her infidelity. But {he prevented his reproaches: 
 he found her weltering in blood ; for me had 
 ftabbed herfelf to the heart, being unable to fur- 
 vive her fhame and difappointment. 
 
 Choang, being a philofopher, was too wife to 
 make any loud lamentations ; he thought it befl to 
 bear his lofs with ferenity ; fo, mending up the 
 old coffin where he had lain himfelf, he placed his 
 faithlefs fpoufe in his room ; and, unwilling that 
 fo many nuptial preparations mould be expended in 
 vain, he the fame night married the widow with 
 the large fan. 
 
 As they both were apprifed of the foibles of each 
 other before-hand, they knew how to excufe them 
 after marriage. They lived together for many 
 years in great tranquillity, and not expecting rap- 
 tore, made a fhift to find contentment. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 1. p. 6$\
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 8$ 
 
 POVERTY. 
 
 -WHERE fhall Poverty refide, 
 
 To 'fcape the prefTu-re of contiguous pride? 
 If to fome common's fencelefs limits itray'd, 
 He drives his flock to pick the fcanty blade, 
 Thofe fencelefs fields the fons of Wealth divide, 
 And ev'n the bare-worn common is deny'd. 
 If to fome city fped What waits him there ? 
 To fee profufion that he muft not (hare ; 
 To fee ten thoufand baleful arts combin'd 
 To pamper luxury, and thin mankind; 
 To fee thofe joys the fons of Pleafure krtow, 
 Extorted from his fellow-creature's woe. 
 Here, while the courtier glitters in brocade, 
 There the pale artift plies the fickly trade ; 
 
 Here, while the proud their long-drawn pomps 
 difplay, 
 
 There the black gibbet glooms befide the way. 
 
 The dome where Pleafure holds her midnight reign, 
 
 Here, richly deck'd, admits the gorgeous train ; 
 
 Tumultuous grandeur crowds the blazing fquare, 
 
 The rattling chariots clam, the torches glare. 
 
 Sure fcenes like thefe no troubles e'er annoy ! 
 
 Sure thefe denote one univerfal joy ! 
 
 Are thefe thy ferious thoughts ? Ah, turn thine 
 eyes 
 
 Where the poor houfelefs {hiv'ring female lies. 
 
 She once, perhaps, in village plenty blcfs'd, 
 
 Has wept at tales of innocence diftrefs'd ; 
 
 Her modeft looks the cottage might adorn, 
 
 Sweet as the primrofe peeps beneath the thorn ; 
 
 I Now
 
 *6 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 "Now loft to all ; her friends, her virtue fled, 
 
 Near her betrayer's door me lays her head, 
 
 And, pinch'd with cold, and (hrinking from the 
 
 fhow'r, 
 
 With heavy heart deplores that lucklefs hour, 
 When idly firft, ambitious of the town, 
 She left her wheel, and robes of country brown. 
 
 DESERTED VILLAGE, p. IJ. 
 
 JUSTICE. 
 
 JUSTICE may be defined, that virtue which 
 impels us to give to every perfon what is his due. 
 Jn this extended fenfe cf the word, it comprehends 
 the practice of every virtue which reafon prefcribes, 
 or fociety fliould expeft. Our duty to our Maker, 
 to each other, and to ourfelves, are fully anfwered, 
 if we give them what we owe them. Thus juftice, 
 properly fpeaking, is the only virtue : and all the 
 left have their origin in it. 
 
 The qualities of candour, fortitude, charity, 
 and gcnerofity, for inftance, are not in their own 
 nature virtues ; and, if ever they deferve the title, 
 it is owing only to juftice, which impels and di- 
 refts them. Without fuch a moderator, candour 
 might become indifcretion, fortitude obftinacy, 
 charity imprudence, and generofity miftaken pro- 
 fufion, 
 
 ESSAY 6. p. 47. 
 
 DISIN-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 87 
 
 DISINTERESTED A.CTION. 
 
 A DISINTERESTED aftion, if it be not con- 
 dufted by juitice, is, at beft, indifferent in its na- 
 ture, and not unfnequently even turns to vice, 
 TJie expences of fociety, of prefents, of enter- 
 tainments, and the other helps to chearfalncfs;,. 
 are adHcns merely indifferent, when not repugnant 
 to a better method of difpofmg of* our fuperfluities ; 
 but they become vicious when they obftruct or ex- 
 Knuft our abilities from a more virtuous difpofitien 
 Q/ our circumHances> 
 
 ESSAY 6. p. ,}". 
 
 TRUE GENEROSITY. 
 
 TRUE generosity is a duty as indifpenfibly ne- 
 cef&ry as thofe impofed upon us by law. It" is a 
 rule impofed upon us by reafon, which mould be 
 the foveieign law of a rational being. But this 
 generofity does not confiil: in obeying every im- 
 pulfe of humanity, in following blind paffion for 
 our guide, and impairing our circumftances by 
 prefent benefaclions, fo as to render, us incapable 
 of .future ones. 
 
 IBID. p. 48. 
 
 LITERATURE. 
 
 ^/J'FATEVER be- the motives which induce 
 
 :scn to write, whether avarice, or. fame, the coun- 
 
 fry becomes moft wife and happy, in which they 
 
 I. a.. moil.
 
 88 THE BEAUTIES o? GOLDSMITH., 
 mofl ferve for inflruftors. The countries where 
 facerdotal inftrucUon alone is permitted, remain, 
 in ignorance, fuperftition, and hopelefs flavery. 
 In England, where there are as many new books 
 publimed as in all the reft of Europe together, a 
 ipirit of freedom and reafon reigns among the peo- 
 ple ; they have been often known- to aftJike fools, 
 they are generally found to think like men. 
 
 C I T . OF THEWORLQ, V. 2 . p. 4.? . 
 
 DEATH OF A PHILOSOPHER. 
 
 LET others beftrevv the hearfes of the great 
 with panegyric. When a philofcpker dies, I con- 
 fidcr myfelf as lofing a patron, an inflruftor, and 
 a friend ; I confider the wcrld as lofing one who 
 Height ftrve to confole her amidft the defolations 
 of war and ambition. Nature every day produces 
 in abundance men capable of filling all the requi- 
 fite duties of authority ; but (he is niggard in the 
 birth of an exalted mind, fcarcely producing in a 
 century a fingle genius to blefs and enlighten a 
 degenerate age. Prodigal in the production of 
 kings, governors, mandarines, chams, and cour- 
 tiers, fhe feems to have forgotten, for more than 
 three thoufand years, the manner in which fhe 
 once formed the brain of a Confucius ; and well it 
 is fhe has forgotten, when a bad world gave him. 
 fo very bad a reception. 
 
 IBID. v. i. p. 181.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 89, 
 
 TENDERNESS. 
 
 TENDERNESS, without a capacity of re- 
 lieving, only makes the man. who feels it more- 
 wretched than the objecl which fues for afliftance. 
 
 C:T. OF -THE WORL-D, V. 2. p, 2I. 
 
 ESSAY ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 JHERE are few fubjefts which have been more. 
 written upon, and lefs underftood, than that of. 
 Friendfhip. To follow the dictates of fome, this, 
 virtue, inftead of being the afluager of pain, be- 
 comes the fource of every inconvenience. Such 
 fpeculatifis, by expecting too. much from friendfhip,. 
 uiffolve the connexion, and, by drawing the bands, 
 too clofely, at length break therru Almoft all our 
 romance and novel-writers are of this kind ; they 
 perfuade us to friendihips, which we find impof- 
 nble to faftaiH to the laft.; fo that this fweetner of 
 life, under proper regulations, is, by their means,, 
 rendered inacceffible or uneafy. It is certain, the 
 beft method to cultivate this virtue is by letting 
 it, in fome meafure, make itfelf ; a fimilitude of 
 minds or ftudies, and even fomedmes a diverfity 
 of purfuits, will produce all the pleafures that 
 arife from it. The current of tendernefs widens, 
 as it proceeds : and two men imperceptibly find 
 tkeir hearts warm with good- nature for each other, 
 I 3 when
 
 So THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 when they were at firft only in purfuit of mirth or; 
 relaxation. 
 
 Friendfliip is like a debt of honour; the mo- 
 ment it is talked of, it lofes its real name, and 
 afTumes the more ungrateful form of obligation. 
 From hence we find, that thofe who regularly 
 undertake to cultivate friendfhip, find ingratitude 
 generally repays their endeavours. That circle of 
 beings, which dependance gathers round us, is al- 
 moft ever unfriendly ; they fecretly wifh the term 
 of their connexions more nearly equal ; and, 
 where they even have the moft virtue, are pre- 
 pared to referve all their affections for their pa- 
 tron, only in the hour of his decline. Increasing 
 the obligations which are laid upon fuch minds, 
 only increafes their burthen ; they feel themfelves 
 unable to repay the immenfity of their debt, and 
 their bankrupt hearts are taught a latent refent- 
 ment at the hand that it ftretched out with offers 
 of fervice and relief. 
 
 Plautimis was a man who thought that every 
 good was bought from riches ; and as he was pof- 
 ieiTed of great wealth, and had a mind naturally 
 formed for virtue, he refolved to gather a circle 
 of the beft men round him. Among the number 
 of his dependants was Mufidcrus, with a mind juft 
 as fond of virtue, yet not Icfs proud than his. pa- 
 trcn. Kis circumftances, hov/ever, were fuch as 
 forced him to ftoop to the good offices of his fu- 
 
 perior,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 91 
 
 perior, and he faw himfelf daily among a number 
 of others loaded witK benefits and proteftatiohs of 
 friendftiip. Thcfe, in the ufual courfe of the 
 world, he thought it prudent to accept ; but, while 
 he gave his efteem, he could not give his heart. 
 A want of affection breaks out in the moft trifling . 
 Inilances, and Plautinxs had fkill enough to ob- 
 ferve the minuteft actions of the man he wifhed to 
 make his friend. In thefe he ever found his aim 
 difappointed ; for Mufidorus claimed an exchange - 
 of hearts, which Plautinus, folicited by a variety 
 of claims, could never think of beftowing. 
 
 It may be eafily fuppofed, that the referv.e of - 
 our poor proud man, was foon conftrued into in- 
 gratitude ; and fuch, indeed, in the common ac- 
 ceptation of the world it was. Wherever Muji>- 
 dorus appeared, he was remarked as the ungrate- 
 ful man ; he had acccepted favours, it was faid, 
 and had ftill the infolence to pretend to indepen- 
 dance. The event, however, juftified his condud. 
 Plauiinus, by mifplaced liberality, at length be- 
 came poor ; and it v/as then that Mufidoria firft . 
 thought of making a friend of him He flew to 
 the man of fallen fortune, with an offer of all he 
 had ; wrought under his direction with afiiduity ; 
 and by uniting their talents, both were at length 
 placed in that flate of life from which one of. 
 them had formerly fallen. 
 
 To
 
 gz THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 To this ftory, taken from modern life, I fhaif 
 add one more, taken from a Greek writer of an- 
 tiquity : ' Two Jewifh foldiers, in the time of 
 Wefpafean, had made many campaigns together ; 
 and a participation of dangers,, at length, bred an 
 union of hearts. They were remarked through- 
 out the whole army, as the two friendly brothers ; 
 they felt and fought for each' other. Their friend- 
 fhip might have continued, without interruption, 
 till death, had not the good fortune of the one 
 alarmed the pride of the other, which was in his 
 promotion to be a Centurion under the famous 
 John, who headed A particular party of the Jcvv- 
 ilh male-contents. 
 
 From this moment their former love was con- 
 . verted into the moft inveterate enmity. They at- 
 tached themfelves to oppofite factions, and fought 
 each other's lives in the conflict of adverfe party. 
 In this manner they continued for more than two 
 years, vowing mutual revenge, and animated with 
 an unconquerable fpirit of aversion. At length, 
 however, that party of the Je-ivs, to which the 
 mean foldier belonged, joining with- the Remans, 
 it became victorious, and. drove John, with all 
 his adherents, into the Temple. Hiftory has 
 given us more than one picture of the dreadful, 
 conflagration of that fuperb edifice. The Roman. 
 foldiers were gathered round it } the whole Tem- 
 pje was in flames, and thcufands were feen: amidft 
 them,- within its facred circuit. It was in this 
 
 fituation
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 93, 
 j'ituation .of things,, that the now-fuccefsful fol- 
 dier faw his former, friend upon the battlements of 
 the higheft tower, looking round with horror, and 
 juft ready to be confumed v/ith flames. All his 
 former tendernefs now returned ; he faw the man 
 of his bofom juft going to perifli ; and, unable to 
 withftand the impulfe, he ran fpreading his arms, 
 and cryiug out to his friend, to leap down from 
 the top, and find fafety with him. The Centu- 
 rion from aLove heard and obeyed, and, cafting 
 himfelf from the top of the tower, into his fel- 
 low-foldier's rrms, both fell a facrifice on the 
 fpot ; one being era Hied to death by the weight 
 of his companion, and the other daflied to pieces 
 by the greatnefs of his fall.' 
 
 THE COUNTRY ALEHOUSE. 
 
 iN EAR yonder them, that lifts its head on high. 
 Where once the fign-poft caught the paffing eye, 
 Low lies that houfe where nut-brown draughts in- 
 
 fpir'd, 
 
 Where grey-beard Mirth and fmiling Toil retir'd ; 
 Where Village- Stajefmen talk'd with looks pro- 
 found, 
 
 And news much older than their ale went round. 
 Imagination fondly ftoops to trace 
 The parlour-fplendours of that feftive place ; 
 The white-wafh'd wall, the nicely-fanded floor, 
 The varnifh'd clojck that click'd behind the door j . 
 
 Ths
 
 94 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH; 
 
 The cheft contriv'd a double debt to pay, 
 
 A bed by night, a cheft of draw'rs by day ; 
 
 The piftures plac'd for ornament and ufe, 
 
 The Twelve Good Rules, the Royal Game of 
 
 Goofe ; 
 
 The he;:rth, except when Winter chill'd the day, 
 With afpen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay ;. 
 While broken tea- cups, wifely kept for mow, 
 Rang'd o'er-the chimney, gliften'd in a row. 
 
 Vain tranfitory fplendours ! Could not all 
 Reprieve the tott'ring mnnfion from its fall? 
 Gbfcure it finks, nor fhall it more impart 
 An hour's importance to the poor man's heart j- 
 Thither, no more, the peafant (hall repair, 
 To fweet oblivion of his daily care ; 
 No more the farmers news, the barber's tale, 
 No more the woodman's ballad fhall prevail j_ 
 No more the fmith his dufky brow fhall clear, 
 Relax his pond'rous ftrength, and lean to hear ^ 
 The holt himfelf no longer fhall be found 
 Careful to fee the mantling blifs go round ; 
 Nor the coy maid, half willing to be preft, 
 Shall kifs the cup to p;ifs it to the reft. 
 
 DESERTED VILLAGE, p. 12 
 
 SABINU-S AND O LIN DA. 
 
 1 N a fair, rich, flourishing country, whpfe cliffs 
 a,re wafhed by the German ocean, lived Sabinu: f 
 a. youth, formed by Nature to make a conqueft. 
 
 wherever!
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 95 
 vherever he thought proper ; but the conftancy of 
 his difpofition fixed him only with Olinda. 
 
 He was, indeed, fopcrior to her in fortune ; but 
 that defec~t on her fide was fo amply f up plied by 
 her merit, that none was thought more worthy of 
 his regards than /lie. He loved her, he was be- 
 loved by her ; and, in a Ihort time, by joining 
 hands publicly, they avowed the union of their 
 hearts. But, alas ! none, however fortunate, 
 however happy, are exempt from the fhafts of en- 
 vy, and the malignant effefts of ungoverned ap- 
 petite. .How unfafe, how deteflable are they who 
 have this fury for their guide ! How certainly will 
 it lead them from themfelves, and plunge them in 
 errors they would have fhuddered at, even in ap- 
 prehenfion ! Ariana, a lady of many amiable qua- 
 lities, very nearly allied to Sabznus, and highly 
 efteemed by him, imagined herfelf flighted, and 
 injurioufly treated, fince his marriage, with -Olinda. 
 By incautioufly fuffering this jealoufy to corrode 
 in her breaft, me began to give a loofe to paffion : 
 me forgot thofe many virtues, for which ftie had 
 been fo long, and fo juftly applauded. Caufe- 
 lefs fufpicion, and miflaken refentment, betrayed 
 her into all the gloom of difcontent : {he fighed 
 without ceafing ; the happinefs of others gave her 
 intolerable pain: fhe thought of nothing but re- 
 venge. How unlike what me was, the chearful, 
 the prudent, the compaflionate Ariana ! 
 
 She
 
 t>6 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 She continually laboured to diiturb an union fo 
 firmly, fo affectionately founded, and planned 
 every fcheme which ihe thought moft likely to dif- 
 turb it. 
 
 Fortune feemed willing to promote her unjuft 
 intentions ; the circumftances of Sabinus had been 
 long embarraffed by a tedious law-fuit, and the 
 court determining the caufe unexpectedly in favour 
 of his opponent, it funk his fortune to the loweft 
 pitch of penury from the higheft affluence. 
 
 From the nearnefs of relationfhip, Sabinus ex- 
 pected from Ariana thofe affiflances his prefent 
 fituation required ; but fhe was infenfible to all 
 liis entreaties, and the juilice of every remon- 
 flrance, ufclefs he Erft feparated from Olindct^ 
 'whom fhe regarded with deteftation. Upon a 
 compliance with her defires in this refpeft, (he 
 promifed her fortune, her intereft, and her all, 
 mould be at his command. Sabinus was mocked 
 at the propofal ; he loved his wife with inexpref- 
 fible tendernefs, and refufed thofe offers with in- 
 dignation which were to be purchafed at fo high a 
 price : Ariana was no lefs difpleafed to find her 
 offers reje&ed, and gave a loofe to all that warmth 
 which fhe had long endeavoured to fupprefs. 
 
 Reproach generally produces recrimination ; the 
 quarrel rofe to fuch a height, that Sabinus was 
 marked for deftruction j and the very next day, 
 
 nipon
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 97 
 the ftrength of an old family debt, he was fent to 
 jail, with none but Olinda to comfort him in his 
 miferies. In this manfion of diftrefs they lived 
 tegether with resignation, and even with comfort. 
 She provided the frugal meal, and he read for her 
 while employed in the little offices of domeftic 
 concern. Their fellow- prifoners admired their 
 contentment, and whenever they had a defire of 
 relaxing into mirth, and enjoying thofe little 
 comforts that a prifon affords, S-a&imis and Olinda. 
 were lure to be of the party. Inftead of reproach- 
 ing each for their mutual wretchednefs, they both 
 lightened it, by bearing each a fhare of the load 
 impofeu by Providence. Whenever Sabinus mew- 
 ed the leaft concern on his dear partner's account, 
 fhe conjured him by the love he bore her, by 
 thofe tender ties which now united them for ever, 
 not to difcompofe himfelf : that fo long as his 
 oiTeclion Juried, me defied all the ills of fortune, 
 and every lofs of fame or friendfhip : that no 
 thing could make her mifcrablc, but his feem- 
 ing to want happinefs ; nothing pleafed but his 
 fympathifing with her pleafure. 
 
 A continuance in prifon foon fobbed them of the 
 little they had left, and famine began to make its 
 horrid appearance ; yet ftill was neither found to 
 murmur: they both looked upon their little boy, 
 who, infenfible of their or his own diftrefs, was play- 
 ing about the room with inexpreffible yet fiient an- 
 guiih, when a meflenger came to inform them that 
 K Ariana
 
 ^8 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 -Ariana -was dead ; and that her will, in favour of 
 a very diitant -relation, and who was now in ano- 
 ther country, might be eafily procured, and burnt 1 ; 
 in which cafe, all her large fortune would revert 
 -to him, as being the next heir at law. 
 
 A propofal of fo bafe a nature filled our un- 
 happy couple with horror ; they ordered the mef- 
 fenger immediately out of the room, and falling 
 upon each other's neck, indulged an agony of 
 forrow : for now even all hopes of relief were ba- 
 nifhed. The meffenger who made the propofal, 
 however, was only a fpy fent by Ariana to found 
 the difpofitions of a man me loved at once and 
 j>erfecuted. 
 
 This lady, though warped by wrong paffions, 
 was naturally kind, judicious and friendly. She 
 found that all -her attempts to make the conilancy 
 or the integrity of Sabinus were ineffectual : She 
 had, therefore, begun to reflect, and to wonder 
 how (he could, fo long and fo unprovoked, injure 
 -fuch uncommon fortitude and affection. 
 
 She had, from the next room, herfelf heard the 
 -reception given to the meflenger, and could not 
 avoid feeling all the force of fuperior virtue ; 
 Ihe therefore reafTumed her former goodnefs of 
 heart ; me came into the room with tears in her 
 yes, and acknowledged the feverity of her 
 former treatment. She beftowed her firft care in 
 
 pro-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 99, 
 
 providing them all the neceflary fupplies, and 
 acknowledged them as the moft deferving heirs 
 of her fortune. From this moment Satinui en- 
 joyed an uninterrupted happinefs with Qlinda y 
 and both were h|ippy in the friendfhip and afiift- 
 ance of Arianp, who, dyin^ foon after, left them 
 in pcifeffion of a large eftate ; and in her lail 
 moments confeffed, that Virtue was the only path, 
 to true glory ; and that, however Innocence may 
 for a time be deprefled, a ftcady perfeverance will. 
 iu time lead it to a certain victory.. 
 
 INNOCENCE AND SIMPLICITY. 
 
 MAN was born to live withuinnocence and fim- 
 plicity, but he has deviated from Nature ; he was 
 born to mare the bounties of Heaven, bat he has 
 monopolized them; he was born to govern the 
 brute creation, but he is become their tyrant. If 
 an epicure now fhould happen to furfeit on his laft 
 night's feaft, twenty animals, the next day, are to 
 undergo the moft exquifite tortures, in order to 
 provoke his appetite to another guilty meal. Hail,. 
 O ye fimple, honeft Bramins of the Eaft ! ye inof- 
 fenfive friends of all that were born to happinefs as 
 well as you ! You never fought a mort-lived plea- 
 fure from the miferies of other creatures. You 
 never ftudied the tormenting arts of ingenious re - 
 finement; you. never furfeited upon a guilty meal, 
 K 2. How
 
 ioo THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 How much more purified and refined are all you* 
 fenfaticns than ours ! Yon diftinguifh every ele- 
 ment with the utmoft precifion ; a flream untafted 
 before is new luxury ; a change of air is a new 
 banquet, too refined for weftern imaginations to 
 conceive. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 52. 
 
 A D U L A T I O N. 
 
 THE man who is conftantly ferved up with 
 adulation, muft be a firft-rate philofopher, if he can 
 liften without .contracting new affectations. The 
 opinion we form of ourfelves, is generally mea- 
 fured by what we hear from others ; and when they 
 confpire to deceive, we too readilv concur in the 
 delufion. Among the number of much-applmided 
 men in the circle of our own friends, we can re- 
 collect but few that have heads quite ftrong enough 
 to bear a loud acclamation of public praife in 
 their favour ; among the whole lift, we mail 
 fcarce find one that has not thus been made, on 
 Come fide cf his chara&er, a coxcomb. 
 
 tlFE OF NASH, p. 149. 
 
 THE:
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. ior 
 
 THE SWISS PEASANT. 
 
 JVlY foul, turn from them* ; turn we to furvey 
 Where rougher climes a nobler race difplay, 
 Where the bleak S*vifs their ftormy manfions tread, - 
 And force a chnrlifti foil for fcanty bread. 
 No product here the barren hills afford, 
 But man and fteel, the foldier and his fworcL 
 No vernal blooms their torpid rocks array, 
 But Winter ling'ring chills the lap of May - 
 No Zephyr fondly fues the mountain's breafi., 
 But meteors glare, and Itormy glooms inveft. 
 Yet (till,, ev'n here, Content can fpread a charm> 
 Redrefs the clime, and all its rage difarm. 
 Though poor the Peafant's hut, his feafts though 
 
 fmall, 
 
 He fees his little lot the lot of all ; 
 Sees no contiguous palace rear its head 
 To fhame the meannefs of his humble med ; 
 No coftly lord the fumptuous banquet deal 
 To make him loath his vegetable meal ; 
 But calm, and bred in ignorance and toil, 
 Each wifti contracting, fits him to the foil. 
 Chearful at morn he wakes from fhort repofe, 
 Breads the keen air, and carrois as he goes ; 
 With patient angle trolls the finny deep, 
 Or drives his vent'rous plough-mare to the fleep ; 
 Or feeks the den where fno\v-tracks mark the way, 
 And drags the ftruggling favage into day. 
 
 K 3 , At 
 
 * From the ItalianSr
 
 loz THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 At night returning, ev'ry labour fped, 
 He fits him down the monarch of a med ; 
 Smiles by his chearful fire, and round furveys 
 His children's looks, that brighten at the blaze ;: 
 While his lov'd partner, boaftful of her hoard, 
 Difplays her cleanly platter on the board : 
 And haply too fome pilgrim, thither led, 
 With many a tale repays the nightly bed. 
 
 Thus ev'ry good his native wilds impart, 
 Imprints the patriot paffion on his heart ; 
 And ev'n thofe ills, that round his manfion rife> 
 Enhance the blifs his fcanty fund fupplies. 
 Dear is that fhed to which his foul conforms, 
 And dear that hill which lifts him to the ftorms j 
 And as a child, when fearing founds moleft, 
 Clings clofe and clofer to the mother's breaft, 
 So the loud torrent, and the whirlwind's roar, 
 But bind him to his native mountains more. 
 
 TRAVELLER, p. IJ, 
 
 A -G E. 
 
 AGE, that IciTens the enjoyment of life, in- 
 creafes our defire of living. Thofe dangers, which 
 in the vigour of youth we had learned to defpife, 
 affume new terrors as we grow old. Our caution 
 increafing as our years increafe, fear becomes at 
 lift the prevailing paflion of the mind ; and the 
 fmall remainder of life is taken up in ufelefs ef- 
 forts
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 105: 
 forts to keep off our end, or provide for a conti- 
 nued exiftence. 
 
 ESSAY 14. 
 
 HOPE, THE LAMP OF LIFE. 
 
 IF 1 fhould judge of that part of life which lies 
 before me, by that which I have already feen, the 
 profpect is hideous. Experience tells me, that my 
 paft enjoyments have brought no real felicity; 
 and fenfation aflures me, that thofe I have felt are 
 Stronger than thofe which are yet to come. Yet 
 experience and fenfation in vain perfuade ; hope, 
 more powerful than either, dreffes out the diftant 
 profpeft in fancied beauty ; fome happinefs in long 
 perfpective ftill beckons me to purfue ; and, like 
 a lofing gamefter, every new difapp ointment in- 
 creafes my ardour to continue the game. 
 
 ESSAY 14. 
 
 LOVEoF LIFE. 
 
 WHENCE this increafed love of life, which 
 grows upon us with our years ? Whence comes it, 
 that we thus make grea-ter efforts to preferve our 
 exiftence, at a period when it becomes fc^rce worth 
 the keeping ? Is it that nature, attentive to the 
 prefervation of mankind, increafes cur wiflies to 
 live, while me leflens our enjoyments ; and, as me 
 robs the fenfes of every pleafure, equips imagina- 
 tion in the fpoil ? Life would be infupportable to 
 an old man, who, loaded with intimities, feared 
 
 death
 
 no4 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 death no more than when in the vigour of man- 
 hood : the numberlefs calamities of decaying na- 
 ture, and the confcioufnefs of furviving every 
 pleafure, would at once induce him, with his own 
 hand, to terminate the fcene of mifery ; bat hap- 
 pily the contempt of death forfakes him at a time 
 when it could only be prejudicial ; and life ac- 
 quires an imaginary value, in proportion as its 
 real value is no more. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 37. 
 
 ATTACHMENT. 
 
 V-/UR attachment to every objefl around us, in- 
 creafes, in general, from the length of our ac- 
 quaintance with it. 1 would not chufe, fays a 
 French philofopher, to fee an old poft pulled up, 
 with which I had been long acquainted. A mind 
 long habituated to a certain fet of objects, infen- 
 fihly becomes fend of feeing them ; vifits them 
 from habit, and parts from them with reluctance. 
 From hence proceeds the avarice of the old in 
 every kind of poffeflion. They love the world, 
 and all that it produces ; they love life, and all its 
 advantages ; not becaufe it gives them pleafure, . 
 but becaufe they have known it long. 
 
 CHINVANG the Chafte, afcending the throne 
 of China, commanded th^t all who were unjuftly 
 detained in prifon, during the preceding reigns, 
 
 fhouid
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH". 105- 
 mould be fet free. Among the number who came 
 to thank their deliverer on. this occafion, there ap- 
 peared a majeftic old man, who, falling at the em- 
 peror's feet, addrefled him as follows : " Great 
 father of China, behold a wretch, now eighty-five 
 years old, who was fhu-t up in a dungeon: at the 
 age of twenty-two. I was imprifonad, though a 
 ftranger to crime, or without being even con- 
 fronted by my accufers. I have now lived in foli- 
 tude and darknefs for mere than fifty years, and 
 am grown familiar with diftrefs. As yet dazzled 
 with the fplendour of that fun to which you have 
 rellored me, I have been wandering the ilreets, to 
 find fome friend that would affift, or relieve, or 
 remember me ; but my friends, my family, and 
 relations, are all dead, and I am forgotten. Per- 
 mit me, then, O Chinvang, to wear out the wretch- 
 ed remains of life in my former prifon : the walls 
 of my dungeon are to me more pleafmg than the 
 moft fplendid palace ; I have not long to live, and 
 mail be unhappy except I fpend the reft of my days 
 where my youth was pa/Ted ; in that prifon from 
 whence you were pleafed to releafe me*" 
 
 The old man's pafiion for confinement is fimilar 
 to that we all have for life. We are habituated to 
 the prifon, we look round with difcontent, are 
 difpleafed with the abode, and yet the length of 
 our captivity only increafes our fondnefs for the 
 cell. The trees we have planted, the houfes we 
 have built, or the poilerity we have begotten, all 
 
 ferv.e^
 
 loo THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 ferve to bind us clofer to earth, and embitter our 
 parting. Life fues the young like a new acquaint- 
 ance ; the companion, as yet unexhaufted, is at 
 ence inftruclive and amufing ; its company pieafes ; 
 yet, for all this, it is but little regarded. To us, 
 who are declined in years, life appears like an old 
 friend ; its jefts have been anticipated in former 
 converfaticn ; it has no new flory to make us fmile, 
 ao new improvement with which to furprife ; yet. 
 ftill we love it ; dertitute of every agreement, ftill 
 we love it ; hulband the wafting treafure with in- 
 creafed frugality, and feel all the poignancy of 
 in the fatal fep&raueu. 
 
 ESSAY 1, 
 
 DRESS. 
 
 DRESS has a mechanical influence upon the- 
 mind, and we naturally are awed into refpefit and 
 efteem at the elegance of thofe whom even our 
 recfon would teach us to contemn. 
 
 LIFE OF NASH, p. II. 
 
 E F ER O N T E R Y. 
 
 HOW many little things do we fee, without 
 merit, or without friends, pufh themfelves forward 
 into public notice, and, by felf-advertifmg, attract 
 the attention of the day ! The wife defpife them ; 
 but the public axe not all wife- Thus they fuc*
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 107 
 
 ceed, rife upon the wing of folly, or of fafliion, 
 and by their fuccefs give a new fanclion to effron- 
 tery. 
 
 LIFE OF N A3 H, p. 14. 
 
 SYMPATHETIC SINCERITY. 
 THE low and timid are ever fufpicious ; but a 
 heart imprefTed with honourable fentiments, ex- 
 pedls from others fympathetic fincerity. 
 
 LIFE OF NASH, p. 72. 
 
 FAVOUR. 
 
 THERE are fome who, born without any mare 
 of fenfibility, receive favour after favour, and ftill 
 cringe for more; who accept the offer of genero- 
 fity with as little reluctance as the wages of merit, 
 and even make thanks for paft benefits an indirccl 
 petition for new. Such, I grant, can fuffer no 
 debafement from dependance, fmce they were ori- 
 ginally as vile as was poffible to be. Dependance 
 degrades only the ingenuous, but leaves the fordid 
 mind in priiline meannefs. In this manner, there- 
 fore,, long-continued generofity is miiplaced, or it 
 is injurious ; it either finds a man worthlefs, or it 
 makes him fo ; and true it is, that the perfon who 
 is contented to be often obliged, ought not to have 
 been obliged at all. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 143. 
 
 BENE-
 
 io8 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 BENEFACTION AND ACKNOWLEDGE- 
 MENT. 
 
 BENEFACTION and acknowledgement are often 
 injurious even to the giver as well as the receiver ; 
 a man can gain tut little knowledge of himfelf, 
 or of the world, amidft a circle of thofe whom 
 hope or gratitude has gathered round him ; their 
 unceafing humiliations muft neceflarily increafe his 
 comparative magnitude, for all men meafure their 
 own abilities by thofe of their company : thus be- 
 ing taught to over-rate his merit, he in reality 
 leilens it ; increafmg in confidence, but not in 
 power, his profeffions end in empty boaft, his un- 
 dertakings in fhameful difappointment. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 144. 
 
 ACCIDENTAL MEETINGS. 
 ACCIDENTAL meetings, though they happen 
 every day, feldom excite our furprife but upon 
 fome extraordinary occafion. To what a fortuitous 
 concurrence do we not owe every pleafure and 
 convenience of our lives ! How many feeming ac- 
 cidents muft unite, before we can be cloathed or 
 fed ! The peafant muft be difpofed to labour, the 
 ihower muft fall, the wind fill the merchant's fail, 
 or numbers muft want the ufual fupply. 
 
 VIC, OF WAKEFIELD, V. 2. p. 121. 
 
 TIDINGS,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH- 109 
 
 TIDINGS. 
 
 THE diftant founds of mufic, that catch new 
 fweetnefs as they vibrate through the long-drawn 
 valley, are not more pleafmg to the ear, than the 
 tidings of a far-diftant friend. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 242. 
 
 GENEROSITY. 
 
 FEW virtues have been more praifed by mor.a- 
 lifts, than generofity ; every 'practical tr-~ti:e of 
 ethics tends to increafe our fenfibility of the di- 
 ftreffes of others, and to relax the grafp of i\ u 
 lity. Philofophers that are poor, praife it been 1 /.'-' 
 they are gainers by its effects ; and the opulen". 
 Seneca himfelf has written a treatife on benefits, 
 though he was known to give nothing away. 
 
 IBID. v. 2. p. 141. 
 
 PLEASING EXPECTATION. 
 IT has been a thoufand times obierved, and I 
 muft obferve it once more, that the hours we pais 
 with happy profpecls in view, are more p'eafiri;; 
 than thofe crowned with fruition. Tn :he j.r . 
 we cook the difh to our own appeu.c ; in t' 
 ter, nature cooks it for us. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. I. p. 193, 
 
 L JUDG-
 
 i:o THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 JUDGMENT OF HUMAN NATURE. 
 
 THE Englijh are a people of good-fenfe ; and 
 I am the more furprifed to find them fwayed, in 
 their opinions, by men who often, from their very 
 education, are incompetent judges. Men who, bein'.j 
 always bred in affluence, fee the world only on 
 one iicie, are furely improper judges of human 
 nature : they may, indeed, defcribe a ceremony, 
 a pageant, or a ball ; but how can they pretend 
 to dive into the fecrets of the human heart, who 
 have been nurfed up only in forms, and daily be- 
 hold nothing but the fame infipid adulation fmiling 
 upon every face ? Few of them have been bred in 
 that beft of fchools, the fchool of adverfity ; and, 
 ijy what I can learn, fewer ftill have been bred in 
 any fchool at all. 
 
 -CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 247. 
 
 LOVE OF C OU N T R Y. 
 THERE are no pleafures, fenfual or fentimen- 
 tal, which this city* does not produce; yet, I 
 know not how, I could not be content to refide 
 here for life. There is fomething fo feducing in 
 that fpot in which we firft had exiftence, that no- 
 thing but it can pleafe : whatever viciffitudes we 
 experience in life, however we toil, or wherefoever 
 we wander, our fatigued wifhes ftill recur to home 
 for tranquillity j we long to die in that fpot which 
 
 gave
 
 THE BEAUTIES OP GOLDSMITH,. M* 
 srave us birth, and in that pleafing expectation, 
 opiate every calamity. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 153.. 
 
 DR. PRIMROSE'S ADDRESS TO HIS PEL- 
 LOW-PRISONERS. 
 
 THE EQjrAI, DEALINGS OF PROVIDENCE DE- 
 MONSTRATED WITH REC7ARD TO THE HAP- 
 TY AND THE MISERABLE HERE BELOW. 
 THAT FROM THE NATURE OF PLEASURE A N I> 
 P-A I N , THE WRETCHED MUST BE REPAID 
 THE BALANCE OF THEIR SUFFERINGS IN 
 THE LIFE HEREAFTER. 
 
 IV1 Y friends, my children, and fellow-fufferers, 
 ; whcn I reflect on the diftribution of good and 
 evil here below, I find that much has been given 
 man to enjoy, yet ftill more to fuffer. Though 
 we mould examine the whole world, we mall not 
 find one man fo happy as to have nothing left to 
 wiih for ; but we daily fee thoufands, who, by fui- 
 cide, mew us they have nothing left to hope. In 
 this life, then, it appears that we cannot be en- 
 tirely bleft i but yet we may be completely mife- 
 rable ! 
 
 Why man mould thus feel pain ; why our 
 wretchednefs mould be requifite in the formation 
 of univerfal felicity ; why, when all other fyllems 
 are made perfect only by the perfection of their 
 fubordinate parts, the great fyftem Ihould require 
 L.2 for.
 
 ii2 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 for its perfection, parts that are not only fubordi- 
 nate to others, but imperfeft in themfelves ! 
 Thefc are queftions that never can be explained, 
 and might be ufelefs if known. On this fubjeft, 
 Providence has thought fit to elude our curiofity, 
 fatisfied with granting us motives to confolation. 
 
 In this fituation, man has called in the friendly 
 affiftance of Philofophy ; and Heaven, feeing the 
 incapacity of that to confole him, has given him 
 the aid of Pveligion. The confolations of Philofo- 
 phy are very amufing, but often fallacious. It 
 tells us, that life is filled with comforts, if we will 
 but enjoy them ; and, on the other hand, that 
 though we unavoidably have miferies here, life is 
 is Ihort, and they will foon be over. Thus do 
 thefe ccnfolations deftroy each other ; for if life is 
 a place of comfort, its fhortnefs muft be mifery ; 
 and, if it be long, our griefs are protradled. Thus 
 pKilcfophy is weak ; but religion comforts in ah 
 higher ftrain, Man is here, it tells us, fitting up 
 his mind, and preparing it for another abode. 
 When the good man leaves the body, and is all a 
 glorious mind, he will find he has been making him- 
 felf a heaven of happinefs here ; while the wretch 
 that has been maimed and contaminated by his vices, 
 fhrinks from his body with terror, and finds that 
 he has anticipated the vengeance of Heaven. To 
 Religion, then, we muft hold, in every circum- 
 flance of life, for our trueit comfort; for, if al- 
 ready we are happy, it is a pleafure to think that 
 
 we
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. ii 3 ; 
 \ve can make that happinefs unending; and, if 
 we are miferable, it is very confoling to think that 
 there is a place of reft. Thus, to the fortunate. 
 Religion holds out a continuance o blifs ; to thu 
 wretched, a change from pain. 
 
 But, though Religion is very kind to all men, 
 it has promifed peculiar reward to the unhappy; 
 the fick, the naked, the houfelefs, the heavy-laden, 
 and the prifoner, have ever moft frequent pro- 
 mifes in our facred law. The Author of our Re- 
 ligion every where profeffes himfelf the wretch's 
 friend ; and, unlike the falfe ones of this world, 
 beftows all his carefTes upon the forlorn. The un- 
 thinking have cenfured this as a partiality, as a 
 preference without merit to deferve it ; but they 
 never reflect, that it is not in the power even of 
 Heaven itfelf to make the offer cf unceafing feli- 
 city as great a gift to the happy as to the mife- 
 rable. To the firft, eternity is but a fingle blefT- 
 ing, fmce, at moil, it but increafes what they al- 
 ready poffefs. To the latter it is a double advan- 
 tage ; for it diminishes their pain here, and re- 
 wards them with heavenly blifs hereafter. 
 
 But Providence is in another refpel kinder to 
 the poor than the rich ; for, as it thus makes the 
 life after death more defirable, fo it fmooths the paf- 
 fage there. The wretched have long familiarity 
 with every face of terror. The man of forrows 
 L 3 lays,
 
 1 1 4 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 lays himfelf quietly down ; he has .no poffemons to 
 regret, and but few ties to flop his departure : he 
 feels only Nature's pang in the final feparation, 
 and this is no way greater than he has often faint- 
 ed under before ; for, after a certain degree of 
 pain, every new breach that death opens in the 
 con.litution, nature kindly covers with infenfi- 
 bility. 
 
 Thus Providence has given the wretched two 
 advantages over the happy in this life, greater fe* 
 licity in dying, and, in Heaven, all the fuperiority 
 of pleafure which arifes from contrafted enjoyment. 
 And this fuperiority, my friends, is no fmall ad- 
 vantage, and feems to be one of the pleafures of 
 the poor man in the parable ; for, though he was 
 already in Heaven, and felt all the raptures it 
 could give, yet it was mentioned as an audition 
 to his happinefs, that he had once been wretched, 
 -and now was comforted ; that he had known what 
 it was to be miferable, and now felt what it was 
 to be happy. 
 
 Thus, my friends, you fee Religion does what 
 Philofophy could never 'do : it mews the equal 
 dealings of Heaven to the happy and the -unhap- 
 py, and levels all human enjoyments to nearly the 
 fame ftandard. It gives to both rich and poor the 
 fame happinefs hereafter, and equal hopes to 
 afpire after it ; but if the rich have the' advantage 
 cf enjoying pleafure here, the poor have the end- 
 
 lefs
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 115 
 lefs fatisfa&ion of knowing what it was once to 
 be miferable, when' crowned with endlefs feli- 
 city hereafter ; and even though this mould be 
 called a fmall advantage, yet, being an eternal 
 one, it muft make up, by duration, what the 
 temporal happinefs of the great may have exceeded 
 by intenfenefs. 
 
 Thefe are, therefore, the confolations which 
 the wretched have peculiar to themfelves, and in 
 which they are above the reft of mankind ; in 
 other refpects they are below them. They who 
 would know the miferies of the poor, muft fee Jife 
 and endure it. To declaim on the temporal ad- 
 vantages they enjoy, is only repeating what none 
 either believe or praftife. The men who have the 
 necefTaries of living are not poor, and they who 
 want them muft be miferable. Yes, my friends, 
 we muft be miferable. No vain efforts of a re- 
 fined imagination can foothe the wants of nature, 
 can give elaftic fweetnefs to the dank vapour of a 
 dungeon, or eafe to the throbbings of a woe- worn 
 heart. Let the Philofopher from his couch of 
 foftnefs tell us that we can refift all thefe. Alas ! 
 the effort by which we refift them is ftill the 
 greateft pain ! Death is flight, and any man may 
 fuftain it ; but torments are dreadful, and thefe 
 no man can endure. 
 
 To us, then, my friends, the promifes of hap- 
 pinefs in Heaven mould be peculiarly dear j for if
 
 n6 THE KEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH*. 
 
 ur reward be in this life alone, we are then, in- 
 deed, of all men the moft miferable. When I 
 look round thefe gloomy walls, made to terrify, as 
 well as to confine us ; this light that only ferves 
 to mew the horrors of the place, thofe fhaekles 
 that tyranny has impofed, or crime made necef- 
 fary ; when I furvey thefe emaciated looks, and 
 hear thofe groans, O my friends, what a glo- 
 rious exchange would Heaven be for thefe ! To 
 fly through regions unconfined as air ; to baflt 
 in the fnnftiine of eternal blifs ; to carol over 
 endlefs hymns of praife ; to have no mafter to 
 threaten or info-It us, but the form of Goodnefs 
 himfelf for ever in our eyes ; when I think of thefe 
 things, Death becomes the mefTersger of very glad 
 tidings ; when I think of thefe things, his {harp- 
 eft arrow becomes the ftaff of my fupport ; when 
 I think of thefe things, what is there in life 
 worth having? when I think of thefe things, 
 what is there that {he aid not be fpurned away ? 
 Kings in their palaces fhould groan for fuch ad- 
 vantages ; but we, humbled as we are, mould 
 yearn for them. 
 
 And faall thefe things be ours ? Ours they will 
 certainly be, if we but try for them ; and, what 
 is a comfort, we are mat op from many tempta- 
 tions that would retard our purfuit. Only let us 
 try for them, and they will certainly be ours, and, 
 what is iiill a comfort, fhortly too ; for, if we 
 look back on part life, it appears but a very ftiort 
 fpan ; and, whatever we may think of the ieil of 
 
 life,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 117 
 life, it will yet be found of lefs duration : as we 
 grow older, the days feem to grow ihorter, and our 
 intimacy with time ever leifens the perception of his 
 ftay. Then let us take comfort now, for we mail 
 foon be at our journey's end ; we (hall foon lay 
 down the heavy burthen laid by Heaven upon us ; 
 and though Death, the only friend of the wretched, 
 for a little while mocks the weary traveller with the 
 view, and, like his horizon, ftill flies before him j yet 
 the time will certainly and fhortly come, when we 
 mall ceafe from our toil ; when the luxurious great 
 ones of the world mall no more tread us to the 
 earth ; when we mall think with pleafure on our 
 fufferings below ; when we mall be furrounded 
 with all our friends, or fuch as deferved our friend- 
 mip ; when our blifs mail be unutterable, and 
 {till, to crown all, unending. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. 2. p. O^ k 
 
 PARTY. 
 
 PARTY entirely diftcrts the judgment, and 
 deilroys the tafte. When the mind is once in- 
 fected with this difeafe, it can only find pleafure 
 in what contributes to increafe the diftemper. 
 Like the tiger, that feldom defifts from purfuing 
 man after having once preyed upon human flem., 
 the Reader, who has once gratified his appetite 
 v.'ith calumny, makes, ever after, the moll agree- 
 able feaft upon murdered reputation. Such Read' 
 
 era
 
 riS THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 ers generally admire fome hair-win.-! thing, who- 
 wants to be thought bold man, having loft the 
 chara&er of a wile one. Him they dignify with 
 the name of Poet ; his tawdry lampoons are called 
 fatires ; his turbulence, is feid to be force, and his 
 fhrenzy fire. 
 
 DEDICATION TO THE TRAVELLER, ? 7- 
 
 RETIREMENT." 
 
 C/BIelt Retirement ! friend to life's decline,. 
 Retreats from care that never mull be mine, 
 How happy he who crowns, in {hades like theft',, 
 A youth of labour with an age of eafe ; 
 Who quits a world where ftrong temptations try,. 
 And, fince 'tis hard to combat, learns to fly ! 
 For him no wretches, born to work and weep, 
 Explore the mine, or tempt the dang'rous deep ;.- 
 No furly porter ftands, in guilty ftate, 
 To fpurn imploring famine from the gate ; 
 But on he moves to meet his latter end, 
 Angels around befriending Virtue's friend ; 
 Bends to the grave with unperceiv'd decay, 
 While refignation gently flopes the way ; 
 And all his profpefts bright'ning to the laft, 
 His Heaven commences ere the world be part ! 
 
 DESERTED VILLAGE, p. 6>. 
 
 RIDI-
 
 THE BEAUTIES o'? GOLDSMITH. 119 
 
 RIDICULE. 
 
 RIDICULE has ever been the moft powerful 
 enemy of enthufiafm, and properly the only anta- 
 gonifL that can be oppofed to it with fuccefs. Per- 
 fecution only ferves to propagate new religions ; 
 they acquire frefh vigour beneath the executioner 
 and the ax, and, like fome vivacious infefts, multi- 
 ply by direction. It is alfo impoflible to combat 
 enthufiafm with reafon ; for, though it makes a 
 fnew of refinance, it foon eludes the pre/Ture, re- 
 fers you to distinctions not to be underftood, and 
 feelings which it cannot explain. A man who 
 would endeavour to fix an enthufiaft by argument, 
 might as v/eil attempt to fpread quickfilver with 
 hi;, fingers. The only way to conquer a vifionary 
 is to defpile him ; the ftake, the faggot, and the 
 difputing Doctor, in fome meafure ennoble the 
 opinions they are brought to oppofe ; they are? 
 hai mlefs againft innovating pride ; contempt alone 
 io truly dreadful. Hunters generally know the moft 
 vulnerable part of the beafts they purfue, by the 
 care which every animal takes to defend the fide 
 which is weakeft : on what fide the enthufiaft is 
 moft vulnerable, may be known by the care which 
 he takes in the beginning to work his difciples 
 into gravity, and guard them againft the power 
 of ridicule. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 185. 
 
 INTE-
 
 120 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 INTEGRITY. 
 
 BOTH wit and underftanding are trifles, with- 
 out integrity ; it is that which gives value to every 
 character. The ignorant peafant, without fault, 
 Is greater than the philofopher with many ; for 
 v/hat is genius or courage without an heart ? 
 
 VIC. OF WAK.EFIELD, V. I. p. 158. 
 
 STORY OF COLONEL M 
 
 the conclufion of the treaty of peace at 
 Utrecht, Col. M - was one of the thoughtlefs, 
 agreeable, gay creatures, that drew the attention 
 of the company at Bath. He danced and talked 
 with great vivacity ; and when he gamed among 
 the ladies, he fhewed, that his attention was em- 
 ployed rather upon their hearts than their fortunes. 
 His own fortune, however, was a trifle, when com- 
 pared to the elegance of his expence ; and his im- 
 prudence at laft was fo grfeat, that it obliged him 
 to fell an annuity, arifing from his commiffion, to 
 keep up his fplendour a little longer. 
 
 However thoughtlefs he might be, he had the 
 happinc-fs of gaining the affections of Mifs L - , 
 whofe father defigned her a very large fortune. 
 This lady was courted by a nobleman of diftinc 
 tion ; but me refufed his addrefles, refolved upon 
 gratifying rather her inclinations than her avarice. 
 
 The
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 121 
 
 The intrigue went on fuccefsfully between her and 
 the Colonel, and they both would certainly have 
 been married, and been undone, had not Mr. Najh 
 apprifed her father of their intentions, The old 
 gentleman recalled his daughter from Bath, and 
 offered Mr. Najh a very considerable prefent, for 
 the care he had taken, which he refufed. 
 
 In the mean time, Col. M had an intima- 
 tion how his intrigue came to be difcovered ; and 
 by taxing Mr. Najb, found that his fufpicions were 
 not without foundation. A challenge was the im- 
 mediate confequence; which the King of Bath, 
 confcious of having only done his duty, thought 
 proper to decline. As none are permitted to wear 
 fwords at Bath, the Colonel found no opportunity 
 of gratifying his refentment, and waited with im- 
 patience to find Mr. Najh in town, to require 
 proper fatisfaclion. 
 
 During this interval, however, he found his 
 creditors became too importunate for him to re- 
 main longer at Bath ; and his finances and credit 
 being quite exhauited, he took the defperate refo- 
 lution of going over to the Dutch army in Flanders, 
 where he enlifted himfelf a volunteer. Here he 
 underwent all the fatigues of a private centind, 
 with the additional mifery of receiving no pay ; 
 and his friends in England gave out, that he was 
 mot at the battle of . 
 
 M In
 
 122 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH- 
 
 In the mean time, the nobleman prefTed his pnf- 
 fion with ardour ; but, during the progrefs of his 
 amour, the young lady's father died, and left her 
 heirefs to a fortune of fifteen hundred a year. She 
 thought herfelf now difengaged from her former 
 paffion. An abfence of two years had in fome 
 meafure abated her love for the Colonel ; and the 
 affiduity, the merit, and real regard, of the gen- 
 tleman who ftill continued to folicit her, were al- 
 moft too powerful for her conftancy. Mr. Najb, 
 in the mean time, took every opportunity of en- 
 quiring after Col. M , and found that he had 
 
 for fome time been returned to England, but 
 changed his name, in order to avoid the fury of 
 his creditors ; and that he was entered into a com- 
 pany of ilrolling players, who were at that time 
 exhibiting at Peterborough. 
 
 He now therefore thought he owed the Colonel, 
 in juftice, an opportunity of promoting his for- 
 tune, as he had once deprived him of an occalion 
 of fatisfying his love. Our Beau, therefore, in- 
 vited the lady to be of a party to Peterborough, 
 and offered his own equipage, which was then one 
 of the moft elegant in England, to conduct her 
 there. The propofal being accepted, the lady, 
 the nobleman, and Mr. Najb, arrived in town juft 
 as the players were going to begin. 
 
 Col. M , who ufed every means of remain- 
 ing incognito, and who was too proud to make his 
 
 diftreffes
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 123 
 
 diitreffes known to any of his former acquaintance, 
 was now degraded into the character of Tom in 
 
 the Confcious Lovers. Mifs L was placed in 
 
 the foremoil row of the fpeftators, her lord on one 
 fide, and the impatient Na/b on the other, when 
 the unhappy youth appeared in that defpicable fi- 
 tuation upon the ftage. The moment he carne on, 
 his former miftrefs ftruck his view ; but his amaze- 
 ment was increafed, when he faw her fainting 
 away in the arms of thofe who fat behind her. 
 He was incapable of proceeding ; and, fcarce 
 knowing what he did, he fiew and caught her ia 
 his arms. 
 
 " Colonel," cried Najb, when they were in fome 
 meafure recovered, " you once thought me your 
 enemy, becaufe I endeavoured to prevent you both 
 from ruining each other ; you were then wrong, 
 and you have long had my forgivenefs. If you 
 love well enough now for matrimony, you fairly 
 have my confent ; and d n him, fay I, that at- 
 tempts to part you." Their nuptials were fo- 
 lemnifed foon after; and affluence added a zefr to 
 all their future enjoyments. Mr. Najh had the 
 thanks of each ; and he afterwards fpent feveral 
 agreeable days in that fociety wh;cJi he had con- 
 tributed to render happy. 
 
 LIFE OF NASH, p. 79. 
 
 M 2 REVO-
 
 i-24 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 REVOLUTIONS OF LIFE. 
 
 THE world is like a vaft fea, mankind like a 
 veflel failing on its tempeRuous bofcm. Our pru- 
 dence is its fails, the fciences ferve us for oars, 
 good or bad fortune are the favourable or contrary 
 winds, and judgment is the rudder ; without this 
 laft the veffel is toffed by every billow, and will 
 find fhipwreck in eveiy breez,e. In a word, ob 
 fcurity and indigence are the parents of vigilance 
 and ceconomy ; vigilance and ceconomy, of riches 
 and honour ; riches and honour, of pride and luxu- 
 ry ; pride and luxury, of impurity and idlenefb j 
 and impurity and idlenefs again produce indigence 
 and obfeurity. Such are the revolutions of life. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 80. 
 
 MISERIES OF GENIUS IN VARIOUS AGES, 
 AND HER HAPPINESS IN THIS. 
 
 1 HE character of a poet is in every country 
 the fame ; fond of enjoying the prefent, carelefs 
 cf the future ; his converfation that of a man of 
 fenfe, his aftions thofe of a fool ! Of fortitude 
 able to Hand unmoved at the burfting of an earth- 
 quake, yet of fenfibility to be affedled by the 
 breaking of a tea-cup. Such is his character ; 
 which, considered in every light, is the very oppo- 
 fite of that which leads to riches. 
 
 The
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 12; 
 
 The poets of the Weft are as remarkable for 
 their indigence as their genius ; and yet, among 
 the numerous hofpitals defigned to relieve the poor, 
 ! have heard of but one creeled for the benefit of 
 decoyed authors. This was founded by Pope Urban 
 VIII. and called the retreat of the incurables; 
 intimating,, that it was .equally impoffiblp to re- 
 claim the patients, who fued for reception, from 
 poverty, or from poetry. To be fincere ; were I 
 to fend you an account of the lives of the Weftern 
 poets, either ancient or modern, I fancy you would 
 think me employed in collecting materials for an 
 .hiftory of human wretchednefs. 
 
 Homer is the firft poet and beggar of note among 
 the ancients ; he was blind, and fung his ballads 
 about the ftreets ; but it is obferved, that his mouth 
 was more frequently rilled with verfes than with 
 bread. Plautus, the comic poet, was better off; 
 he had two trades, he was a poet for his diverfion, 
 and helped to turn a mill in order to gain a liveli- 
 hood. Terence was a flave, and Eoethius died in 
 a. jail. 
 
 Among the Italians, Paulo Borgbefe, almoft as 
 
 good a poet as TaJJo, knew fourteen different trades, 
 
 and yet died becaufe he could get employment in 
 
 none. Taffo himfelf, who had the moft amiable 
 
 character of all poets, has often been obliged to 
 
 borrow a crown from fome friend, in order to pay 
 
 month's fubfiftence. He has left us a pretty 
 
 M 3 fonnet,
 
 J26 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 ibnnet, addreffed to his cat, in which he begs the 
 light of her eyes to write by, being too poor to 
 afford himfelf a candle. But Bentivoglio, poor 
 Bentivoglio ! chiefiy demands our pity. His co- 
 medies will laft with the Italian- language. He 
 diffipated a noble fortune in adls of chanty and 
 benevolence ; but, falling into mifery in his old 
 age, was refufed to be admitted into an hofpitai 
 which he himfelf had erefted. 
 
 In Spain, it is feid, the great Cervantes died of 
 hunger ; and it is certain that the famous Camaens 
 ended his days in an hofpitaL 
 
 If we turn to France, we fhall there find even 
 flronger inftances of the ingratitude of the public. 
 Vaitgelas, one of the politeft writers, and one of 
 the honefteft men, of his time, was furnamed the 
 O-1B/, from his being obliged to keep within all 
 day, and venture out only by night, through fear 
 of his creditors. His laft will is very remarkable : 
 after having bequeathed all his worldly fubftance 
 to the difcharging his debts, he goes on thus : 
 But as there ftill may remain fome creditors un- 
 paid, even after all that" I have mail be difpofed 
 of, in fuch a cafe, it is my laft will, that my body 
 fhould be fold to the furgeons, to the beft advan- 
 tage, and that the purchafe fhould go to the dif- 
 charging thofe debts which I owe to fociety ; fo 
 that, if I could not while living, at leafc when 
 dead, I may be ufeful. 
 
 Cn/ande?
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 127 
 
 Caffander was one of the greateft geniuses of his 
 time ; yet all his merit could not procure him a 
 bare fubfiftence. Being by degrees driven into an 
 hatred of all mankind, from the little pity he found 
 amongft them, he even ventured at laft ungrate- 
 fully to impute his calamities to Providence. In 
 his laft agonies, when the prieft intreated him to 
 rely on the juftice of heaven, and afk mercy from 
 him that made him ; If Gad, replies he, has Jhe*wn 
 me no juftice 'here, tuhat reafon ha<ve I to expefl any 
 from him hereafter? But being anfwered, that a 
 fufpenfion of juftice was no argument that mould 
 induce us to doubt of its reality; let me intreat 
 you, continued his confeflbr, by all that is dear, 
 to be reconciled to God, your father, your maker, 
 and friend. No, replied the exafperated wretch, 
 you know the manner in which he left me to li<ve ; 
 (and pointing to the ftraw on which he was ftretched) 
 end you fee the manner in which be leai'ss me to die ! 
 
 But the fufferi'ngs of the poet in other countries 
 is nothing when compared to his diftreiTes here : 
 the names of Spenfer and Otiuay, Butler and Dry- 
 den, are every day mentioned ss a national re- 
 proach ; fome of them lived in a ftate of precarious 
 indigence, and others literally died of hunger. 
 
 At prefent, the few poets in England no longer 
 depend on the Great for fubfiftence ; they have 
 now no other patrons but the public ; and the 
 public, collectively confidered, is a good and a 
 
 generous
 
 X28 THE BEAUTIES OF GTOLDSMITH, 
 
 generous niafter. It is, indeed, too frequently 
 miftaken as to the merits of every candidate for 
 favour j but, to make amends, it is never roiitaken 
 l6ng. A performance, in-deed, may be forced for 
 a time into reputation ; but, deftitute of real me- 
 rit, it foon finks : time, the touchftone of what is 
 truly valuable, will foon difcover the fraud ; and 
 an author mould never arrogate to himfelf any 
 fhare of fuccefs, till his works have been read at 
 leaft ten years with fatisfcclion. 
 
 A man of letters, at prefent, \vhofe works p.re 
 valuable, is perfe&ly fenfible of their value. Every 
 polite member of the community, by buying wh?.t 
 he writes, contributes to reward him. The ridi- 
 cule, therefore, of living in a garret, might have 
 been wit in the laft age, but continues fuch no 
 longer, becaufe no longer true. A writer of real 
 merit, now, may eaiily he rich, if his heart be fet 
 only on fortune : and fcr thofe who have no merit, 
 it is but fit that fach mould remain in merited ob- 
 fcurity. He may now refufe an invitation to din- 
 ner, without fearing to incur his patron's difplea- 
 fur?, or to ftarve by remaining at home. Ke may 
 now venture to appear in company with juft fuch 
 clothes as other men generally wear, and talk, 
 even to princes, with all the confcious fuperiority 
 of wifdom. Though he cannot bo;-:f: cf fortune 
 here, yet he can bravely ailVrt the dignity of in- 
 dependence. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD , V. 2. p. 8l. 
 
 DISSEM-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 129. 
 
 DISSEMBLING. 
 
 KNOWLEDGE, wifdom, erudition, arts, and 
 elegance, what are they, but the mere trappings, 
 of the mind, if they do not ferve to increafe the 
 happinefs of the pofleflbr ? A mind rightly infti- 
 tuted in the fchool of philofophy, acquires at once 
 the lability of the oak, and the flexibility of the 
 ofier. The trueft manner of leffening our agonies,, 
 is to mrink from their preflure, is to confefs that 
 we feel them. 
 
 The fortitude of fages is but a dream ; for where 
 lies the merit in being infenfiblc to the ftrokes of 
 fortune, or in diflembling our fenfibility ? If we 
 are infenfible, that arifes only from an happy con- 
 ftitution ; that is a blefling previoufly granted by 
 heaven, and which no art can procure, no inftitu- 
 tionsimprove. If we diffemble our feelings, we 
 w^j^rtificially endeavour to perfuade others that 
 jniBve enjoy privileges which we actually do not pof- 
 fefs. Thus, while we endeavour to appear happy, 
 we feel at once all the pangs of internal mifery,. 
 and all the felf-reproaching confcioufnefs of en- 
 deavouring to deceive. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 2O2. 
 
 THE PASSIONS. 
 
 PHILOSOPHERS have long declaimed againfl 
 the paffions, as being the fourcc of all our mife-
 
 rso THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 ties. They are the fource of all our misfortunes* 
 I own; but they are the fource of our pleafures- 
 too : and every endeavour of our lives, and all the 
 infti.tutions of philofophy, mould tend to this, 
 not to difiemble an abfence of paflion, but to repel 
 thofe which lead to vice by thofe which direct to 
 virtue. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 2O3 
 
 THE SOUL. 
 
 THE foul may be compared to a field of battle,, 
 where two armies are ready every moment to en- 
 counter j not a Jingle vice but has a more power- 
 ful opponent, and not one virtue but may be over- 
 borne by a combination of vices. Reafon guides 
 the bands of either hoft, nor can it fubdue one 
 paflion but by the affiilance of another. Thus, as 
 a bark, on every fide bcfet with ftorms, enjoys a 
 ftate of reft ; fo does the mind, when influenced 
 by a juft equipoife of the paffions, enjoy tran- 
 quillity. 
 
 IBID. 
 
 LOVE. 
 
 WHETHER love be natural or no, it cont?i- 
 butes to the happinefs of every fociety into which 
 it is introduced. All our pleafures arc ftiort, and 
 can only charm at intervals : love is a method of 
 protracting our greateft pleafure ; and furely that 
 gamefter, who plays the greateft Hake to the beft 
 advantage, will, at ths end of life, rife vi&crious. 
 
 This
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 151 
 
 This v/as the opinion'of Vanini , who affirmed that 
 every hour ivas loft ivhicb was not fycnt in love. 
 His accufers were unable to comprehend his mean- 
 ing ; and the poor advocate for love was burned in 
 flames, alas ! no way metaphorical. But w!v fvcr 
 advantages the individual may reap from tii. pd- 
 fion, fociety will certainly be refined and improved 
 by its introduction : all laws calculated to difcou- 
 rage it, tend to embrute the fpecies, and weaken 
 the ilate. Though it cannot plant morals in the 
 human breaft, it cultivates them when there : pity,, 
 generofity, and honour, receive a brighter polifh 
 from its affiftance j and a fingle amour is fufficicnt 
 entirely to brufh off the clown. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 207 
 
 The fame efforts that are ufed in fome places to 
 fupprefs pity and other natural paffions, may have 
 been employed to extinguifh love. No nation,' 
 however unpolifhed, is remarkable for innocence, 
 that is not famous for that paffion : it has flourifhed 
 in the coldeft, as well as the warmeft regions. Even 
 in the fultry wilds of Southern America, the lover 
 is not fatisfied with pofTeffing his miftrefs's perfoa 
 without having her mind. 
 
 In all my Enna'j beauties bleft, 
 Amidft profufeon ft ill I pine ; 
 
 For tbo' foe gives me up her breaft, 
 Its panting tenant is not mine*. 
 
 But 
 
 * Tranjlation of a South -American 0<&.
 
 1 3 2 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 But the effects of love are too violent to be the 
 refult of an artificial paffion ; nor is it in the power 
 of fafhion to force the conftitution into thofe 
 changes which we every day obferve. Several 
 have died of it. Few lovers are unacquainted 
 with the fate of the two Italian lovers, Da Cor/in 
 and Julia Bellamano, who, after a long feparation, 
 expired with pieafure in each other's arms. Such 
 inftances are too ftrong confirmations of the reality 
 x>f the paffion, and ferve to (hew that fupprefling 
 it is but oppofmg the natural dictates of the heart. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 209. 
 
 ERROR. 
 
 FOR the firft time, the very belt may err; art 
 may perfuade, and novelty fpread out its charm. 
 The firft fault is the child of Simplicity ; but ever^c 
 other, the offspring of Guilt. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. I. p. 192. 
 
 VIRTUE. 
 
 IN a polifhed fociety, that man, though in rags, 
 who has the power of enforcing virtue from the 
 prefs, is of more real ufe than forty ftupid brach- 
 mans or bonzes, or guebres, though they preached 
 never fo often, never fo loud, or never fo long. 
 That man, though in rags, who is capable of de- 
 ceiving even indolence into wifdom, and who pro- 
 fefles amufement while he aims at reformation, is 
 more ufeful in refined fociety than twenty cardi- 
 nals,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 133. 
 nals with all their fcarlet, and tricked out in all 
 the fopperies of fcholaftk finery. 
 
 IBID. V. I. p. 249. 
 
 OSTEN'TATION. 
 
 INSTEAD of regarding the great with env}% 
 I generally confider them with fome fhare of com- 
 paffion. I look upon them as a fet of gpod-na- 
 tured mifguided people, who are indebted to us, 
 and not to themfelves, for all the happinefs they 
 enjoy. For our pleafure, and not their own, they 
 fweat under a cumbcrous heap of finery ; for our 
 pleafure the lacquied train, the flow parading pa- 
 geant, with all the gravity of grandeur, moves in 
 review ; a Angle coat, or a fingle footman, an- 
 Twers all the purpofes of the molt indolent refine- 
 ment as well ; and thofe who have twenty, may 
 be faid to keep one for their own pleafure, and 
 the other nineteen merely for ours. So true is the" 
 obfervation of Confucius, That ice take greater 
 pains to perfuade others that -icf are happy, than in 
 vndea c vourln& to think Jo ourfelves. 
 
 IBID. v. I. p. 281. 
 
 PLEASURE. 
 
 THE enthufiafm of pleafure charms only by 
 intervals. The highefl rapture lails only for a 
 moment, and all the fcnfes feem fo combined, as 
 to be foon tired into languor by the gratilication 
 of any one of them. It is only among the Poets 
 N we
 
 -134 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 %ve hear of men changing to one delight, when 
 fatiated with another. In nature, it is very dif- 
 ferent ; the glutton, when fated with the full 
 meal, is unqualified to feel the real pleafure of 
 drinking ; the drunkard, in turn, finds few of thofe 
 tranfports which lovers boaft in enjoyment ; and 
 the lover, when cloyed, finds a diminution of every 
 other appetite. Thus, after a full indulgence of 
 any one fenfe, the man of pleafure finds a lan- 
 guor in all, is placed in a chafm between part and 
 evpedled enjoyment, perceives an interval which 
 . mull be filled up. The prefent can give no fatis- 
 f action, becaufe he has already robbed it of every 
 charm. A mind thus left without immediate em- 
 ployment, naturally recurs to the paft or the fu- 
 ture : the refleftor finds that he was happy, and 
 knows that he cannot be fo now; he fees that he 
 may yet be happy, and wifhes the hour was come : 
 thus every period of his continuance is mifer?.ble, 
 except that very fhort one of immediate gratifica- 
 tioa. Inftead of a life of difiipation, none has 
 more frequent converfations with difagreeable felf 
 than he: his enthufiafms are but few and tran- 
 fient ; his appetites, like angry creditors, conti- 
 nually making fruitlefs demands for what he is 
 unable to pay ; and the greater his former plea- 
 fure, the more ftrong his regret, the more impa- 
 tient his expectations. A life of pleafure is, there- 
 fore, the moft unpleafmg life in the world. 
 
 Habit
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 135 
 Habit has rendered the man of bufmefs more 
 cool in his defires ; he finds Icfs regret for pafl 
 pleafures, and lefs folicitude for thofe to come. 
 The life he now leads, though tainted in fome 
 ineafure with hcpe, is yet not aifticled fo flrongly 
 with rec f, : i -: divided between fhort- 
 
 lived raj . anguifh. The pleafures 
 
 he has enjoyed are not fo vivid, and thofe he has 
 to expecl cannot confeq^uently create fo much 
 anxiety. 
 
 The philofopher, who extends his regard to all 
 mankind, mult have ftill a fmaller concern for 
 what has already arlecled, or may hereafter affect 
 himfelf ; the concerns of others make his whole 
 ftudy, and that ftudy is his pleafure ; and this 
 pleafure is continuing in its nature, becaufe it can 
 be changed at will, leaving but few of thefe anxi- 
 ous intervals which are employed in remembrance 
 or anticipation. The phiiofopher, by this mean?, 
 leads a life of almoft continued diffipaticn ; and 
 reflexion, which makes the uneafmcfs and mifejy 
 of others, ferves as a companion and inilruclor to 
 him. 
 
 In a word, pofitive happinefs is eonftituticnal, 
 tnd incapable of increr.fe ; mifery is artificial, and 
 generally proceeds from our folly. Philofophy 
 can r.dd to our happinefs in no ether manner, but 
 by ciinini filing our rnifcrv : it fneuld not pretend 
 to increafe CUT prefent frock, but make us ceco- 
 N 2 nomifts
 
 136 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 nomifts of what we are poffefied of. The great 
 fource of calamity lies in regret or anticipation : 
 he, therefore, is moft wife, who thinks of ths 
 prefent alone, regarulcfs of the paft or the future. 
 This is impoffible to the man of pleafure ; it is 
 difficult to the man of bufmefs ; and is, in fome 
 meafure, attainable by" the philofopher. Happy 
 were we a!l born philofophers, all born with a 
 talent of thus diifipating our own cares, by fpread- 
 ing them upcn all mankind 1 
 
 IBID. v. i. p. 188. 
 
 STUDY. 
 
 KE who has begun his fortune by ftudy, will 
 certainly confirm it by perfeverance. The love of 
 books damps the pafiion fcr pleafure, and, when 
 this pafficn is once extinguifhed, life is then cheap- 
 ly fupported ; thus a man, being poffefied of more 
 thr.n he wants, can never be fubjeft to great difap- 
 pointments, and avoids all thofe meanneffes \vhich 
 indigence fometimes unavoidably produces. 
 
 IBID. Y. 2. p. 7K 
 
 PLEASURES OF STUDY. 
 
 THERE is unfpeakable pleafure attending the 
 life of a voluntary ftudent. The firft time I read 
 an excellent book, it is to me juil as if I had 
 gained a new friend. When I read over a book 
 I h.ive perufed before, it refembles the meeting 
 \\ith an old one. We ought to lay hold cf every 
 
 incident
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. ! 3 ; 
 
 incident in life for improvement, the trifling as * r ell 
 as the important. It is not one diamond aloue 
 which gives luftre to another; a common coarfe 
 iione is alfo employed for that purpofe. Thus I 
 ought to draw advantage from the infults and con- 
 tempt I meet with from a worthlefs fellow. His 
 brutality ought to induce me to felf-examination, 
 and corred every blemiih that may have given 
 rife to his calumny. 
 
 IBID. V. 2. p. 77. 
 
 EARLY DISTASTE TO STUDY NOT TO 
 BE CONQUERED. 
 
 WITH all the pleafures and profits which are 
 generally produced by learning, parents often find 
 it difficult to induce their children to itudy. They 
 often feem dragged to what wears the appearance 
 of application. Thus being dilatory in the begin- 
 ning, all future hopes of eminence are entirely 
 cut off. If they find thcmfelves obliged to write 
 two lines more polite than ordinary, their pen then 
 feems as heavy as a milKftone, and they fpend 
 ten years in turning two or three periods with, 
 propriety. . 
 
 Thefe perfons are moft at a lofs when a banquet 
 is almoft over ; the plate and the dice go iDund^ 
 that the number of little verfes which each is 
 obliged to repeat, may be determined by chance. 
 Tjie booby, when it comes to. his turn, appears 
 N 3 quite
 
 r 3 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 quite ftupid and infenfible. The company divert 
 themfelves with his confufion ; and fneers, winks, 
 and whifpers, are circulated at his expence. As 
 for him, he opens a pair of large heavy eyes, flares 
 at all about him, and even offers to join in the 
 laugh, without ever confidering himfelf as the 
 burthen of all their good-humour. 
 
 IBID. p. 78. 
 
 GRACE. 
 
 IF you would find the Goddefs of Grace, feek 
 her not under one form, for me afTumes a thou- 
 fand. Ever changing under the eye of infpeclion, 
 her variety, rather than her figure, is pleafing. 
 "In contemplating her beauty, the eye glides over 
 every perfection with giddy delight, and, capable 
 of fixing no where, is charmed with the whole. 
 She is now Contemplation with folenin look, again 
 Compafiion with humid eye; me now fparkles 
 with joy, foon every feature fpeaks diftrefs : her 
 looks at times invite our approach, at others re- 
 prefs our prefumptioii ; the Goddefs cannot be 
 properly called beautiful under any one of thefe 
 forms, but by combining them all, me becomes 
 irrcf^ftibly pleafmg. 
 
 IBID. p. 53. 
 
 PENITENCE. 
 
 THE kindnefs cf Heaven is promifed to the 
 penitent. Heaven, we are afTured, is much more 
 
 pleafed
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 139- 
 pleafed to view a repentant fmner, than many 
 perfons who have fupported a courfe of undevi- 
 uting rectitude. And this is right; for the fingle 
 effort by which vtc flop fhort in the down-hill patk 
 to perdition, is itfelf a greater exertion of virtue, 
 than an hundred acts of juftice. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELP, V. 2. p. 43.. 
 
 EARNEST EMPLOYMENT. 
 
 EARNEST employment, if it cannot cure, at 
 leaft will palliate every anxiety. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. III. 
 
 THE MERCHANT'S CLERK. 
 
 IT is ufually faid by grammarians, that the life 
 of language is to exprefs our wants and defires ; 
 but men who know the world, hold, and I think 
 with fome fhew of reafon, that he who befl knows 
 how to keep his necefiities private, is the moft 
 likely perfon to have them redrefTed ; and that 
 the true ufe of fpeech is not fo much to exprefs 
 our wants as to conceal them. 
 
 When we reflect on the manner in which man- 
 kind generally confer their favours, there appears 
 fomething fo attractive in riches, that the large 
 heap generally collects from the fmaller : and the 
 poor find as much pleafure in increafmg the enor- 
 mous
 
 i-40 THE .BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 mous mafs of' the rich, as the mifer, who owns 
 k, fees hsppinefs in its increafe. Nor is there 
 in this any thing repugnant to the laws of mora- 
 lity. Seneca himfelf allows, that in conferring- 
 beneiits, the prefent mould always be fuited to the 
 dignity of the receiver. Thus the rich receive 
 large prefents; and are thanked for accepting 
 them. Men of middling ftations are obliged to 
 be content with preients fomething lefs ; while the 
 beggar, who may be truly faid to want indeed,, is 
 well paid if a farthing rewards his warmeft feli- 
 citations.. 
 
 Every man who has feen the world, and has had 
 his ups and downs in life, as the expreffion is, 
 muft have frequently experienced the truth of this 
 doctrine j and muft know, that to have much, or 
 to feem to have it, is the only way to have more. 
 O--vid finely compares a man of broken fortune to 
 a falling column ; the lower it. finks, the greater 
 is that weight it is obliged to fuftain. Thus, 
 when a man's circumftances are fuch that he has 
 no occafion to borrow, he finds numbers willing to 
 lend him ; but, mould his wants be fuch that 
 he fues for a trifle, it is two to one whether h,e 
 may be trufted with the fmalleft fum. A certain 
 young fellow, whom I knew, whenever he had 
 occafion to afk his friend for a guinea, ufed to 
 prelude his requeft as if he wanted two hundred ; 
 .and talked fo familiarly of large fums, that none 
 could ever think he wanted a fmall one. The 
 
 fine
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 14* 
 
 fame gentleman, whenever he wanted credit for a 
 fuit of clothes, always made the propofal in a 
 laced coat ; for he found by experience, that, if 
 he appeared fhabby on thefe occafions, his tailor 
 had taken an oath againft trufting ; or, what was 
 every whit as bad, his foreman was out of the way, 
 and fhould not be at home for fome time. 
 
 There can be no inducements to reveal ourywants, 
 except to find pity, and, by this means, relief; 
 but, before a poor man opens his mind in fuch 
 circumftances, he mould firft confider whether he 
 is contented to lofe the efteem of the perfon he 
 folicits, and whether he is willing to give up 
 friendfhip to excite compaffion. Pity and Friend- 
 fliip are paffions incompatible with each other; 
 and it is impoflible that both can refide in any 
 breaft for the fmalleft fpace, without impairing 
 each other. Friendmip is made up of efteem and 
 pleafure; Pity is compofed of forrovv and con- 
 tempt ; the mind may, for fome time, fluctuate 
 between them, but it can never entertain both at 
 
 In faft, Pity, though it may often relieve, is, 
 but, at beft, a fhort-lived paflion, and feldom af- 
 fords diftrefs more than a tranfitory afiiftance : with 
 fome it fcarce lafls from the firft impulfe till the 
 hand can be put into the pocket ; with others, it 
 may continue for twice that fpace ; and on fome, 
 of extraordinary fenfibility, I have feen it ope-
 
 H* THE BEAUTIES CF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 rzte for half an- hour together : but ftill, lait as it 
 may, it generally produces but beggarly effect? ; 
 and where, from this motive,, we give five far- 
 things, from others, we give pounds. Whatever 
 be our feelings from the firft impulfe of diirrefs 
 vvhen the fame diftrefs folicits a fscond, we then 
 feel with c^iminimed fen.fi biiity ; and, like the rfe- 
 petition of an echo, every llroke becomes weaker ; 
 'till, at laft, our fenfations lofe all mixture of 
 forrow> and degenerate into downright contempt. 
 
 Thefe fpeculatietvs bring to my miad the 
 a very good-natured feilcw, who is r.c\v no more. 
 He was bred in a compting-houfe, and his father 
 dying juft as he was out of his time, left him an 
 handfcme fortune, and many friends to advife 
 with. The reftraint in which my friend had been 
 brought up, had thrown a glcom upon his tem- 
 per, which feme regarded. as prudence ; and, from 
 fuch considerations, he had every day repeated 
 pffers of friendmip. Such as had money, were 
 rady to offer, him their aiTirV'.nce that way ; and 
 they who had daughters, frequently, in the warmth 
 of affeftion, advifed him to marry. My friend, 
 hpv/ever, was in gooji cirgaiiiilrxr.crs ; he wanted 
 neither money, friends, nor a wife ; and, thcre- 
 fjre, raod.eftly declined their prppofals. 
 
 Some errors, however, in the management of 
 hjs affairs, and leveral loues in trade, fccn brought 
 i^rn tq a different w.\v of thinking ; and h.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 143 
 
 laft confidered, that' it was his beft way to let his 
 friends know that their offers were at length ac- 
 ceptable. His fir ft addrefi was to a-*fcrivener, who 
 had formerly made him frequent offers of money 
 -and friendfhip, at a time when, perhaps, he knew 
 thofe offers would have been refufed. As a man, 
 therefore, confident of not being refufed, he re- 
 queftcd the ufe of a hundred guineas for a few 
 days, as he juft then had -occafion for money. 
 '" And pray, Sir, replied the ferivener, " do you 
 " want all this money?" " Want it, Sir?" fays 
 tli ; other, " If I did not want it, I fhould not 
 -" have alked it." " I am forry for that," fays the 
 friend ; " for thofe who want money when they 
 " borrow, will always want money when they 
 " mould come to pay. To fay the truth, Sir, 
 " money is money now ; and, I believe, it is all 
 " funk in the bottom of the fea, for my part; ha 
 " that has got a little, is a fool if he does not 
 " keep what he has got." 
 
 Not quite difconcerted by this refufal, our ad- 
 venturer was refolved to apply to another, who 
 .he knew was the very beft friend he had in the 
 World. The gentleman whom he now addreffed, 
 received, his propofal with all the affability that 
 could be expeded from generous friendship. " Let 
 " me fee you want an hundred guineas and 
 te pray, dear Jack, would not fifty anfwerr" 
 " If you have but fifty to fpare, Sir, I muft be 
 
 " con- 
 
 * A few lines here are borrowed, with a flight alte- 
 ration, from the Man of the World, p. 60. of this Vol*
 
 144 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 " contented." " Fifty to fpare ! I do not fay 
 " that; for, I believe, I have but twenty about 
 *' me." c< Then I muft borrow the other thirty 
 tc from feme other friend." " And pray," re- 
 plied the friend, " would it not be the beft way 
 " to borrow the whole money from that other 
 " friend, and then one note will ferve for all, you 
 <c know ? You know, my dear Sir, that you need 
 < make no ceremony with me at any time ; you 
 " know I'm your friend; and, when you chufe 
 
 " a bit of dinner, or fo You, Tom! fee the 
 
 *' gentleman down. You won't forget to dine 
 *' with us now and then. Your very humble fer- 
 *' vant." 
 
 Diftreffed, but not difcouraged, at this treat 
 ment, he was at laft refolved to find that afliftance 
 from love, which he could not have from friend- 
 fhip. A young lady, a diflant relation by the 
 mother's fide, had a fortune in her own hands <; 
 and, as me had already made all the advances that 
 her fex's modeily would permit, he made his pro- 
 pofal with confidence. He foon, however, per- 
 ceived, That no bankrupt ever found the fair-one 
 kind. She had lately fallen deeply in love with 
 another, who had more money, and the whole 
 neighbourhood thought it would be a match. 
 
 Every day now began to ftrip my poor friend of 
 his former finery ; his clothes flew, piece by piece, 
 to the pawnbroker's, and he Teemed, at length,, 
 equipped in the genuine livery of misfortune. But 
 
 m
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 14$ 
 111 he thought himfelf fecure from adlual necef- 
 fity ; the numberlefs invitations he had received to 
 dine, even after his lofies, were yet unanfwered : 
 he was therefore now refolved'to accept of a din- 
 ner, becaufe he wanted one ; and in this manner 
 he actually lived among his friends a whole week, 
 without being openly affronted. The laft place I 
 faw him in, was at a reverend divine's. He had> 
 as he fancied, juft nicked the time of dinner ; for 
 he came in as the cloth was laying. He took a 
 chair without being defired, and talked for ibms 
 time without being attended to. He alTured the 
 company, that nothing procured fo good an appe- 
 tite as a walk in the Park, where he bad been that 
 morning. He went on, and praiied the figure of 
 the damafk table-cloth ; talked of a feaft where he 
 had been the day before, but that the venifon v,\is 
 over-done : but all this procured him no invita- 
 tion. Finding, therefore, the gentleman of the 
 houfe infenble to all his fetches, he thought pro- 
 per, at laft, to retire, and mend his appetite by a 
 iecond walk in the Park. 
 
 You, then, O ye beggars of my acquaintance, 
 whether in rags or lace ; whether in Kent-ftreet or 
 the Mall ; whether at the Smyrna or St. Giles's ; 
 might I be permitted to advife as a friend, never 
 feem to want the favour w r hich you folicit. Apply 
 to every paffion but human pity for redrefs : you 
 may find permanent relief from vanity, from felf- 
 imereft, or from avarice ; but from companion 
 O never.
 
 14.6 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH-. 
 
 never. The very eloquence of a poor man is dif- 
 gufting ; and that mouth, which is opened even by 
 wifdom, is feldom expe&ed to clofe without the 
 horrors of a petition. 
 
 To ward off the gripe of poverty, you mufl 
 pretend to be a ftranger to her, and fhe will at 
 leaft ufe you with ceremony. If you be caught 
 'dining upon a halfpenny porringer of peafe-foup 
 and potatoes, praife the wholefomenefs of your 
 frugal repaft : you may obferve that Dr. Ckeyns 
 has prefcribed peafe-broth for the gravel ; hint 
 that you are not one of thofe who are always 
 making a deity of your belly. If, again, you are 
 obliged to wear fiimfy fluff in the midft of winter, 
 be the firft to remark, that fluffs are very much 
 worn at Paris ; cr, if there be found feme irrepa- 
 rable defedls in any part of your equipage, which 
 cannot be concealed by ;J1 the arts of fitting crofs- 
 legged, coaxing, or darning, fay, that neither you 
 nor Sampfon Gideon were ever very fond of drefs. 
 If you be a philofopher, hint that Plato or Seneca. 
 are the taylors you choofe to employ ; afTure the 
 company that man ought to be content with a bare 
 covering; fmce what now is fo much his pride, 
 was formerly his fhame. In fliort, however caught, 
 never give out ; but afcribe to the frugality of your 
 cifpofition what others might be apt to attribute 
 to the narrownefs of your circumftances. To be 
 poor, and to feem poor, is a certain method never 
 to rife : pride in the great is hateful ; in the wife, 
 
 it
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 147 
 it is ridiculous ; bur beggarly pride is a rational 
 vanity, which I have been taught to applaud and 
 excufc. 
 
 ESSAY 5. p. 36. 
 
 THE DISABLED SOLDIER. 
 
 IN O observation is more common, and at the 
 fame time more true, than that one half of the 
 world are ignorant how the other half lives. The 
 misfortunes of the great arc held up to engage our 
 attention ; are enlarged upon in tones of declama- 
 tion ; and the world is called upon to gaze at the 
 noble fufFerers : the great, under the preffure of 
 calamity, are confcious of feveral others fympa- 
 thizing with their diltrefs ; and have, at once, the 
 comfort of admiration and pity. 
 
 There is nothing magnanimous in bearing mif- 
 fortunes with fortitude, when the whole world is. 
 looking on : men in fuch circurnftances will aft 
 bravely, even from motives of vanity ; but he 
 who, in the vale of obfcurity, can brave adverflty ; 
 v.ho, without friends to encourage, acquaintances 
 to pity, or even without hope to alleviate his mif- 
 fortunes, can behave with tranquillity and indif- 
 ference, is truly great : whether peafant or cour- 
 tier, he deferves admiration, and mould be held 
 up for our imitation r.nd refpeft. 
 
 O z While
 
 H8 THE BEAUTIES or GOLDSMITH. 
 
 While the Highteft inconveniences of the great 
 are magnified into calamities, while Tragedy mouths 
 out their fufferings in all the ftrains of eloquence, 
 the miferies cf the poor are entirely difregarded j 
 and yet foaie of the lower ranks of people under- 
 go more real hardfhips in one day, than thofe of a 
 more exalted ftation fuffer in their whole lives. It 
 is inconceivable what difficulties the meanefl of our 
 common iailors and foldiers endure, without mur- 
 muring or regcet ; without pafiionately declaiming 
 againfi providence, or calling their fellows to be 
 gazers on their intrepidity. Every day is to them- 
 a day of mifery, and yet they entertain their hard, 
 fate without repining. 
 
 With what indignation do I hear an Q<vid t a. 
 Cicero, or a Raiutin, complain of their misfor- 
 tunes and hardfhips ; \vhofe greateft calamity was 
 that cf being unable to vifit a certain fpot of earth, 
 to which they had foolifhly attached an idea of 
 happinefs ! Their diftreffes were pleafures, com- 
 pared 'to what many of the adventuring poor every- 
 day endure without murmuring. They ate, drank, 
 and flept ; they had flaves to attend them, and 
 were fure of fubfiflence for life : while manv of 
 their fellow-creatures are obliged to wander with- 
 out a friend to comfort or aflift them, and even 
 without fhelter from the feverity of the feafon. 
 
 I have been led in to .theie reflections, from ac- 
 eldenially meeting, fome days ago, a poor fellow,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 149 
 whom I knew when a boy, dreffed in a failor's 
 jacket, and begging at one of the outlets of the 
 town, with a wooden leg. I knew him to have 
 been honeft and induilrious when in the country, 
 and was curious to learn what had reduced him to 
 his prefent fituation ; wherefore, after giving him 
 what I thought proper, I defired to know the hif- 
 tory of his life and misfortunes, and the manner 
 in which he was reduced to his prefent diftrefs. 
 The difabled foldier, fcr fuch he was, though 
 dreffed in a failor's habit, fcratching his head, 
 and leaning on his crutch, put himfelf into an 
 attitude to comply with my requeil, and gave me 
 his hiftory, as follows. 
 
 " AS for my misfcrtune, mafter, I can't pre- 
 tend to have gone through any more than other 
 folks ; for, except the lofs of my limb, and my 
 being obliged to beg, I don't know any reafon, 
 thank Heaven, that I have to complain; there is 
 Bill Tibbs, of our regiment, he has loft both his 
 legs, and an eye to boct ; bat, thank Heaven, it 
 is not fo bad with me yet. 
 
 " I was born in Sbrcpjhire ; my father was a la- 
 bourer, and died when I was five years old ; fo I 
 was put upon the parifh. As lie had been a wan- 
 dering fort of a man, the parifhioncrs were not 
 able to tell to what parifh I belonged, or where I 
 was born ; fo they fent me to another parifh, and 
 that parilh fent me to a third, I thought in my 
 O 3 heart,
 
 150 THE BEAUTIES or GOLDSMITH. 
 
 heart, they kept fending me about fo long, thaf 
 they would not let me be born in any pariih at all ; 
 but, at laft, however, they fixed me. I had fome 
 difpofition to be a fcholar, and was refolved, at 
 leaft, to know my letters ; but the mafter of the 
 work-houfe put me to bufmefs as foon as I was able 
 to handle a mallet; and here I lived an eafy kind 
 of life for five years. I only wrought ten hours in 
 the day, and had my meat and drink provided for 
 my labour. It is true, I was not fuffered to flir 
 out of the houfe, for fear, as they faid, I fhould 
 run away. But what of that? I had the liberty of 
 ihe whole houfe, and the yard before the door ; 
 and that was enough for me. 1 was then bound 
 out to a farmer, where I was up both early and 
 late; but I ate and drank well, and liked my bu 
 iinefs well enough, till he died, when I was obliged, 
 to provide for myfelf ; fo I was refolved to go feek 
 my fortune. 
 
 "- In this manner I went from town to town, 
 worked when I could get employment, and ftarved 
 when I could get none; when happening one day 
 to go through a field belonging to a .juftice of 
 peace, I fpied a hare crofiing the path juft before 
 me ; and I believe the devil put it in my head to 
 fling my ftick at it. Well, what will you have on't? 
 I killed the hare, and was bringing it away, when 
 the juftice himfelf met me : he called me a poacher 
 and a villain; and, collaring me, defired I would 
 give an account of myfelf. I fell upon my knees, 
 
 begged.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 151, 
 begged his worfliip's pardon, and began to give a 
 full account of all that I knew of my breed, feed, 
 and generation ; but, though I gave a very true- 
 account, the juftice faid I could give no account; 
 fo I was indicled at the feffions, found guilty of ' 
 being poor, and fent up to London to Newgate, in 
 order. to be tranfported as a vagabond,. 
 
 " People may fay this and that of being in jail ; 
 but, for my part, I found Newgate as agreeable a 
 place as ever I was in in all my life. I had my 
 belly full to eat and drink, and did no 'work at 
 all. This kind of life was too good to laft for 
 ever ; fo I was taken out of prifon, after five 
 months, put on board a fhip, and fent off, with 
 two hundred more, to the plantations. We had 
 but an indifferent paflage ; for, being all confined 
 in the hold, more than a hundred of our people 
 died for want of fweet air; and thofe that remain: 
 ed were fickly enough, God knows. When we 
 came a-fhore, we were fold to the planters, and I 
 was bound for feven years more. As I was no 
 fcholar, for I did not know my letters, I was 
 obliged to work among the negroes ; and I ferved 
 out my time, as in duty bound to do. 
 
 " When my time was expired, I worked my 
 paflage home ; and glad I was to fee Old England 
 again, becaufe I loved my country. I was afraid, 
 however, that I mould be indifted for a vagabond 
 once more, fo did not much care to go down into 
 
 the
 
 1 5 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 the country, but kept about the town, and did 
 
 little jobs, when I could get them. 
 
 " I was verv happy in this manner for fome time, 
 till one evening, coming home from work, two 
 men knocked me down, and then delired me to 
 ftand. They belonged to a prefs-gang. I was 
 carried before the juftiee, and, as I could give no 
 account of myielf, I had my choice left, whether 
 to go on board a man of war, or lift for a foldier. 
 I chofe the latter ; and, in this poft of a gentle- 
 man, I ferved two campaigns in Ft Anders, was at 
 the battles of Val and Fontency, and received but 
 one wound, through the breaft here ; but the doc- 
 tor of our regiment foon made me well again. 
 
 " When the peace came on, I was difcharged ; 
 and, as I could not work, becaufe my wound was 
 fometimes troublefome, I lilted for a landman in 
 the Eaft-India company's fervice. I have -fought 
 the French in fix pitched battles ; and I verily be- 
 lieve, that, if I could read or write, our Captain 
 would have made me a corporal. But it was not 
 my good fortune to have any promotion, for I 
 foon fell fick, and fo got leave to return home 
 again, with forty pounds in my pocket. This 
 was at the beginning of the prefent war, and I 
 hoped to be fet on more, and to have the pleafure 
 of fpending my money ; but the government 
 wanted men, and fo I was prefled for a failor be- 
 fore ever I could fet foot on more. 
 
 " The
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 155 
 
 " The boatfwain found, as he faid, an obftU 
 nate fellow : he fwore he knew that I underftood 
 my bufinefs well, but that I ihammed Abraham^ 
 to be idle ; but God knows, I knew nothing of 
 fea-bufinefs, and he beat me without confidering 
 what he was about. I had Hill, however, my 
 forty pounds, and that was fome comfort to me 
 under every beating ; and the money I might have 
 had to this day, but that our {hip was taken by 
 the French, and fo I loft all. 
 
 " Our crew was carried into Breft, and many 
 of them died, becaufe they were not ufed to live in 
 jail ; but, for my part, it was nothing to me, for 
 J was feafoned. One night, as I was afleep on 
 my bed of boards, with a warm blanket about me, 
 (for I always loved to lie well) I was awakened 
 by the boatfwain, who had a dark lantern in his 
 hand. " Jack," fays he to me, <c will you knock. 
 " out the French Gentry's brains ?" " I don't 
 " care," fays I, ftriving to keep myfelf awake,. 
 " if I lend a hand." " Then follow me," fays 
 he, " and I hope we mail do bufinefs." So up 
 I got, and tied my blanket, which was all the 
 clothes I had, about my middle, and went with 
 him to fight the Frenchman. I hate the French* 
 becaufe they are all flaves, and wear wooden ihoes. 
 
 '* Though we had no arms, one EngUjhrnan is 
 able to beat five French at any time; fo we went 
 dawn to the door, where both the centries were 
 
 polled
 
 154 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 pofted, rn<L rn.^ing upon them, feized their arms 
 in a mo.-nent, and knocked them down. Prom- 
 inence, nine of us ran together to the quay, and 
 feizing the firft boat we met, got out of the har- 
 bour, and put to fea. We had not been here 
 three days before we were taken up by the Dorfct 
 privateer, who were glad of fo many good hr.nd ; 
 and we confented to run our chance. However, 
 we had not as much luck as we expected. In 
 three days we fell in with the Pompadour privateer, 
 of forty guns, while we had but twenty-three ; fa 
 to it we went, yard-arm and yard-arm. The fight 
 lafted for three hours, and I verily believe we 
 Ihould have taken the Frenchman, had we but had 
 fome more men left behind; but, unfortunately, 
 we loft all our men juft as we were going to get 
 the victory. 
 
 " I was once more in the power of the French , 
 and, I believe, it would have gone hard with me 
 had I been brought back to Sre/f ; but, by good for- 
 tune, we were retaken by the Viper. I had almcft 
 forgot to tell you, that, in that engagement, I 
 was wounded in two places : I loft four fingers efF 
 the left hand, and my kg was fhot off. If I had 
 had the good fortune to have loft my leg and ufe 
 of my hand on board a king's fhip, and not a- 
 board a privateer, I fnoald have been intitled to 
 clothing and maintenance during the reft of my 
 Hfe ; but that was net my chance : one man is 
 born with a fiker fpcon in his mouth, and ano- 
 ther-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 15^ 
 
 ther with a wooden ladle. However, bleffed be 
 God ! I enjoy good health, and will, for ever, 
 love liberty and Old England. Liberty, property, 
 r.d Old England, for ever, huzza. ! 
 
 Thus faying, he limped off, leaving me in ad- 
 miration at his intrepidity an-d content ; nor could 
 I avoid acknowledging, that an habitual acquaint- 
 ance with mifery ferves better than philofophy to 
 teach us to defpife it. 
 
 ESSAY 24. 
 
 REPOSE. 
 
 MEN complain of not finding a place of re- 
 pofe. They are in UK'- wrong ; they have it for 
 ieeking. What they ft; uld, indeed, complain of, 
 is, that the heart is an enemy to what they feek. 
 To themfelves, alone, mould they impute their 
 difcontent. They feek, within the. fhort fpan of 
 life, to fatisfy a thoufand defires ; each of which, 
 alone, is unfatiable. One month panes, and ano- 
 ther comes on ; the year ends, and then begins ; 
 but man is ftill unchanging in folly, ftill blindly 
 continuing in prejudice. To the wife man, every 
 climate and every foil is pleafmg; to fuch a man, 
 the melody of birds is mere ravifhing than the 
 harmony of a full concert ; and the tincture of 
 the cloud, preferable to the touch of the fineft 
 pencil. 
 
 CIT, OF THE WORLD, V, 2. p. 124. 
 
 CON-
 
 156 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 
 CONSCIENCE. 
 
 THE pain which confcience gives the man 
 \vho has already done wrong, is foon got over. 
 Confcience is a coward ; and thofe faults it has 
 not ftrength enough to prevent, it feldom has 
 juftice enough to accafe. 
 
 VIC. OF WAKEFIELD, V. I. p. 138. 
 
 LOVE, AMBITION, AND AVARICE. 
 DISAPPOINTED love makes the mifery of 
 youth; difappointed ambition, that of manhood; 
 and fuccefsful avarice, that of age. Thefe three 
 attack us through life ; and it is our duty to ftand 
 upon our guard. To love, we ought to oppofe 
 diffipation, and endeavour to change the objeft of 
 the affeftions ; to ambition, the happinefs of in- 
 dolence and obfcurity ; and to avarice, the fear 
 of foon dying. Thefe are the fhields with which 
 we mould arm ourfelves ; and thus make every 
 fcene of life, if not pleafing, at leaft fupportable. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. 124. 
 
 THE PHILOSOPHIC COBLER. 
 
 J. HOUGH not very fond of feeing a pageant 
 myfelf, yet I am generally pleafed with being in 
 the crowd which fees it ; it is amufing to obferve 
 
 the
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 157 
 the effeft which fuch a fpeclacle has upon the va- 
 riety of faces ; the pleafure it excites in fome, tha 
 envy in others, and the wifhes it raifcs in all. 
 With this deiign I lately went to fee the entry of 
 a foreign ambafTador, refolved to make offe in the 
 mob, to fhout as they fhouted, to fix with ear- 
 neftnefs upon the fame frivolous objects, and par-. 
 ticipate, for a while, the pleafures and the wifhe.s 
 of the vulgar. 
 
 Struggling here for fome time, in order to be 
 firft to fee the cavalcade as it pafTed, fome one of 
 the crowd unluckily happened to tread upon my 
 moe, and tore it in fuch a manner, that I was ut- 
 terly unqualified to march forward with the main 
 body, and obliged to fall back in the rear. Thus 
 rendered incapable of being a fpeclator of the 
 fliew myfelf, I was at leaft willing to obferve the 
 fpectators, and limped behind like one of the in- 
 valids which follow the march of an army. 
 
 In this plight, as I was confidering the eagcr- 
 nefs that appeared on every face, how fome buftled 
 to get foremoft, and others contented themfelves 
 with taking a tranfient peep when they could j k 
 how fome praifed the four black fervants that 
 were ftuck behind one of the equipages, and fome, 
 the ribbons that decorated the horfes' necks in, 
 another; my attention was called off to an object 
 more extraordinary than any that I had yet feen;- 
 A poor Cobler fat in his flail' by .the way-fide, arul 
 P ' cou^
 
 I S S THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 continued to work while the crowd pafled by, 
 withqut tettifying the fmalleil fhare of curiofity. 
 I own his want of attention excited mine; and, 
 as I flood in need of his affiftance, I thought it 
 beft to employ a Philofophic Cobler on this occa- 
 fion : perceiving my bufinefs, therefore, he de- 
 fired me to enter and fit down, took my fhoe in 
 his Jap, and began to mend it with his ufuai in- 
 difference and taciturnity. 
 
 " How, my friend," faid I to him, " can you 
 <f continue to work while all thofe fine things are 
 " paffing by your door?" " Very fine they arc, 
 " matter," returned the cobler, " for thofe that 
 " like them, to be lure ; but what are all thofe 
 " fine things to me? You don't know what it is 
 ' to be a cobler, and fo much the better for your- 
 *' felf. Your bread is baked ; you may go and 
 " fee fights the whole day, and eat a warm fup- 
 " per when you come home at night ; but for me, 
 " " if I fhould run hunting after all thefe fine folk, 
 '* what mould I get by my journey but an appe- 
 " the ? and, God help me, I have too much of 
 " that at home already, without ftirring out for 
 " it. Your people who may eat four meals a day, 
 " and fupper at night, are but a bad example to 
 " fuch a one as I. No, matter, as God has call- 
 *' ed me into this world in order to mend old 
 " fhoes, I have no bufinefs with fine folk, and 
 " they no bufiuefs with me." I here interrupted 
 him with a fmile. " See this latt, matter," con- 
 tiftucs he, " and this hammer ; this latt and ham- 
 
 ** mer
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. if 9 
 
 ff mer are the two beft friends I have in this 
 "world; nobody elfe will be my friend, becaufe 
 " I want a friend. The great folks you faw pafs 
 " by juit now 'have five hundred friends, becaufe 
 " they have no occafion for them. Now, while I 
 *' ftick to my good friends here, I am very con- 
 " tented; but, when I ever fo little run after 
 " fights and fine things, I begin to hate 'my "work, 
 " I grow fad, and have no heart to mend {hoes 
 " any longer." 
 
 This difcourfe only ferved to raife my curioflty 
 to know more of a man whom Nature had thus 
 formed info a 'Philofopher. I therefore infe'nil- 
 bly led him into an hiftory of his adventures : 
 '* 1 haVe lived, faicl he, a wandering life, now 
 '" fivs-and-fifty years, here to-day and gone to- 
 ft morrow ; for it was my misfortune, when 
 " I was young, to be fond of changing." fc Ton 
 " ba*ve Been a traveller t then, I frefume ?" inter- 
 rupted I. " I can't boaft much of travelling,'* 
 continued he, " for I have never left the parifii 
 " in which I was born but three times in my 
 " life, that I can remember; but then there is 
 " not a ftreet in the whole neighbourhood that I 
 " have not lived in, at fome time or another. 
 fe When I began to fettle, and to take to my bull- 
 " nefs in one ftreet, fome unforefeen misfortune, 
 f< or a defire of trying my luck elfewhere, has re- 
 " moved me, perhaps, a whole rriileaway from my 
 " former cuftomcrs, while fome more lucky cob- 
 " ler would come into my place, and make a 
 Pa " hand-
 
 t6o THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 ' V handfome. fortune among friends of my making: 
 " there was one who actually died in a ftall that 
 " rh.id left, worth feven pounds feven /hillings, 
 " all in hard gold, which he had quilted into the 
 *' waiftband of his breeches." 
 
 I could not but fmile at thefe migrations of a 
 man by the fire-fide, and continued to afk if he 
 had ever been married. " Ay, that I have, maf- 
 " ter," replied he, " for fixteen long years ; and. 
 " a weary life I had of it, Heaven knows. My 
 " wife took it into her head, that the only way to 
 " thrive in this world was to fave money ; fo, 
 " though cur comings-in was but about three 
 "millings a week, all that ever (he could lay her 
 " hands upon {he ufcd to hide away from me, 
 " though we were obliged to ftarve the whole 
 " week for it. 
 
 " The firfl three years we ufed to quarrel about 
 ft this every day, and I always got the better ; but 
 " me had a hard fpirit, and itill continued to hide 
 " as ufual ; fo that I was at laft tired of quarrelling, 
 "and getting the better; and me fcraped and 
 " fcraped. at pleafure, 'till I was almoft ftarved to 
 " death. Her condudl drove me, at laft, in de- 
 '" fpair to the alehoufe ; here I ufed to fit with 
 " people who hated home like myfelf, drank while 
 " I had money left, and run in fcore while any 
 " body would trull me ; "till at laft the landlady, 
 *' coming one day with a long bill when I was 
 " iVoiq home, and putting it into my wife's hands, 
 
 " the
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. iSt 
 " the length of it effe&ually broke her heart. I 
 " fearched the whole ft all., after Ihe was dead, for 
 " money ; but (he had hidden it fo effe&ually, 
 " that, with all my pains, . I could never find % 
 tf farthing. 
 
 By this time my fhoe was mended, and, fatisfy- 
 ing the poor artift for his trouble, and rewarding 
 him befides for his information, I took my leave, 
 and returned home to lengthen out the amufement 
 his converfation afforded, by communicating it to 
 my friend. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 282. 
 
 CHARITY OF THE ENGLISH. 
 WHILE I fometimes lament the caufe of hu- 
 manity, and the depravity of human nature, there 
 now and then appear gleams of greatnefs that 
 ferve to relieve the eye opprefled with the hideous 
 profpecl, and refemble thofe cultivated fpots that 
 are fometimes found in the midft of an Aliatic 
 wildernefs. I fee many fuperior excellencies among 
 the Englijh, which it is not in the power of all 
 their follies to hide : I fee virtues which, in other 
 countries, are known only to a few, practifcd here 
 ty every rank of people. 
 
 I know not whether it proceeds from their fu- 
 perior opulence, that the Englijh are more chari* 
 table than the reft of mankind; whether, by being 
 poflefled of all 'the conveniencies of life them- 
 felves, they have more leifure to perceive the un 
 P 3 eafy
 
 162 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 eafy. fituation of the diftrefled ; whatever be the 
 motive, they are not only the moft charitable of 
 any other nation, but moft judicious in diftin- 
 guifhing the propereft objects of compaflion. 
 
 In other countries, the giver is generally influ- 
 enced by the immediate impulfe of pity ; his ge- 
 nerofity is exerted as much to relieve his own 
 uneafy fenfations, as to comfort the objeft in di- 
 ftrefs : in England, benefactions are of a more ge- 
 neral nature ; fome men of fortune and univerfal 
 benevolence propofe the proper objects ; the wants 
 and the merits of the petitioners are canvafled by 
 the people ; neither paffion nor pity find a place 
 in the cool difcuflion. ; and charity is then only 
 exerted, when it has received the approbation of 
 reafon. 
 
 IBID. p. 86. 
 
 THE COMMON ENGLISH STRANGERS 
 TO URBANITY ; 
 
 WITH REMARKS ON THEIR PROWESS IN DIFFI- 
 CULTIES. 
 
 THE poor of every country are but little prone 
 to treat each other with tendernefs ; their own 
 miferies are too apt to engrofc all their pity ; and, 
 perhaps too, they give but little commiseration, 
 as they find but little from others. But, in Eng- 
 land, the poor treat each other, upon every occa- 
 iion, with more than favage animofity, and as if 
 they were in a ftate of open war by nature. In 
 China, if ;\vo porters ihould meet in a narrow 
 
 ftrcet*
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. i6> 
 
 ftreet, they would lay down their burthens, make 
 a thoufand excufes to each other for the accidental 
 interruption, and beg pardon on their knees. If 
 two men of the fame occupation mould meet here, 
 they would firft begin to fcold, an-d, at laft, to 
 beat each other. One would think they had mi- 
 feries enough refuhing from penury and labour, 
 not to increafe them by ill-nature among them- 
 felves, and fubjection to new penalties ; but fuch 
 confiderations never weigh with them. 
 
 But to recompenfe this ftrange abfurdity, they 
 are, in the main, generous, brave, and enterprifmg 
 They feel the flighteft injuries with a degree of 
 ungoverned impatience, but refift the greateft ca- 
 lamities with furprifmg fortitude. Thofe miferies- 
 under which any other people in the world would 
 fink, they have often mewed they were capable of 
 enduring : if accidently cafl upon fome defolate 
 coaft, their perfeverance is beyond what any other 
 nation is capable of fuftaining ; if imprifoned for 
 crimes, their efforts to efcape are greater than among 
 others. The peculiar ftrength of their prifons, 
 when compared - to thofe elfewhere, argues their 
 hardinefs j even th-e ftrongeft prifons I have ever 
 feen in other countries, would be very infufficient. 
 to confine the untameable fpirit of an Englijhman. 
 In mort, what man dares do in circumftances of 
 danger, an Englijkman will. His virtues feem to 
 fleep in the calm, and are called out only to com- 
 bat the kindred ftorm, 
 
 IBID. v. 2, p. iiz*
 
 164 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 
 TENDERNESS AND GENEROSITY OF 
 ENGLISH MISCREANTS. 
 
 THE greateft eulogy of the Englijh is the gene- 
 rofity of their mifcreants ; the tendernefs in gene- 
 ral of their robbers and highwaymen. Perhaps no 
 people can produce inftances of the fame kind, 
 where the defperate mix pity with injuftice; ftill 
 fhew that they understand a diftinftion in crimes ; 
 and even, in ats of violence, have ftill fome tinc- 
 ture of remaining virtue. In every other country, 
 robbery and murder go almoil always together ; 
 here it feldom happens, except upon ill-judged 
 refiftance or purfuit. The banditti of other coun- 
 tries are unmerciful to a fupreme degree ; the 
 highwayman and robber here are generous at ieaft 
 to the public, and pretend even to virtues in their 
 intereourfe among each other. Taking, therefore, 
 my opinion of the Englijb from the virtues and 
 vices praftifed among the vulgar, they at once 
 prefent to a ftranger all their faults, and keep their 
 virtues up only for the enquiring eye of a philo- 
 f op her. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. IIJ. 
 
 INSOLENCE OF THE COMMON ENGLISH 
 TO FOREIGNERS. 
 
 FOREIGNERS are generally mocked at the 
 infolence of the common Englijfo, upon firft coming 
 among them ; they find theipielves ridiculed and 
 
 infulted
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 165 
 infulted in every ftr'ect ; they meet with none of 
 thofe trifling civilities, fo frequent elfewhere, which 
 are inftances of mutual good-will without previous 
 acquaintance ; they travel through the country, 
 either too ignorant or too obftinate to cultivate a 
 clofer acquaintance, meet every moment fomething 
 to excite their difguft, and return home to charac- 
 terife this as the region of fplecn, infolence, and 
 ill-nature. In Ihort, England would be the lait 
 place in the world I would travel to by way of 
 amufement, but the nrft fcr inflruction ; I would 
 chufe to have ethers for my acquaintance, but 
 Englijkmen for my friends. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 2. p. I I^.. 
 
 HAPPINESS EVER REPUGNANT TO OUR 
 
 WISHES. 
 
 THE mind is ever ingenious in making its own 
 diftrefs. The wandering beggar, who has none to 
 protect, to feed, or to fhelter him, fancies com- 
 plete happinefs in labour and a full meal. Take 
 jum from rags and want, feed, clothe, and employ 
 him, his wifhes now rife one ftep above his ftation ; 
 he could be happy were he poflefied of raiment, 
 food, and eafe. Suppofe his v/ifhes gratified even 
 in thefe, his profpecls widen as he afcends : he 
 finds himfelf in affluence and tranquillity indeed; 
 but indolence foon breeds anxiety, and he defires 
 not only to be fre?d from pain, but to be poffefled 
 of pleafure : pleafure \% granted him ; and this 
 but opens his foul to ambition ; and ambition will 
 
 he 

 
 166 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 be fare to taint his future happinefs, either with 
 jealouiy, disappointment, or fatigoe. 
 
 But of all the arts of diftrefs found oat by man, 
 for his own torment, perhaps that of philofopkic 
 miiery is moft truly ridiculous ; a pafficn no where 
 carried to fo extravagant an excefs as in the * coun- 
 try where 1 now refide. It is not enough to en- 
 gage all the compaffion of a philofopher here, that 
 Jus own globe is hurrafled with wars, peftilence, 
 or barb, riry ; .he faall grieve for the inhabitants of 
 lie moon, if the iituation -of her imaginary moun- 
 tains happens to alter; and dread the extinftiou 
 of the fun, if the fpots on his forface happen to 
 increafe. One fhould imagine, that philofophy 
 was introduced to make men happy ; bot here it 
 ferves to make hundreds miferable. 
 
 CIT. OF TBJi WOULD, V.-2. p. 114. 
 
 LEGISLATIVE POWER. 
 IT were highly to be wimed, that legifktive 
 power would direil the law rather to reforma- 
 tion than feverity ; that it would appear con- 
 vinced, that the work of eradicating crimes, is not 
 by making punifhments familiar, but formidable. 
 Inftead of our prefent prifons, which find or make 
 men guilty, which inclofe wretches for the com- 
 mrffion of one crime, and return them, if returned 
 alive, fitted for the perpetration of thoufands, it 
 were to be wilhed we had, as in other parts of 
 
 England*
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 167 
 
 bur ope, places of penitence and folitude, where 
 the accufed might be attended by fuch as could 
 give them repentance if guilty, or new motives of 
 virtue if innocent. And this, but not the increaf- 
 ing punifhments, is the way to mend a flate : nor 
 can I avoid even queftioning the validity of that 
 light, which focial combinations have a/Turned, of 
 capitally punifhing offences of a flight nature. 
 In cafes of murder, their right is obvious ; as it is 
 the duty of us all, from the law of felf-defence, 
 to cut off that man who has fhewn a difregard for 
 the life of another. Againft fuch, all nature rifes 
 in arms ; but it is not fo againft him who fteals my 
 property. Natural law gives me no right to take 
 away his life, as by that the horfe he fteals is as 
 much his property as mine. If, then, I have any 
 right, it muft be from a compact made between us, 
 that he who deprives, the other of his horfe fhall 
 <lie. But this is a falfe compact ; becaufe no man 
 has a right to barter his life, no more than to take 
 it away ; as it is not his own. And, next, the 
 compact is inadequate, and would be fet afide, 
 even in a court of modern equity, as there is a 
 great penalty for a very trifling convenience ; 
 fmce it is far better that two men mould live, 
 than that one man mould ride. But a compact: 
 that is falfe between two men, is equally fo be- 
 tween an hundred, or an hundred thoufand ; for 
 as ten millions of circles can never make a fquare, 
 fo the united voice of myriads cannot lend the 
 fmalleil foundation to falfehood. It is thus that 
 
 Reafon
 
 r63 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 Reafon fpeaks ; and untutored Nature fays the 
 fame thing. Savages, that are directed nearly by 
 natural law alone, are very tender of the lives of 
 each other ; they feidom ftved blood but to retaliate 
 former cruelty. 
 
 Our Saxon anceftors, fierce as they were in war, 
 had but few executions in times of peace ; and in 
 all commencing governments that have the print 
 of nature ftill ftrong upon them, fcarce any crime 
 is held capital. 
 
 It is among the citizens of a refined community 
 that penal laws, which are in the hands of the 
 rich, are laid upon the poor. Government, while 
 rt grows older, feems to acquire the morofenefs of 
 age ; and, as if our pofieflions were become dearer 
 in proportion as they increafed, as if the more 
 enormous our wealth the more extenfive our fears, 
 our pofleffions are paled with new edicts every day, 
 and hung round with gibbets to fcare every in- 
 vader. 
 
 Whether is it from the number of our penal 
 laws, or the licentioufnefs of our people, that this 
 country mould (hew more convicts in a year, than 
 half the dominions of Europe united ? Perhaps it 
 is owing to both ; for they mutually produce each 
 other. When by indifcriminate penal laws a na- 
 tion beholds the fame punifhment affixed to diffi- 
 znilar degrees of guilt, from perceiving no diftinc- 
 
 tion
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 169 
 lion in the penalty, .the people are led to lofe all 
 feiife of diftintlion in the crime, and this diflinc- 
 tion is the bulwark of all morality : thus the mul- 
 titude of laws produce new vices, and new vices 
 call for frelh reltraints-. 
 
 It were to be wifhed, then, that power, inftead 
 of contriving new laws to punifh vice, inftead of 
 drawing hard the cords of fociety till a convul- 
 iion come to buril them, inftead of cutting away 
 wretches as ufelefs, before we have tried their uti- 
 lity, inftead of converting correction into ven- 
 geance, it were to be wifhed, that we tried the 
 reltrictive arts of government, and made law the 
 proteclor, but not the tyrant of the people. We 
 ihould then find that creatures, whofe fouls axe 
 held as drois, only wanted the hand of a refiner; 
 we ihould then find that wretches, now ituck up 
 for long tortures, left luxury Ihould feel a mo- 
 mentary pang,^ might, if properly treated, ferve 
 to finew the ftate in times of danger ; that, as their 
 faces are like ours, their hearts are fo too; that 
 few minds are fo bafe as that perfeverance cannot 
 amend ; that a man may fee his laft crime without 
 dying for it ; and that very little blood will ferve 
 to cement our fecurity. 
 
 VIC- OF WAKEFIELD, V. 2. p. 77. 
 
 O B S E R-
 
 i-o THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON DEATH. 
 
 DEATH is not that terrible thing which we 
 fuppofe it to be ; it is a fpeftre which frights us at 
 a diftance, but which difappears when we come to 
 approach it more clofely. Our ideas of its terrors 
 are conceived in prejudice, and drefied up by fancy ; 
 we regard it not only as the greateil misfortune, 
 but alfo as an evil accompanied with the moft ex- 
 cruciating tortures : we have even increafed cur 
 apprehenfions, by reafoning on the extent of our 
 fufferings. It muft be dreadful, fay fome, fmce it 
 is fufficient to feparate the foul from the body ; it 
 mull be long, fmce our fufferings are proportioned 
 to the fuccefiion of our ideas ; and thefe being 
 painful, muft fucceed each other with extreme ra- 
 pidity. In this manner has falie philofophy la- 
 boured to augment the miferies of our nature, 
 and to aggravate that period which nature has 
 kindly covered with infcnfibility. Neither the 
 mind, nor the body, can fufTer thefe calamities; 
 the mind is, at that time, mofllv without ideas,; 
 and the body too much enfeebled to be capable of 
 perceivrng its pain. A very acute pain produces 
 either death, or fainting, which is a Hate fiirulsr 
 to death : the body can fuffer but to a certain de- 
 gree ; if the torture becomes exceffive, it deftroys 
 itfelf ; and the mind ceafes to perceive, when the 
 i>ody can no longer endure. 
 
 Im
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 171- 
 In this manner, exceflive pain admits of no re- 
 
 ; and, wherever there are any iigns of it, \ve 
 may be fure that the fufrerings of the patient are 
 HO greater than what we ourfelves may have re- 
 membered to endure. 
 
 But, in the article of death, we have many in- 
 ftances in which the dying perfon has (hewn that 
 very reflection which pre-fuppofes an abfence or" 
 the greateft pain ; and, confequently, that pang 
 which ends life cannot even be fo great as thofe 
 which have preceded. Thus, when CJ.^irlc: XIL. 
 v/as {hot at the i;egc of FscderickfcaU, he was 
 ieen to clap hiv h^nd en the hilt of his i'.vord ; 
 and, although the blow was great enough to ter- 
 minate one of the boldeft and bravefl lives in the 
 world, yet it was not puinful enough to def|roy 
 reflection. He perceived himfelf attacked ; he 
 refle-Tlcd that he ought to defend himfelf, and his 
 body obeyed the impulfc of his mind, even in the' 
 lait extremity. Thus it is the prejudice of per- 
 fon* in health, and not the body in pain, that 
 makes us fuffer from the approach of death : we 
 have, all our lives, contracted an habit of making 
 out exceffive plcafures and pains ; and nothing 
 but repeated experience mews us 'how feldom the- 
 one can be fuffcrcd, or the other enjoyed, to the 
 atmoft. If there be any thing necefTary to con- 
 firm what we have faid concerning the gradual- 
 reflation of life, cr the infenfible approaches of 
 eur eftd, nothing can more effedually prove itr 
 Qz than.
 
 172 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 than the uncertainty of the figns ef death. If 
 we confult what WinJIo-^ or Bruhier have faid upon 
 this fubj>l, we (hall be convinced, that between 
 life and death, the (hade is fo very undiftingui fri- 
 able, that even all the powers of art can fcarcely 
 determine where the one ends, and the other be- 
 gins. The colour cf the vifage, the warmth of 
 the body, the fupplenefs of the joints, are but un- 
 certain figns of life ftill fubfifting ; while, on the 
 contrary, the palenefs of the complexion, the 
 loidneis of the body, the ftiffhefs of the extremi- 
 ties, the ceflatien of all motion, and the total in- 
 ic nubility cf jhe parts, are but uncertain mark'-, 
 uf death brgun. In the fame manner, aifo, with 
 regard to the pulfe, and the breathing, thefe mo- 
 tions are cftexa fo kept under, that it is impoffible 
 to perceive them. By approaching a looking- 
 glafs to the mouth of the perfon fuppofed to be 
 dead, people often expect to find whether he 
 breathes or not ; but this is a very uncertain ex- 
 periment : the glafs is frequently fullied by the 
 vapour cf the dead men's body ; and often the 
 perfon is ftill alive, although the glafs is no way 
 tarniihed. In the fame manner, neither burning, nor 
 fcarifying ; neither noifes in the ears, nor pungent 
 fpirits applied to the noflrils, give certain figns cf 
 the difccntinuance of life j and there are many in- 
 ftances of perfons who have endured them all, and 
 afterwards recovered, without any external alfift- 
 ance, to the aftonilhment of the fpeftators. How 
 careful, therefore, ihculd we be, before we commit
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. i.-? 
 thofe who arc deareft to us to the grave, to b~ v. dl 
 allured of their departure! Experience, juilice, 
 humanity, all perfuacle us not to haflcn the fune- 
 rals of cur friends, but to keep their bodies un- 
 b'uried, until we have certain figns of their real 
 deceafe. 
 
 KIST. OF ANIMALS, p. 2o6. 
 
 GRATIFIED AMBITION. 
 
 GRATIFIED ambition, or irreparable cala- 
 mity, may produce tranfient fenfations of pleafure 
 cr clifircfi. Thofe ftcrms may difcompofe in pro- 
 portion as they are ftrong, or the mind is pliant 
 to their impreffion. But the foul, though at firfl 
 lifted up by the event, is every day operated upon 
 \vith diminished influence; and at length fubfides 
 into the level of its ufual tranquillity. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. 1. p. 185. 
 
 SCIENTIFIC REFINEMENT. 
 
 PHILOSOPHERS who have teftified fuch fur- 
 prife at the want of curiofity in the ignorant, feem 
 not to confider that they are ufually employed in 
 making provisions of a more important nature ; 
 in providing rather for the neceffities than the 
 amufements of life. It is not 'till our more pref- 
 t : iRg wants are fufficiendy fupplied, that we can. 
 attend to the calls of curiofity ; fo that, in every 
 age, fcientific refinement has been the lateft ef- 
 fort of human ineluftry. 
 
 UIST. OF THE EARTH, p. a.
 
 *74 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 FOLLIES OF THE WISE. 
 THERE is fcmething fatisfaftory in accounts 
 of the follies of the wife ; they give a natural air 
 to the pi&ure, and reconcile us to our own. 
 
 LIFE OF PARNELL, p. 2CV 
 
 THE STROLLING PLAYER. 
 
 I AM fond of amufement, in whatever company 
 it is to be found ; and wit, though drefTed in rags, 
 is ever pleafing to me. I went fome days ago to 
 take a walk in Sf. James's Park, about the hour 
 in which company leave it to go to dinner. There 
 were but few in the walks, and thofe who ftaid, 
 feemed, by their looks, rather more willing to for- 
 get that they had an appetite than gain one. I 
 fat down on one of the benches, at the other end 
 cf which was feated a man in very ihabby clothes. 
 
 We continued to groan, to hem, and to cough, 
 r.s ufual upon fuch occafions; and, at laft, ven- 
 tured upon converiaticn. " I beg pardon, Sir/* 
 cried I, " but I think I have feen you before ;. 
 vour face is familiar to me." " Yes, Sir," re- 
 plied he, '.' I have a good familiar face, as my 
 friends tell me. I am as well known in every 
 town in England as the dromedary, or live croco- 
 dile.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 175- 
 dile. You muft underftand, Sir, that I have been 
 thefe fixteen years Merry Andrew to a puppet- 
 mow ; laft Bartholomew fair my mafter and I quar- 
 relled, beat each other, and parted ; he to fell 
 his puppets to the pincumion-makers in Rofemary-*- 
 lane, and I to ftarve in St. James's Park." 
 
 "I am forry, Sir, that a perfon of your ap- 
 pearance mould labour under any difficulties." 
 " O, Sir," returned he, " my appearance is very 
 much at your fervice ; but, though I cannot boait 
 of eating much, yet there are few that are merrier: 
 if I had twenty thoufand a year, I mould be very 
 merry ; and, thank the Fates, though not worth 
 a groat, I am very merry ftill. If I have three- 
 pence in my pocket, I never refufe to be iny three- 
 halfpence ; and, if I have no money, I never fcorn 
 to be treated by any that are kind enough to pay 
 my reckoning. What think you, Sir, of a fteak 
 and a tankard ? You mail treat me now, and I 
 will treat you again when I find you in the Park in 
 love with eating, and without money to pay for 
 a dinner." 
 
 As I never refufe a fmall expence for the fake 
 of a merry companion, we inftantly adjourned to 
 a neighbouring alehoufe ; and, in a few moments, 
 had a frothing tankard, and a fmoaking fteak, 
 fpread on the table before us. It is impoffible to 
 exprefs how much the fight of fuch good cheer 
 improved my companion's vivacity. ' J like this 
 
 dinner.,
 
 dinner, Sir," fays he, for three reafons : firft, 
 becaufe I am naturally fond of beef; fecondly, 
 becaufe I am hungry ; and, thirdly and' laftly, 
 becaufe I get it for nothing : no meat eats fo fweet 
 as that for which we do not pay." 
 
 He therefore now fell to, and his appetite 
 feemed to correfpond with his inclination. After 
 dinner was over, he obfcrved that the fteak was 
 tough ; " and yet, Sir," returns he, " bad as it 
 was, it feemed a rump-fteak to me. O the de- 
 lights of poverty and a good appetite ! We beg- 
 gars are the very foundlings of Nature : the rich 
 fhe treats like an errant ftep-mother ; they r.re 
 pleafed with nothing: cut a fteak from what part 
 you will, and it is infupportably tough ; drefs it up 
 with pickles, even pickles cannot procure them 
 an appetite. But the whole creation is filled with 
 good things for the beggar ; Cal<vei-t's, bntt out- 
 taftes champaigne, and Sedgeley's home-brewed' 
 excels tokay. Joy, joy, my blood ! though our 
 eftates lie no where, we have fortunes wherever 
 we go. If an inundation fweeps away half the 
 grounds of Cornwall, I am content ; I have no 
 lands there: if the flocks fink, that gives me ; no 
 uneaunefs ; I am no y^cu." 
 
 The fellow's vivacity, joined to his poverty, I 
 own, raifed my curiofity to know forhething of his 
 life and circumflances ; and I intreated, that he 
 would indulge my defire, f< That I will, Sir> ?> 
 
 faicL
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 177 
 
 fcid he, " and welcome; only let us drink to pre- 
 vent our fleeping; let us have another tankard 
 \vhile we are awake ; let us have another tankard ; 
 for, ah ! how charming a tankard looks when full ! 
 
 " You muft know, then, that I am very welt 
 tlefcended : my anceftors have made fome noife in 
 the world; for my mother cried oyfters, and my 
 father beat a drum : I am told we have even had 
 fome trumpeters in our family. Many a noble- 
 man cannot fhew fo refpe&ful a genealogy : but 
 that is neither here nor there. As I was their only 
 child, my father defigned to breed me up to his 
 own employment, which was that of drummer 
 to a puppet-mew. Thus the whole employment 
 of my younger years was that of interpreter to 
 Punch and King Solomon in all his glory. But* 
 though my father was very fond of intruding me 
 in beating all the marches and points of war, I 
 made no very great progrefs, becaufe I naturally 
 had no ear for mufic ; fo, at the age of fifteen, I 
 went and lifted for a foldier. As 1 had ever hated 
 beating a drum, fo I foon found that I difliked 
 carrying a mufket alfo ; neither the one trade nor 
 the other were to my tafte, for I was by nature 
 fond of being a gentleman : befides, I was obliged 
 to obey my captain ; he has his will, I have mine, 
 and you have yours : now I very reafonably con- 
 cluded, that it was much more comfortable for a 
 man to obey his own will than another's. 
 
 The
 
 ryfr THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDS.MITrT, 
 
 " The lite of a foldier foon therefore gave m<? 
 the fpleen : I afked leave to quit the fervice ; but r 
 as I was tall and ftrong, my captain thanked me 
 for rny kind intention, and faid, becaufe he had a 
 regard for me, we fhould not p-rt. I wrote to my 
 father a very difmal penitent letter, and defired 
 that he would raife money to pay for my difcharge ;, 
 but the good man was as fond of drinking as I was 
 (Sir, my fervice to you), and thofe who are fond 
 of drinking never pay for other people's difcharges r 
 in ihort, he never anfwered my letter. What could 
 be done ? If 1 have not money, faid I to myfelf, 
 to pay for my difcharge, I muft find an equivalent 
 fome other way; and that rouil be by running, 
 away. I deferted, and that anfwered my purpofc 
 every bit as well as if I had b.ought my difcharge. 
 
 " Well, I was now fdrly rid of my military 
 employment : I fold my foidier's clothes, bought 
 worfe, and, in order not to be overtaken, took the 
 moft unfrequented roads poiuble. One evening, 
 as I was entering a village, I perceived a man, 
 whom I afterwards found to be the curate of the 
 pariih, thrown from his horfe in a 'miry road, and 
 almoft fmother-ed in the mud. He defired my af- 
 fiftance ; I gave it, and c^rew him out with fome 
 difficulty. He thanked me for my trouble, and 
 was going off; but I folio-.ved him home, for I 
 loved always to have a man than-k me at his own 
 door. The curate aiked an hundred queftions ; as, 
 whofe foa I \vai- from whence I came ; and whe- 
 ther
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 179 
 
 ther I would be faithful ? I anfwered him greatly 
 to his fatisfaction ; and gave myfelf one of the beft 
 characters in the world for fobriety (Sir, I have 
 the honour of drinking your health), difcretion, 
 and iidelity. To make a long {lory fhort, he 
 wanted a fervant, and hired me With him I 
 lived but two months ; we did not much like eacli 
 other : I was fond of eating, and he gave me but 
 little to eat ; I loved a pretty girl, and the old 
 woman, my fellow-fervant, was ill-natured and 
 ugly. As they endeavoured to Itarve me between 
 them, I made a pious refolution to prevent their 
 committing murder : I ftole the eggs as foon as 
 they were laid ; I emptied every unfiniihed bottle 
 that I could lay my hands en ; whatever eatable 
 came in my way was fure to difappear : in mort, 
 they found I would not do ; fo I was difcharged 
 one morning, and paid three millings and fix- 
 pence for two months wages. 
 
 " While my money was getting ready, I em- 
 ployed myfelf in making preparations for my de- 
 parture : two hens were hatching in an outhoufe ; 
 1 went and habitually took the eggs, and, not to 
 feparate the parents from the children, I lodged 
 hens and all in my knapfack. After this piece of 
 frugality, I returned to receive my money ; and, 
 with my knapfack on my back, and a ftaff in my 
 hand, I bid adieu, with tears in my eyes, to my 
 old benefaclor. I had not gone far from the 
 houfe, when I heard behind me the cry of Stop 
 
 thief!
 
 i8o THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 thief ! but this only increafed my difpatch ; it 
 Avould have been foolifh to ftop, as I knew the 
 voice could not be levelled at me. But hold I 
 think I pafled thofe two months at the curate's 
 without drinking. Come, the times are dry ; and 
 may this be my poifon, if ever I fpent two more 
 pious, ftupid months in all my life! 
 
 <c Well, after travelling fome days, whom 
 mould I light upon but a company of ftrolling 
 players? The moment I favv them at a ditlance, 
 my heart warmed to them ; I had a fort of natural 
 love for every thing of the vagabond order : they 
 were employed in fettling their baggage, which 
 had been overturned in a narrow %vay. I offered 
 my afliftance, which they accepted ; and we footi 
 became fo well acquainted, that they took me as a 
 iervant. This was a paradife to me; they lung, 
 danced, drank, eat, and travelled, all at the fame 
 time. By the blood of the Mirabels, I thought I 
 had never lived till then ; I grew as merry as a 
 grig, and laughed at every word that was fpokcn. 
 They liked me as much as I liked them ; I was a 
 very good figure, as you fee ; and, though I was 
 poor, I was not modeft. 
 
 "I love a ftraggling life above all things in the 
 world ; fometimes good, fometimes bad ; to be 
 warm to-day, and cold to-morrow; to eat when 
 one can get it, and drink when (the tankard is out) 
 it ftands before me. We arrived that evening at 
 
 Tenterden,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. iSt 
 
 Tenterden, and took a, large room at the Greyhound-, 
 where we refolved to exhibit Romeo and Juliet* 
 with the funeral proceffion, the grave and the 
 garden fcene. Romeo was to be performed by a 
 gentleman from the Theatre-Royal in Drury-lane^ 
 Juliet by a lady who never appeared on any ftage. 
 before ; and I was to fnuff the candles : all exceU 
 lent in our way. We had figures enough, but the 
 difficulty was to drefs them. The fame coat that 
 ferved Romeo, turned with the blue lining outwards, 
 ferved for his friend Mercutio : a large piece of 
 crape fuinced at once for Juliet's petticoat and 
 pall : a peftle and mort?r, from a neighbouring 
 apothecary's, anfwered all the purpofes of a bell; 
 and our landlord's own family, wrapped in white 
 meets, ferved to fill up the proceffion. In fhort, 
 there were but three figures among us that might 
 be faid to be drefied with any propriety : I mean, 
 the nurfe, the itarved apothecary, and myfelf. 
 Our performance gave univerfal fatisfoclion : the 
 whole audience were enchanted with our powers ; 
 and Tenter den is a town of tafle. 
 
 " There is one rule by which a ftrollifig- player 
 may be ever fecure of fuccefs ; that is, in our the- 
 atrical way of expreffing it, to make a great deal 
 of the character. To fpeak and aft as in comment 
 life, is not playing ; nor is it what people come to 
 fee : natural fpeaking, like fweet wine, runs glibly 
 over the palate, and fcarce leaves any tafte behind 
 it ; but being high in a part refembles vinegar, 
 R which
 
 152 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 which grates upon the tafte, and one feels it while 
 he is drinking. To pleafe the town or country, 
 the way is, to cry, wring, cringe into attitudes, 
 mark the emphafis, flap the pockets, and labour 
 like one in the falling ficknefs : that is the way to 
 work for applaufe, that is the way to gain it. 
 
 "As we received much reputation for our {kill 
 on this firft exhibition, it was but natural for me 
 to afcribe part of the fuccefs to myfelf : I fnuffed 
 the candles, and, let me tell you, that, without a 
 candle-fnuffer, the piece would lofe half its em- 
 belliftiments. In this manner we continued a fort- 
 night, and drew tolerable houfes ; but the evening 
 before our intended departure, we gave out our 
 very beft piece, in which all our ftrength was to be 
 exerted. We had great expectations from this, 
 and even doubled our prices ; when, behold, one 
 of the principal adlors fell ill of a violent fever. 
 This was a ftroke like thunder to our little, com- 
 pany : they were refolved to go, in a body, to fcold 
 the man for falling fick at fo inconvenient a time, 
 and that, too, of a diforder that threatened to be 
 expensive : I feized the moment, and offered to aft 
 the part myfelf in his ftead. The cafe was defpe- 
 rate ; they accepted my offer ; and I accordingly 
 fat down, with the part in my hand and a tankard 
 before me (Sir, your health), and ftudied the cha- 
 racter, which was to be rehearfed the next day, 
 and played foon after. 
 
 "' I fund
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 185. 
 
 " I found my memory exceffively helped by 
 drinking : I learned my part with aftonifhing ra- 
 pidity, and bid adieu to muffing candles ever 
 after. I found that Nature had designed me for 
 more noble employments, and I was reiblved to 
 take her when in the humour. We got together 
 in order to rehearfe, and I informed my compa- 
 nions, mafters now no longer, of the furprifrng 
 change I felt within me. Let the fick man, faid 
 I, be under no uneafmefs to get well again ; I'll 
 fill his place to univerfal fatisfaclion ; he may 
 even die if he thinks proper ; I'll engage that he 
 fhall never be miffed. I rehearfed before them, 
 flrutted, ranted, and received applaufe. They 
 foon gave out that a new a&or of eminence was to 
 appear, and immediately all the genteel places 
 were befpoke. Before I afcended the ftage, how- 
 ever, I concluded within myfelf, that, as I brought 
 money to the houie, I ought to have my mare in 
 the profits. Gentlemen, faid I, addreffmg our 
 company, I don't pretend to direft you ; far be 
 it from me to treat you with fo much ingratitude : 
 you have publiihed my name in the bills, with the 
 utmoft good-nature; and, as affairs (land, cannot 
 aft without me : fo, gentlemen, to mew you my 
 gratitude, I expect to be paid for my afting as 
 much as any of you, otherwife I declare off; I'll 
 brandifh my fnuffers, and clip candles as ufual. 
 This was a very difagreeable propofal ; but they 
 found that it was impoffible to refufe it ; it was ir- 
 reJiilible, it was adamant : they confented, and I 
 R 2 went
 
 184 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 went on in king Eejazet. My frowning brows, 
 bound with a flocking fluffed into a turban, while 
 en my captiv'd arms I brandifhed a jack-chain. 
 Nature feemed to have fitted me for the part ; I 
 was tall, and had a loud voice ; my very entrance 
 excited univerfal applaufe ; 1 looked round on the 
 audience with a fmile, and made a moft low and 
 graceful bow, for that is the rule among us. As 
 it was a very pan*ionate part, I invigorated my 
 fpiiits with three full glaffes (the tankard is al- 
 moft out) of brandy. By Alia f it is almoft in- 
 conceivable how I went through it ; Tamerlane 
 was but a fool to me ; though he was fometimes 
 loud enough too, yet I was flill louder than he : 
 but then, befides, I had attitudes in abundance : 
 in general I kept my arms folded up thus, upon 
 the pit of my ftomach ; it is the way at Drury- 
 Lane, and has always a fine effeft. The tankard 
 would fink to the bottom before J could get through 
 the whole of my merits : in fnort, I came off like 
 a prodigy ; and fuch was my fuccefs, that I could 
 ravifh the laurels even from a .firloin of beef. 
 The principal gentlemen and ladies of the town 
 came to me after the play was over, to compli- 
 ment me upon my fuccefs ; one praifed my voice, 
 another my perfon : Upon my word, fays the 
 'fquire's lady, he will make one of the fineft ac- 
 tcrs in Europe ; I fay it, and I think I am fome- 
 
 thing of a judge. Praife in the beginning is 
 
 agreeable enough, and we receive it as a favour ; 
 but, when it comes in great quantities, we regard 
 
 it
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 185 
 It only as a debt, which nothing but our merit 
 could extort : inftcad of thanking them, I inter- 
 nally applauded myfelf. We were defired to give 
 our piece a fecond time ; we obeyed, and I was 
 applauded even- more than before. 
 
 " At laft we left the town, in order to be at a 
 horfe-race at fome diftance from thence. I fhall 
 never think of Tenter den without tears of grati- 
 tude and refpeft. The ladies and gentlemen there, 
 take my word for it, are very good judges of plays 
 and aftors. Come, let us drink their healths, if 
 you pleafe, Sir. We quitted the town, I fay ; 
 and there was a wide difference between my 
 coming in and going out : I entered the town a 
 candle-fnufFer, and I quitted it an hero ! Such is 
 the world ! little to-day, and great to-morrow. T 
 could fay a great deal more upon that fubjeft ; 
 fomething truly fublime upon the ups and downs 
 of fortune ; but it would give us both the fpleen,, 
 and fo I fhall pafs it over. 
 
 " The races were ended before we arrived at 
 the next town, which was no fmall difappointment 
 to our company ; however, we were refolved to 
 take all we could get. I played capital charac- 
 ters there toe, and came off with my ufual bril- 
 liancy. I lincerely believe I fhould have been the 
 *ft aftor of Europe, had my growing merit been 
 properly cultivated ; -but there came an unkindly 
 froft which nipped me in the bud, and levelled me 
 R 3 once.
 
 i86 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 once more down to the common ftandard of hu- 
 manity. I played Sir Harry Wildair \ all the 
 country ladies were charmed : if I but drew out 
 my fnuff-box, the whole houfe was in a roar of 
 rapture ; when I exercifed my cudgel, I thought 
 they would have fallen into convulfions. 
 
 There was here a lady who had received an edu- 
 cation of nine months in London ; and fhis gave 
 her preterrfions to tafte, which rendered her the 
 indifpu table miftrefs of the ceremonies wherever 
 fiie came. She was informed of my merits ; every 
 body praifed me ; yet me refufed at firft going 
 to fee me perform : fhe could not conceive, ftie 
 faid, any thing but fluff from a ftroller ; talked 
 fomething in praife of Carried, and amazed the 
 ladies with her fkill in enunciations, tones, and ca- 
 dences. She was at laft, however, prevailed upon 
 to go; and it was privately intimated to me what 
 a judge was to be prefent at my next exhibition : 
 however, no way intimidated, I came on in Sir 
 Harry, one hand ttuck in my breeches, and the 
 other in my bofom, as ufual at Drury-Lane ; but, 
 inftead of looking at me, I perceived the whole 
 audience had their eyes turned upon the lady who 
 had been nine months in London ; from her they 
 expefted the deciiion which was to fee u re the ge- 
 neral's truncheon in my hand, or fink me down 
 into a theatrical letter-carrier. I opened my fnuf|~- 
 box, took fnuff the lady was foleinn, and fo were 
 the reft. 1 broke the cudgel on alderman Smug- 
 gler's
 
 BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 187 
 
 gler's back Hill gloomy, melancholy all ; the 
 lady groaned and mr.ugged her moulders. I at- 
 tempted, by laughing myfelf, to excite at leaft a 
 fmile ; but the devil a cheek could I perceive 
 wrinkled into fympathy : I found it would not do;, 
 all my good-humour now became forced ; my 
 laughter was converted into hyfteric grinning ; 
 and, while I pretended fpirits, my eye mewed the 
 agony of my heart. In fhort, the lady came with 
 an intention to be difpleafed, and difpleafed me 
 was ; my fame expired ; I am here, and (the tan- 
 kard is no more !".,) 
 
 ESSAY 21- 
 
 BEAUTY. 
 
 A DESIRE of becoming more beautiful than 
 Nature made us, is fo harmlefs a vanity, that I 
 not only pardon, but approve it. A defire to be 
 more excellent than others is what actually makes 
 us fo ; and, as thoufands find a livelihood in fo- 
 eiety by fuch appetites, none but the ignorant in- 
 veigh againft them. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD,V. I. p. 7. 
 
 HUMAN CURIOSITY. 
 
 HUMAN curiolity, though at firit flowly ex- 
 cited, being at laft pofieffed of leifure for indul- 
 ging its propenfity, becomes one of the greateft 
 amufements of life, and gives higher fatisfaclions 
 
 than
 
 iS? THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 than what even the fenfes can afford. A man of 
 this difpofition turns all nature into a magnificent 
 theatre, replete with objects of wonder and furprife, 
 and fitted up chiefly for his happinefs and entertain- 
 ment : he induftrioufly examines all things, from 
 the minuteft infect to the moil finiihed animal ;. 
 and, when his limited organs can no longer make 
 the difquilition, he fends out his imagination 
 upon new enquiries. 
 
 HIST. OF THE EARTH, p. 2> 
 
 CONNEXION OF WITS. 
 IN the connexion of wits, intereft has very lit- 
 tle mare ; they have only pleafure in view, and 
 can feldom find it bat among each other. 
 
 LIFE OF PARNELL, p. IO.. 
 
 CONTEMPLATION OF CELESTIAL 
 MAGNIFICENCE. 
 
 AN ufe, hitherto not much infifled upon, that 
 may refult from the contemplation of celeftial 
 magnificence, is, that it will teach us to make an 
 allowance for the apparent irregularities we find 
 below. Whenever we can examine the works of 
 the Deity at a proper p oint of diilance, fo as to 
 take in the whole of his defign, we fee nothing 
 but uniformity, beauty, and precifion. The hea- 
 vens prefent us with a plan, which, though in- 
 exprefiibly magnificent, is yet regular beyond the 
 power of invention. Whenever, therefore, we 
 
 find
 
 THE BEAUTIES OP GOLDSMITH. 189. 
 find any apparent defecls in the earth, which we 
 are about to confider, inftead of attempting to 
 reafon ourfelves into an opinion that they are 
 beautiful, it will be wife to fay, that we do not 
 behold them at the proper point of diftance, and 
 that our eye is laid too clofe to the objecls to take 
 in the regularity of their connexion. In mort, 
 we may conclude, that God, who is regular in his 
 great productions, ails with equal uniformity in 
 the little. 
 
 HIST. OF THE EARTH, p. 7. 
 
 SECRECY. 
 
 A POET has a right to expeft the fame fecrecy 
 in his friend as in his confeflbr ; the fins he difco- 
 vers are not divulged for punimment, but pardon. 
 
 LIFE OF PARNELL, p. ig. 
 
 AS EM, THE MAN-HATER. 
 
 ERE Tauris lifts its head above the ftorm, 
 and prefents nothing to the fight of the diftant 
 traveller, but a profpect of nodding rocks, falling 
 torrents, and all the variety of tremendous nature ; 
 on the bleak bofom of this frightful mountain, 
 iecluded from fociety, and detefting the ways of, 
 men, lived Jfem the Man-hater.. 
 
 dfem.
 
 190 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 Afem had fpent his youth with men, had marei 
 in their amufements, and had been taught to love 
 his fellow-creatures with the molt ardent affection r 
 but, from the tendernefs of his difpofition, he ex- 
 haufted all his fortune in relieving the wants of the 
 diflrefled. The petitioner never fued in vain ; the- 
 weary traveller never pafled his door : he only de- 
 fifted from doing good when he had no longer the 
 power of relieving. 
 
 From a fortune thus fpent in benevolence, he- 
 expe&ed a grateful return from thofe he had for- 
 merly relieved ; and made his application with 
 confidence of redrefs. The ungrateful world foon 
 grew weary of his importunity; for pity is but a 
 Ihort-lived paffion. He foon, therefore, began to 
 view mankind in a very different light from that 
 in which he had before beheld them : he perceived 
 a thoufand vices he had never before fufpefted to 
 exift : wherever he turned, ingratitude, diffimuh- 
 tion, and treachery, contributed to increafe his de- 
 teftation of them. Rcfolved therefore to continue 
 no longer in- a world which he hated, and which 
 repaid his deteftation with contempt, he retired to 
 this region of fterility, in order to brood over his 
 refentment in folitude, aud converfe with the only 
 honeft heart he knew ; namely, with his own. 
 
 A-CfcVC was his only ihelter from the inclemency 
 of the weather ; fruits gathered with difficulty frora 
 the mount -ill's lide, hii only food ; and his drink
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 191 
 was fetched with danger and toil from the head- 
 long torrent. In this manner he lived, fequeftered 
 from fociety, pafling the hours in meditation, and 
 fometimes exulting that -he was able to live inde- 
 pendently of his fellow-creatures. 
 
 At the foot of the mountain, an extenfive lake 
 difplayed its glaffy boibm ; redeeming, on its broad 
 furface, the impending horrors of the mountain. 
 To this capacious mirror he would fometimes de- 
 fcend, and, reclining on its fteep bank, caft an 
 eager look on the fmooth expanfe that lay before 
 him. " How beautiful," he often cried, " is na- 
 ture ! how lovely, even in her wildcft fcenes ! How 
 finely con trailed is the level plain that lies beneath 
 me, with yon awful pile that hides its tremendous 
 head in clouds ! But the beauty of thefe fcenes is 
 no way comparable with their utility ; from hence 
 an hundred rivers are fupplied, which diflribute 
 health and verdure to the various countries through 
 which they flow. Every part of the univerfe is 
 beautiful, juit, and wife, but man : vile man is a 
 folecifm in nature ; the only moniter in the crea- 
 tion. Tempeils and whirlwinds have their ufe ; 
 but vicious, ungrateful man is a blot in the fair 
 page of uuiverfal beauty. Why was I born of that 
 detefted fpecies, whofe vices are almoft a reproach 
 to the wifdom of the divine Creator ! Were men 
 intirely free from vice, all would be uniformity, 
 harmony, and order. A world of moral rectitude 
 ihould be the refult of a perfectly moral agent. 
 
 Why,
 
 192 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 Why, why then, O Alia ! mull I be thus confined 
 in darknefs, doubt, and defpairr"- 
 
 Juft as he uttered the word Defpnk, he was go- 
 ing to plunge into a lake beneath him, at once to 
 fadsfyhis doubts, and put a period to his anxiety; 
 when he perceived a moft majeftic being walking 
 on the furface of the water, and approaching the 
 bank on which he flood. So unexpected an cb- 
 jecl at once checked his purpofe ; he Hopped, con- 
 templated, and fancied he faw fomething awful 
 and divine in his afpecl. 
 
 " Son of Adam," cried the Genius, " ftop thy 
 rafh purpofe ; the Father of- the Faithful has feen 
 thy juftice, thy integrity, thy miferies, and hath 
 fent me to afford and adminifter relief. Give me 
 thine hand, and follow, without trembling, where- 
 ever I (hall lead; in me behold the Genius of Con- 
 viction, kept by the great prophet, to turn from 
 their errors thofe who go aftr.iy, not from curiofity, 
 bat a rectitude of intention. Follow me, and be 
 wife." 
 
 Afem immediately defcended upon the lake, and 
 his guide conducted him along the furface of the 
 water; 'till, coming near the centre of the lake, 
 they both began to fink ; the waters clofed over 
 their heads ; they defcended feveral hundred fa- 
 thoms, 'till Afem, juft ready to give up his'life as 
 inevitably loit, found himfel-f with his celeftial 
 
 guide
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 193 
 guide in another world, at the bottom of the 
 waters, where human foot had never trod before. 
 His aftonifhment was beyond defcription, when he 
 faw a fun like that he had left, a ferene iky over 
 his head, and blooming verdure under his feet. 
 
 " I plainly perceive your amazement," faid the 
 Genius ; *' but fufpend it for a while. This 
 world was formed by Alia, at the requeft, and 
 under the infpeftion, of our great prophet, who 
 once entertained the fame doubts which filled your 
 mind when I found you, and from the confequence 
 of which you were fo lately refcued. The rational 
 inhabitants of this world are formed agreeable lo> 
 your own ideas ; they are abfolutely without vice. 
 In other refpecls it refembles your earth, but dif- 
 fers from it in being wholly inhabited by men who 
 never do wrong. If you find this world more 
 agreeable than that you fo lately left, you have> 
 free penniflion to fpend the remainder of your 
 days in it ; but permit me, for fome time, to at- 
 tend you, that I may filence your doubts, and 
 make you better acquainted with your company 
 and your new habitation." 
 
 " A world without vice ! Rational beings with- 
 out immorality!" cried Afcm, in a rapture; "I 
 thank thee, O Alia, who haft at length heard my 
 petitions ; this, this indeed will produce happi- 
 ng, extafy, and cafe. O for an immortality ! to 
 fpend it among men who are incapable of ingra- 
 S titudc,
 
 194 T-HE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 titudc, injuitice, fraud, violence, and a thoufuud 
 other crimes, that render feciety mifcrable." 
 
 *' Ceafe thine acclamations," replied the Ge- 
 nius. " Look around thee ; reflect on every ob- 
 ject and action before us, and communicate to me 
 the refult of thine obfervations. Lead wherever 
 you think proper ; I fhall be your attendant and 
 inftructor." Afem and his companion travelled on 
 in filence for fome time, the former being entirely 
 loft in aftpnifhment j but, at laft, recovering his 
 former^ferenity, he could not help obferving, that 
 the face of the country bore a very near refern- 
 blance to that he had left, except that this fub- 
 terranean world ftill feemed to retain its primaeval 
 ivildnefs. 
 
 " Here," cried dfem, " I perceive animals of 
 prey, and others that feem only defigned for their, 
 iubfiftance j it is the very fame in the world over 
 our heads. But, had I been permitted to inftruct 
 our prophet, I would have removed this defect, 
 and formed no voracious or deftrudtive animals, 
 which only prey on the other parts of the crea- 
 tion." " Your tendernefs for inferior animals is, 
 I find, remar.kable," faid the Genius, fmiling. 
 But, with regard to meaner creatures, this world 
 exactly refembles the other ; and, indeed, for ob- 
 vious reafons : for the earth can fupport a more 
 confiderable number of animals, by their thus be- 
 coming food for each other, than if they had lived 
 
 entirely
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMFTH. i 9 $ 
 
 entirely on the vegetable productions ; fo that 
 animals of different natures, thus formed, inftead 
 of leflening their multitude, fubfift in the grcatefl 
 number poffible. But let us haften on to the in- 
 habited country before us, and fee what that offers 
 for inftru&ion. 
 
 They foon gained the utmoft verge of the f -reii, 
 'iid entered the country inhabited by men without 
 vice; and Afem anticipated, in idea, the rational 
 delight he hoped to experience in fuch an innocent 
 Tociety. But they had fcarce left the confines of 
 the wood", when they beheld one of the inhabi- 
 tants flying with ha fly fteps, and terror in his 
 countenance, from an army of fquirrels that clofely 
 purfued hirh. " Heavens!" cried dfem, <( why 
 does he fly ? What can he fear from animals fo 
 contemptibk ?" He had fcarce fpoke, when he 
 perceived two dogs purfuing another of the human 
 fpecies, who, with equal terror and hafte, at- 
 tempted to avoid them. " This," cried Afcm to 
 his guide, " is truly furprifing ; nor can I con- 
 ceive the reafon for fo ftrange an aftion." " Every 
 fpecies of animals," replied the Genius, " has of 
 late grown very powerful in this country ; for the 
 inhabitants, at firft, thinking it unjuft to ufe ei- 
 ther fraud or force in deftroying them, they have 
 infenfibly increafed, and now frequently ravage 
 their harrnlofc frontiers." " But they mould have 
 been deftroyed," cried d/em ; ""you fee the confe- 
 quence of fuch neglect." " \Vhere is then that 
 S 2 tender-
 
 196 T-* BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 tendernds you fo lately exprelled for fubordinate 
 animals?" replied the Genius, fmiling : " you 
 feem to h~ve forgot that branch of juftice/' " I 
 muft acknowledge my miftafce," returned Afem ; 
 " 1 am now convinced that we muft be guilty o* 
 tyranny and injuftice to the brute creation, if we 
 would enjoy the world ourfelves. But let us no 
 longer obferve the duty of men to thefe irrational 
 creatures, but furvey their connexions with one 
 another.'* 
 
 As they walked farther up the country, the more 
 he was furprifed to fee no veftiges of handfome 
 houfes, no cities, nor any mark of elegant defign. 
 His conductor perceiving his furprife, obferved, 
 That the inhabitants of this new world were per- 
 fectly content with their ancient fimplicity ; each 
 had an houfe, which, though homely, was fuffi- 
 cient to lodge his little family ; they were too 
 good to build houfes, which would only increafe 
 their own pride, and the envy of the fpeftator ; 
 what they built was for convenience, not for (hew. 
 .". At leaft, then," faid Afsm, " they have neither 
 architects, painters, or ftatuaries, in their fociety ; 
 .but thefe are idle arts, and may be fpared. How- 
 ever, before I fpend much more time here, you 
 ihould have my thanks for introducing me into 
 _the fociety of feme of their wifcil men : there is 
 icarce any pleafure to. me equal to a refined con- 
 verfation ; there is nothing of which 1 am fo eaa r 
 rnoured 25 wifdom." " Wifdom!" replied his 
 
 inftruftt*.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 197 
 
 inftruftor, " how ridiculous ! We have no wifdom 
 here, for we have no occafion for it ; true wifdom 
 is only a knowledge of our own duty, and the 
 duty of others to us : but of what ufe is fuch 
 wifdom here ? Each intuitively performs what is 
 right in himfelf, and expects the fame from others. 
 If, .by wifdom, you ihould mean vain curiofity 
 and empty fpeculation, as fuch pleafures have their 
 origin in vanity, luxury, or avarice, we are too 
 good to purfue them." " All this may be right," 
 fays Afem ; but, methinks, I obferve a folitary 
 ciifpofition prevail among the people; each family- 
 keeps feparately within their own precinfts, with- 
 out fociety, or without intercourfe." " That, 
 indeed, is true," replied the other; " here is no 
 eftablHhed fociety ; nor ihould there be any : all 
 focieties are made either through fear or friend- 
 mip ; the people we are among, are too good to fear 
 each ether ; and there are no motives to private 
 friendmip, where all are equally meritorious." 
 " Well, then," faid the fceptic, " as I am to 
 fpend my time here, if I am to have neither the 
 polite arts, nor wifdom, nor friendship, in fuch a 
 world, I mould be glad, at leaft, of an eafy com- 
 panion, who may tell me his thoughts, and t 
 whom I may communicate mine." " Arid to what 
 purpofe mould either do this ?" fays the Genius : 
 " flattery or curiofity are vicious motives, and 
 never allowed here ; and wifdom is out of the 
 queftion.'* 
 
 S 3 " Still,
 
 r98 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 " Still, however," faid Afem, " the inhabitants 
 muft be happy j each is contented with his own 
 poffeffions, nor avaricioufly endeavours to heap up 
 more than is neceffary for his own fubfiftence ;. 
 each has, therefore, leifure to pity thofe that {land 
 in need of his compaffion." He had fcarce fpoken, 
 when his ears were affaulted with the lamentations 
 of a wretch who fat by the way-fide, and, in the 
 moft deplorable diftrefs, feemed gently to murmur 
 at his own mifery. Afem immediately ran to his 
 relief, and found him in the laft ftage of a con- 
 fumption. " Strange," cried the fon of Adam, 
 * f that men who are free from vice fhould thus 
 " fuffer fo much mifery without relief!" " Be 
 not furprifed," faid the wretch who was dying ; 
 * would it not be the utmoft injuftice for beings, 
 who have only juft fufficient to fupport themfelves, 
 and are content with a bare fubfi&ence, to take 
 It from their own mouths to put it into mine r 
 They never . are poffefled of a fmgle meal more 
 than is neceffary ; and what is barely neceflary, 
 cannot be difpenfed with." " They mould have 
 been fupplied with more than is neceffary," cried 
 Afem y " and yet I contradict my own opinion but 
 a moment before : all is doubt, perplexity, and 
 confufion. Even the want of ingratitude is no 
 virtue here, fince they never received a favour. 
 They have, however, another excellence, yet be- 
 hind ; the love of their country is ftill, I hope, 
 one of their darling virtues." "Peace, Afa*!** 
 replied the guardian, with a countenance not lefs 
 
 fevere
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 19? 
 
 fevere than beautiful, " nor forfeit all thy preten- 
 fions to wifdom ; the fame felfifh motives by which 
 we prefer our own intereft to that of others, in- 
 duce us to regard our country preferable to that 
 of another. Nothing lefs than univerfal benevo- 
 lence is free from vice, and that you fee is prac- 
 tifed here." "Strange!" cries the difappointed 
 pilgrim, in an agony of diftrefs ; " what fort of a 
 world am I now introduced to ? There is fcarce a 
 fmgle virtue, but that of temperance, which they 
 pradlife ; and in that they are no way fuperior to 
 the very brute creation. There is fcarce an amufe- 
 ment which they enjoy ; fortitude, liberality, friend- 
 fhip, wifdom, converfation, and love of country, all 
 are virtues entirely unknown here ; thus it feems, 
 that to be unacquainted with vice, is not to know 
 virtue. Take me, O my Genius, back to that 
 very world which I have defpifed : a world which 
 has Alia for its contriver, is much more wifely 
 formed than that which has been projected by Ma- 
 homet. Ingratitude, contempt, and hatred I caa 
 now fuffer, for perhaps I have deferved them. 
 When I arraigned the wifdom of Providence, I 
 only mewed my own ignorance ; henceforth let me 
 keep from vice myfelf, and pity it in others." 
 
 He had fcarce ended, when the Genius, af- 
 fuming an air of terrible complacency, called all 
 his thunders around him, and vanifhed in a whirl- 
 wind. Afem> aftonifhed at the terror of the fcene, 
 looked for his imaginary world j when, catting his 
 
 eyes
 
 ioo THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 eyes around, he perceived himfelf in the very 
 fituation, and in the very place, where he firft 
 began to repine and defpair ; his right foot had 
 been juft advanced to take the fatal plunge, nor 
 had it been yet withdrawn ; fo inftantly did Pro- 
 vidence ftrike the truths juft imprinted on his foul. 
 He now departed from the water- fide in tranquil- 
 lity, and, leaving his horrid manfion, travelled 
 to Segejtatt, his native city ; where he diligently 
 applied himfelf to commerce, and put in practice 
 that wifdom he had learned in folitnde. The fru- 
 gality of a few years foon produced opulence ; 
 the number of his domeftics increafed ; his friends 
 came to him from every part of the city ; nor did 
 he receive them with difdain ; and a youth of mi- 
 fcry was concluded with an old-age of elegance, 
 affluence, and eafe. 
 
 ESSAY ;6. 
 
 ENTERTAINMENT IN THE STUDY OF 
 
 TRIFLES. 
 
 TO a philofopher, no circumftance, however 
 trifling, is too minute ; he finds inftru&ion and 
 entertainment in occurrences which are pafTed 
 over by the reft of mankind as low, trite, and in- 
 different ; it is from the number of thefe particu- 
 lars, which, to many, appear infignificant, that 
 kc is at laft enabled to form general conclufions. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. J. p. 1 26. 
 
 CERE-
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 201 
 
 CEREMONY. 
 
 CEREMONIES are different in every country, 
 but true politenefs is every where the fame. 
 Ceremonies, which take up fo much of our atten- 
 tion, are only artificial helps which ignorance af- 
 furnes, in order to imitate politenefs, which is the 
 rcfult of good fenfe and good-nature. A perfon 
 pofleired of thofe qualities, though he had never 
 feen a court, is truly agreeable ; and, if without 
 them, would continue a clown, though he had 
 been all his life a gentleman ufher. 
 
 How would a Cbinefe, bred up in the formali- 
 ties of an eaftern court, be regarded, mould he 
 carry all his good manners beyond the Great Wall? 
 How would an Englijhman, Ikilled in all the deco- 
 rums of weftern good-breeding, appear at an eaft- 
 ern entertainnent ? Would he not be reckoned 
 more fantastically favage than even his unbred 
 footman ? 
 
 Ceremony refembles that bafe coin which circu- 
 lates through a country by the royal mandate ; it 
 ferves every purpofe of real money at home, but 
 is entirely ufelefs if carried abroad ; a perfon who 
 fhould attempt to circulate his native trafh in ano- 
 ther country, would be thought either ridiculous 
 or culpable. He is truly well-bred who knows 
 when to value and when to defpife thofc national 
 
 pecu-
 
 202 THK BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 peculiarities which are regarded by fome with io 
 much obfervance. A traveller of tafte at once per- 
 eeives that the wife are politer all the world over j 
 but that fools are polite only at home. 
 
 IBID- v. i. p. 163. 
 
 LITERARY REPUTATION. 
 
 EVERY writer is now convinced that he mull 
 be chiefly indebted to good fortune for finding 
 readers willing to allow him any degree of repuy- 
 tation. It has been remarked, that almoft every 
 character which has excited either attention or 
 pity, has owed part of its fuccefs to merit, and 
 part to an happy concurrence of circumftances in 
 its favour. Had Ccefar or Crotonvell exchanged 
 countries, the one might have been a ferjeant, and 
 the other an excifeman. So it is with wit, which 
 generally fucceeds 1 more from being happily ad- 
 drefled, than from its native poignancy. A jeft 
 calculated to fpread at a gaming-table, may be 
 received with perfeft indifference ihould it happen 
 to drop in a mackarel-bcat. We have all feen 
 dunces triumph in fome companies, where men of 
 real humour were difregarded, by a general com- 
 bination in favour of Cupidity. To drive the ob- 
 fervation as far as it will, go, fhould the labours of 
 a writer who defigns his performances for readers 
 of a more refined appetite, fall into tlie hands of a 
 devourer of compilations, what can he exped 
 but contempt and confuiion ? Tf his merits are to- 
 be
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 203. 
 
 be determined by judges who cftimate the value of 
 a book from its bulk, or its frontifpiece, every 
 rival mull acquire an eafy fuperiority, who, with 
 perfuafive eloquence, promifes four extraordinary 
 pages of letter-prefs, or three beautiful prints, 
 curioufly coloured from nature. 
 
 SSAY I. 
 
 ALLUREMENTS OF QUALITY. 
 QUALITY and title have fuch allurements, 
 that hundreds are ready to give up all their own 
 importance, to cringe, to flatter., to look little,' 
 and to pall every pleafure in ccnilraint, merely to 
 be among the great, though without the kail hopes 
 of improving their underftanding or fharing their 
 generofity : they might -be happy among their 
 equals ; but thofe are defpifed for company, where 
 they are defpifed in turn. 
 
 CIT. F TH WORLD, V. I. p. IJ2. 
 
 MAGNIFICENCE OF THE DEITY. 
 THOUGH we fee the greatnefs and wifdom of 
 the Deity in all the feeming worlds that furround 
 us, it is our chief concern to trace him in that 
 which we inhabit. The examination of the earth, 
 the wonders of its contrivance, the hiftory of its 
 advantages, or of the feeming defefts in its for- 
 mation, are the proper bufmefs of the Natural 
 Hijlorian. A defcription of this earth, its ani- 
 mals, 'vegetables, and minerals, is the moft delight- 
 ful
 
 2tJ4 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 ful entertainment the mind can be furnifhed with, 
 a-; it is the moil interefting and ufeful. 
 
 HIST. OF THE EARTH, p. 6. 
 
 R E M E M B R A N C E. 
 TO be mindful of an abfent friend in the hour; 
 of mirth and feafting, when his company is leaft 
 wanted, flie\vs no flight degree of fincerity, 
 
 LIFE OF PARNEL, p. l8. 
 
 THE STORY OF ALCANDER AND SEP- 
 TIMIUS, 
 
 TAKEN FROM A BYZANTINE HISTORIAN. 
 
 ATHENS, long after the decline of the Roman 
 ejnpire, ftill continued the feat of learning, po- 
 litenefs, and wifdom. Theodoric, the Qjlrogoth, 
 repaired the fchools which barbarity was fuffering 
 to fall into decay, and continued thofc penfions to 
 men of learning, which avaricious governors had 
 monopolized. 
 
 In this city, and about this period, Alcander and 
 Septimixs were fellow fludents together ; the one, 
 the inoft fubtle reafoner of all the Lyceum ; the 
 other, die moil eloquent fpeaker in the academic 
 grove. Mutual admiration foon begot a friend- 
 ship. Their fortunes were nearly equal, and they
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, -^ 
 
 \vere natives of the two moil celebrated cities in 
 the world; for Alcand>:r was of .Athens, S^tivi;-:* 
 came 
 
 In this ftate of harmony they lived for fome 
 time together, when Alcander, after patting the 
 ririt part of his youth in the indolence of philo- 
 lophy, thought at length of entering into the 
 bufy world ; and, as a Hep previous to this, placed 
 his affections on Hy. patio., a ladyof exquiiite beauty. 
 The day of their intended nuptials was fixed ; the 
 previous ceremonies were performed ; and nothing 
 now remained, but her being conducted in triumph 
 to the apartment of the intended bridegroom. 
 
 Alcander''?, exultation in his own happinefs, t>r 
 being unable to enjoy any fatisfaclion without 
 making his friend Septimius a partner, prevailed 
 upon him to introduce Hypatia to his fellow-ftu 
 dent ; which he did with all the gaiety of a man 
 who found himfelf equally happy in friendinip and 
 love. But this was an interview fatal to the future 
 peace of both ; for Septimius no fooner faw her, 
 but he was fmitten with an involuntary pafiion ; 
 and, though he ufed every effort to fupprefs defires 
 at once fo imprudent and unjuft, the emotions of 
 his mind in a fhort time became fo ftrong, that 
 they brought on a fever, which the phyficians 
 judged incurable. 
 
 During this illnefs, Ahander watched him \vith 
 
 all the anxiety of fondnefs, and brought his mi- 
 
 T ftrefs
 
 teo5 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH, 
 ftrefs to join in thofe amiable offices of friendfhip. 
 The fagacity of the phyiicians, by thefe means, 
 loon discovered that the caufe of their patient's 
 diforder was love; anddlcaxJer, bsing apprifed of 
 their difcovery, at length extorted a confeffion from 
 the reluctant dying lover. 
 
 It would but delay the narrative to defcribe the 
 conflict between love and friendfnip in the breaft 
 of Alcander on this occafioTi ; it .is enough to fay, 
 that the Athenians were at that time arrived at fuch 
 refinement in morals, that every virtue was carried 
 to excefs. In fhort, forgetful of his o\vn felicity, 
 he gave up his intended bride, in all her charms, 
 to the young.Romart. They were married privately 
 by his connivance, and this unlooked-for change 
 of fortune wrought as unexpected a change in the 
 conftitution of the now happy Septimius. In a few 
 days he was perfectly recovered, and fet out with 
 his fair partner for Rome. Here, by an exertion of 
 thofe talents which he was fo eminently pofleffed 
 of, Septktifus, in a few years, arrived at the higheft 
 dignities of the ftate, and \vas conltituted the city- 
 judge, or prajtor. 
 
 Tn the mean time. Alce.nder not only felt the pain 
 of being feparated from his friend and his miftrefs, 
 -but a profecution was alfo commenced again it him, 
 by the relations of Hypatia, for having bafely giveji 
 up his bride, as was fuggeiled, for money. His 
 innocence of the crime laid to his charge, and even 
 his eloquence in Ms own defence, were not able to 
 
 withstand
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 207 
 whhftand the influence of a powerful party. He 
 \va.s caft, anil condemned to pay an enormous fine. 
 However, being unable to raife fo large a fum at 
 the time appointed, his pofieffions were connfcated,, 
 he himfelf was (hipped of the habit of freedom, . 
 expofed as a flave in the market-place, and ibid 
 to the higheit bidder. 
 
 A merchant of Ttrrcc becoming his purchafer, 
 Aicaxjer, with ibme other companions of di'lrcfs, 
 was carried into that region of deiblation and fteri- 
 Hty.- His itated employment was to follow the 
 Ker.js of an imperious mailer, and his fuccefs in 
 hunting was all that was allowed him to fupply 
 his precarious fubfiftence. Every morning waked 
 him. to a renewal of - famine or toil, and every 
 change of feafcn' ferved but to aggravate his un- 
 fheitcrcd diftrcfs. After fome years cf bondage, 
 however, an opportunity of efcaping offered ; he 
 embraced it with ardour; fo that, travelling by 
 night, and lodging in caverns by day, to fhorten 
 a long itory, he at laft arrived in Rome. The fume 
 day en which Alcandtr arrived, Septimius fat ad- 
 miniftering juftice in the forum, whither our wan- 
 derer came, expecting to be inftantly known, and 
 publicly acknowledged, by his former friend. 
 Here he itcod the whole day amongft the crowd, 
 watching the eyes of the judge, and expecting to 
 bfe taken notice of; bu.t he was fo much altered by 
 a long fucceffion of hardi>.ips, that he continued 
 unnoticed among the reil ; and, in the evening, 
 T. 2.. when
 
 208 THE BEAUTIES or GOLDSMITH, 
 when he was going up to the prstor's chair, he 
 was brutally repulfed by the attending lictors. 
 The attention of the poor is generally driven from 
 cne ungrateful object to another; for night com- 
 ing on., he now found himfelf under a neceffity of 
 leaking a place to lie in, and yet knew not where 
 to apply. All emaciated and in rags, as he was, 
 none of the citizens would harbour fo much wretch- 
 ednefs ; and fleeping in the ftreets might be at- 
 tended with interruption or danger : in fhort, he 
 was obliged to take up his lodging in one of the 
 tombs without the city, the ufual retreat of guilt, 
 poverty, and defpair. In this manfion of horror, 
 laying his head upon an inverted urn, he forgot 
 his miferies icr awhile in fleep ; and found, on 
 his flinty couch, more eafe than beds of down can 
 fupply to the guilty. 
 
 As he continued here, about midnight, two 
 robbers came to make this their retreat ; but, hap=. 
 pening to difagree about the divifion of their plun- 
 der, one of them (tabbed the other to the heart, 
 and left him weltering in blood at the entrance. 
 In thefe circumftances he was found next morning, 
 dead, at the mouth of the vault. This naturally 
 inducing a further enquiry, an alarm was fpread ; 
 the cave was examined ; and Alcandcr being found, 
 was immediately apprehended, and accufed of rob- 
 bery and murder. The circumftances ng.nnit him 
 were ftrong, and the wretchednefs of his appear- 
 ance confirmed fufpicion. Misfortune and he were
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 209 
 
 now fo long acquainted, that he at laft became re- 
 gardlefs of life. He detefted a world where he had 
 found only ingratitude, falfehood, and cruelty ; 
 he was determined to make no defence; and thus, 
 lowering with refolution, he was dragged, bound 
 with cords, before the tribunal of Septirr.ius. As 
 the proofs were pofitive againft him, and he offered 
 nothing in his own vindication,: the judge was pro- 
 ceeding to doom him to a moft cruel and ignomi- 
 nious death, when the attention of the multitude 
 was foon divided by another (JBjecT. The robber, 
 who had been really guilty, was apprehended fell- 
 ing his plunder/ and, ftruck with a panic, had 
 confeffed his crime. He was brought bound to 
 the fame tribunal, and acquitted every other pcr- 
 fon of any partnership in his guilt. .Alcander's in- 
 nocence therefore appeared, but the .fallen raflinefs 
 of his conduit remained a wonder to the furroand- 
 ing multitude ; but their aftor.ifhment was ftill fui- 
 ther increafed, .when they faw their judge {tart 
 from his tribunal to embrace.the fuppofed criminal. 
 Se,ptim:us recollected his friend arid former bene- 
 faftor, and hung upon his neck with tears of pity 
 and of joy. Need the fequel be related ? Meander 
 was acquitted ; Shared the friendfhip and honours 
 of the principal citizens of Rome ; lived afterwards 
 in- happinefs and eafc ; and left it to be engraved 
 on his tomb, That no circumftances are fo defpe- 
 rajp, which Providence may not relieve. 
 
 ESSAY 2. 
 
 T 3 CON-
 
 zip THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 CONTEMPT OF THE IGNORANT. 
 THERE are fome of fuperior abilities .who re- 
 verence and efteem each other ; but then mutual 
 admiration is not fufficient to mield oft" the con- 
 tempt of the crowd. The wife are but few, and 
 they praife with a feeble voice ; the vulgar are 
 many, und. roar in reproaches. The truly great 
 feldom unite in focieties, have few meetings, no 
 cabals; the dunces hunt in full cry till they have 
 run down a reputation, and then fnarl and fight 
 with each other about dividing the fpoil. * Here 
 you may fee the compilers, and the book-anfwerers 
 of every month, when they have cut np fome re- 
 fpetlable name, moft frequently reproaching each 
 other with ftupidity and dullnefs ; refembling the 
 v,plves of the Ruffian forelt, who prey upon veni- 
 fc.n, or horfe-fiefh, when they ean get it; but, in 
 cafes of neceffity, lying in wait to devour each' 
 other. While they have new books to cut up, 
 they make a hearty meal; but if this refource 
 jfhould unhappily fail, then it is that critics eat up 
 critics, and compilers rob from compilations. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 73. 
 
 PLEASURES OF RURAL RETIREMENT. 
 
 WlIEN I refleft on the unambitious retire- 
 ment in which I pafTed the earlier part of my- life 
 in the country, I cannot avoid feeling fome pain
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH: 2ir; 
 
 in thinking that thofe happy days re never to re- 
 turn. In that retreat, all nature feemed capable 
 of affording pleafure: I then made no. refinements 
 ecu happinefs, but could be pleafediwith the moll 
 aukward efforts of rulHc mirth ; thought crofs- 
 purpofes the higheft ftretch of human- wit, and 
 cjueftions and commands the raoft rational way of. 
 fpending the evening. Happy could fa charming 
 an illufion ftill continue! I find that age and 
 knowledge only contribute to 'four our difpofitions. 
 My prefent enjoyments may be more refined, but: 
 they are infinitely lefs pleafing. The pleafure the; 
 beft a&or gives, can- no way compare to that I 
 have received from a country wag who imitated a 
 Quaker's fermon. The munc of the fineit finger: 
 is diflbnance to what I felt when our old dairy- 
 maid fang me into tears with Johnny Armfirong 1 ^ 
 Laft Good Night, or the Cruelty of Bar bar a Allen. 
 
 Writers of every age- have endeavoured to fhev/. 
 that pleafure is in us, and not in the obje&s of- 
 fered for our amufement. If the foul be happily, 
 difpofed, every thing becomes capable of afford- 
 ing entertainment ; and diftrefs will .almoft want a 
 name. Every occurrence pafles in review like the 
 figures of a procefiion ; fome may be aukward,, 
 othe'rs ill-drefled ; but none but a fool is for this 
 enraged with the mailer of the ceremonies. 
 
 I remember to have once feen a Have in a forti- 
 fication in Flanders, who appeared no way touched 
 
 with
 
 .-12 T a E BEAUTIES o ? -GOLDSMITH. ' 
 
 with his Situation. He was maimed, deformed, 
 and chained ; obliged to toil from the appearance 
 of day till night-fall ; and condemned to this for 
 life: yet, v.'ith all thefc circumitances of apparent 
 wretchednefs, he fang, would have danced but that 
 he wanted a leg, and appeared the merricrt, hap- 
 pieft man of all the garrifon. What a practical 
 philoff-pher was here ! An happy conltitution fup- 
 plied philofophy ; and, though feemingly deftitute 
 of wifdom, he v/as really wife. No reading- or 
 ri contributed to difenchant the fuiry-land 
 around him: every thing fr.rnithed him with an 
 opportunity of mirth ; and, .though fome thought 
 him, from his iniennbility, a fool, he was fuch an 
 ideot as philosophers mould wilh to imitate ; for 
 all philofophy is only forcing the trade of happi- 
 aefs, when nature feems to have denied the means. 
 
 They who, like our flave, can place themfelves 
 en that fide of the world in which every thing ap- 
 pears in a pleafmg light, will find fomething in 
 every occurrence to excite their good-humour. 
 The moft calamitous events, either to themfelves 
 cr others, can bring no new afHiftion ; the whole 
 world is to them a theatre, on which comedies 
 only sre aclted. All the buille of heroifm, or the 
 rants cf ambition,- ferve only to heighten the ab- 
 furdity of the fcene, aad make the humour more 
 poignant. They feel, in fhort, as little anguifh 
 at their own diftrefs, or the complaints of others, 
 as the undertaker, though dreffed in black, feels 
 forraw at a funeral,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 21^ 
 
 Of all the men I ever read of, the famous Car- 
 dinal de Retz poflefled this happinefs of temper in 
 the higheft degree. As he was a man of gallantry, 
 and defpifed all that wore the pedantic appearance 
 of philofophy, wherever pleafure was to be fold, 
 he was generally foremofl to raife the auflion. Be- 
 ing an univerfal admirer of the fair fex, when he 
 found one lady cruel, he generally fell in love 
 with another, from whom he expefted a more fa- 
 vourable reception : if me, too, rejected his ad- 
 drefles, he never thought of retiring into deferts r 
 or pining in hopeleis diftrefs : he perfuaded him- 
 felf, that, inftead of loving the lady, he only fan- 
 cied that he had loved her ; and fo all was well 
 again. When Fortune wore her angrieft look, and 
 he at laft fell into the power of his moft deadly 
 enemy, Cardinal Mazari ne, (being confined a clofe 
 prifoner in the caftle of Valenciennes,} he never at- 
 tempted to fuppcrt his diftrefs by wifdom or phi- 
 lofophy, for he pretented to neither. He only 
 laughed at himfelf and his perfecutor, and feemed 
 infinitely pleafed at his new fituation. In this 
 manfion of diftrefs, thoug-h fecluded from his 
 friends, though denied- all the amufements, and. 
 even the conveniences, of life, he ftill retained 
 his good-humour ;- laughed at all the little fpite of 
 his enemies ; and carried the jcft fo far, as to be 
 revenged, by writing the life of his gaoler. 
 
 All that the wifdom of the proud can teach, is 
 to he Stubborn or- fallen undfrmisfortur.es. Tha . 
 
 Cardinal'.;.
 
 M4 THE BEAUTIES o? GOLDSMITH. 
 Cardinal's example -will inftrucl us to he merry in 
 circumitances of the higheil amiclion. It matttrs 
 not whether- our good-hirmour be conftrued by 
 others into infenilbility, or even ideotiim ; it is 
 happinefs to ourfelves, and none but a fool would 
 meafure his fatbfaction i>y what the world thinks 
 of it. For my own part, I never pafs by one of 
 cur prifons for debt, tha,t I do not envy that feli- 
 city which is ftill going forward among- thofe peo- 
 ple, who forget the cares of the world by being 
 lliut out from its ambition .- 
 
 TKe happicft filly fellow I ever kotw, wa of. 
 the number of thofe good-natured creatures that 
 tte faid to do no harm to any but themfelves. 
 Whenever he fell into any mifeiy, he ufuaify. 
 called it, Seeing Life. If his head was broke by 
 a chairman, or his pocket picked by a fharper, he 
 comforted hiuUelf by imitating the Hibernian dia- 
 led of the one, or the more faihicmable cant of 
 the other. Nothing came araifs to him. His in- 
 Ettention to money matters had incenfed his rather . 
 to fuch a degree, that all the interceilion of friends 
 in his favour was fruitLefs. The old gentleman 
 was on his death-bed. The whole family, and 
 Di(k among the number, gathered around him. 
 " I leave my feccnd fon, Andrew " faid the ex- _ 
 piring mifer, " my whole eftate, and denre him 
 to be frugal." Andrew, in a forrowful tone, as 
 is, ufual on thefe occafions, pm-ed Heaven to pro- 
 long his life and heakh to enjoy it him&if. " I 
 
 recora- -
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 215 
 recommend Simony my third fon, to the care of 
 his elder brother, and leave him, befide, four thu- 
 fand pounds." " Ah ! father," cried Simon (in 
 great afiliciion, to be fure), " May Heaven give 
 you life and health to enjoy it yourfelf." At lair, 
 .turning to poor Dick, " As for you, you have al- 
 ways been a fad dog ; you'll never come to good ; 
 you'll never be rich ; I'll leave you a milling to 
 buy an halter." " Ah ! father," cries Dick, with- 
 out any emotion, " may Heaven give you life and 
 health to enjoy it yourfeif!" This was all the 
 trouble the lofs of fortune gave this thoughtlefs 
 imprudent creature. However, the tendernefs of 
 an uncle recompenfed the neglecl of a father ; and 
 my friend is now not only exceflively good-hu- 
 moured, but competently rich. 
 
 Yes, let the world cry out at a bankrupt who 
 appears at a ball ; at an author who laughs at the 
 public, which pronounces him a dunce ; at a ge- 
 neral who fmiles at the reproach of the vulgar, or 
 the lady who keeps her good-humour in fpite of 
 fcandal ; but fuch is the wifeft behaviour that any 
 of us can poffibly afi'ume ; it is certainly a better 
 way to oppofe calamity by diffipation, than to take 
 up the arms of reafon or refolution to oppcfe it : 
 by the firft method, we forget our miseries ; by the 
 laft, we only conceal them from others : by ftrug- 
 gling with misfortunes, we are fure to receive fome 
 wounds in the conflict ; but a fure method to come 
 off vi&orious, is by running away. 
 
 ESSAY 3.
 
 2i6 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 BENEFITS ARISING FROM LUXURY, 
 
 THOSE philosophers, who declaim againil 
 luxury, have but little undcrilood its benefits ; 
 they feem infenfible, that to luxury we owe not 
 only the greatefl part of our knowledge, but even 
 of our virtues. 
 
 It may found fine in the mouth of a declaimer, 
 when he talks of fubduing our appetite?, of teach- 
 ing every fenfe to be content with a bare fufiiciency, 
 and of fupplying only the wants of nature ; but is 
 there not more fatisfaction in indulging thofe ap- 
 petites, if with innocence and fafety, than In re- 
 iLraining them ? Am not I better pleafed in enjoy- 
 ment, than in the. fullen fatisfaclion cf thinking 
 that I can live without enjoyment ? 
 
 The mere various our artificial necefiities, the 
 wider is our circle of pleafure ; for all pleafure 
 confifts in obviating neceffities as they rife : luxu- 
 ry, therefore, as it increafes our wants, increafes 
 our capacity for happinefs. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 35. 
 
 In whatfoever light we confider luxury, whether 
 as employing a number of hands naturally too 
 feeble for more laborious employment ; as finding 
 a variety of occupation for others who might be 
 totally idle ; or as furnilhing out new inlets to 
 happinefs, without incaoaching on mutual pro- 
 perty :
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 217 
 perty ; in whatever light we regard it, we maH 
 have reafon to ftand up in its defence: and the 
 fentiment of Confucius ftill remains unftiaken ; 
 That we Jh'juld enjoy as many of the luxuries of life 
 as are confijlent nvitb our own fifty* ond the pro- 
 fperity of others ; and that he 'who finds out a xe=ut 
 pleafure, is one of the moft ufeful members of fociety. 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 37. 
 
 MODESTY. 
 THERE is not, perhaps, a more whimfical 
 figure in nature, than a man of real modefty, who 
 affumes an air of impudence ; who, while his 
 heart beats with anxiety, ftudies eafe, and affefls 
 good-humour. In this fituation, however, every 
 unexperienced writer finds himfelf. Imprefled with 
 the terrors of the tribunal before which he is going 
 to appear, his natural humour turns to pertnefs, 
 and for real wit he is obliged to fubftitute vivacity. 
 
 * S O N G, 
 
 Intended for Mifs HARDCASTLE, in the Comedy of 
 SHE STOOPS TO CONQJIER ; but, as Mrs. Bul- 
 keley could not fing, it was omitted. 
 
 A.H me ! when mail I marry me ? 
 
 Lovers are plenty ; but fail to relieve me : 
 He, fond youth, that could carry me, 
 
 Offers to love, but means to deceive me. 
 
 U Bat 
 
 * Fbii Song was communicated to the Public, fy 
 Mr. Bofwell, fate the Dofior's death*
 
 zi8 THE BEAUTIES OP GOLDSMITH. 
 
 But I will rally, and combat the miner : 
 
 Not a look, not a fmile, fhall my paffion difcovcr : 
 
 She that gives all to the falfe one purfuing her, 
 Makes but a penitent, lofes a lover. 
 
 GENEROSITY. 
 GENEROSITY is the part of a foul raifed 
 above the vulgar. There is in it fomething of 
 what we admire in heroes, and praife with a degree 
 of rapture. 
 
 In paying his debts a man barely does his duty, 
 and it is an a&ion attended with no fort of glory. 
 Should Lyjippus fatisfy his creditors, who would 
 be at the pains of telling it to the world? Gene- 
 rofity is a virtue of a very different complexion. 
 It is raifed above duty, and, from its elevation, 
 attracts the attention and the praifes of us little 
 mortals below. 
 
 ESSAY 6. 
 
 MISPLACED VIRTUES. 
 
 AMONG men long converfant with books, we 
 too frequently find mifplaced virtues. We find 
 the ftudious animated with a ftrong paffion for the 
 great virtues, as they are miilakenly called, and 
 utterly forgetful of the ordinary ones. The de- 
 clamations of philofophy are generally rather ex- 
 haufted on thofe fupererogatory duties, than on 
 fuch as are indifpenfibly neceflary. A man, there- 
 fore,
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 219 
 fore, who has taken his idea^ of mankind from 
 ftudy alone, generally comes into the world with 
 an heart melting at every fictitious diftrefs. Thus 
 he is induced, by mifplaced liberality, to put him- 
 felf into the indigent circumftances of the perfon 
 he relieves. 
 
 ESSAY 6. 
 
 PRIDE OF THE E N fa. I S H. ' : . 
 THE Englijb feem as filent as the Japaneje t 
 yet vainer than the inhabitants of Siam. Conde- 
 fcend to addrefs them firit, and you are fure of 
 their acquaintance ; Hoop to flattery, and you con- 
 ciliate their friendfliip and efteem. They bear 
 hunger, cold, fatigue, and all the miferics of life, 
 without fhrinking ; danger only calls forth their 
 fortitude ; they even exult in calamity : but con- 
 tempt is what they cannot bear. An Englifiman 
 fears contempt more than death ; he often flies to 
 death as a refuge from its preflure, and dies when 
 he fancies the world has ceafed to eiteem him. 
 
 Pride feems the fource not only of their national 
 vices, but of their national virtues alfo. An Eng- 
 lijkman is taught to love his king as his friend, 
 but to acknowledge no other matter than the laws 
 which himfelf has contributed to enaft. He de- 
 fpifes thofe nations, who, that one may be free, 
 are all content to be flaves ; who firft lift a tyrant 
 into terror, and then Ihhnk under his power, as if 
 delegated from heaven. Liberty is echoed in all 
 U 2 their
 
 220 TE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 their aflemblies, and thoufands might be found 
 ready to offer up their lives for the found, though 
 perhaps not one of all the number underftands its 
 meaning. The loweft mechanic, however, Iroks 
 upon it as his duty to be a watchful guardian of 
 his country's freedom, and often ufes a language 
 that might .fcem haughty, even in the mouth of 
 the great emperor who traces his anceftry to the 
 moon. 
 
 C1T. OF THE WORLD, V. I . p. IO. 
 
 REPUTATION. 
 THE great are folicitcus only of railing their 
 own reputations; while the oppofite clafs, alas! 
 are felicitous of bringing every reputation down 
 to a level with their own. 
 
 IBID. p. 75. 
 
 PICTURE OF A CRITIC. 
 A CRITIC is often guided by the fame motives 
 that direct his author. The author endeavours to 
 perfuade us, that he has written a good book : the 
 critic is equally felicitous to mew that he could 
 write a better, had he thought proper. A critic 
 is a being poflefTed of all the vanity, but not the 
 genius, of a fcholar ; incapable, from his native 
 \veaknefs, of lifting himfelf from the ground, he 
 applies to contiguous merit for fupport, makes the 
 fportive fallies of another's imagination his ferious 
 employment, pretends to take our feelings under 
 
 hi?
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 221 
 
 his care, teaches where to condemn, where to lay 
 the cmphafis of praife, and may with as much 
 juftice be called a man of tafte, as the Chinefe who 
 meafures his wifdom by the length of his nails. 
 
 If,' then , a book, fpirited or humorous, hap- 
 pens to appear in the republic of letters, feveraj 
 critics are in waiting to bid the public not tolaugk 
 at a fmgle line of it, for themfelves had read it ; 
 and they know what is moft proper to excite laugh- 
 ter. Other critics contradict the fulminations of 
 th;'_. tribunal, call them all fpiders, and affure the 
 public, that they ought to langh without reftraint. 
 Another fet are in the mean time quietly employed 
 in writing notes to the book, intended to mew the 
 particular paffages to be laughed at : when thefe 
 are out, others Hill there are who write notes upon 
 notes. Thus a fmgle new book employs not only 
 the paper-makers, the printers, the prefs-men, the 
 book binders, the hawkers, but twenty critics, and 
 as many compilers. In mort, the body of the 
 learned may be compared to a Per/tan army, where 
 . th< r re are many pioneers, feveral futlers, number- 
 lefs fcrvants, women and children in abundance^ 
 and but few fotdiers. 
 
 CIT. OF THE WORLD, V. I. p. 75. 
 
 FORTUNE
 
 222 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 
 FORTUNE THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVE 
 OF LOVE AND AEFECTION AMONG THE 
 MODERNS. 
 
 J. H E formalities, delays, and difappointments, 
 that precede a treaty of marriage * here, are ufually 
 as numerous as thofe previous to a treaty of peace. 
 The laws of this country are finely calculated to 
 promote all commerce, but the commerce between 
 the fexes. Their encouragements for propagating 
 hemp, madder, and tobacco, are indeed admira- 
 ble ! Marriages are the only commodity ^that meets 
 with difcouragement. 
 
 Yet, from the vernal foftnefs of the air, the 
 terdure of the fields, the tranfparency of the 
 ilreams, and the beauty of the women, I know 
 few countries more proper to invite to courtfhip. 
 Here Love might fport among painted lawns and 
 warbling groves, and revel amidft gales wafting 
 at once both fragrance and harmony. Yet it feems 
 he has forfaken the ifland ; and when a couple are 
 now to be married, mutual love, or an union of 
 minds, is the laft and moft trifling confideration* 
 If their goods and chattels can be brought to 
 unite, their fympathetic fouls are ever ready to- 
 guarantee the treaty. The gentleman's mort- 
 gaged lawn becomes enamoured of the lady's mar- 
 riageable grove ; the match is ftruck up ; and both 
 parties are pioufly in lov it according to ad of 
 parliament. 
 
 Thus
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 223 
 
 Thus, they \vho have forum?, are pofleffed at 
 leaft of fomething that is lovely; but I aclually 
 pity thofe who have none. I am told there was a 
 time, when ladies, with no other merit but youth, 
 virtue, and beauty, had a chance for hufbands, at 
 leaft amongft our clergymen and officers. The 
 blufh and innocence of fixteen was faid to have a 
 powerful influence over thefe two profeffions. But 
 of late, all the little traffic of bluihing, ogling, 
 dimpling, and fmiling, has been forbidden by an 
 acb in that cafe wifely made and provided. A 
 lady's whole cargo of fmiles, fighs, and whifpers, 
 is declared utterly contraband, till me arrives in 
 the warm latitude of twenty-two, where commo- 
 dities of this nature are too often found to decay. 
 She is then permitted to dimple and froile, when 
 the dimples begin to forfake her ; and, when per- 
 haps grown ugly, is charitably intrufted with an 
 unlimited ufe of her charms. Her lovers, how- 
 ever, by this time, have forfaken her ; the captain 
 has changed for another miftrefs ; the prieft him- 
 felf leaves her in folitude, to bewail her virginity, 
 and me dies even without benefit of clergy. 
 
 Thus you find the Europeans difcouraging- 
 love with as much earneftnefs as the rudeft favage 
 of Scfala, The Genius is furely now no more. 
 In every region there feem enemies in arms to 
 opprefs him. Avarice in Europe, jealoufy in Per- 
 Jia, ceremony in China, poverty among the Tar- 
 tars t and lull in Circ.aj/ui, are all prepared to op- 
 
 pofe
 
 224. THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 
 pofe his power. The Genius is certainly bammed 
 from earth, though once adored under fuch a va- 
 riety of forms. He is no where to be found ; jmd 
 all that the ladies of each country can produce, 
 arc but a few trifling reiiques, as inftances of his. 
 former refidence and favour. 
 
 '* The Genius of Love," fays the Eaflern Apo- 
 logue, " had long reftded in the happy plains of 
 Abra, where every breeze was health, and every 
 /bund produced tranquillity. His temple at firft 
 was crowded, bat every age leffened the number 
 of his votaries, or cooled their devotion. Perceiv- 
 ing, therefore, his altars at length quite deferted, 
 he was refclved to remove to fome more propitious 
 region ; and he apprifed the fair fex of every 
 country, where he could hope for a proper recep- 
 tion, to affert their right to his prefence among 
 thefn. In return to this proclamation, emba flies 
 were fent from the ladies of every part of the 
 world to invite him, and to difplay the fuperiority 
 o their claims. 
 
 *' And, firft, the beauties of China appeared. 
 No country could compare with them for modelty, 
 either of look, drefs, or behaviour ; their eyes 
 were never lifted from the ground ; their robes, of 
 the moft beautiful f:lk, hid their hands, bofom, 
 and neck, while their faces only were left unco- 
 Tered. They indulged no airs that might exprefs 
 loofe deiire, and they fcemed to lludy only the 
 
 graces
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. tz^ 
 
 graces of inanimate beauty. Their black teeth. 
 and plucked eye-brows were, however, alledged 
 by the Genius againfl them ; but he fet them en- 
 tirely afide, when he came to examine their little 
 feet. 
 
 " The beauties of Clrcajfia next made their ap- 
 pearance. They advanced, hand in hand, fmg- 
 ing the moft immodeit airs, and leading up a dance 
 in the moil luxurious attitudes. Their drefs was 
 but half a covering ; the neck, the left breafl, and 
 ?J1 the limbs were expofed to view ; which, after 
 feme time, feemed rather to fatiate than inflame 
 defire. The lily and the rofe contended in form- 
 ing their complexions ; and a foft fleepinefs of 
 eye added irrefiftible poignance to their charms : 
 but their beauties were obtruded, not offered, to 
 their admirers ; they feemed to give, rather than 
 receive courtihip ; and the Genius of Love dif- 
 miffed them as unworthy his regard, fince they 
 exchanged the duties of love, and made themfelves 
 not the purfued, but the purfuing fex. 
 
 " The kingdom of Kajhmire next produced its 
 charming deputies. This happy region feemed 
 peculiarly fequeftered by Nature for his abode. 
 S^ady mountains fenced it on one fide from the 
 fcorching fun; and fea-born breeze?, on the other, 
 gave peculiar luxuriance to the air. Their com- 
 plexions were of a bright yellow, that appeared 
 trar.ip'ircnt, while the cnmfon tulip feemed 
 
 to
 
 226 THE BEAUTIES er GOLDSMITH. 
 
 to bio/Tom on their cheeks. Their features and 
 limbs were delicate beyond the ftatuary's power to 
 exprefs ; and their teeth whiter than their own 
 ivory. He was almoft perfuaded to refide among 
 them, when, unfortunately, one of the ladies 
 talked of appointing his feraglio. 
 
 " In this proceffion the naked inhabitants of 
 Southern America would not be left behind: their 
 charms were found to furpafs whatever the warm- 
 eit imagination could conceive ; and ferved to 
 mew, that beauty could be perfect, even with the 
 feeming difadvantage of a brown complexion. But 
 their favage education rendered them utterly un- 
 qualified to make the proper ufe of their power, 
 and they were rejected as being incapable of uni- 
 ting mental with fehfual fatisfa&ion. In this man- 
 ner the deputies of other kingdoms had their fuits 
 rejected : the block beauties of Benin, and the 
 tawny daughters of Borneo, the women of Wida 
 with fcarred faces, and the hideous virgins of Ca~ 
 fraria ; the fquab ladies of Lapland, three feet 
 high, and the giant fair-ones of Patagonia. 
 
 " The beauties of Europe at laft appeared ; grace 
 in their fteps, and fenfibility fmiling in every eye. 
 It was the univerfal opinion, while they were ap- 
 proaching, that they would prevail ; and the Ge- 
 nius feemed to lend them his moli favourite at- 
 tention. They opened their pretenfions with the 
 utmoft modefty ; but unfortunately, as tluir on-.-.
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH. 227 
 tor proceeded, (he happened to let fall the words, 
 * Houfe in Town, Settlement, and Pin-money.' 
 Thefe feemingly harmlefs terms had inftantly a 
 furprifing effect : the Genius, with ungovernable 
 rage, buril from amidil the circle j and, waving 
 his youthful pinions, left this earth, and flew back 
 to thofe setherial manlions from whence he de- 
 fcended. 
 
 " The whole afiembly was ftruck with amaze- 
 ment; they now juftly apprehended that female 
 power would be no more, fince love had forfaken 
 them. They continued fome time thus in a ftate 
 of torpid defpair, when it was propofed by one 
 of the number, that, fmce the real Genius of Love 
 had left them, in order to continue their power, 
 they fhould fet up an idol in his ftead ; and that 
 the ladies of every country fhould furniih him with 
 what each liked beft. This propofal was inftantly 
 relifhed and agreed to. An idol of gold was 
 formed by uniting the capricious gifts of all the 
 afTembly, though no way refembling the departed 
 Genius. The ladies of China furnifhed the mon- 
 fter with wings ; thofe of Knjhmire fupplied him 
 with horns ; the dames of Europe clapped a purfe 
 into his hand ; and the virgins of Congo furnifhed 
 him with a tail. Since that time, all the vows ad- 
 dreffed to Love, are, in reality, paid to the idcl ; 
 while, as in other falfe religions, the adoration 
 feems molt fervent, where the heart is leaft fincere. 
 
 ESSAY 23. 
 
 COUN-
 
 223 THE BEAUTIES OF GOLDSMITH 
 
 COUNTENANCE TO THE VULGAR. 
 WHATEVER may become of the higher or- 
 ders of mankind, who are generally pofleffed of 
 collateral motives to virtue, the vulgar ihnuld be 
 particularly regarded, whofe behaviour in civil 
 life is totally hinged upon their hopes and fer>r<. 
 Thofe who conftitute the bafis of the great fabric 
 of fociety, fhould be particularly regarded ; for, 
 in policy-as in architecture, ruin is moft fatal when 
 it begins from the bottom. 
 
 ESSAY 14. 
 
 OPINION OF THE GENIUS OF VOLTAIRE. 
 
 BETWEEN Voltaire and the difciples of Ccn- 
 fuciui there are many differences ; however, be- 
 ing of a different opinion does not in the leaft di- 
 minilh my efteem. I am not difpleafed with my 
 brother, becaufe he happens to aflc our father for 
 favours in a different manner from me- Let his 
 errors reft in peace ; his excellencies deferve admi- 
 ration : let me, with the wife, admire his wifdom ; 
 let the envious and the ignorant ridicule his fci- 
 bles ; the folly of others is ever moft ridiculous to 
 thofe who are themfelves moft foolilh. 
 
 IBID. p. 187. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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